Active Electronically-Scanned Array Radars - Worldwide & Regional Market Forecasts (Systems, TRMs, MMICs) to 2015

This is an extensive and intensive report providing detailed information on the current status and (most importantly) forecast shipments and RF component market values in AESAs. AESAs2 is the updated report based strongly on Engalco’s first report on this subject, released in 2007. Major new developments have occurred or are on the visible horizon, necessitating the generation of this update report.

Active, electronically steered arrays (AESAs) are increasingly being implemented into (mainly military) systems currently and there is substantial mileage for important new developments. For some decades the potential advantages have been well known in terms of having a radar beam that could be scanned at orders-of-magnitude faster rates than available mechanically.

In earlier instances the fundamental high-power signal for phased arrays was obtained from a microwave tube source such as a TWT the output of which was separated to feed typically some tens through hundreds of individual antenna elements. The advent of MMICs for both transmit and also for receive functions has transformed the technology and functionality associated with such arrays. Therefore, with this updated report, we are concentrating exclusively on AESAs.

Demand for radars is steadily increasing—both commercial and (especially) military.

The "War against Terrorism" and the campaigns in both Afghanistan and Iraq have continued to drive upwards electronics requirements in defense and security applications. This applies to airborne, battlefield, naval and space-based radars.

In this report we cover in depth a study of the various types of AESAs, their production and developmental status, specific examples of airborne, shipboard/naval, land-based, and space-based phased array radars (SBRs). We also include a study of the components and subsystems used in such arrays and provide competitive assessments of key players in this industry—including the systems integrators and principal consortium members. Major examples are: EADS Defence Electronics, Galileo Avionica, INDRA, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, Saab Microwave Systems, SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems—and Thales.

Underlying technology and impacts.

Bearing in mind the importance in this segment of RF/microwave amplifiers and signal sources, specifically the modular products providing these functions, appropriate technologies are also considered from time to time in this report. This particularly includes the semiconductors GaAs, GaN, InP and SiC and transmit-receive modules (TRMs) implementing MMICs built using selected chip-sets comprising these semiconductor materials.

Examples of references consulted for updated information include, mainly on the supply-side: exhibition-originated data (e.g. MTT-S 2008), on-going issues of the Microwave Journal, Microwaves & RF and Microwave Product Digest. On the Demand Side magazines such as Aviation Week & Space Technology and Janes Defense Review are regularly consulted. Important useful web links include: Military & Aerospace Electronics, Microwave Flash and RF Globalnet. Most importantly, regular contact is maintained with appropriate industry executives the majority of whom are well known to Engalco.