Airborne Sensors Market Report 2025

The airborne sensors market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $10.57 billion in 2024 to $11.34 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to autonomous vehicles integration, air traffic management improvements, commercial UAV integration, enhancements in hyperspectral imaging, military and defense demand.

The airborne sensors market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $15.11 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to commercial aviation safety upgrades, infrastructure monitoring needs, autonomous vehicles advancements, healthcare and medical transport, and rise in space exploration. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for remote sensing, integration of IoT and AI, miniaturization of sensors, demand in defense and security, precision agriculture.

The anticipated rise in terrorist activities is expected to drive growth in the airborne sensors market in the coming years. Terrorist activities refer to criminal or violent acts carried out by individuals or groups associated with terrorist organizations. This increase in terrorism is spurring the demand for airborne sensors specifically designed for defense applications to safeguard borders against such threats. For example, in March 2023, ReliefWeb, a US-based digital service under the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported that the average number of fatalities per terrorist attack increased from 1.3 in 2021 to 1.7 in 2022. This marks the first rise in lethality rates in five years. Consequently, the growing prevalence of terrorist activities is poised to propel the airborne sensors market.

The uptick in defense expenditure is poised to significantly drive the growth of the airborne sensors market. Military expenditure, representing the financial resources allocated by governments for their military forces and related endeavors, facilitates the procurement of cutting-edge airborne sensor systems. These systems significantly augment military capabilities, particularly in surveillance, reconnaissance, and the detection of potential threats. For instance, as indicated in the Ministry of Defense (MOD) departmental resources 2022 report published by gov.UK in December 2022, defense spending for 2021-2022 amounted to $76.25 (71.4 Euros) billion, marking a substantial increase of $46.88 (43.9 euros) billion from the previous year. Consequently, the surge in defense expenditure serves as a pivotal driver propelling the growth of the airborne sensors market.

Technological innovation stands as a prominent trend in the airborne sensors market. Notably, major industry players are actively engaged in developing advanced sensor products to maintain their competitive positions. For instance, in September 2022, Leica Geosystems, a Switzerland-based company specializing in surveying and geographical measurement products, introduced the Leica DMC-4, an airborne imaging sensor specifically designed for intricate mapping environments. Leveraging the innovative complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology-based MFC150 camera module with mechanical forward-motion-compensation (FMC), this sensor ensures unparalleled image quality, catering to the evolving needs of complex geographical surveying.

Key companies in the airborne sensors market are prioritizing the innovation of cutting-edge products, integrating advanced technology like ultra-high-resolution (UHR) aerial sensors, to gain a competitive advantage. UHR aerial sensors represent imaging devices with remarkable resolution capabilities, enabling the capture of highly detailed images of the Earth's surface. For example, in November 2022, Sentera, a US-based provider of drones for agricultural purposes, unveiled the 65R model. This pioneering sensor revolutionizes aerial capture capabilities in drone technology, offering seamless integration while preserving top-tier image quality. Its innovative features expand mapping functionalities and elevate aerial capture precision, setting new industry benchmarks in quality for aerial imagery. With a remarkable 65MP resolution, the 65R facilitates the capture of sharp, high-fidelity imagery, optimizing the success of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) missions, boosting productivity, and enhancing overall efficiency.

In September 2022, Parker Hannifin Corporation, a prominent US-based manufacturer specializing in control technology, successfully acquired Meggitt PLC for a substantial $6.79 billion. This strategic acquisition aligns with Parker Hannifin Corporation's objectives to broaden its product portfolio, enabling the provision of an extended range of solutions for aircraft and aeroengine systems. Meggitt PLC, a leading aerospace company headquartered in the UK, specializes in manufacturing airborne sensors, complementing Parker Hannifin Corporation's scope and capabilities in the aerospace domain.

Major companies operating in the airborne sensors market are Hexagon AB, Thales Group, Raytheon Technologies Corp., Lockheed Martin Corporation, information systems laboratories, Teledyne Geospatial, General Dynamics Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., ITT Inc., AVT Airborne Sensing GmbH, Northrop Grumman Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Conax Technologies, Meggitt PLC, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Ametek Inc., Safran SA, General Electric Co., Airbus SE, BAE Systems PLC, Optasense, Rolta India Ltd.

Europe was the largest region in the airborne sensors market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the airborne sensors market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the airborne sensors market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Airborne sensors are devices installed on airborne platforms such as aircraft, helicopters, drones, or satellites, designed to gather data from the Earth's surface or atmosphere. These sensors can capture various types of information, including imagery, elevation data, heat signatures, and more. Their capability to cover vast areas quickly and efficiently makes them essential for applications in surveying, intelligence gathering, and scientific research.

There are two primary types such as non-scanning and scanning. Non-scanning encompasses profile recorders like laser spectrometers or laser altimeters, which are active, non-scanning, and non-imaging sensors. These sensors consist of both hardware and software components. Applications for these technologies span defense and commercial aircraft, as well as other relevant fields.

The airborne sensors research report is one of a series of new reports that provides airborne sensors statistics, including airborne sensors industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with airborne sensors market share, detailed airborne sensors market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the airborne sensors industry. This airborne sensors 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.

The airborne sensors market consists of sales of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, torque sensors, motion sensors, speed sensors, and other sensors. 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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