C4ISR Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

C4ISR Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The C4ISR market is estimated to reach about USD 65 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of close to 3.75% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

Though the global GDP shrank by more than 4% in 2020 due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global military spending increased by 2.6% to reach USD 1981 billion in 2020, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). However, defense spending might come down in the near future, due to the global economic turndown that is triggered by the pandemic. This is expected to challenge the growth of the C4ISR market during the forecast period.

On the other hand, the factors, like growing terrorism, threats from adversaries, and increasing global territorial tensions around the world, are propelling the militaries to enhance their battlefield data-sharing capabilities. The growing demand for asymmetric warfare, along with increasing demand for advanced technologies, like network-centric battle management and unmanned vehicles, is expected to accelerate the growth of the market during the forecast period.

There is a growing emphasis on increasing investments toward integrating advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence into C4ISR solutions to enhance the efficiency and situational awareness of military personnel. This is also expected to propel market growth in the coming years.

Key Market TrendsIncreasing Investments to Enhance the Space-based C4ISR Capabilities

With the emergence of several space-based systems that can replace the traditional C4ISR architecture, several countries are allocating certain expenditures into such programs in the defense spending plans. Space-based C4ISR capabilities have become important for the global armed forces, as they offer a technological edge over adversaries. The advent of small satellites that offer the same performance as compared to the traditional satellites while contributing to cost savings is driving the investments into the space-based C4ISR systems. The US government is currently planning to invest in the development of small satellite constellations into the low-earth orbit (LEO) to obtain enhanced space-based situational awareness capabilities. These investments are targeted to overcome the shortcomings of traditional large satellite and airborne sensors that cannot provide continuous surveillance. In January 2021, SpaceX’s rideshare carried small satellite technology demonstrations and payloads belonging to the US military. The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency is especially interested in lightweight laser communications terminals for the fleet of LEO satellites it plans to deploy over the next few years. Also, the advent of high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS), which incorporates the best aspects of terrestrial and satellite-based communication systems, bridged the gap between drones and satellites in terms of coverage and cost. In February 2021, India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced that it is developing a futuristic high altitude pseudo satellite with a local start-up company to enhance the C4ISR capabilities of the Indian armed forces. Such developments are expected to augment the prospects of the Space-based C4ISR segment during the forecast period.

North America Held the Largest Market Share in 2020

North America has the highest market share among all the regions in 2020 due to the huge emphasis of the US armed forces toward enhancing their C4ISR capabilities. The United States is the largest military spender in the world. In 2020, the military expenditure of the country grew by 4.4% to reach USD 778 billion, accounting for 39% of the total military expenditure in 2020, according to SIPRI. The US armed forces plan to enhance their C4ISR capabilities to obtain a decisive advantage over their adversaries amidst the ongoing race for technological superiority. Hence, the country is investing huge amounts into the development of advanced C4ISR solutions, which has become one of the key priorities of the warfare strategy of the United States. In July 2019, the US DoD redirected USD 282 million towards the ongoing ISR programs to close the current technological gaps in the sector. The funds are routed to a variety of programs, including artificial intelligence and developing bilateral networks to share ISR data with strategic partners. The US government is also focusing on the expansion and modernization of the existing fleet land, air, and sea platforms with advanced communication and situational awareness systems. For instance, in December 2020, the US Air Force released a draft solicitation for a potential USD 499 million programs to develop, test, demonstrate, integrate, and deliver prototypes in the areas of C4ISR using Agile procurement methods. Similarly, Canada also has plans to invest significantly in the procurement of battlespace situational awareness tools, navigation systems, and portable communications systems, among others, in the coming years. Such modernization plans to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces in the region are expected to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The C4ISR market is fragmented, with many international and regional players supporting the armed forces around the world. Some of the prominent players in the C4ISR market are Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc, Thales Group, and General Dynamics Corporation. The companies are formulating new strategies to expand their presence in various regions and capture new contracts from the armed forces. The players in the market are actively participating in forming JVs and partnerships with the local manufacturers to expand their presence in other regions. In addition to such plans, investments into R&D for the development of C4ISR systems that are integrated with technologies like AI and quantum networking are also anticipated to help the companies attract new customers and increase their share in the market in the coming years.

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Companies Mentioned

Lockheed Martin Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Elbit Systems Ltd
BAE Systems PLC
Saab AB
Thales Group
Raytheon Technologies Corporation
L3Harris Technologies Inc
CACI INTERNATIONAL INC.
General Dynamics Corporation
Honeywell International Inc.
The Boeing Company
Leidos
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd

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