The electronic warfare market is growing rapidly: which systems are bought more often and what does Ukraine have to do with it?

The electronic warfare market is growing rapidly and will reach $27.79 billion by 2028, according to a report by analytical company The Insight Partners.

The growth of the global electronic warfare market: who is the leader

According to the researchers, in 2021 the global electronic warfare market was $18.19 billion, so it should increase by at least $9.6 billion in seven years. Insight Partners forecasts an average annual increase of 6.2% (ISR) due to strong reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance demand (ISR), as well as the emergence of new technologies and methods of warfare. At the same time, the high cost of distribution will hinder the growth of the market.

North America dominates the world in electronic warfare revenues, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East and Africa). The US emerged as the industry leader in 2020 and is expected to continue to grow through 2028 thanks to its strong manufacturing and systems development infrastructure.

Key companies operating in the global electronic warfare market:

• BAE Systems plc;
• Elbit Systems Ltd;
• General Dynamics Corporation;
• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI); L3Harris Technologies, Inc.;
• Leonardo SpA;
• Lockheed Martin Corporation;
• Northrop Grumman Corporation;
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation;
• SAAB AB;
• Tales Group.

Why is the electronic warfare market growing?

Signal processing and analysis technologies are constantly evolving and this is also affecting the market. Every year, electronic signals become more complex and require more advanced tools to recognize and decipher them more accurately. Systems that can quickly analyze data in real time offer great advantages.

The evolution of modern electronic warfare solutions such as stealth attacks, cyber attacks, electronic fields and cloaking devices increases the flexibility of electronic warfare technologies. The rise of unconventional threats from adversaries is forcing defense organizations and government agencies to purchase new systems, further spurring their development. In addition, the rapid deployment of satellites by commercial and private companies also increases the demand for electronic warfare systems.

Types of electronic warfare

Electronic warfare (EW) is a warfare technology that involves using the electromagnetic spectrum as a tool to repel and attack enemy targets. Many different approaches are used by the military, such as electronic defense, electronic support and electronic attack via land, sea, air and space platforms. Assault vehicles occupied the largest market share in 2020, and analysts expect this space to show the highest average annual growth rate through 2028.

Depending on the components, the electronic warfare market is divided into three categories: hardware, software and services. The hardware segment had the largest share in 2020, but experts expect software sales to grow the most over the next five years.

Electronic warfare is divided into countermeasure systems, jamming, sensor systems, weapon systems and others according to the product type. In 2020, sensors had the largest share.

West tests electronic warfare in Ukraine

As the BBC reported, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Ukraine had become a “war lab” for the West to test weapons, including electronic warfare. According to him, the use of such technologies to protect or lure the enemy has become one of the priorities of the military.

Earlier we wrote about how electronic warfare systems work and how they play a role in the war in Ukraine. The latest systems allow Ukrainian soldiers to “jam” drones, deflect missiles from their course and detect equipment from a great distance.