Surface to Air Missiles Market Report 2025

The surface to air missiles market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $5.64 billion in 2024 to $6.03 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth during the historic period was driven by increased investments in national air defense systems, the escalating threat of aerial attacks from hostile countries, greater adoption of advanced military technologies, heightened demand for missile defense upgrades, and a surge in cross-border insurgencies and airborne incursions.

The surface to air missiles market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.8 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The anticipated growth during the forecast period is driven by rising demand for integrated air and missile defense solutions, increased attention on combating unmanned aerial threats, expanding defense budgets in emerging markets, greater acquisition of mobile and adaptable missile systems, and a stronger focus on high-altitude and long-range interception capabilities. Key trends expected include progress in multi-target tracking radar technologies, enhanced command and control system integration, innovations in missile propulsion and maneuverability, development of lightweight and mobile launcher platforms, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence for improved threat detection.

The growing emphasis on military and defense systems is expected to drive the expansion of the surface-to-air missile market in the coming years. Military and defense systems encompass the integrated technologies and tactics used by armed forces to protect against threats and ensure national security. This increased focus is fueled by rising geopolitical tensions, which push countries to strengthen their air defense against more advanced aerial threats. Surface-to-air missiles contribute to these systems by offering quick-response measures against airborne dangers, thereby reinforcing national air defense capabilities. These missiles enhance operational efficiency through sophisticated targeting and stealth technologies, boosting combat readiness and protection. For example, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a government agency in Australia, reported that in 2023-24, the Australian defense industry added $11.9 billion to the nation’s gross value added (GVA), marking a 12.4% rise from 2022-23. Consequently, the growing concentration on military and defense systems is fueling the growth of the surface-to-air missile market.

Leading players in the surface-to-air missile market are concentrating on innovating advanced products like smokeless propulsion systems to improve stealth, lower the risk of detection, and enhance overall mission success. Smokeless propulsion technology refers to missile engines designed to significantly reduce or eliminate visible smoke during launch and flight, making detection by enemy forces more difficult. For instance, in February 2023, Bharat Dynamics Limited, an aerospace and defense company based in India, introduced a vertical-launched short-range surface-to-air missile. This next-generation, ship-based air defense system operates in all weather conditions and aims to provide the Indian Navy with rapid-response defense against supersonic, sea-skimming threats. The missile incorporates a smokeless propulsion system that improves stealth capabilities and reduces detection during naval missions. It also features advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to maintain accuracy and reliability amid dense threat scenarios.

In February 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), an Indian aerospace and defense electronics firm, entered into a partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Through this collaboration, BEL seeks to enhance domestic defense capabilities by working with IAI to offer local maintenance and lifecycle support for surface-to-air missile systems, promote technology transfer, and further the Make in India initiative. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), headquartered in Israel, specializes in the development and production of surface-to-air missile technology.

Major players in the surface to air missiles market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, General Dynamics Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Diehl Group, Saab AB, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS, MBDA Missile Systems, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), LIG Nex1 Co Ltd., Roketsan Roket, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Denel Dynamics, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Eurosam S.A.S.

North America was the largest region in the surface to air missiles market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in surface to air missiles report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the surface to air missiles market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) are guided weapons intended for launch from the ground to engage and eliminate airborne threats such as aircraft, drones, or incoming missiles. These systems utilize radar or infrared guidance to precisely detect, track, and neutralize targets in the air. The primary role of SAMs is to deliver air defense capabilities, safeguarding military installations, vital infrastructure, and deployed forces against enemy aerial assaults.

The primary types of surface-to-air missiles are short-range (SR-SAMs), medium-range (MR-SAMs), and long-range (LR-SAMs). Short-range surface-to-air missiles are designed to intercept aerial threats flying close to the ground, typically within 20 to 30 kilometers. They are classified by platform into land-based, sea-based, and air-based systems. Various guidance technologies such as infrared homing, semi-active radar homing, and active radar homing are employed, with applications spanning combat, air defense, and other operational uses.

The surface to air missiles market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides surface to air missiles market statistics, including surface to air missiles industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a surface to air missiles market share, surface to air missiles market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the surface to air missiles industry. This surface to air missiles 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.

The surface to air missiles market consists of sales of high-altitude air defense missiles, launchers, guidance systems, propulsion units, warheads, fixed or static SAM batteries, and integrated air and missile defense systems. 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 and 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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