Military Engine Infrared Suppression Market Report 2026

The military engine infrared suppression market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.42 billion in 2025 to $1.53 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early integration of exhaust cooling systems in military vehicles, development of thermal shielding technologies, adoption of specialized nozzle designs for IR suppression, deployment in aircraft and helicopters, expansion of marine infrared suppression systems.

The military engine infrared suppression market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.08 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancement in lightweight engine suppression systems, increased adoption in next-generation fighter aircraft and UAVs, integration with automated thermal management solutions, growth in naval vessel infrared suppression, development of modular IR suppression kits for field retrofitting. Major trends in the forecast period include advanced exhaust cooling technologies, integration of thermal barrier coatings, development of hybrid infrared suppression systems, platform-specific infrared signature reduction, increased focus on marine and naval infrared suppression.

The increasing deployment of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to drive growth in the military engine infrared suppression market. UAVs, which operate without onboard pilots through remote control or autonomous systems, are often employed in high-risk missions where human presence is limited or unsafe. Military engine infrared suppression improves UAV survivability by lowering engine heat signatures, making them less detectable to infrared-guided missiles and thermal sensors. For example, in May 2024, the International Trade Administration, a US-based government agency, reported that the global number of commercially used drones is expected to increase by 40% between 2022 and 2030. Thus, the growing deployment of military UAVs is fueling growth in the military engine infrared suppression market.

The rise in global defense budgets is expected to support growth in the military engine infrared suppression (IRSS) market. Increased defense spending is driven by rising geopolitical tensions, as countries allocate more resources to modernize military capabilities and ensure national security amid regional conflicts or global threats. Higher defense budgets allow governments to invest in advanced technologies and equip military vehicles and aircraft with systems that reduce engine heat signatures, thereby enhancing survivability against infrared-guided threats. Rising geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts have led many countries to increase funding for the research, development, and deployment of IRSS solutions. For instance, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based independent security resource, reported that total global military expenditure reached $2.44 trillion in 2023, representing a 6.8% real-term increase compared to 2022. Therefore, expanding defense budgets are driving growth in the military engine infrared suppression market.

Leading companies in the military engine infrared suppression market are developing innovative solutions such as infrared signature suppression systems to enhance aircraft survivability and reduce detectability by heat-seeking threats. Infrared signature suppression encompasses technologies designed to lower the heat emissions of military engines or vehicles, making them harder to detect by infrared sensors and heat-seeking missiles. For example, in July 2025, the UK Chinook Mk 6, a UK-based heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter, completed its first flight equipped with an advanced infrared suppression system (IRSS) to reduce its infrared signature and improve survivability against heat-seeking missiles. This system modifies the helicopter’s exhaust using extended exhaust mounts that cool and disperse engine heat, significantly lowering its thermal footprint detectable by such threats. This greatly enhances the helicopter’s survivability and crew safety in hostile environments, ensuring the Chinook remains an effective and resilient asset for transport and tactical missions in modern high-threat combat zones.

Major companies operating in the military engine infrared suppression market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Electric Company, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems plc, Collins Aerospace, Safran Electronics & Defense, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, L3 Technologies, Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., MTU Aero Engines AG, Teledyne FLIR LLC, Israel Aerospace Industries, Indra Sistemas S.A., Saab AB, Hensoldt AG, Chemring Group PLC, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, W.R. Davis Engineering Limited, Decimin Control Systems.

North America was the largest region in the military engine infrared suppression market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the military engine infrared suppression 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 have impacted the military engine infrared suppression market by increasing the cost of importing advanced components and materials, particularly affecting segments like thermal barrier coatings and exhaust systems. Regions with high manufacturing dependency on international suppliers, such as North America and Europe, have experienced supply chain disruptions and cost escalations. While tariffs have posed challenges by slowing procurement and raising prices, they have also encouraged manufacturers to invest in localized production and innovation, potentially strengthening domestic capabilities and reducing long-term dependency on imports.

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

Military engine infrared suppression refers to techniques used to reduce engine heat signatures in military vehicles to avoid detection by enemy infrared sensors and heat-seeking weapons. This is achieved through methods such as exhaust cooling, thermal shielding, and specialized nozzles. These measures enhance stealth, survivability, and protection against infrared-guided threats in aircraft, tanks, helicopters, and naval vessels.

The primary component types of military engine infrared suppression systems include exhaust systems, coatings, heat shields, cooling systems, and other related components. Exhaust systems are designed to control, route, and cool engine exhaust gases to minimize infrared emissions that could be detected by hostile sensors. Suppression technologies include passive suppression, active suppression, and hybrid systems, which are implemented across various platforms, including airborne, naval, and land-based systems. Applications mainly include combat aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other platforms.

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

The military engine infrared suppression market consists of sales of the C-130J infrared suppression system, marine exhaust systems IRSS, and davis engineering infrared suppressors. 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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