PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1773513
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1773513
A digital battlefield encompasses an interconnected network comprising airborne platforms, weapon systems, and surveillance and communication devices. This network facilitates real-time mapping and decision-making for military officials, particularly in war-like scenarios. The digital battlefield is utilized for mission rehearsal, execution, and post-action analysis, providing military forces with real-time situational awareness on the battlefield.
In the digital battlefield market, solutions are categorized into hardware, software, and services. Hardware in this context refers to the machinery and equipment used by armed forces, encompassing weapon systems, platforms, vehicles, tanks, aircraft, and missiles. The market incorporates a variety of technologies, including artificial intelligence, 3D printing, internet of things, big data analytics, robotic process automation, cloud computing, master data management, digital twin, blockchain, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 5G. These technologies are deployed through new procurement initiatives and upgrades. Platforms in the digital battlefield market cover land, naval, airborne, and space domains, supporting applications such as warfare platforms, cyber security, logistics and transportation, surveillance and situational awareness, command and control, health monitoring, design and manufacturing, among others.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp increase in U.S. tariffs and resulting trade disputes in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the aerospace and defense sector. Prices for key materials such as titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics primarily sourced from international suppliers have surged. Defense contractors, constrained by fixed-price government contracts, are forced to absorb these rising costs. Meanwhile, commercial aerospace companies are encountering resistance from airlines over increased aircraft prices. In addition, customs delays are disrupting already tight production timelines for jets and satellites. In response, the industry is stockpiling essential materials, pursuing import waivers for defense-related goods, and working with allied nations to diversify supply chains.
The digital battlefield market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides digital battlefield market statistics, including digital battlefield industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a digital battlefield market share, detailed digital battlefield market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the digital battlefield industry. This digital battlefield market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The digital battlefield market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $59.83 billion in 2024 to $70.59 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.0%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of modern warfare and security threats, communication and data sharing needs, intelligence and surveillance requirements, cybersecurity concerns, and defense budget allocations.
The digital battlefield market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $140.08 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to geopolitical tensions, multi-domain operations, enhanced cyber resilience, sensor fusion and situational awareness, and increasing military modernization programs. Major trends in the forecast period include artificial intelligence (ai) and machine learning, 5g and advanced connectivity, unmanned systems and drones, hypersonic weapons development, and adaptive defense strategies.
The forecast of 18.7% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.2% from the previous estimate for this market.This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through supply chain disruptions for augmented reality displays, sourced from key regions such as the US and Taiwan, which could lead to delays in soldier modernization programs.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
The increasing adoption of cloud services in military and defense is anticipated to drive the growth of the digital battlefield market. Cloud services, characterized by network-based virtualized resources, provide cost-effective access to applications without the need for internal hardware. Notably, the United States Department of Defense allocated $798 million to the US Army for cloud services in the fiscal year 2022, highlighting the strategic importance of cloud technology in gathering, processing, and analyzing intelligence resource data for enhanced battlefield security.
The growth of the digital battlefield market is expected to be propelled by the continuous rise in military expenditure. Military expenditure, encompassing financial allocations for defense infrastructure and related activities, significantly contributes to the development and deployment of advanced digital technologies in the military sector. In 2022, global military expenditure reached a record high of $2,240 billion, marking a 3.7% increase over the previous year. This surge in spending, with the United States, China, and Russia as the top three spenders, emphasizes the pivotal role of financial resources in modernizing digital battlefield capabilities and ensuring national defense.
A notable trend in the digital battlefield market is the increasing focus on technological advancements. Major players within the sector are actively incorporating advanced technologies to enhance their market presence. For example, in June 2022, L3Harris Technologies Inc., a US-based aerospace and defense company, introduced an infrared instrument integrated with space technology. This technology enables the capture of high-resolution imagery and battlefield information from space, offering continuous tracking of targets at a lower cost. Such innovations underscore the commitment of industry leaders to leverage cutting-edge technologies for improved capabilities in the digital battlefield landscape.
Key players in the digital battlefield market are strategically emphasizing the introduction of advanced surveillance radars, such as the PrecISR, to enhance their competitive position. Surveillance radars, featuring cutting-edge technology, are integral systems designed for monitoring, detecting, and tracking objects across diverse environments. Hensoldt AG, a Germany-based aerospace company, exemplifies this trend by launching the PrecISR multi-mission surveillance radars in February 2023. These radars, characterized by high performance within a compact design, are adaptable for deployment on various airborne platforms, including UAVs, helicopters, and special mission aircraft. Noteworthy capabilities include the detection and interception of small and low-flying aircraft, tracking and plotting of ground-based moving objects, and efficient identification of diverse targets. Furthermore, the radar exhibits the ability to simultaneously track over a thousand targets in air, land, and sea scenarios, even in challenging high-sea states.
In March 2022, EHang, a prominent aviation company based in China, entered into a strategic partnership with Aerotree Flight Services Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Malaysia's leading aviation company, Aerotree Group. This collaboration aims to jointly develop urban air mobility (UAM) initiatives in Malaysia, encompassing activities such as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) as well as training. Leveraging its capabilities and partnerships, Aerotree Flight Services Sdn. Bhd. plans to introduce EHang's autonomous aerial vehicles to the Malaysian market, contributing to the advancement of UAM projects and civil aviation in the country. The Malaysian-based aviation company specializes in aeronautical engineering, aerospace technology development, and aerial flight training, reinforcing its commitment to fostering sustainable and safe urban air mobility solutions.
Major companies operating in the digital battlefield market include BAE Systems plc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corporation, Leonardo S.P.A, Israel Aerospace Industries, Saab AB, ATOS SE, Airbus S.A.S., Rheinmetall AG, Honeywell Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Safran S.A., Spirit AeroSystems Inc., Triumph Group Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Amazon Web Services Inc., Google LLC, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Intel Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Ericsson AB, Nokia Corporation, Collins Aerospace
North America was the largest region in the digital battlefield market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the digital battlefield market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the digital battlefield market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.
The digital battlefield market includes revenues earned by entities by communication devices, wearable devices, imaging devices, display devices, tracking devices, computer hardware devices, data distribution units, night vision devices, RFID, command and control software, military situational awareness, security management, inventory management, fleet management, and weapon integration. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Digital Battlefield Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on digital battlefield market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for digital battlefield? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The digital battlefield market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.