Directed Energy and Military Laser Market to Grow to $12.3B by 2022


WELLESLEY, Mass., Oct. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Increases in defense spending worldwide will help to grow the global directed-energy and military laser market through 2022, according to an industry report by BCC Research. Globally, this sector of the laser market is expected to top $12.3 billion by 2022 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%.

Lasers are used in a variety of industries, including the defense, fusion energy, industrial, research and medical sectors. Military lasers, which have a higher degree of photon output and coherence, are present in material processing and auto assembly and are playing an increasingly important role in the development of many new processes, including guiding munitions and marking targets, missile defense systems, laser lightning displays, communication and surgical and diagnosis functions.

Growth over the next five years is projected to be robust and comes as demand grows by armed troops operating on land, air and water and as authorities look for crowd control weapons and to confront terrorists. The defense application laser market will see growth rates through 2022 of 11.5% annually, with the market value topping $4.8 billion, according to the report Directed-energy and Military Lasers: Global Markets. Medical uses of lasers will see double-digit growth through 2022, with the market valued at $2.3 billion.

Leaders in the field include Raytheon Missile Systems, Lockheed Martin, Rafael Advance Defense Systems, Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

Research Highlights

  • Developing countries in Africa and South America have huge untapped growth potential for directed-energy and military lasers.
  • Massive homeland security modernization efforts in the U.S., U.K., Finland, India, South Korea and Russia are driving the laser market and expected to provide good market opportunities in coming years. Many of these markets will focus on chemical lasers.
  • The Asia–Pacific region is estimated to account for the largest share in the global directed–energy and military lasers market. Growth there will be particularly strong for gas lasers, where the market could expand at 9.3% annually through 2022.

“Unlike other industrial tool industries, that surrounding industrial lasers is still evolving and developing,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, BCC Research editorial director. “Demand for lasers is expected to rise as there is increasing demand for higher output and increased production efficiency in this market segment.”

Healthcare Sector Could See Accelerated Growth

The healthcare sector has considerable untapped growth opportunities for the use of lasers due to increasing health awareness, demand for minimally invasive surgeries and growth of 3D imaging. At present, there is no replacement for lasers in the medical industry. Growth opportunities appear to be particularly robust in North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Editors/reporters requesting analyst interviews should contact steven.cumming@bccresearch.com.

About BCC Research

BCC Research is a publisher of market research reports that provide organizations with intelligence to drive smart business decisions. By partnering with industry experts worldwide, BCC Research provides unbiased measurements and assessments of global markets covering major industrial and technology sectors, including emerging markets. For more information about BCC Research, please visit bccresearch.com. Follow BCC Research on Twitter at @BCCResearch.