Targeting Pod Market Report 2026

The targeting pod market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.14 billion in 2025 to $4.48 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early development of electro-optical and laser targeting pods, integration of targeting pods on military aircraft, government and defense funding for precision-guided munitions support systems, advancements in multifunction targeting and reconnaissance pod technologies, initial deployment of navigation and targeting pods for mission accuracy.

The targeting pod market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.07 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for next-generation multifunction and laser targeting pods, expansion of targeting pod integration and modernization services, adoption of advanced sensor fusion and imaging technologies, development of enhanced reconnaissance and surveillance pods, increased collaboration between defense contractors and aerospace firms for precision strike support solutions. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for multi-sensor fusion targeting pods, adoption of all-weather high-resolution imaging, modernization of legacy aircraft with advanced pods, growth in uav-integrated targeting solutions, lightweight modular pod architectures.

The increasing number of military aircraft is expected to propel the growth of the targeting pod market going forward. Military aircraft refer to fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft operated by armed forces for defense, surveillance, transport, and combat missions. The rise in military aircraft is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, leading countries to enhance their aerial defense capabilities through fleet expansion. Targeting pods strengthen military aircraft capabilities by providing precise target detection and designation, making them essential for modern combat operations. They improve mission accuracy by integrating advanced sensors and laser designators, increasing operational effectiveness, and minimizing collateral damage. For instance, in May 2024, the British Broadcasting Corporation, a UK-based broadcasting company, reported that in 2024, aircraft experienced moderate to severe or greater turbulence approximately 68,000 times over the year. Therefore, the increasing number of military aircraft is driving the growth of the targeting pod market.

Key players in the targeting pod market are focusing on the development of cutting-edge products, such as electro-optical targeting systems, to improve target detection, tracking precision, and mission performance in challenging combat scenarios. Electro-optical targeting systems combine optical and electronic sensor technologies to detect, identify, track, and designate targets with high accuracy. For instance, in July 2024, Lockheed Martin Corporation, a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company, introduced the Advanced Sniper Networked Targeting Pod. This enhanced pod features electro-optical sensors, a conformal antenna, and mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) radio capabilities, facilitating secure, high-speed data sharing among F-16 and F-35 aircraft as well as ground units. The system functions as a communication hub, forming a decentralized kill web that boosts real-time coordination and operational efficiency across air, land, and sea forces, while maintaining its core precision targeting and surveillance functions.

In December 2024, the United States Marine Corps partnered with Northrop Grumman Corporation to improve tactical precision through enhanced connectivity. This collaboration aims to upgrade the AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening targeting pods by incorporating BE CDL waveform technology, which allows secure, multiband, real-time data exchange between aircraft and ground units for better mission coordination and effectiveness. Northrop Grumman Corporation, based in the U.S., is a leading manufacturer of advanced targeting pod systems.

Major companies operating in the targeting pod market are Raytheon Technologies, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries, SAAB Group, Leonardo DRS, Hensoldt AG, Excelitas Technologies Corp, Teledyne FLIR LLC, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, ASELSAN A.S., Hanwha Systems Co. Ltd., HGH Infrared Systems, Andover Corporation, Xi'an Supersonic Aviation Technology Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the targeting pod market in 2025. The regions covered in the targeting pod 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, infrared sensors, and precision optical assemblies have increased production costs and extended supply cycles in the targeting pod market, impacting FLIR sensors, processors, and HD video data links across combat aircraft and UAV platforms. Asia-Pacific and European regions dependent on imported subsystems face the greatest disruptions, affecting OEM and aftermarket segments alike. Despite these challenges, tariffs have accelerated domestic production, localized sourcing strategies, and investment in resilient supply chains, offering long-term benefits for targeting pod manufacturers.

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

A targeting pod is an external sensor system mounted on military aircraft, designed to detect, identify, and designate targets for precision-guided weapons. By integrating advanced technologies, these pods enhance targeting accuracy, especially in low-visibility conditions. They are essential in modern air-to-ground and air-to-air operations, improving strike precision, reducing collateral damage, and boosting mission effectiveness.

The main types of targeting pods include forward-looking infrared (FLIR) pods, laser designator pods, and laser spot tracker pods. FLIR and laser designator pods are sophisticated sensor systems installed on military aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that support surveillance, target identification, and precise engagement. These systems consist of components such as FLIR sensors, charge-coupled devices, environmental control units, moving map systems, digital data recorders, processors, video data links, and high-definition displays. They are utilized on various platforms, including combat aircraft, UAVs, attack helicopters, and bombers, and serve users like original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as the aftermarket sector.

The countries covered in the targeting pod market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The targeting pod market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as integration services, upgrades and modernization, training and simulation, technical support and consulting, and logistics and supply chain management. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The targeting pod market also includes sales of electro-optical (EO) targeting pods, laser targeting pods, multifunction targeting pods, navigation and targeting pods, and reconnaissance and surveillance pods. 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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