NEWTOWN, Conn., 9 March 2010.RF jammers and other electronic warfare (EW) technology will create a $28.4 billion market over the next decade, as purveyors of electronic countermeasures (ECM), radar warning receivers (RWRs), electronic support measures (ESM), and other EW systems produce about 45,000 systems, predict market analysts at Forecast International in Newtown, Conn.
The nation's top electronic warfare systems suppliers -- Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon, ITT, and Lockheed Martin among them -- will continue producing missile countermeasures systems over the next 10 years, as well as developing next-generation EW technology, Forecast International analysts say in a report entitled "The Market for Electronic Warfare Systems."
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), for example, will spend more than $560 million over the next three years to buy Northrop Grumman's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system for as many as 444 aircraft, analysts say. In addition, DOD will choose contractors within the next two years to develop and build the Next-Generation Jammer (NGJ).
"While production of critical EW systems like counter-IED and IR-guided missile jammers will be high over the next few years, several R&D programs are in a competition phase that will eventually result in billions of dollars in revenue for the companies chosen to supply technologies for them," says Andrew Dardine, senior analyst at Forecast International.
The U.S. Navy in early 2009 awarded NGJ research contracts to teams led by BAE Systems, ITT, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. By late 2012, the Navy plans to award an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract to one supplier. The total value of the NGJ program once it gets up and running will be nearly $1 billion, experts say.
A competition is in progress to develop the Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) 3.3 system of systems. Naval Sea Systems Command last October awarded contracts to ITT Force Protection Systems and Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems for CREW 3.3 System of Systems development.
For more information contact Forecast International online at www.forecastinternational.com.
Follow me on TwitterJoin the PennWell Aerospace and Defense Media Group on Linkedin at http://bit.ly/9MXl9
Become a fan of Military & Aerospace Electronics on Facebook at http://bit.ly/1VGM0Q
Post your aerospace and defense-related material to the #milaero community on Twitter. Use the #milaero hashtag.
Join your industry colleagues in the Command Post community online at http://community.milaero.com
