The “X” Factor in Radar Bands: Radar Technology Counting on X Band and Higher Frequencies to Bolster Market Growth

June 18, 2015

Wellesley, Mass., June 18, 2015 – Intelligent transportation systems have thrust radar technology into the automotive domain, resulting in this sector superseding defense as the largest sector of the global radar market. Cumulatively, the defense and automotive sectors are forecast to account for more than 90% of overall radar sales in 2015, as use of the X band radar will continue to dominate the market.  BCC Research reveals in its new report that this proportion is likely to remain unchanged during the forecast period of 2015 to 2020.

BCC Research examines the radar industry in its report, Radar Systems and Technology: Global Markets. According to the report, the global radar systems market was valued at $18.9 billion in 2015. This market is expected to reach $24.6 billion in 2020, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The global automotive application market for radar systems is expected to reach $12.9 billion in 2020, a $3 billion gain from 2015 that reflects a CAGR of 7.5%. The defense application market should increase from $8.2 billion in 2015 to $9.6 billion in 2020, demonstrating a CAGR of 3.2%.

X band radar has emerged as the band of choice for airborne applications in the civilian and defense domains. Operating within a radar frequency specified at 8 to 12 GHz, this segment’s compact form and superior resolution are key drivers for their growth. The sleek form has aided in its adoption for mobile applications and has helped to reduce the cost of antennas to a large extent. X band radar is preferred in maritime navigation and satellite installation for the same reasons.

In the automotive sector, advances in information and communication technology have affected the prospects of radar in the automotive domain. More specifically, the drive towards intelligent transportation has been instrumental in reshaping the prospects of radar in this domain. Improvements in precision associated with high-frequency X band radar help to further its widespread use for purposes of speed calculation and position detection.

The enormous US. defense budget will continue to help the Americas region maintain its top position among radar markets as this segment continues to explore higher frequency bands within the X band and above category. “While the larger defense market has modest growth prospects, high-frequency radar will witness higher growth rates. The growth will be pronounced in the X band and above category,” says BCC Research analyst Kaustubha Parkhi. “Radar systems in this category have extensive applications in airborne, naval and ground operations. The bulky nature of low-frequency, high-power radar systems dampens their growth prospects and restricts their applications predominantly to ground installations.”

Radar Systems and Technology: Global Markets (IAS103A) forecasts the market size for radar systems used in individual applications such as defense, automotive systems, environmental and weather monitoring, aircraft, aviation infrastructure, satellite, ground penetration (excluding glaciological applications) and maritime. Forecasts are classified on the basis of frequency bands and geographic regions. Sales are presented in million dollars while shipment volumes are presented in single units.

Editors and reporters who wish to speak with the analyst should contact Steven Cumming at steven.cumming@bccresearch.com.

Radar Systems and Technology: Global Markets( IAS103A )
Publish Date: Jun 2015    

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