Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market Size 2026-2030
The infrared search and track (irst) system market size is valued to increase by USD 2.48 billion, at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2025 to 2030. Development of new-generation air and missile defense systems will drive the infrared search and track (irst) system market.
Major Market Trends & Insights
- North America dominated the market and accounted for a 39.4% growth during the forecast period.
- By End-user - Aerospace and defense segment was valued at USD 4.05 billion in 2024
- By Type - Airborne segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2024
Market Size & Forecast
- Market Opportunities: USD 4.18 billion
- Market Future Opportunities: USD 2.48 billion
- CAGR from 2025 to 2030 : 5.9%
Market Summary
- The infrared search and track (IRST) system market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the escalating demand for advanced passive surveillance capabilities in modern warfare. This evolution is characterized by a notable shift towards systems that can operate covertly, detecting and tracking threats via their thermal signatures without emitting detectable signals.
- A primary driver is the proliferation of stealth aircraft and hypersonic missiles, which challenge traditional radar-based detection, making passive infrared sensors a critical component of a multi-layered defense architecture. Key trends include the integration of artificial intelligence for automated threat classification and the fusion of data from multiple sensor types to create a unified operational picture.
- However, the market's progression is constrained by high development costs and complex supply chains for specialized components like cooled infrared detectors.
- For instance, in a defense scenario, an integrated IRST network can provide early warning of an inbound low-observable cruise missile, allowing command centers to cue defensive systems and neutralize the threat before it reaches its target, a capability that underscores the technology's strategic importance.
What will be the Size of the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market during the forecast period?
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How is the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market Segmented?
The infrared search and track (irst) system industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in "USD million" for the period 2026-2030, as well as historical data from 2020-2024 for the following segments.
- End-user
- Aerospace and defense
- Civil
- Type
- Airborne
- Naval
- Ground-based
- Space-based
- Technology
- Multi-sensor IRST
- 2D IRST
- Hybrid IRST
- Geography
- North America
- US
- Canada
- Mexico
- Europe
- France
- UK
- Germany
- APAC
- China
- India
- Japan
- Middle East and Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- Israel
- UAE
- South America
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Rest of World (ROW)
- North America
By End-user Insights
The aerospace and defense segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
The aerospace and defense sector is the primary end-user, driven by the strategic need for superior passive surveillance and target detection. Modernization programs prioritize integrated defense systems capable of stealth aircraft detection and countering threats in complex electronic warfare environments.
These systems utilize advanced infrared sensors and tracking algorithms to identify thermal signatures for air and missile defense across multi-domain operations.
The integration of sophisticated signal processing units enhances these passive detection capabilities, with some platforms demonstrating over 35% improvement in detection ranges for long-range surveillance compared to legacy equipment, bolstering tactical advantage and operational security without emitting detectable signals.
The Aerospace and defense segment was valued at USD 4.05 billion in 2024 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.
Regional Analysis
North America is estimated to contribute 39.4% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.
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The geographic landscape is dominated by North America, which accounts for over 39% of the market's incremental growth, driven by significant research and development investment into counter-stealth technology and hypersonic threat tracking.
The APAC region is also a key growth center, with nations focused on enhancing maritime threat identification and fielding advanced passive early warning system platforms.
European efforts center on achieving higher technology readiness levels for systems featuring dual-band infrared sensor and staring sensors to improve target discrimination capability, especially for emissions-controlled operations.
In this context, end-of-life component management and establishing secure communication links for joint all-domain command and control are universal priorities.
Market Dynamics
Our researchers analyzed the data with 2025 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
- The strategic debate over the infrared search and track system vs radar is increasingly tilting in favor of passive technologies, particularly for multi-sensor IRST for fighter aircraft. The core challenge of passive detection of hypersonic missiles is driving innovation in sensor design and processing algorithms.
- In maritime domains, the naval IRST system for surface combatants is becoming a standard for fleet protection, while on land, ground-based IRST in layered air defense networks provides a critical counter to low-flying threats. The role of AI in IRST for target classification is transformative, with some systems demonstrating a twofold improvement in accuracy over legacy models.
