Military infrared imaging systems are at a turning point. Upgrades to legacy systems have been delayed due to budgetary pressures. Now, advanced new infrared detector technologies are becoming available that could transform the landscape and drive the military infrared imaging market to $11 billion by 2022.
Some of the important trends that will start to shape advanced military infrared systems include:
- Uncooled systems for Manportable use with increasing performance based on large-format, small pixel Wafer-Level-Packaged (WLP) Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) many of which are fabricated at commercial fabs that also fab low-end commercial FPAs.
- Increasing competition in uncooled which has resulted in some companies withdrawing from certain market segments
- 3rd Gen dual-band cooled systems – a long delayed technology which is now in programmatic development in the U.S., followed by other countries. The technology will provide armored vehicles with unprecedented range for precision strike.
- The emergence of Type 2 Superlattice (T2SL) detectors which have the potential to replace incumbent MCT and InSb technologies.
- High Operating Temperature (HOT) cooled T2SL detectors and systems which are expected to be incorporated into major new Programs of Record over the next five years – including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
- SWIR detector (mainly InGaAs) growth in the double digits
- Digital-pixel readouts (DROICs) that will bring a new level of performance to all types of infrared detectors.
Geographically, the U.S. continues to be the dominant supplier of military infrared systems. However, Europe, Israel and China also have a sizable presence. Countries in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere are increasing their purchases of these systems.
What's new in this report?
(1) Updates on the five year market forecasts for the most dynamic high performance technologies in emerging military systems:
- HOT (High Operating Temperature) nBn/XBn/T2SL Focal Plane Arrays
- HOT MCT (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) FPAs
- 3rd Gen Dual-Band megapixel FPAs
- InGaAs FPAs and systems - a breakdown by military application and company market shares.
(2) An update on spending Projections for military infrared systems for the top 25 countries worldwide:
- NORTH AMERICA: U.S. and Canada
- EUROPE: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Norway
- MIDDLE EAST: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- ASIA: China, Russia, India
- PACIFIC RIM: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore
- SOUTH AMERICA: Brazil, Colombia
(3) Changes in U.S. Infrared Market Strategies
(4) Market shares for suppliers of gimbaled airborne infrared systems
(5) Upcoming upgrades to military infrared systems expected using T2SL/nBn technology
Maxtech International's up-to-date research on World Military Infrared Imaging Markets separately covers the infrared detectors (FPAs) and the military infrared systems in which they are used. The following military infrared systems are covered in detail:
Ground-based Systems, including Night Sights, Fire Control Systems, Driver's Vision Enhancers, Thermal Weapon Sights, Fused IR/I2 Systems, Unattended Ground Sensors, Soldier Systems, Hostile Fire Indicators (HFI); Active Protection Systems (APS).
Airborne Systems, including Targeting/Navigation Pods, Targeting/Piloting Systems, Reconnaissance Systems, Infrared Countermeasures, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Systems and Persistent Surveillance Systems (aerostats and air vehicles: fixed wing, rotary wing and UAVs);
Naval Systems including optronic masts, thermal night sights, targeting systems and shipboard IRST;
Tactical Missile Seekers, including air-to-air, surface-air, air-surface, ground-ground; and smart munitions;
Strategic Surveillance and Missile Defense including infrared satellite early warning systems and ballistic missile defense systems.
The World Market for Military Infrared Imaging Detectors and Systems is the only such report on world military infrared markets and follows Maxtech International's highly acclaimed report on world commercial infrared markets. The report contains over 400 pages of up-to-date market information and forecasts and is priced at $5250. It is only available directly from Maxtech (no third parties are authorized for its distribution.)
Maxtech International's analysis of World Military Infrared Imaging Markets provides the following valuable market information:
- The current size of world military infrared detector and systems markets (base year: 2017).
- Five-year projections of world military infrared detector and systems markets (2018 - 2022)
- Geographic segmentation of the overall market into the following regions: North America, Europe, Pacific Rim, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Middle East
- An analysis of military infrared capabilities for 26 countries
- Five-year Projections for Military Infrared Spending for the Top 25 Countries Worldwide
- The expected market growth rate for various types of infrared FPAs
- Technology trends and the status of next-generation FPAs and systems
- Competitive analyses and market shares
- Profiles of 46 suppliers of Military Infrared Imaging Detectors and Systems – Including their market strategies
Updated new sections include:
Five year market forecasts for:
- HOT (High Operating Temperature) nBn/XBn, MWIR T2SL Focal Plane Arrays
- HOT MCT (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) FPAs
- 3rd Gen Dual-Band megapixel FPAs
- T2SL FPAs (LWIR and dual-band)
- InGaAs FPAs and systems
Market shares for suppliers of:
- Military infrared systems (Missiles. Ground, Naval, Strategic)
- Airborne Gimbaled Systems
- MCT FPAs
- InSb FPAs
- Uncooled FPAs
- InGaAs FPAs
- Stirling Cryocoolers
The structure of the report:
Executive Summary
A concise summary of the important results in the report.
Introduction
A review of definitions, the scope of topics covered, the methodology used and the sources of information.
Types of Infrared Detectors and Systems - An Analysis
Cooled Focal Plane Arrays, Cameras and Systems
- Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe) FPAs and systems
- Indium Antimonide (InSb) FPAs and systems
- T2SL (Type II Superlattice) FPAs and systems
- nBn/XBn FPAs and systems
- QWIP (Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors) FPAs and systems
- Lead Sulfide and Lead Selenide (PbS and PbSe) FPAs and systems
- Extrinsic Silicon (Si: X) FPAs and systems
- Other cooled FPAs and systems
- HOT (High Operating Temperature) FPAs
New developments in detector cooling technologies: Thermoelectric, Stirling and Joule-Thomson.
New developments in infrared optics, including molded optics and wafer-level optics.
Uncooled Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs), Cameras and Systems
- Vanadium Oxide (VOx) Microbolometers and Systems
- Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Microbolometers and Systems
- Other Microbolometers
- SOI FPAs
- Ferroelectric (Pyroelectric) Arrays and Systems
- Thermopile Arrays and Systems
- Vacuum Packaging of Uncooled FPAs
- Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) FPAs and Systems
- Novel Uncooled Technologies
