Remote Weapon Systems Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Remote Weapon Systems Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The Remote Weapon Systems market is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 12.48% during the forecast period.

The remote weapon systems market has witnessed steady growth during the pandemic period. The defense sector across the globe has faced certain challenges during the lockdowns including production halts, and delayed procurement contracts from the defense forces. On the other hand, some the countries such as China, the U.S., and others have increased their defense expenditure and increased procurement of next generations weapon systems. The defense industry across the globe recovering from the COVID-19 impact and started investments in developing advanced remote weapon systems.

The use of remote weapon stations has grown over the recent past, particularly driven by the growth in asymmetric warfare. Non-state actors have started employing the techniques and tactics of asymmetric warfare, and conventional forces require new capabilities to become successful in modern combat situations and post-conflict scenarios. In this regard, the use of remote weapon systems is becoming widespread in several anti-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations.

There have been several advancements in RWS and unmanned turrets in recent years, ranging from the protection of the systems and lethality to the support of larger calibers. Such developments are expected to help the growth in the procurement of new weapon systems and upgrades of the existing platforms in the years to come.

Though RWS acts as a viable option for providing defensive firepower to the armed forces, there are certain installation and operational challenges that are influencing the global militaries to prefer manned turrets over remote weapons. However, addressing some of these design issues is not expected to be a tedious task, especially with the amount of research that is being done on the remote weapon systems market.

Key Market TrendsThe Land Segment is Projected to Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

The land segment is anticipated to show the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The land segment encompasses the RWS that is stationary and mounted on land vehicles. The increase in attacks on military bases and outposts in the recent past has increased the demand for remotely operated stationary weapon stations for protecting vulnerable areas. In February 2021, The UK defense ministry signed a contract worth USD 252.3 million with Thales Group to provide a remote weapon system for the British Army’s Boxer armored vehicles.

Despite the Land segment being expected to dominate the market during the forecast period, currently, the airborne segment had the largest share in the RWS market in 2021. While many countries have dedicated attack helicopters that possess a wide range of armaments, including the RWS, the weapon systems are also attached to utility and transport helicopters. Customization of aircraft to include the RWS as a retrofit is being widely adopted by the countries that lack the funds for procuring dedicated attack helicopters, making the segment grab the highest market share currently.

Stationary Land RWS, especially sentry guns, are also being used to guard the borders of some countries. In addition, the growth in the procurement of armored vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles has necessitated the demand for the RWS installed on these ground vehicles. With the increasing adoption of unmanned land vehicles, high adoption of these systems is expected during the forecast period. All these factors are contributing to the growth of the land segment.

North America Held the Highest Market Share in 2021

The United States and Canada are avid users of remote weapon systems in North America. They are currently focusing on upgrading their existing vehicle fleet and their corresponding capabilities. The United States allocated a defense budget of USD 801 billion in 2021, with which the country has been extensively upgrading its existing weapon systems. In August 2021, the U.S. Army has issued a solicitation for the procurement of remote weapons systems installed on stationary platforms and mobile. The RWS program is for five years with a total investment of USD 1.49 billion.

The need for upgrading the capabilities of the existing fleet to counter emerging threats has resulted in a flurry of contracts being awarded to cater to the diversified needs of the armed forces. In May 2021, Kongsberg‘s defense and aerospace business segment has signed a modification contract worth USD 499.1 million from the United States Army for work in support of a weapon station system installed on armored vehicles and used by the defense forces for target identification and engagement. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) stated that the modification for the remotely operated weapon station is expected to be completed by September 2023. In October 2021, The United States Marine Corps (USMC) signed a contract worth USD 94 million with Kongsberg Protech Systems USA to deliver remote weapon systems (RWS) as part of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) program.

Such procurement programs, along with other upgrade programs, are anticipated to be initiated in the upcoming period and are envisioned to enhance the business prospects of the North American remote weapon systems market during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The remote weapon systems market is fragmented due to the presence of many global as well as regional defense manufacturers and suppliers that cater to the requirements of remote weapon systems of armed forces around the world. About 13 players in the market account for approximately 50% of the market share. Thales Group, BAE Systems PLC, Rheinmetall AG, Leonardo SpA, and ASELSAN AS are the dominant players in the market. Some of the other prominent players in the local and regional markets are China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation Limited, Rostec State Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries, Patria, and KMW+Nexter Defense Systems, among others. With the growing demand for remote-control weapon systems, the innovation of new systems with advanced sensor systems and optronic equipment in fire control systems to target, track, and hit the target is anticipated to increase, thereby helping the companies expand their geographical presence in emerging markets.

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