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Military laser market to reach $4.63B

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Soldiers of the U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s 1st Squadron calibrate their Javelin missile launcher’s Multi Integrated Laser System (MILES) on Monday, April 6, 2015, prior to the start of field operations for Saber Junction 15. MILES accurately replicates both the actual firing capabilities and effects of weapons during training, detects hits from laser “bullets,” and performs damage and/or casualty assessments on targets. U.S. Army Europe’s Saber Junction 15 takes place April 1-30, 2015, in Germany, Romania and Lithuania and prepares U.S., NATO allies, and European security partners to conduct unified land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations appropriate to the mission and the environment. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Barrieau)

The global military laser market will reach $4.63 billion by 2020, according to a forecast by market research firm MarketsandMarkets. This reflects a compound annual growth rate of 8.86 percent from 2015.

“The solid-state laser market is estimated to hold the largest market share in 2015 of the military laser systems market,” the report said. “The chemical laser market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR [compound annual growth rate] during the forecast period. This is due to the continuous rise in the R&D activities of military laser systems in the U.S., as well as the in the emerging economies such as India and China.”

There will also be strong growth in the Middle East as laser weapons are deployed against rockets, mortar shells and unmanned aerial vehiclesUAVs

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Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.