Airport Surface Radars Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Airport Surface Radars Market size was estimated at USD 462.06 million in 2025 and expected to reach USD 490.69 million in 2026, at a CAGR of 7.11% to reach USD 747.48 million by 2032.

Airport surface radar systems are specialized surveillance solutions designed to monitor and manage aircraft and vehicular movements within the maneuvering areas of an airport. These systems operate at microwave frequencies to provide high update rates, precise position information, and reliable performance in all visibility conditions, ensuring that air traffic controllers maintain real-time situational awareness for safe ground operations. By supplementing visual observations, surface radars significantly reduce the risk of runway incursions and ground collisions, making them an indispensable component of modern airport safety infrastructures.

Over the past decade, advancements in signal processing techniques, antenna design, and data fusion have transformed the capabilities of surface movement radar solutions. From the integration of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast data in the Surface Awareness Initiative to the deployment of next-generation solid-state radars, the evolution of these systems reflects a broader commitment within the aviation community to enhance operational efficiency and safety. This introduction establishes the foundational importance of airport surface radars and sets the stage for examining the transformative shifts shaping this critical segment of air traffic management.

The landscape of airport surface surveillance has undergone a profound transformation driven by the integration of multidimensional sensor networks and advanced data processing platforms. Emerging multilateration systems now complement traditional primary and secondary surveillance radars, delivering enhanced coverage and redundancy. At the same time, the adoption of software-defined radar architectures has enabled airports to implement flexible upgrade paths and rapidly deploy new capabilities without extensive hardware modifications.

Furthermore, the convergence of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast with surface movement radars under the FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative has set a new benchmark for controller situational awareness. By fusing diverse data streams, controllers can visualize aircraft and vehicle positions more accurately, even under adverse weather and low-visibility conditions. This integration marks a significant shift from purely hardware-driven surveillance toward an ecosystem of interoperable, adaptive technologies that reshape airport ground movement management.

The cumulative impact of U.S. tariffs imposed in 2025 on steel, aluminum, and advanced electronics has exerted upward pressure on production costs for surface radar systems. With steel and aluminum tariffs doubling to 50%, manufacturers such as Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon have experienced significant cost increases, leading to an estimated $125 million hit in costs during the first half of the year alone. These raw material surcharges ripple through the supply chain, affecting everything from antenna structures to enclosure components.

Complementing the impact of raw material tariffs, a 10–15% duty on imported defense electronics and radar subsystems sourced primarily from China has further strained profit margins. This levy, part of the broader 2025 tariff framework targeting key aerospace and defense components, has prompted manufacturers to explore alternative suppliers in Taiwan, Israel, and South Korea while reassessing long-term sourcing strategies. In response to these challenges, some industry players have accelerated investments in domestic manufacturing capabilities and modular system designs to insulate operations from future tariff fluctuations.

Market segmentation by radar type encompasses a spectrum of solutions, from advanced Surface Movement Guidance Control Systems with incremental Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 functionality, to primary and secondary surveillance radars operating on diverse frequency bands. Multilateration offerings, whether ground-based or satellite-based, deliver supplementary surveillance layers that enhance overall coverage accuracy. Moreover, surface movement radars operating on Ka-Band and X-Band frequencies ensure granular detection of ground targets.

Technological segmentation reveals a clear dichotomy between Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave solutions-available in Chirped and Continuous Wave variants-and pulsed radar systems, which rely on magnetron or solid-state transmitters. These technology choices influence not only performance characteristics such as resolution and range but also lifecycle maintenance and upgrade pathways.

The application-driven view of the market highlights distinct use cases: ground surveillance tasks that include perimeter and ramp monitoring, incursion detection capabilities designed for both runway and taxiway intrusions, and traffic management functions covering apron control and runway sequencing. When viewed through the lens of end use, civilian aviation operators and military users exhibit differing requirements for system ruggedness, security protocols, and integration with larger defense networks. Finally, installation considerations distinguish between new infrastructure projects and retrofit scenarios, shaping deployment timelines and capital expenditure profiles.

In the Americas, modern airports are prioritizing surface surveillance enhancements as part of broader air traffic modernization programs. The FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative, which began rolling out in mid-2024, will be operational at 50 control towers by the end of 2025, illustrating a concerted effort to fuse ADS-B data with surface radar feeds for comprehensive situational awareness. North America’s commitment is reinforced by substantial capital investments, with major hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth integrating multisensor radar architectures to address a rising number of ground safety incidents in recent years.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa display varied adoption patterns driven by regulatory mandates and infrastructure expansion. EU Regulation 2023/974 requires the deployment of millimeter-wave radars at airports handling over 10 million passengers, spurring early deployments at flagship gateways such as Frankfurt Airport, which integrated TERMA’s SCANTER 6000 system to reduce taxi times and curb emissions. Meanwhile, the Gulf region’s megaprojects, exemplified by Dubai World Central, have contracted Thales to supply surface movement radars that support projected capacity surges through 2030.

