Low Altitude Defense Radar Market Report 2026

The low altitude defense radar market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $13.91 billion in 2025 to $15.11 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising threats from low-flying UAVs, improvements in radar signal processing technology, adoption of ground and maritime surveillance radars, government investments in border security, integration with existing air defense networks.

The low altitude defense radar market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.83 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to demand for counter-drone capabilities, development of compact mobile radar units, integration with AI-enabled threat detection systems, expansion in battlefield and urban security applications, modernization of legacy radar infrastructure. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of ai-based threat detection, multi-sensor fusion for low-altitude monitoring, portable and rapidly deployable radar systems, counter-drone and uav defense integration, enhanced situational awareness for tactical operations.

Rising geopolitical tensions are expected to drive growth in the low-altitude defense radar market. These tensions arise from conflicts, disputes, or rivalries between countries or regions based on political, economic, territorial, or strategic interests. Territorial disputes, in particular, threaten national sovereignty and control over key strategic areas. Low-altitude defense radars strengthen national security by enabling early detection and tracking of low-flying aerial threats, which is vital for protecting critical infrastructure and populated zones. They help reduce response times by facilitating rapid threat assessment and interception, enhancing defense readiness and situational awareness. For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that migrant encounters at the US-Canada border rose to over 181,000 in 2024, a 6.5% increase from 170,000 in 2023. Such factors highlight how growing geopolitical tensions are fueling the market’s expansion.

Leading companies in the low-altitude defense radar sector are developing innovative technologies like low-altitude multifunction radar to boost threat detection, tracking, and situational awareness against UAVs and other low-flying aircraft. This type of radar performs various tasks including surveillance, tracking, and target identification to counter low-altitude threats effectively. For instance, in December 2023, Turkey’s defense electronics company Aselsan A.Ş. launched the ALP Radar, which uses advanced AESA S-band technology with a range exceeding 200 km. Mounted on a mobile 8x8 platform for rapid deployment, it can detect and track fighter jets, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats at low to high altitudes. It addresses critical gaps in air defense by supporting early warning and close-in C-RAM operations, and features a weapon-locating mode that calculates firing and impact points, assisting counter-fire missions and enhancing airspace security for Turkey’s military.

In April 2025, South Korea’s Hanwha Systems Co. Ltd. teamed up with the Agency for Defense Development to create a multi-function radar (MFR) for low-altitude missile defense systems. This collaboration aims to develop an advanced radar capable of real-time detection and interception of low-altitude missile and artillery threats, thereby bolstering national defense against potential North Korean attacks. The Agency for Defense Development is a government research body focused on advancing defense technology in South Korea.

Major companies operating in the low altitude defense radar market are Airbus Defense And Space SA, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems plc, Thales SA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo SpA, Rheinmetall AG, Viettel Group, Indra Sistemas SA, Israel Aerospace Indsutries Ltd., Saab AB, Hensoldt AG, Hanwha Systems, ASELSAN AS, RADA Electronic Industries Ltd., Weibel Scientific A/S, Retia AS.

North America was the largest region in the low-altitude defense radar market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the low altitude defense radar 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 critical components such as antenna systems, signal processors, and radar electronics have increased manufacturing costs and caused delays in the supply of low-altitude defense radar systems, particularly affecting North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions with high import dependencies. Ground-based and airborne radar segments are most impacted due to reliance on advanced imported technologies. However, tariffs have incentivized local production and innovation, encouraging domestic manufacturing of radar systems and promoting self-reliance in critical defense technology.

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

Low-altitude defense radar is a sophisticated radar system created to detect, track, and identify aerial threats flying close to the ground, such as drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles that try to avoid traditional detection methods. These radars improve air defense and security by providing early warnings, ongoing surveillance, and quick response options, helping to protect borders, battlefields, and vital infrastructure effectively.

This radar system consists of hardware, software, and services. The hardware includes the physical components and equipment that enable the radar to detect and track low-altitude threats. It encompasses different platforms like ground-based, airborne, and naval systems, designed for varying operational ranges, short, medium, and long. These radars are used in surveillance, threat detection, and target tracking, serving users such as the military, aerospace industries, and defense contractors.

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

The low-altitude defense radar market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as airspace surveillance, target detection and tracking, threat identification, low-altitude intrusion monitoring, and electronic countermeasure support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The low-altitude defense radar market also includes sales of short-range early warning systems, counter-UAV detection units, integrated fire control radars, maritime patrol radars, and ground surveillance radars. 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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