Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Platform (Airborne, Land Vehicles), Product (Non-Lethal, Lethal), Technology, and By Geography

Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Platform (Airborne, Land Vehicles), Product (Non-Lethal, Lethal), Technology, and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market is accounted for $4.30 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $16.05 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 20.7% during the forecast period. It is a system that uses directed energy to obliterate or damage enemy workforce, facilities, and equipment. The use of DEW’s on humans is to control chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. It has several advantages and capabilities over traditional weapons such as speed of light delivery, precision engagement, logistical benefits, and controlled effects. It utilize highly focused energy beams of laser and microwaves to counter missiles, glide vehicles, naval vessels, aircraft, UAVs, etc. DEW is divided into dissimilar types of weapons technologies such as laser, particle beam, high-power sonic, and high-power microwave.

Increasing instances of extremist attacks and several territorial disputes in different parts of the world, thus, increasing the demand for military weapons, further boosts its market growth. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, a total of 8,302 terrorist attacks occurred globally, resulting in 25,082 deaths and 19,924 injuries in 2019. Huge investments are being made in the R&D as well as demonstration and testing of lethal directed energy weapons. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total global military expenditure increased to $1981 billion last year, an increase of 2.6 percent in real terms from 2019.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Increasing modernization and investments in military platforms

The rising focus of defense forces across the globe on modernizing their military electronic warfare and defense systems and increasing investments being made by respective governing bodies towards military aid, will propel the market growth. The military & defence is expected to be a major directed energy weapons consumer. Lasers, high-power microwaves, and electromagnetic weapons are being utilised to protect against threats such as ballistic missiles, anti-satellite weapons, and nuclear weapons, among others, which is projected to fuel the market's expansion. For instance, in 2020, according to International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), defense spending across the globe was estimated to be over USD 1,830 billion, an increase of 3.9% as compared to the 2019 spending. This could be due to rising conflicts between countries, leading to the strengthening of their defense forces. Moreover, in the past years, over nine major international conflicts, including the Syrian Civil War, the Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict, US-Iran tensions, and India-China tensions, were witnesses that may support the deployment of directed energy weapon solutions in combat forces.

Restraint:

Limitations on anti-personnel lasers

DEW’s are not legitimately defined under international law, nor are they presently on the agenda of any existing polygonal device. However, there are a numeral of legal regimes that would apply to DEW’s. The prospect of DEW’s raises questions for numerous bodies of international law, most eminently those that place limitations on the use of force. a few DEWs are classified as ‘nonlethal’ or ‘less-lethal’ weapons, with proponents setting them apart from ‘lethal’ weapons. Low-energy laser weapon systems are one of the most contentious topics in defense, as they may be used for anti-personnel purposes. The use of blinding weapons was banned in 1995 by the UN decision (protocol on blinding laser weapons (1995), annexed to the framework convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons (CCW)).

Opportunity:

Increase in R&D in advanced technologies

Enhanced system consistency is a vital factor in the miscellany of DEW by any country. The amalgamation of advanced hardware units help to collect and distribute ability across diverse defense platforms like combat vehicles. These DEW’s are deployed in tactical locations to augment detection rates. State-of-the-art directed energy weapons with high accuracy have led countries with border disputes and regional threats to rely on these advanced directed energy weapons to help in border protection. Therefore, increasing R&D in advanced directed energy weapons technologies is providing a wide range of opportunities in defense sector applications.

Threat:

Increased barriers in designing military DEW systems

Difficulty in the design of directed energy weapon systems used by the defense industry has augmented, ensuing in increased difficulties of the weapon systems. The need for directed energy weapon system components offering parallel operations with lower power utilization, with size and weight reduction, in the defense industry has resulted in increased difficulty of the design of directed energy weapon systems. Conversely, uninterrupted upgrades in military electronics need modern directed energy weapon systems to match the design requirements of this electronic equipment and systems. It is a big challenge for vendors to keep pace with the altering process and technological developments and to be on par with technical breakthroughs to design advanced and intricate architectures appropriate for military systems and equipment manufacturers. Failure to do so might decrease the number of agreements, contracts, and licenses and, in turn, affect the overall recital of directed energy weapon systems in terms of efficiency and reliability.

