30 Jan
2025
Key takeaways:
Modern wars and violent conflicts aren’t limited to air, sea, and land, but are also fought in dimensions of cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. Electronic warfare involves using various electromagnetic signals and energy pulses to disrupt enemy operations, damage infrastructure, and weaken adversary capabilities. As per the Defense Research and Development Organization, India’s premier military R&D organization, electronic warfare also incorporates exploiting enemies’ EM spectrum to gain intelligence on their battle order, intentions, and capabilities. Moreover, activities such as electronic masking, infrared and radio frequency countermeasures, anti-jamming, and electronic security also come under the umbrella term of ‘electronic warfare’.
Recent advancements in radar technology creating new investment opportunities
In the last few years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, several international hostilities have emerged between Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Iran, India-China, and Armenia-Azerbaijan. These increasing numbers of geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, wars, and border disputes have played an important role in the growth of the electronic warfare industry. Along with this, the growing threat of terrorism has further led to countries upgrading their military and counterterrorism capabilities to protect their territorial integrity and provide safety to their citizens. As a result of these factors, the sector, which accounted for $15,811.4 million in 2020, is anticipated to gather a revenue of $23,560.4 million in 2028, citing a CAGR of 5.6% during 2021-2028.
One major area where developed countries such as the US, China, India, and Russia are increasingly focusing on is that of radar technology. Governments in these nations have invested heavily in defense projects that aim to integrate modern technologies into radar equipment. Furthermore, private companies specializing in this segment have also been engaged in R&D activities to design state-of-the-art air traffic control and radar systems. Recently, businesses have developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar solutions that are capable of steering beams electronically without moving the antennae physically. These machines have increased power on target and higher spatial resolution that allows them to operate even if one array fails. Moreover, the use of Gallium Nitride (GaN) amplifiers in these radars has significantly improved their performance and resilience, thus creating new investment opportunities in the industry.
Growing emphasis on RF surveillance impacting the industry positively
Along with radar technology, telecommunication companies have started developing new-age RF surveillance systems to secure critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, military bases, government facilities, dams, etc. The advent of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning has further contributed to the expansion of this sector. AI-based tools and algorithms are deployed to enable firms to detect threats proactively, thus offering a comprehensive security framework. The ML algorithms embedded in these surveillance devices aid users in analyzing vast amounts of data and forecasting attacks precisely, thereby improving the overall situational awareness and operational efficiency of the defense forces.
Moreover, several companies have launched innovative products to cater to the evolving dynamics of the industry and expand their footprint in the landscape. For instance, in June 2024, ELDAAS Technologies, a major defense technology company, unveiled Spandana, a new ground surveillance radar system at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2024. Featuring Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), this product makes use of AI-based tools to detect and prioritize targets in real time. Spandana operates in the C-band frequency range and has a detection precision of less than 1 meter, thus making it one of the most advanced radar systems in the electronic warfare industry.
Similarly, in August 2024, HawkEye 360 Inc., a radio frequency (RF) data analytics solutions developer, announced the launch of its Cluster 10 satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 Rideshare mission. The company released a press statement highlighting that the three Cluster 10 satellites will significantly enhance the RF surveillance capabilities and help HawkEye 360 Inc. provide advanced geolocation services to its clients. Moreover, the launch is predicted to establish the enterprise as a major provider of maritime domain awareness and terrestrial-monitoring solutions in the coming period.
To sum it up, the electronic warfare market is expected to witness huge growth in the near future due to the increasing investments in the development of advanced radar systems. Furthermore, the rising focus on R&D activities related to RF surveillance systems and the launch of innovative products by multinational corporations is estimated to accelerate the industry’s growth and success.
Contact our experts for insights on the growth drivers and investment opportunities in the sector
Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar
Author's Bio- Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar holds a bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering from the reputed Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. He has a special interest in the fields of forensics, world history, international relations and foreign policy, sports, agriculture, astronomy, security, and oceanography. An ardent bibliophile and melophile, Akhilesh loves to write on topics of his interest and various other societal issues. This love for writing made him enter the professional world of content writing and pursue his career in this direction.
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