Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Rising geopolitical tensions boost EW spend

Defence

Rising geopolitical tensions boost EW spend

An evolving threat landscape and impending modernisation of military aircraft will sustain demand for new, improved Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan.


Courtesy Frost & Sullivan.

The emergence of stealth and low observable aircraft along with Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) systems has made integrated air defence networks very complex and difficult to counter. Also, the development of new missile-seeker technologies for surface-to-air missiles poses a serious threat to aircraft as they bypass existing missile-detection systems.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The presence of these new threats is driving the demand for modern electronic warfare (EW) systems that are sensitive enough to detect and engage targets before they are visually seen. A recent analysis of the global military airborne electronic warfare market forecasts the sector to rake in revenues over $30.8 billion between 2018 and 2028, with $21 billion worth of addressable opportunities arising from the planned and forecasted procurement of EW equipment.

"Many countries will be modernising their aging fleets through upgrade or replacement programmes in the next 10 years," said Ryan Pinto, Research Analyst, Aerospace and Defence at Frost & Sullivan. "With an increased focus on EW systems, this modernisation phase will provide opportunities to replace their existing EW capabilities with modern systems that can counter new threat environments."

Frost & Sullivan's latest research, Global Military Airborne Electronic Warfare Market, Forecast to 2028, investigates the potential of military electronic warfare (EW) equipment in today's volatile geopolitical climate.

The report explores the trends influencing electronic warfare and the factors driving sector growth and offers a segment-wise analysis of the global electronic warfare market. The research also provides detailed revenue forecasts and identifies promising opportunities for growth in the sector.

With Russia demonstrating its advanced electronic warfare capabilities in Ukraine and Syria, China has refocused its efforts toward showcasing similar capabilities in the Pacific.

The two countries see EW as an important force multiplier during a conflict. This has made bridging the EW capability gap a major priority for the US and NATO countries to maintain their advanced capabilities and remain competitive. New threats in the EW domain will drive new research and procurement programmes.

"There is a growing need for indigenisation and collaborative production, especially in emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia and India," noted Pinto. "Defence majors will have to vary their market strategy accordingly to access emerging opportunities in these markets."

Companies operating in this sector can also foster growth by:

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250
  • Offering more robust EW systems that would enable assets to conduct hybrid EW and CW tasks simultaneously.
  • Developing faster signal processing and miniaturisation to increase the sensitivity of jammers.
  • Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and neural networks to enable quicker reactions, faster identification and effective suppression.
  • Reducing the size of EW payload to enable horizontal integration of multiple payloads.

Global Military Airborne Electronic Warfare Market, Forecast to 2028, is a part of Frost & Sullivan's Aerospace & Defense Growth Partnership Service program, which helps organisations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.


 

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Spaceflux awarded UK Government space surveillance and tracking contracts

Defence Security Space

Spaceflux awarded UK Government space surveillance and tracking contracts

20 November 2025

UK-based specialist in space domain awareness (SDA) and space intelligence, Spaceflux Ltd, has won all three major multimillion-pound, multiyear UK government contracts to provide advanced space surveillance and tracking (SST) data across multiple orbital regimes.

QinetiQ and Forcys partner on Australian maritime security

Defence Security

QinetiQ and Forcys partner on Australian maritime security

20 November 2025

QinetiQ and Forcys have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability in maritime assurance, ensuring undersea and autonomous systems are safe, reliable and ready for operation.

APM survey finds AI driving UK manufacturers

Aerospace Defence

APM survey finds AI driving UK manufacturers' productivity

20 November 2025

UK manufacturers using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are seeing tangible benefits, including a positive impact on productivity and increases in profitability, according to new research.

UK government launches next phase of new munitions and energetics factories

Defence

UK government launches next phase of new munitions and energetics factories

19 November 2025

Multiple sites across the UK for new factories to make munitions and military explosives to boost the UK’s warfighting readiness have been identified as the government moves to the next phase of building the factories of the future.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Babcock to support French government

Defence

Babcock to support French government's fleet of H145s

19 November 2025

Babcock France and Airbus Helicopters have been awarded a 10-year contract to provide in service support to the entire fleet of H145 of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité civile and the Gendarmerie nationale, helping to safeguard communities across France.

GA-ASI completes FST testing on MQ-9B

Defence

GA-ASI completes FST testing on MQ-9B

18 November 2025

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has completed its 'third lifetime' of full-scale fatigue (FSF) testing for the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250