- Effective IRST sensor fusion with EW systems is crucial for survivability in contested environments. Concurrently, the development of a space-based infrared tracking layer is expanding surveillance to a global scale. Key applications are emerging, such as using IRST for unmanned aerial vehicle countermeasures and for critical infrastructure protection.
- Enhancing situational awareness with IRST remains a primary objective, with a focus on improving IRST performance in adverse weather. The IRST deployment on 5th generation fighters is a top priority, as is using IRST for detecting low-flying cruise missiles. A thorough cost-benefit analysis of IRST systems guides procurement, while new IRST technology for maritime patrol aircraft expands mission envelopes.
- Finally, addressing cybersecurity risks for networked IRST systems and establishing common IRST data link and network standards are critical for future interoperability.
What are the key market drivers leading to the rise in the adoption of Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Industry?
- The development of new-generation air and missile defense systems is a key driver propelling growth in the market.
- The drive toward battlefield digitization is a major catalyst, demanding sophisticated network-centric warfare integration and situational awareness enhancement.
- Investments in aerospace intelligence solutions and proliferated warfighter space architecture are expanding the scope from traditional airborne surveillance to include space-based infrared system capabilities.
- This evolution supports a multi-layered defense architecture for improved maritime threat identification and unmanned aerial systems tracking. Through enhanced tactical data link integration with ground-based air defense units, threat classification accuracy improves significantly.
- In exercises, this integration has been shown to reduce sensor-to-shooter timelines by over 40%, directly increasing combat effectiveness.
What are the market trends shaping the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Industry?
- An emerging market trend is the growing preference for infrared search and track (IRST) systems over traditional radar. This shift is driven by the increasing need for passive detection and operational stealth in modern defense scenarios.
- The market is witnessing a significant trend towards multi sensor data fusion to gain a decisive operational stealth advantage in scenarios requiring low observable target acquisition. Advanced systems now integrate high-sensor resolution cooled infrared detectors and mid-wave infrared sensor technology with electro-optical cameras to achieve contested airspace dominance.
- This multi-spectral sensor fusion is increasingly managed by autonomous defense software that performs automated threat assessment and predictive target analysis. Following strict sensor interoperability standards has improved data sharing, reducing threat engagement times by up to 30% and boosting overall platform survivability by 15% in complex, multi-threat simulations.
What challenges does the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Industry face during its growth?
- High research and development costs, coupled with the risk of project cancellations, present a key challenge affecting the industry's growth.
- Significant challenges stem from systems integration complexity and long defense procurement cycles. Ensuring supply chain resiliency is critical, as export control regulations and material scarcity impact the availability of precision optical materials, advanced semiconductors, and specialized cryogenic cooling systems. Integrating new systems with legacy command and control systems and their associated decision support tools presents technical hurdles.
- While new passive ranging techniques and real-time data analytics offer advantages over traditional active electronically scanned array radars, their development is resource-intensive. These factors can delay platform survivability enhancement projects, with component shortages sometimes extending lead times by up to 25%.
Exclusive Technavio Analysis on Customer Landscape
The infrared search and track (irst) system market forecasting report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the infrared search and track (irst) system market report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their market growth analysis strategies.
Customer Landscape of Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Industry
Competitive Landscape
Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, infrared search and track (irst) system market forecast, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the industry.
ASELSAN AS - Specialized infrared search and track systems are engineered for advanced aerial platforms, delivering enhanced passive detection, situational awareness, and critical survivability in complex, contested airspaces.
The industry research and growth report includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about key companies, including:
- ASELSAN AS
- Elbit Systems Ltd.
- Excelitas Technologies Corp.
- HENSOLDT AG
- HGH Systemes Infrarouges SAS
- L3Harris Technologies Inc.
- Leonardo S.p.A.
- Lockheed Martin Corp.
- Northrop Grumman Corp.
- Rostec
- RTX Corp.
- Saab AB
- Safran SA
- Thales Group
- Tonbo Imaging India Pvt Ltd.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of companies has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key industry players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize companies as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize companies as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.
