The Future of Defense
For over 50 years, Frost & Sullivan has provided industry intelligence to companies and government organizations in the global defense industry. In response to global geopolitical instability and economic recovery, nations around the world have renewed their focus on defense and security spending, which is subsequently revitalizing the global defense technological and industrial base. Defense exports will increase within all regions providing opportunities across the full spectrum of defense platforms, systems, and equipment. This will be paralleled by intensifying competition in defense exports, and a rise in indigenous industry development in many countries, bringing new challenges to exporters.
The concept of defense is evolving in tandem with new technological developments, strategies and end user requirements. Military budgets are also changing to reflect new defense realities.
From equipment required for the defense of land (such as combat vehicles), air (such as fixed and rotary wing aircraft), and sea (ships and submarines) to unmanned systems and weapons and munitions, the defense industry is in constant churn.
Enhanced connectivity has created further flux, impacting fields like command, control, communications and computer Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and training & simulation.
As this happens, Frost & Sullivan’s Defense Research Program offers critical analysis of the impact, transformation and growth opportunities generated by such extensive change. Our team tracks and assesses major products/services, markets, competitive, technological, customer, and regulatory trends.
Our in-depth market assessment, competitor profiles, and strategic insights help industry participants to anticipate, identify, and respond rapidly to new developments in the defense arena and, thereby, drive long-term growth.
We help our clients navigate both the combat and strategic imperatives essential to grow their business. From meticulously designed surveys and primary research interviews to in-depth analysis of current and future market trends, we support clients in the development and implementation of growth strategies. We work with Aerospace and Defense manufacturers, system providers, services companies, software developers, regulators, and technology disruptors in all segments to help them understand, evaluate, and develop new products and growth solutions using new paradigms and innovative business models. We engage with clients through customized consulting projects and strategy workshops. Projects typically involve several phases, from identifying and analyzing, to developing and implementing business plans and growth strategies. We use our research and industry experience, backed by well-defined tools and techniques, to ensure end-to-end management and delivery of these projects. Frost & Sullivan’s Defense Research Program can support your organization in each of the following areas:
- Development, feasibility analysis, and implementation of new capabilities or technologies across multiple segments.
- Benchmarking, development, and adoption scenarios for new business models
- Competitive intelligence to identify and evaluate which companies are competing in market niches, and which have the best products and/or capabilities
- Identification of go-to-market strategies through product, pricing, and competitive analysis for hardware, software, and services
- Assessment of growth opportunities
- Support for venture capital firms interested in investing in aerospace and defense with practical, high impact research.
Frost & Sullivan can deliver a bespoke workshop to your organization to highlight emerging aerospace and defense trends, and their impact on your organization. Our workshops are flexible and built around your requirements. Our experts can attend your strategy day or workshop as external expert speakers, or we can leverage our end-to-end capabilities in workshop management to design a customized workshop that fully engages attendees with relevant opportunities. Workshop outcomes also include follow-up reports and actionable strategies.
Expertise Areas
Frost & Sullivan’s expertise in defense research and consulting includes
work in the following ten market segments:
Fixed Wing
The fixed wing aircraft segment is being driven by the need to recapitalize and modernize aging fleets. Our research and analysis cover platform categories such as combat aircraft, advanced/lead-in fighter trainers, basic trainers, tanker and transport, maritime and special mission aircraft, as well as avionics, sensors, and weapon systems.
Rotary Wing
The rotary wing aircraft segment is being driven by the need to replace aging systems across the globe. The two major trends in the segment are the adoption of the military versions of civil designs and the move toward multi-role platforms. Our research and analysis covers combat, transport, and maritime and utility roles across different weight classes.
Combat Vehicles
The land combat vehicles segment went through a period of steady growth and technological improvements during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. This trend continues as aging fleets begin to be replaced. There are many new development programs for next generation main battle tanks, infantry fighting, and protected patrol vehicles that embrace digitalized battlespace and vetronics architectures. Our research addresses current and in development designs, global programs, and future technologies that will impact the market.
Ships and Submarines
Nations surrounding the Mediterranean, Baltic and South China Seas will push up spending on ships of all classes. Submarines will be a growing sub segment, both in terms of diesel and nuclear types, replacing or supplementing existing capabilities. Future surface combatant requirements will predominantly focus on multi-role frigate size capability, and will increasingly be fitted with unmanned systems to improve over-the-horizon detection and targeting. Our research covers new developments, future technologies, system requirements and product solutions, and global programs.
Unmanned Systems
The military use of unmanned systems is continuing to expand across all domains. Our research covers the impact, opportunities, and challenges created as a result of converging industries, technology innovations, regulatory requirements/changes, and competitive pressures. Our team also continuously tracks, identifies and accesses evolving system requirements, available product solutions, and global programs and related opportunities.
C4ISR
The drive towards greater connectivity and networking in the battlespace will spur a number of domain specific Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) programs over the next ten years. The emphasis will be on resilient network communication capabilities across the battlespace. Border and maritime security will motivate growth in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) markets across all domains, whilst sensors such as radar, electronic warfare and electro-optical systems will benefit from advances in size, weight, and power reduction. Our research covers the implementation of digitalization technologies, concepts, products, and services, and how these are changing the future battlespace.
Training and Simulation
The training and simulation segment will see the rapid adoption of Live Virtual Constructive, distributed training environments, and new training delivery service models as armed forces seek to improve operational readiness albeit with reduced training costs. Our research covers the impact of rapidly changing gaming and commercial technologies on military training and simulation solutions. It also evaluates new service based delivery models, evolving training environments, and the competitive landscape. It continuously tracks global programmes and related opportunities.
Combat Service and Support Equipment
In future, the military Combat Service and Support Equipment segment will increasingly migrate towards contractor performance-based and operational managed service commercial models. Our analysis covers the value chain from spares and repairs, and evolving military maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, through to defense outsourcing services.
Weapons and Munitions
Global instability and next generation platform capabilities will boost the demand for new missile, artillery, rocket, munitions, and small arms weapon systems. New systems based on hypersonic, networked technologies, naval electromagnetic rail guns, and directed energy weapons are expected to enter mainstream service over the next 10 to 15 years, providing increased speed, range, and accuracy across all domains. Our research covers air, surface and ground munitions and weapon systems, new developments, the impact of future technologies, competitive landscape, and global programs and opportunities.
News, Events & Resources
Are Middle East & India Driving the Future of Military Drones?
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How Technology Is Revolutionizing the Commercial Aviation Industry: Top 10 Strategic Imperatives
The commercial aviation industry is welcoming a new era. With international air transport expected to double by 2037, airline companies and tech innovators are embracing disruptive technologies to meet the surging demand for efficiency, sustainability, and enhanced...
Revolutionizing US Defense Training Programs for Future-Ready Forces
Newly introduced defense technologies are transforming the US military training and simulation ecosystem, revealing growth opportunities for commercial and defense companies. The US Department of Defense (DoD) is embracing the latest solutions, leading to faster...
