Directed Energy Weapons Market Report 2025

The directed energy weapons market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $7.01 billion in 2024 to $8.76 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to emerging threats and security challenges, military modernization and defense budgets, geopolitical tensions, increased protection against drones and missiles, and non-lethal crowd control.

The directed energy weapons market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.07 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to cybersecurity and electromagnetic spectrum protection, increasing non-lethal civilian applications, increasing defense against hypersonic threats, commercial and civilian market expansion, and energy efficiency and cost reduction. Major trends in the forecast period include international arms control agreements, technological innovations, innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and advancements in energy weapon technologies.

The increasing modernization and investment in military platforms are driving the growth of the directed energy weapons market. A global power struggle is ongoing, necessitating modernization and enhanced investment in military and defense capabilities. Every nation aims to maintain its dominance and compete effectively, leading them to adopt advanced and modern weapons, including directed energy weapons. For example, in April 2024, Truthout, a California-based non-profit organization, reported that global military expenditure reached a record high of $916 billion in 2023, reflecting a 2.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. China alone invested an estimated $296 billion in its military. Additionally, data on U.S. military spending in 2023 indicated that militarized programs accounted for 62% of the nation's federal discretionary budget, leaving less than half for domestic priorities such as healthcare, housing, nutrition assistance, and education. Therefore, such military and defense investments are expected to drive the directed energy weapons market forward.

The increase in terrorist activities is anticipated to drive the growth of the directed energy weapons market in the future. Terrorist activities are defined as acts of violence or intimidation conducted by individuals or groups to instill fear, coerce, or effect political change through unlawful means. Directed energy weapons provide an accurate and swift method to counteract terrorist threats, effectively neutralizing dangers while minimizing collateral damage and enhancing security measures. For example, in April 2023, The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a bipartisan international organization based in Sweden, reported a 3.7% rise in global military expenditure in 2022, reaching a record high of $2.24 trillion. Military spending in Europe increased by 13 percent during that year, with the United States, China, and Russia together accounting for 56 percent of the total. Consequently, the rise in terrorist activities is fueling the growth of the directed energy weapons market.

Technological advancement, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence, is a prominent trend in the directed energy weapons market. Major companies in the sector are focusing on developing weapons equipped with artificial intelligence to enable comprehensive networking of command, control, and communication for advanced weapons like hypersonic weapons. In June 2022, Chinese military researchers claimed to have developed artificial intelligence technology capable of predicting the trajectory of hypersonic glide missiles, enhancing the efficiency and capabilities of such weapons. This trend underlines the importance of technological advancements in shaping the landscape of directed energy weapons.

Major players in the directed energy weapons market are strategically forming partnerships to drive revenue growth and enhance their market presence. These collaborations provide opportunities for directed energy weapons firms to access complementary technologies, expand their market reach, and foster innovation, thereby gaining a competitive advantage. An example of this strategic approach is evident in the collaboration between BAE Systems PLC, a UK-based security and aerospace company, and Thales UK, a UK-based aerospace and defense company. This collaboration, known as Project Tracey, was established in 2023 with the aim of developing the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) capability as part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Novel Weapons Program. The project focuses on creating and testing advanced prototypes for the Royal Navy, including user trials on a Type 23 frigate starting in 2023. The LDEW system is designed for detecting, tracking, engaging, and defending against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The consortium leading the laser technology aspect of this initiative includes BAE Systems, Chess Dynamics, Vision4CE, and IPG. BAE Systems will support Thales UK as the platform and combat system integrator, leveraging their expertise in synthetic training, modeling, combat systems, and platform integration to position the Royal Navy at the forefront of operational integration of these innovative weapons.

In May 2024, EDGE, a defense company based in the UAE, acquired CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to strengthen EDGE's portfolio in the defense sector by incorporating CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies' innovative solutions, thereby enhancing its capabilities in delivering advanced non-lethal defense systems and broadening its market presence within the security and defense landscape. CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies is a Brazil-based firm that produces defense equipment.

Major companies operating in the directed energy weapons market include Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Boeing Co., BAE Systems PLC, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Rheinmetall AG, Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A., QinetiQ, General Atomics, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Dynetics Inc., Kord Technologies Inc., Applied Research Associates Inc., BlueHalo LLC, Radiance Technologies Inc., Saab AB, Textron Inc., Moog Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc.

Directed energy weapons are systems that employ energy directly to disable, harm, or destroy enemy facilities, equipment, and troops. These weapons utilize technologies that focus electromagnetic energy or generate atomic or subatomic particles. High-powered radio frequency or microwave devices, charged or neutral particle beam weapons, and high-energy lasers are examples of directed energy weapons.

These weapons can be classified into two main types such as lethal weapons and non-lethal weapons. Lethal weapons encompass firearms or devices capable of causing significant physical harm or death, including nuclear weapons, rifles, submarines, and others. The technologies involved in lethal directed energy weapons include high-energy lasers, high-power microwave systems, electromagnetic devices, and sonic technologies. These weapons are deployed by land, airborne, and naval military and defense forces.

The directed energy weapons market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides directed energy weapons market statistics, including directed energy weapons industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a directed energy weapons market share, detailed directed energy weapons market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the directed energy weapons industry. This directed energy weapons market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

North America was the largest region in the directed energy weapons market share in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in directed energy weapons market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

The countries covered in the directed energy weapons market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

The directed energy weapons market consists of sales of particle beam and plasma. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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