Global Solid State Radars Market to Reach US$2.7 Billion by 2030
The global market for Solid State Radars estimated at US$1.8 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$2.7 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% over the analysis period 2024-2030. S-band Radar, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 8.2% CAGR and reach US$677.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the x-band Radar segment is estimated at 7.3% CAGR over the analysis period.
The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$489.1 Million While China is Forecast to Grow at 10.7% CAGR
The Solid State Radars market in the U.S. is estimated at US$489.1 Million in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$556.3 Million by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 10.7% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% and 6.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.4% CAGR.
Global Solid State Radars Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized
Reinventing Surveillance: How Solid State Radars Are Powering the Next Wave of High-Precision Detection Systems
What Distinguishes Solid State Radar Systems From Traditional Radar Technologies?
Solid state radars represent a significant technological evolution from legacy radar systems that typically relied on vacuum tubes and magnetron-based signal generation. In solid state radar architecture, semiconductor devices such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) or Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) power amplifiers are used to transmit radar signals, replacing the bulkier and less reliable analog components found in conventional systems. This design shift yields multiple performance advantages-higher mean time between failures (MTBF), enhanced power efficiency, improved signal fidelity, and reduced maintenance costs-making solid state radar a preferred choice for a growing range of military, civil, and commercial applications.
Unlike conventional pulse radars that transmit short bursts of high-power signals, solid state radars often utilize pulse compression techniques and frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) or phase-coded waveforms. This allows them to operate with lower peak power but higher average power, resulting in better target resolution and clutter suppression. Moreover, these radars support software-defined functionality, enabling agile waveform control, beam steering, and digital signal processing enhancements. With a modular architecture and high scalability, solid state radars can be easily tailored for shipborne, airborne, ground-based, or even space-based deployments, forming a cornerstone of next-generation surveillance, navigation, and weather forecasting infrastructure.
Which Applications and End-Use Sectors Are Leading the Shift Toward Solid State Radar Adoption?
The military and defense sector remains the largest and most advanced adopter of solid state radar systems. Naval forces worldwide are retrofitting warships with solid state radars for air defense, surface surveillance, missile guidance, and fire control operations. These radars offer superior target tracking in electronic warfare environments due to their low probability of intercept (LPI) features, advanced electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities, and high-resolution Doppler discrimination. Modern systems such as active electronically scanned arrays (AESA) deployed on frigates, destroyers, and corvettes are underpinned by solid state transmit-receive modules (TRMs), enabling 360-degree coverage and multiband operation.
Airborne applications-ranging from tactical reconnaissance to border surveillance and weather tracking-also benefit significantly from the lightweight and high-efficiency design of solid state radar. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and manned surveillance aircraft use these systems for synthetic aperture radar (SAR), ground moving target indication (GMTI), and terrain mapping. In the civil aviation sector, air traffic control systems are increasingly relying on solid state radar to ensure uninterrupted and precise aircraft monitoring across longer ranges with improved clutter rejection, especially in high-traffic airspaces and adverse weather conditions.
Meteorology and disaster management agencies are adopting solid state weather radars to improve the accuracy and frequency of real-time forecasting. These radars are capable of dual-polarization, enabling better characterization of hydrometeors, precipitation types, and wind shear patterns. In addition, solid state radar is gaining traction in automotive applications-particularly in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle navigation-due to its small form factor, high sensitivity, and ability to perform in fog, rain, and low-light conditions. Industrial and security sectors are also deploying solid state radar for perimeter intrusion detection, drone surveillance, and offshore asset monitoring.
What Regional Markets Are Driving Demand and How Are Stakeholders Accelerating Deployment?
North America, particularly the United States, dominates the global solid state radar market due to extensive defense modernization programs, aerospace R&D investments, and homeland security infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has aggressively pursued the replacement of legacy magnetron-based radars with solid state systems through programs such as the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), the Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), and enhancements to NORAD surveillance. Additionally, collaborations between leading defense contractors-such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris-are enabling the development of integrated, multifunctional radar platforms.
Europe follows closely, with NATO modernization goals and maritime surveillance initiatives driving deployment in countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. The adoption of GaN-based AESA radars across naval and ground platforms is being accelerated through the European Defense Fund (EDF) and Horizon Europe initiatives. Simultaneously, civil air traffic management organizations such as Eurocontrol are modernizing radar infrastructure with solid state upgrades to meet ICAO performance-based navigation (PBN) requirements.
Asia Pacific is an emerging hub of innovation and adoption. China and India are investing in indigenous solid state radar capabilities for both civilian and military applications, supported by space agencies, defense R&D bodies, and strategic partnerships with Israel and Russia. South Korea and Japan are also deploying solid state radar systems in their air defense networks, driven by regional security dynamics. The Middle East is modernizing naval and coastal surveillance capabilities using compact solid state radar units, while Latin America and Africa are focusing on weather radar upgrades for climate resilience and aviation safety.
What Is Fueling Market Expansion and Where Are Innovations Shaping Future Opportunities?
The growth in the global solid state radar market is driven by several factors, including increasing defense budgets, rising global tensions, the miniaturization of electronics, and growing demand for real-time situational awareness. The need for multifunctional radar that can simultaneously perform tracking, identification, and jamming resistance is pushing demand for AESA and MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) architectures-both inherently reliant on solid state technologies. Furthermore, the reliability, energy efficiency, and low maintenance characteristics of solid state radar make them highly attractive for unmanned platforms and continuous-operation environments.
Innovations in Gallium Nitride semiconductors are pushing the performance envelope by delivering higher power densities, thermal efficiency, and frequency agility. This is enabling radar systems to shrink in size while increasing in range and sensitivity. AI and machine learning algorithms are also being integrated to optimize clutter removal, anomaly detection, and waveform scheduling, making solid state radars more adaptive to complex operational scenarios. Software-defined radar (SDR) and open architecture standards are allowing rapid upgrades and interoperability across allied forces and civilian agencies.
Future opportunities lie in space-based radar systems for Earth observation, defense intelligence, and climate monitoring. Additionally, the convergence of solid state radar with 5G/6G communications and quantum sensing technologies could lead to disruptive capabilities in both commercial and defense sectors. As hybrid warfare, autonomous mobility, and precision agriculture demand higher data granularity, solid state radar will remain at the forefront of sensing innovation, offering a robust and future-ready alternative to legacy radar platforms.
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