Artificial Intelligence in Defense and Security Market Report 2026

The artificial intelligence in defense and security market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $14.15 billion in 2025 to $15.96 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to implementation of autonomous weapon systems, use of ai-powered command and control systems, adoption of predictive maintenance solutions, deployment of facial and biometric recognition systems, investments in mission planning support services.

The artificial intelligence in defense and security market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $25.58 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of real-time AI threat analysis, integration of autonomous systems across multiple defense domains, growth in ai-assisted logistics and supply chain optimization, adoption of ai-driven simulation and training platforms, increasing demand for interoperable ai defense networks. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of ai-powered threat detection systems, growth in predictive maintenance for defense assets, expansion of ai-enabled autonomous security platforms, increasing use of ai-driven intelligence and analysis tools, integration of simulation-based ai training programs.

Rising defense budgets are expected to drive growth in the artificial intelligence in defense and security market. Defense budgets refer to government financial allocations for military operations, equipment, personnel, and related activities. Budgets are increasing due to rising geopolitical tensions, prompting nations to strengthen military capabilities and ensure national security. Higher defense budgets support artificial intelligence in defense and security by funding AI research, development, and deployment in areas such as surveillance, autonomous systems, and threat detection. For example, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based non-government organization, reported that global military spending in 2023 reached $2.44 trillion, a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022. Consequently, increasing defense budgets are expected to propel the artificial intelligence in defense and security market.

Key companies in the artificial intelligence in defense and security market are developing advanced solutions such as automated AI engines to enhance decision-making speed, operational efficiency, and threat detection capabilities. An automated AI engine is a self-learning system that autonomously processes large volumes of data, analyzes patterns, and makes real-time decisions or predictions without constant human oversight. For instance, in November 2025, Tidal Cyber Inc., a US-based cybersecurity company, launched NARC (natural attack reading and comprehension) to improve threat intelligence by automating the analysis of cyberattack data. It transforms unstructured cyber threat intelligence into structured, actionable knowledge by extracting adversary procedures and mapping them to the MITRE ATT&CK framework. This automation accelerates threat analysis, reduces manual effort, and creates a rich, interconnected threat intelligence base, providing security teams with faster, more accurate insights for improved detection, incident response, and proactive cyber defense.

In April 2024, Shield AI Inc., a US-based aerospace and defense technology company, acquired Sentient Vision Systems Pty Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition aims to strengthen Shield AI Inc.’s AI-driven autonomous systems by integrating Sentient Vision Systems’ advanced wide-area motion imagery technology, expanding capabilities and market presence in Australia to support allied defense operations. Sentient Vision Systems Pty Ltd. is an Australia-based software company specializing in artificial intelligence for defense and security.

Major companies operating in the artificial intelligence in defense and security market are Microsoft Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Broadcom Inc., BAE Systems Plc, NVIDIA Corporation, Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A., Leidos Holdings Inc., Palo Alto Networks Inc., Juniper Networks Inc., Fortinet Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Palantir Technologies Inc., Trellix Corporation, RSA Security LLC, Shield AI Inc., Charle's River Analytics Inc.

North America was the largest region in the artificial intelligence in defense and security market in 2025. The regions covered in the artificial intelligence in defense and security 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 semiconductor components, sensors, storage devices, and communication hardware have increased production costs across AI-enabled defense and security systems, particularly impacting hardware-intensive segments in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Supply chain delays driven by tariffs have slowed deployment timelines for surveillance platforms and autonomous security systems. However, tariffs have also encouraged domestic sourcing, stimulated investment in local semiconductor ecosystems, and strengthened regional manufacturing resilience, creating long-term strategic advantages for defense suppliers.

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

Artificial intelligence in defense and security refers to the use of intelligent systems and algorithms to enhance military and homeland security capabilities. It facilitates autonomous operations, real-time threat analysis, and improved situational awareness, enabling faster and more accurate decision-making.

The key components of artificial intelligence in defense and security are hardware, software, and services. Hardware includes the physical devices and equipment that support AI systems, such as sensors, processors, servers, and communication tools. Software technologies include machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and others, which are applied in training and simulation solutions such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) training modules, adaptive learning technologies, simulation-based training environments, AI-driven decision-making simulations, and multinational training exercises. Applications of AI in this sector cover surveillance and monitoring, threat detection and prevention, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, intelligence and analysis, and more.

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

The artificial intelligence in defense and security market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as predictive maintenance, logistics and supply chain optimization, training and simulation, and mission planning support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The artificial intelligence in the defense and security market also includes sales of AI-powered command and control systems, autonomous weapon systems, and facial and biometric recognition 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 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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