Directed Energy Weapons Market

Global Directed Energy Weapons Market Size (2022 to 2027)

The global directed energy weapons market is anticipated to reach USD 24.49 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of over 29% from 2022 to 2027.

The directed energy weapon emits highly concentrated energy and consists of a laser, microwave, and particle beams to destroy the target. Directed energy weapons are used to protect against nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical tragedies to preserve national security. The rise in popularity of high-quality, integrated, accurate, and cost-effective energy weapons by defense forces is expected to stimulate the market during the forecast period. However, there are gaps in the operational performance of the targeted energy weapons market, such as the high cost of weapons development and vulnerability to degradation by the external environment. Directed energy weapons offer a variety of advantages, such as accuracy, low cost per shot, and scalable effects that will be useful across the entire spectrum of combat operations compared to conventional kinetic weapons. The strong growth of directed energy weapons in defense applications will ensure the disruptive change of war tactics in the military. Therefore, this has led to an increase in R&D spending to develop directed energy weapons.

Impact of COVID-19 on the global directed energy weapons market:

The COVID-19 pandemic can trigger a significant global economic crisis, which affects all industries. One of the industrial sectors affected by the coronavirus storm is aerospace. The COVID-19 epidemic has almost wholly stopped global air traffic. While air traffic has consistently shown a robust recovery from past crises, there is a wide debate on how traffic will recover from the current crisis and what it will mean for the civil aviation industry, supply chain, and after-sales support companies. In commercial aviation, companies experience production disruptions and a slowdown in demand when workers return home, passengers stop traveling, and customers delay delivery of new aircraft. The demand for parts is also declining because less maintenance is currently required. In addition, aircraft manufacturers are inherently capital intensive, raising short-term concerns about cash flow and liquidity. On the defense side, subcontractors are better positioned because they will not feel the impact of COVID-19 in the short or medium term. Although production may decrease for the same reasons as in aircraft manufacturing, demand in the next two years is unlikely to be affected. Budgets for these projects were allocated before the pandemic, and the projects are essential to national defense.

MARKET DRIVERS:

The global market for directed energy weapons is expected to grow due to increased demand for lethal and precise weapons during the forecast period.

Huge investments in weapons development associated with its demonstration are expected to increase the world market during the forecast period. Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are capable of selecting discrete targets. They operate at the speed of light and can have detrimental effects on personnel, facilities, and equipment. Such a weapon also emits a beam that includes acoustic energy, atomic particles, and electromagnetic energy. The changing nature of war in the global environment is expected to stimulate the world market during the forecast period. Additionally, directed energy weapons can damage the target with minimal damage. Other features such as effectiveness against fast-moving objects, coverage of multiple target areas, unlimited charger, and long-range and precise targeting are expected to impact the world market during the forecast period positively. Furthermore, the increase in protests, riots, political disputes, and conflicts is expected to positively impact world demand in the coming years. Therefore, the defense should be a heavy consumer of directed energy weapons.

MARKET RESTRAINTS:

The high-cost arms transfer protocol is expected to hamper the global DEW market during the forecast period. In addition, development costs, including technological hurdles, are also significant challenges in limiting the global market from 2022 to 2027.

REPORT COVERAGE:

This report on the global directed energy weapons market has been segmented and sub-segmented into the following categories.

Directed Energy Weapons Market - By Type:

• Lethal Weapon
• Non-Lethal Weapon

The lethal products segment is expected to experience growth during the forecast period. These deadly items, primarily intended for military usage, include the rail gun, electromagnetic bombs (e-bombs), plasma cannon (electrothermal accelerator), microwave gun, plasma grenade, navy laser cannon, gun-launched guided projectile, automatic shotguns, and many more. In addition, lethal directed energy weapons are the subject of significant research, development, testing, and demonstration efforts.

Directed Energy Weapons Market - By Technology:

• Particle Beam Weapons
• High-Power Microwave Technology
• High-Energy Laser Technology

According to technology, the high-energy laser category accounted for the largest share in 2021. During the forecast period, this market sector is expected to expand at a CAGR of 19.06 percent. This expansion can be due to the simple installation of high-intensity laser weapons and sparse power requirements. In addition, they have almost no duration of flight compared to conventional munitions, allowing for more protracted decision-making and speedier reaction times.

Directed Energy Weapons Market - By Application:

• Military
• Security

The military department is an avid user of energy weapons, and they are expected to continue dominating the market during the forecast period. Although the directed-energy weapons are regarded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) as being "mainly used as a direct means to damage, disable, or destroy hostile equipment, facilities, and troops." the homeland security also uses the weapons but not as much as the military.

Directed Energy Weapons Market - By Platform:

• Based Ground
• Naval
• Airborne

The naval weapons are anticipated to grow the most during the forecast period. Weapons utilized in naval applications, such as on combat ships and submarines, are included in naval-directed energy weapon systems. Combat ships, submarines, and unmanned surface vehicles are further grouped into the naval sector. In addition, Coast guards and naval troops can protect water borders by using defense ships specially constructed for this purpose.

Directed Energy Weapons Market - By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

North America led the global market for directed energy weapons (DEW). The market was followed by Europe due to high demand from the defense sector along with significant investments in weapons. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market over the outlook period. China has been the leading player in the market as the Indian market develops. Asian and Pacific countries are not only facing external threats, but internal conflicts are also increasing at a rapid rate. Terrorist threats are expected to boost regional demand for directed energy weapons. China is expected to be the primary market during the calculated period due to developments in laser defense. The Indian research organization DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) has plans to develop high-powered laser weapon technology. To improve the capacity of anti-ballistic missiles, India should develop the production of directed energy weapons (DEW) in the coming years. India is expected to emerge with a robust defense system during the forecast period.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS:

The global Directed Energy Weapons Market is concentrated with well-established players. Key players in the market include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Applied Companies, Textron, BAE Systems, MBDA, and Moog Inc. BAE Systems had the largest share of the Directed Energy Weapons Market in terms of sales and revenue in 2017.

RECENT MARKET DEVELOPMENTS:

• In January 2021, BAE Systems acquired the Collins Aerospace Military Global Positioning System and Raytheon Airborne Tactical Radios. These two companies are being sold to remove the antitrust regulatory requirements of the ongoing merger between Raytheon and United Technologies Corp.
• In December 2019, Moog Inc acquired Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik mbH and GAT Inc (GAT). GAT is a world leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality rotary couplings and slip rings.
• In August 2019, the Rheinmetall Group and MBDA Deutschland agreed to collaborate in high-energy laser effectors.