Global C4ISR Has A Cyber Warfare Surge
C4ISR refers to Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. The global C4ISR industry is highly competitive, with a large number of suppliers thriving to gain supremacy of this highly profitable market.
The Global C4ISR Market registered revenue $99 billion in 2015 and is expected to touch $125.46 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 4.85% over the forecasted period.
In C4ISR, Command and Control refers to the use of information technology in military tactics. The purpose of C4ISR is to use information technology to gain a competitive advantage over the opponent. It involves collection of vital and strategic information, spreading of propaganda, misinformation or delivering information to assets in a foreign state.
Also it performs the vital function determining whether the information collected is accurate or not. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in recent times have been equipped with systems to enable them to perform vital roles in electronic warfare. The MQ-9 reaper is one of the most lethal UAV to perform in this function.
Use of C4ISR is vitally important in present times. With the demise of conventional warfare Electronic and Cyber warfare were born, where information collection and correct dissemination is vital.
Countries such as United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Germany and France are among the top defense spenders and they have well developed C4ISR industries. Subsequently, developing countries armed with huge budgets are slowly making their presence felt in this space.
On the downside, along with the countries use of C4ISR, these systems have been adopted fully by the terrorist organisations as well, who use it for many purposes such as spreading their propaganda, misinformation and carrying out their activities.
To counter these elements, nations will have to beef up their C4ISR capabilities and this will be one of the drivers for the C4ISR market.
The Global C4ISR Market will witness Moderate growth. The demand for networked communication, sensor upgrades, intelligence and electronic warfare systems will increase among developing countries.
One major reason for the moderate growth of the market in the global scenario is that there have been considerable cuts in the budgeted expenditure in market of developed nations specially, the United States and the cost of former systems is quite high.
But post 2020, sea based systems will register improved rates of growth all over the world, including in the North American and European markets. Further, there will also be a quantum shift in technology.
The market is expected to register tremendous growth in the Asian powers of India and China. India specially has been battling with its neighbors and terrorist organisations that are using these capabilities to full effect. The spiked defense budget in India to counter the external forces opens up new opportunities for C4ISR market in the country. Growing domestic production, coupled with government incentives would drive the market for sea based C4ISR systems in Asia and Middle Eastern countries.
In C4ISR, airborne systems are seeing the highest demand and growth rates. This segment will account for the highest share in the C4ISR market in the coming future. Also the demand for networked communication, sensor upgrades, intelligence and electronic warfare systems will increase among developing countries.
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