Airborne ISR Market Report 2025

This Airborne ISR market report covers market characteristics, size & growth, segmentation, regional & country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The airborne ISR market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $29.72 billion in 2024 to $31.78 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to military conflicts, geopolitical tensions, rise in defense budgets, threat of terrorism, government initiatives.

The airborne ISR market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $41.62 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to demand for persistent surveillance, economic growth, environmental monitoring, rise in military modernization. Major trends in the forecast period include miniaturization and micro uavs, autonomous and ai-enabled systems, hyperspectral and multispectral imaging, space-based isr, data fusion and integration.

The growing threats of terror attacks are expected to drive the demand for airborne ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems. Terrorist attacks involve violence perpetrated by individuals or groups with the aim of instilling fear within the population and furthering specific political objectives. With an increase in such attacks globally, there is a heightened need for airborne ISR systems. Governments and various security agencies are investing significantly in technologically advanced systems to detect and prevent potential terrorist threats, aiming to maintain peace and security. Notably, data from the Institute for Economics and Peace in March 2023 indicated that terrorist attacks became more lethal in 2022, averaging 1.7 deaths per attack, up from 1.3 deaths per attack in 2021. This rise in the severity of attacks underlines the escalating need for airborne ISR systems and software to combat these threats effectively.

The growing number of IoT devices is expected to enhance the growth of the airborne ISR market in the future. IoT devices are nonstandard computing devices that can wirelessly connect to a network and provide data. These devices can be integrated into airborne ISR systems to gather and transmit data from various sources, such as sensors, cameras, and other devices, to a central location for analysis. For example, a report published by Ericsson, a Sweden-based telecommunications company, noted that broadband IoT (4G/5G), which connects the majority of cellular IoT devices, reached 1.3 billion connections in 2022. By the end of 2028, nearly 60% of cellular IoT connections are expected to be broadband IoT connections, with 4G being the predominant technology. In terms of cellular IoT connections, North East Asia is currently leading the market; it is predicted to exceed 2 billion connections in 2023. Therefore, the increasing number of IoT devices is driving the growth of the airborne ISR market.

Rapid technological advancement is a significant trend gaining traction in the airborne ISR market. Major companies operating in this sector are concentrating on delivering technologically advanced solutions to meet the rapidly growing demand from end-users and to strengthen their market position worldwide. These companies are integrating next-generation airborne ISR systems and software technologies into their offerings, including artificial intelligence, big data analytics, robotics, satellite systems, evidence reporting, geothermal reporting, quantum technology, and more, to gather information about the enemy's strength, movements, and activities. For example, in July 2024, Viasat Inc., a US-based communication company, launched Air-IQ. This system enhances military situational awareness by providing users with reliable, real-time intelligence, enabling swift and informed decision-making on the battlefield. Its robust ISR connectivity offers a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the battlefield, giving military personnel a critical advantage exactly when and where it is needed most. This capability reduces risk, enhances mission success, and complies with the highest security standards.

Key players in the airborne ISR market are actively innovating, developing cutting-edge products such as superior aerial ISR to operate effectively in peer-to-peer and near-peer environments. Superior Aerial ISR, which stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, involves advanced capabilities in collecting and analyzing real-time spatial, high-altitude, aerial, and terrestrial data for military applications. For example, in April 2022, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a US-based aerospace and national security contractor specializing in aircraft modification and integration, introduced RAPCON-X, an aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AISR) jet platform. This platform boasts superior range, endurance, and operational flexibility, enhancing survivability and mission effectiveness. Notably, it can be easily reconfigured based on specific mission needs without requiring a complete aircraft redesign. RAPCON-X is engineered for ASE (Airborne Sensor and Electronic warfare) installation, self-contained, and fully mission-capable without the need for special support equipment.

In a strategic move in October 2022, Leidos, a US-based company with expertise in defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research, acquired Cobham Aviation Services for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition marks Leidos' entry into the Australian aviation market, leveraging state-of-the-art command and control systems and sensors aboard aircraft to deliver mission-critical outcomes for the Australian Government. Cobham Aviation Services, an Australia-based scheduled and charter airline company, has expanded its capabilities to include airborne surveillance and search and rescue missions.

Major companies operating in the airborne isr market include Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., The Boeing Company, Elbit Systems Ltd., Textron Inc., Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A., Safran Group, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Leidos Holdings Inc., FLIR Systems Inc., Airbus SE, General Dynamics Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Mercury Systems Inc., AeroVironment Inc., PAL Aerospace Ltd., Israel Military Industries Ltd., Sierra Nevada Corporation, Insitu Inc., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, RADA Electronic Industries Ltd., Top Aces Inc., CACI International Inc.

Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) encompass both hardware and software systems designed to procure accurate and real-time intelligence on adversary forces, employing advanced technologies to identify and mitigate potential threats. The primary objective of airborne ISR is to gather information about enemy activities, observing their behavior and monitoring their movements. The strategic utilization of ISR data can offer early warning of potential threats, enabling military forces to enhance their efficiency and coordination.

The key components of airborne ISR solutions include systems, software, and services. Airborne ISR systems involve the integration of hardware into military and civilian aircraft, facilitating on-board and off-board collection of targeting data for customized airborne mission systems. Deployed on military aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned systems, these solutions serve defense and homeland security purposes, supporting activities such as search and rescue operations, border and maritime patrol, target acquisition and tracking, critical infrastructure protection, and tactical support.

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

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

The countries covered in the airborne ISR market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA.

The airborne ISR market consists of sales of airborne ISR platform including fixed wing or airships and rotary wing. 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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