Asia-Pacific leads global growth, fueled by the rapid expansion of air traffic and the need to modernize aging infrastructure. China’s five-year aviation development plan allocates over $15 billion toward radar modernization, underscored by implementations at Beijing Daxing International Airport. India’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme has driven radar installations at newly added tier-2 airports, while Southeast Asian hubs report double-digit annual procurement growth in line with tourism recovery and compliance with ICAO safety timelines.

Major technology providers are responding to market pressures with a combination of strategic investments, partnerships, and product innovations. Raytheon Technologies, for instance, acknowledged a tariff-related cost impact that prompted an adjusted profit forecast for 2025, underscoring the financial ramifications of rising duties on raw materials and electronics. In parallel, Thales secured a high-profile contract to equip Dubai World Central’s second concourse with advanced surface movement radars, reflecting strong demand in capital-intensive airport expansions across the Middle East.

Frequentis Defense’s successful delivery of the first U.S. Department of Defense digital air traffic control tower at Garrison Katterbach exemplifies how system integrators are blending high-definition camera feeds with radar data to enhance ground surveillance capabilities. This deployment highlights a trend toward unified control environments that merge visual and radar-based situational awareness for both military and civilian airfields. Concurrently, emerging players are carving out niches by offering modular, software-driven platforms that facilitate incremental upgrades and foster interoperability with existing ATM ecosystems.

Industry leaders should prioritize the adoption of software-defined radar architectures to enable agile feature rollouts and minimize hardware obsolescence. Leveraging modular design principles will allow airports to implement phased upgrades, aligning capital expenditure with evolving traffic demands and regulatory requirements. In parallel, establishing diversified supply chains and developing local manufacturing partnerships can mitigate the financial risks associated with international tariff volatility. Forward-looking organizations would also benefit from collaborating closely with regulatory bodies to pilot new sensor fusion techniques that combine ADS-B, multilateration, and X-Band radar inputs, thereby setting new operational benchmarks.

A sustained focus on workforce development is essential to address the technician shortage in legacy system decommissioning and next-generation deployment projects. By investing in targeted training programs and certification pathways, airports can accelerate modernization timelines while maintaining operational continuity. Finally, embracing data analytics solutions that draw on real-time surface surveillance feeds will unlock opportunities for predictive maintenance, dynamic runway sequencing, and enhanced safety protocols, driving measurable improvements in efficiency and risk mitigation.

This study combined primary research involving in-depth interviews with senior executives at radar manufacturers, air navigation service providers, and airport authorities. Secondary research entailed a comprehensive review of regulatory documents, technology whitepapers, and published case studies to map the evolution of surface surveillance technologies. Data triangulation methods were employed to cross-verify manufacturer capabilities, deployment volumes, and technology adoption curves. Finally, expert validation sessions with independent analysts provided critical feedback on emerging trends and strategic implications, ensuring the robustness and credibility of the insights presented.

The convergence of radar, ADS-B, and multilateration technologies is redefining the paradigms of airport surface management, yielding richer data ecosystems and unprecedented levels of situational awareness. Tariff-induced cost challenges and supply chain disruptions are catalyzing supply diversification and modular system design, underscoring the importance of strategic resiliency. Regional adoption patterns reveal a clear bifurcation: mature markets like North America and Europe are focusing on system upgrades and regulatory compliance, whereas Asia-Pacific’s rapid infrastructure expansion presents significant growth opportunities for established and emerging providers alike.

Looking ahead, the imperative for airport operators is to balance technological innovation with pragmatic deployment strategies. Investments in workforce training, system modularity, and interoperable sensor networks will define the next wave of surface surveillance excellence. Ultimately, airports that embrace an integrated, data-centric approach will achieve superior safety outcomes and operational efficiencies, setting new standards for ground movement management in the global aviation community.

To gain an authoritative, in-depth understanding of the airport surface radar market and its strategic implications, reach out directly to Ketan Rohom, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing. Engage with expertise that is tailored to meet the specific needs of decision-makers, providing you with bespoke insights and actionable guidance. Secure your copy of the comprehensive executive report today and empower your organization with the intelligence required to navigate this dynamic industry.