High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons Market Report 2026

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.31 billion in 2025 to $2.53 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing development of hpm generators to support early electronic-disruption weapon concepts, rising adoption of directed energy platforms for disabling adversary communication and radar systems, expansion of system integration programs combining beam control and targeting subsystems, growth of testing and evaluation activities validating weapon performance in field conditions, development of mobile and fixed deployment units enabling tactical and strategic hpm applications.

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.65 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for advanced hpm systems to counter drone swarms and electronically dependent threats, rising investment in power management technologies enabling higher-output microwave weapons, expansion of operator training and maintenance services as deployments scale, increasing integration of ai-driven targeting and tracking systems to improve precision, development of next-generation compact hpm weapons suitable for multi-domain military operations. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for counter-electronics warfare systems, advancements in compact and mobile hpm platforms, increased r&d funding for next-generation microwave power modules, integration of hpm systems into multi-domain defense architectures, rising adoption of solid-state microwave technologies for improved reliability.

The increasing defense budgets are expected to drive the growth of the high power microwave directed energy weapons market going forward. Defense budgets refer to the total government expenditures allocated for military personnel, equipment, operations, and related defense activities to safeguard national security. Defense spending is rising due to heightened geopolitical tensions, prompting nations to bolster military capabilities for deterrence and strategic advantage. Larger defense budgets support high power microwave directed energy weapons by enabling increased investment in advanced research and development. This financing facilitates the creation of more powerful, accurate, and dependable systems, thereby enhancing battlefield effectiveness. For instance, in April 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based research organization, Russian military spending rose by 9.2% to roughly $86.4 billion in 2022, representing 4.1% of the country's GDP, up from 3.7% in 2021. Therefore, growing defense budgets are propelling the expansion of the high power microwave directed energy weapons market.

The rising geopolitical tensions are expected to drive the growth of the high-power microwave directed energy weapons market going forward. Geopolitical tensions describe heightened political, economic, or military conflicts between countries or regions that jeopardize international stability and peaceful relations. The intensification of these tensions is mainly driven by ongoing military confrontations such as the Russia-Ukraine war and escalating regional disputes in Asia and the Middle East, which have reshaped global security assessments and led nations to revise their defense priorities. Countries are increasingly pursuing advanced non-kinetic weapon systems capable of disabling adversary electronics and infrastructure without causing physical destruction. For instance, in July 2024, according to The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based non-profit organization, over 165,273 political violence events were recorded worldwide, reflecting a 15% increase from July 2023 to June 2024. Therefore, escalating geopolitical tensions are fueling demand for high-power microwave directed energy weapons.

Major companies operating in the high-power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons (DEW) market are prioritizing the development of advanced systems, such as drone-swarm countermeasures, to boost operational effectiveness, increase precision, and reduce dependence on kinetic responses. Drone-swarm countermeasures are HPM systems engineered to disable or neutralize multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) simultaneously by disrupting their electronic subsystems with focused microwave energy. For instance, in April 2025, Thales S.A., a France-based defense and aerospace firm, unveiled the RapidDestroyer high-power microwave (HPM) system during British Army trials. The system successfully neutralized more than 40 drones across various swarm scenarios, demonstrating its capability to deliver rapid, cost-effective protection against UAV threats. RapidDestroyer comprises a modular high-power microwave solution designed to counter drone swarms by incapacitating electronics without kinetic impact, thereby minimizing collateral damage. It integrates with existing air defense architectures and is tailored for electronic warfare and precision counter-swarm operations.

Major companies operating in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., Teledyne Technologies Inc., Coherent Corp., Elbit Systems Ltd., Skyworks Solutions Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Radiance Technologies Inc., Epirus Inc., Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, Tata Advanced Systems, Applied Research Associates Inc., GMKA Defense Inc., Lumentum Operations LLC.

North America was the largest region in the high power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on electronic components, advanced semiconductors, and specialty materials used in high power microwave systems are increasing production costs and lengthening delivery cycles across generator, antenna, and beam-control segments. Mobile and portable unit manufacturers, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, are the most affected due to their reliance on global suppliers. Defense procurement programs may face budget pressures, however, tariffs can also stimulate domestic manufacturing and encourage local innovation in high-power microwave technologies, partially offsetting the negative effects.

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides high power microwave directed energy weapons market statistics, including high power microwave directed energy weapons industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a high power microwave directed energy weapons market share, detailed high power microwave directed energy weapons market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the high power microwave directed energy weapons industry. This high power microwave directed energy weapons market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

High power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons are systems that emit focused microwave radiation to disable or destroy electronic devices and systems without any physical contact. These weapons use high-intensity electromagnetic pulses to target electronics, leading to malfunctions or permanent damage. Their primary goal is to neutralize enemy communications, radar, or control systems while causing minimal collateral damage.

The main categories of high power microwave directed energy weapons include continuous-wave and pulsed-wave systems. Continuous-wave high power microwave weapons involve the constant, uninterrupted emission of microwave energy designed to disrupt or damage electronic systems over a period of time. These weapons are deployed as fixed installations, mobile units, or portable systems. The technologies involved encompass high power microwave generators, amplifiers, and antennas. Applications of these weapons include disruption of community systems, radar systems, electronic devices, and more, with primary users in the army, navy, and air force sectors.

The countries covered in the high power microwave directed energy weapons market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The high power microwave directed energy weapons market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as system integration, weapon system testing and evaluation, maintenance and upgrades, operator training, and research and development for advanced high power microwave technologies. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The high power microwave directed energy weapons market also includes sales of high power microwave (HPM) generators, directed energy weapon platforms, power management systems, beam control systems, targeting and tracking systems, and mobile or fixed deployment units. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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