The naval/ship-based segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The naval/ship-based segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth owing to the plans of various governments to introduce DEW’s onboard combat ships like destroyers and frigates to neutralize enemy ships, UAVs, and missiles. Naval-DEW systems are weapons that are employed in naval applications, such as combat ships, submarines, and unmanned surface vehicles. Defense ships are specifically designed for use by coast guards and naval forces to ensure the security of water borders. The US Navy has been investing in the induction of directed energy weapons onboard the fleet of naval vessels for more than five years.

The high energy laser segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The high energy laser segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR growth during the forecast period, due to higher applicability, growing investment in the R&D, the easy installation, and low power consumption of high energy laser weapons,. High energy laser technology was one of the most applicable and preferred technology among other technology for DEW development. Compared to conventional ordnance, they have next to zero time of flight, which allows for a longer decision time and a quicker reaction time.

Region with highest share:

North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period, due to rising expenditure on research & development in the defense sector, rising R&D activities, and the adoption of advanced laser systems for military operations. Furthermore, the presence of key players such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, and others propels the growth of the market. The US and Canadian defense departments are involved in the development of technologically advanced directed energy weapon platforms such as high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves.

Region with highest CAGR:

Asia Pacific is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, due to the growing defense expenditure from countries such as India, China, South Korea, and others, se in the spending for the modernization of their armed forces, and procurement of advanced weapons from Asia countries due to increasing terrorist activities, political unrest, and cross border conflicts. The demand for directed energy weapons market has increased in recent years, due to the rapid economic development and increasing security threats, across Asia-Pacific region and the increase in border disputes. The military spending of China, Japan, and India has been increasing in recent years due to increased possibilities of being targeted by terrorist attacks. India is expected to develop directed energy weapons (DEW) production in the coming years to improve anti-ballistic missile capability. Over the forecast period, India is expected to appear with a strong defense system.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Market include Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Thales Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems PLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Textron Inc., The Boeing Company, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Moog Inc., Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., QinetiQ, MBDA Missile Systems, Honeywell International Inc., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Skyworks Solutions, Inc., and Leonardo Electronics US Inc.

Key Developments:

In Dec 2020, Boeing upgraded and delivered the first batch of previously deployed Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) units to the US Department of Defense (DoD) customer – increasing its maximum beam power and reliability. Boeing expects to complete upgrades on the remaining units and deliver them in the first quarter of 2021.

In Aug 2019, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies signed a contract of worth USD 490 million with the U.S. army to build a 50-kilowatt-class laser weapon for Stryker combat vehicles for the Short-Range Air Defense mission.

In Nov 2017, Lockheed Martin Corporation signed a contract of worth USD 26.3 million with Air Force Research Lab. The company will deal as part of its Selfprotect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program for the design, development and production of a high-power fiber laser directed energy weapon for fighter aircraft.

Platforms Covered:
• Airborne
• Space
• Gunshot
• Land Vehicles
• Naval/Ship-Based

Products Covered:
• Non-Lethal Weapons
• Lethal Weapons

Ranges Covered:
• More Than 1 KM
• Less Than 1 KM

Technologies Covered:
• High Power Radio Frquency (Microwave Weapons)
• High-Power Sonic Weapons
• High Energy Laser
• Lower Energy Laser weapons
• Electromagnetic Weapons

Components Covered:
• Terminals, Splices and Wire Caps
• Power Feeders and Environmental Sealing Protection
• High-Voltage Relays, Contractors, and Switches
• MIL-SPEC Connectors

Power Covered:
• More Than 100KW
• Up To 100 KW

Applications Covered:
• Military & Defense
• Target Personnel
• Optical Devices
• Missiles
• Mixed Operations
• Homeland Security

End Users Covered:
• Airforce
• Navy
• Army
• Space Force

Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:
All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:
• Company Profiling
Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
• Regional Segmentation
Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances