Military antennas play a crucial role in various defense platforms, including naval airborne and land-based systems. These antennas are also utilized in a wide range of applications such as navigation, communication, electronic warfare, and surveillance. The antenna is an essential device that is capable of both receiving and transmitting electrical signals. These signals are typically in the form of television and radio waves. The key function of an antenna is to convert radio frequency into alternating current, thus serving as a translator for these signals.
Military antennas are specifically designed to meet the operational needs of military and government agencies worldwide. They play a vital role in establishing communication links between different countries. These antennas are commonly employed in naval vessels, armored vehicles, military aircraft, and ships to facilitate accurate tracking, improved surveillance, and effective communication.
Industry Overview and Market Drivers
The global military antenna market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR of 5.7% by 2030. The military antennas utilized by defense forces globally utilize active phased array technology to provide detailed surveillance images of targeted areas. This has resulted in an increased demand for air defense systems worldwide and is expected to propel the military antenna market. Additionally, the substitution of traditional equipment with advanced technology and the growing government spending on military applications present market opportunities for key industry players. However, communication and high costs related to infrastructure development and maintenance are anticipated to the growth of the military antenna market. There are three main types of military antennas airborne, ground, and marine. These antennas serve various applications including communication, SATCOM (Satellite Communication), electronic warfare, surveillance, and navigation.
The leading players operating in the military antenna market are Alaris Holdings, Amphenol Corporation, Antcom, Antenna Products Corporation, AVL Technologies, Inc., Barker & Williamson, Cobham Aerospace Communications, Comrod Communication AS., Eylex Pty Ltd., Hascall-Denke, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, M.T.I Wireless Edge Ltd., Mobile Mark, Inc., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rohde & Schwarz, and Southwest Antennas. The rise in government expenditure for military applications creates market opportunities for the key players operating in the market. The government supports the military antenna market by introducing budgets in the defense sector. For instance, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget for the year 2024-25. The total allocation of INR 6, 21,541 crore ($74.7 billion) to the Ministry of Defence. Representing an increase of 4.7% over the previous allocations.
The growing inventory of newly introduced airborne platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles, fourth-, fifth--, and sixth-generation fighter aircraft, and helicopters is one of the major drivers for the market growth. It has these applications that support anti-submarine warfare, air-to-ground support, and air defense. The demand for military antennas has been further boosted by the introduction of missiles, such as beyond-visual-range missiles and anti-radiation missiles.
Additionally, the incorporation of advanced RF ((Radio Frequency) technology, in various electronic equipment, is enabling the market players to introduce advanced military electronics and improve over the competitors. For instance, in January 2021, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Raytheon Technologies, was awarded a contract to develop a phased array antenna. This antenna is designed to unlock new capabilities in the millimeter-wave portion of the radio frequency spectrum for small, mobile platforms such as aircraft. The millimeter-wave part of the spectrum offers less congestion compared to other parts of the RF spectrum in military battleground scenarios.
Furthermore, in August 2021, Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced a hybrid antenna designed for 5G, radar, and remote sensing applications. The Wide Angle ESA Fed Reflector (WAEFR) antenna, combines the capabilities of a phased array Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) and with those of a parabolic dish. This innovative design resulted in a 190.0% increase in coverage area compared to traditional phased array antennas, all at a significantly reduced cost. Additionally, the advent of 5G technologies has improved connectivity, faster and moving towards more reliable networks, and enhanced data capabilities, offering valuable support to customers navigating the complexities of 21st-century warfare.
Modern military forces depend heavily on the antenna design for surveillance, electronic countermeasures, navigation, weapon control, and communication. The antenna is a basic requirement for military applications including low profile, high efficiency, wide frequency band, highly integrated, and conformability to the host platforms.
The demand for mobile military terminals is on the rise, with the MONDO (Multi Orbit Network, Dual Operation) terminal being ideal for this application. Upgrading existing military terminals to the capabilities offered by the MONDO design would provide multi-network capability. The generations of the MONDO terminal will feature multi-band capability, allowing for seamless communication with multiple satellites simultaneously. This increased adaptability ensures high availability rates and the ability to switch communication from one satellite to another when necessary. Factors such as the increasing threat of terrorism, border security, and troop transportation are driving the need for advanced military aircraft support. Additionally, the growing demand for electronic warfare systems is also contributing to the expansion of the military antenna market across different regions.
In a nutshell, the military antenna market has significant growth attributing to various factors, including increased demand for smart and advanced communication systems, technological advancements, and rising defense budgets in nations. The development of innovative and more efficient antennas capable of providing better reliable communication drives market growth. Additionally, the growing focus on network-centric warfare and modernization of military infrastructure contributes to the expansion of the market. However, the high cost associated with the development and maintenance of military antennas is restraining the market growth. The continuous advancements in the industry will boost the military antenna market globally.