U.S. Military Airborne Communications Market Worth $2 billion

Forecast International, NEWTOWN: Forecast International is projecting sales of airborne communications systems for the U.S. military to reach $2 billion over the next 10 years. In its new study, “The Market for U.S. Military Airborne Communications Systems,” the first half of the forecast period accounts for $1.34 billion, while the 2011-2015 time period makes up $687 million in projected sales. 
 
The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program is creating uncertainty in the market that should be resolved in the future. Once resolved, orders will be placed and the market value for the second half of the forecast will increase. 
 
In the context of this analysis, the leading U.S. military airborne communications program is the Integrated Communications, Navigation and Identification Avionics (ICNIA) system. ICNIA should revolutionize aircraft avionics by combining the communications, navigation, and identification functions into one lightweight, space-saving module. ICNIA accounts for $514 million or 25.32 percent of the market value in this study. 
 
Considerable U.S. military dollars are being spent on communications research and development projects. The Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) program is an initiative to develop rapidly reconfigurable, affordable, robust, interoperable, and evolvable communications technologies that support airborne network-centric warfare. TTNT should be worth $439 million or 21.63 percent over the time period. The U.S. Air Force RF Sensors and Countermeasures Project is a cutting-edge research and development program worth $294.34 million, which is approximately 14.5 percent of the market value. 
 
A leading program is the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). “JTRS has a significant impact on the U.S. military communications market,” said Electronics Analyst, Theresa Hartley, author of the study. Currently, the U.S. military is only buying a limited number of older, legacy radios. When JTRS requirements are clearly defined, vendors will develop new products or modify existing hardware to meet JTRS specifications. When these JTRS products are marketed, sales should take off. Once fully developed, JTRS will replace virtually all radios currently in U.S. military service. Also on the JTRS front, contracts are being awarded to upgrade hardware for JTRS waveforms. One example is for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS). 
 
MIDS is also a dominant program in this market, anticipated to bring in $415.6 million over 10 years. MIDS accounts for approximately 20 percent of the market dollars in this analysis. 
 
At this time, Northrop Grumman and Rockwell Collins combined have at least 49 percent of the market. This number would be even higher if Rockwell Collins' share in Data Link Solutions (DLS) was broken out and credited to it. DLS as a separate entity and MIDS manufacturer enjoys 13.78 percent of the market or approximately $279.7 million in expected sales over 10 years. Raytheon, ViaSat, and BAE Systems complete the list of airborne communications major players.  
 
Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.