Software defined architecture, solid-state technology, radio-satellite communications-wireless network integration as well as communicating voice and data/video simultaneously and securely in an increasingly complex spectrum environment will underpin growth for military communications systems and the associated component and semiconductor demand. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, "Military Communications Market Outlook 2016-2026," forecasts spending on global military communications systems and services will grow to over $36.7 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate of 3.5 percent.

Military communications operate under an umbrella of heterogeneous networks that enable the provision of interoperable voice, video and data services across a global environment, segmented according to security policies, transmission requirements and the individual needs of the end user. In terms of the networked battlespace, this can be summarized as:

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  • Upper level networking, consisting of infrastructure and networking components;
  • Mid-level networking providing high capacity backhaul;
  • Support to the tactical edge for end-users and sensors.

"In a similar fashion, 5G serves as an aggregator technology that will encompass a range of network types and technologies to serve both traditional voice, video and data requirements to the end-user, as well as opening up capabilities to enable connectivity across devices including vehicles, machines, sensors and devices," notes Eric Higham, North American director for ADS.

Phased arrays, beam forming, mmWave frequencies, satellite communications, GaN, duplex communications and shared spectrum access are amongst the crossover technologies that will become common across both commercial and military communications.

"Communicating voice, data and video simultaneously and securely over wider and higher bandwidths in an increasingly complex spectrum environment will underpin trends for military communications system design and associated component demand," observed Asif Anwar, ADS director at Strategy Analytics. "This will be underpinned by software defined architectures, solid-state technologies including GaN and radio-satellite communications-wireless network integration."

"Military Communications Market Outlook 2016 - 2026" presents the outlook for global military communications in terms of overall expenditure, as well as detailing expected shipments and associated demand for components and semiconductor technologies.

Spending on communications systems is segmented on a regional basis, and covers the land, air, sea and space domains. System shipments are derived through a robust analysis of the market based on platform and communications function and mission. Further segmentation of the market in terms of frequency and power is also presented for military radios and satellite communications.

The underlying numerical data is available in the "Global Communications Market Forecast: 2016 - 2026" forecast data model that looks at the total military communications sector comprising radio and satellite terminals systems, as well as networks, data links and other communications systems. The report also details the resultant demand for semiconductor components, based on an assessment of market and technology trends.