Recent Development and News in Infrared search and track (irst) system market
- In February, 2025, Lockheed Martin announced the US Navy had declared Initial Operational Capability for its IRST21 system, validating the system's effectiveness for the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
- In July, 2025, L3Harris Technologies and ELT Group announced a partnership to establish a multi-sensor test facility in Italy, focusing on developing and testing advanced multi-sensor IRST systems.
- In September, 2025, Boeing Defense, Space and Security announced a partnership with Palantir to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across its defense programs, impacting sensor data processing and decision support.
- In December, 2025, Northrop Grumman was selected by the US Space Development Agency to deliver a constellation of 18 satellites with advanced infrared sensors for the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 mission.
Dive into Technavio’s robust research methodology, blending expert interviews, extensive data synthesis, and validated models for unparalleled Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market insights. See full methodology.
| Market Scope | |
|---|---|
| Page number | 301 |
| Base year | 2025 |
| Historic period | 2020-2024 |
| Forecast period | 2026-2030 |
| Growth momentum & CAGR | Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.9% |
| Market growth 2026-2030 | USD 2475.8 million |
| Market structure | Fragmented |
| YoY growth 2025-2026(%) | 5.6% |
| Key countries | US, Canada, Mexico, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Chile and Colombia |
| Competitive landscape | Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
Research Analyst Overview
- The market is defined by a strategic shift toward advanced passive surveillance and covert target detection to counter threats in complex electronic warfare environments. Core innovation centers on improving sensor resolution and multi sensor data fusion, leveraging mid-wave infrared sensor technology, cooled infrared detectors, and dual-band infrared sensor configurations alongside electro-optical cameras.
- This multi-spectral sensor fusion, powered by sophisticated signal processing units and tracking algorithms, is essential for identifying thermal signatures with high threat classification accuracy and target discrimination capability. Boardroom decisions increasingly focus on integrating autonomous defense software and real-time data analytics to enable hypersonic threat tracking and counter-stealth technology for emissions-controlled operations.
- Advanced passive ranging techniques are reducing reliance on active electronically scanned array systems. Integration is key, requiring seamless tactical data link integration with command and control systems for network-centric warfare integration. This ecosystem extends from airborne surveillance to the proliferated warfighter space architecture, relying on staring sensors to function as a passive early warning system.
- The backbone of these systems includes precision optical materials, advanced semiconductors, and cryogenic cooling systems, all vital for achieving situational awareness enhancement and developing next-generation aerospace intelligence solutions.
What are the Key Data Covered in this Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market Research and Growth Report?
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What is the expected growth of the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market between 2026 and 2030?
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USD 2.48 billion, at a CAGR of 5.9%
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What segmentation does the market report cover?
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The report is segmented by End-user (Aerospace and defense, and Civil), Type (Airborne, Naval, Ground-based, and Space-based), Technology (Multi-sensor IRST, 2D IRST, and Hybrid IRST) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, South America)
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Which regions are analyzed in the report?
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North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa and South America
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What are the key growth drivers and market challenges?
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Development of new-generation air and missile defense systems, High research and development costs and successive project cancellations
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Who are the major players in the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) System Market?
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ASELSAN AS, Elbit Systems Ltd., Excelitas Technologies Corp., HENSOLDT AG, HGH Systemes Infrarouges SAS, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Rostec, RTX Corp., Saab AB, Safran SA, Thales Group and Tonbo Imaging India Pvt Ltd.
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Market Research Insights
- The market is shaped by a strategic push toward battlefield digitization, where integrating passive detection capabilities is paramount for operational success. The adoption of a multi-layered defense architecture, which enhances platform survivability enhancement by over 30%, is compelling investment in resilient sensor networks and sophisticated decision support tools.
- This pivot is evident as systems demonstrating advanced unmanned aerial systems tracking see procurement rates increase by 15% year-over-year. As multi-domain operations become standard, sensor interoperability standards are being rigorously enforced to ensure seamless data flow.
- The emphasis on gaining an operational stealth advantage in contested airspace dominance scenarios drives demand for technologies that support low observable target acquisition and predictive target analysis, ensuring tactical superiority.
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