Global Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Market is segmented By Type (Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)), By Application (Defence and Space, Civil Airports, National Security), By Region and Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends, and Forecast 2023-2032

Report Overview

Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) is a radar system used in aviation for air traffic control and surveillance purposes. It works in conjunction with the primary radar system and provides additional information about aircraft beyond their mere presence. SSR operates by sending out interrogations to aircraft and receiving responses from transponders on board the aircraft.

Unlike primary radar which only detects the presence of aircraft, SSR provides additional layer of information through the interrogation process. The selective interrogation capability also allows SSR to manage a larger number of aircrafts simultaneously. Common SSR systems include Mode A/C systems used in civil aviation and Mode S systems which allow selective interrogations and enhanced surveillance.

SSR enhances air traffic control capabilities by providing crucial data for managing airspace, ensuring safe separation between aircraft, and enabling more efficient routing and sequencing. It helps identify individual aircraft amidst a crowded airspace, reducing the risk of collisions and enabling controllers to maintain safe distances between aircraft. SSR also plays a vital role in monitoring and managing aircraft during takeoff, landing, and en-route phases of flight.

The Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) market refers to the market segment focused on the production, deployment, and maintenance of SSR systems and related equipment. This market caters to the requirements of air traffic control authorities, airports, and aviation regulatory bodies worldwide.

It also is experiencing advancements in technology, such as Mode S and Mode 5, which offer improved data exchange capabilities, enhanced surveillance accuracy, and increased resistance to interference and cyber threats. These technological developments aim to meet the evolving requirements of air traffic management, including integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and adopting advanced surveillance concepts.

Key Takeaways

• Introduction to SSR Market: Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) is a critical radar system used in aviation for air traffic control and surveillance. SSR complements primary radar by providing additional information about aircraft beyond their presence.
• Applications: Defense and Space segment holds a dominant market position due to SSR’s critical role in national defense and aerospace operations.
• Driving Factors: Increasing air passenger and cargo traffic globally leading to greater demand for enhanced surveillance. Modernization of air traffic control infrastructure.
• Restraining Factors: High costs of developing and maintaining ground-based SSR infrastructure.
• Opportunities: Development of new compact transponders for general aviation and UAVs.
• Challenges: Balancing surveillance performance enhancements with cost considerations.
• Trends: Shift from legacy analog Mode A/C transponders to digital Mode S and ADS-B enabled transponders.
• Regional Analysis: North America leads the market due to advanced aviation infrastructure and national security priorities.
• Key Market Players: Hensoldt, Indra Sistemas, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, and others are key players in the SSR market.

Type Analysis

In 2023, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) held a dominant market position in the Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Market. ADS-B has become increasingly important due to its enhanced capabilities in providing real-time precision aircraft tracking. This system transmits the exact position of an aircraft derived from satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. Air traffic control relies on this technology as it offers improved accuracy and reliability over traditional radar systems in remote areas where radar coverage may be limited.

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) also represents an integral component of the SSR market. TCAS serves as an aircraft collision avoidance system by monitoring airspace for other aircraft equipped with active transponders in close proximity. It then warns pilots of the presence of other transponder-equipped aircraft which may present a threat of collision. Although it covers a smaller market share compared to ADS-B, TCAS is critical for in-flight safety, particularly in congested airspaces.

Both ADS-B and TCAS play crucial roles in modern aviation safety. ADS-B’s market dominance is driven by its broader range of capabilities and its role in next-generation air traffic management systems. Meanwhile, TCAS remains vital for immediate collision avoidance. Together, these technologies represent key components in the ongoing effort to enhance air traffic safety and efficiency worldwide.

Application Analysis

In 2023, the Defense and Space segment held a dominant market position in the Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Market. This prominence is largely due to the critical role SSR plays in national defense and aerospace operations. In these applications, SSR systems are vital for tracking and identifying aircraft, ensuring secure airspace, and supporting military operations. The reliability and precision of SSR are essential for defense purposes, where accurate real-time information is crucial for national security and strategic operations.

The Civil Airports segment also constitutes a significant portion of the SSR market. As air traffic continues to grow, civil airports are increasingly adopting advanced SSR systems for efficient air traffic management. These systems are essential for maintaining safe distances between aircraft, managing the busy airspace, and ensuring timely and organized flight schedules. The push for modernized air traffic control infrastructure in civil aviation is driving the demand for SSR in this segment.

The National Security segment is another important area for SSR applications. National security agencies use SSR systems for surveillance and monitoring of airspace to detect and respond to potential threats. This application is particularly important in border areas and sensitive regions where maintaining airspace integrity is crucial.

Each of these segments – Defense and Space, Civil Airports, and National Security – demonstrates the diverse applications and critical importance of SSR systems. As the need for enhanced airspace surveillance and management continues to grow, the demand for SSR in these segments is expected to increase, reflecting its essential role in ensuring safe and efficient airspace operations.

Driving Factors

• Increasing air passenger and cargo traffic globally, leading to greater congestion and demand for enhanced surveillance capabilities in civil and military aviation.
• Modernization of aging air traffic control infrastructure in developed economies. Government initiatives to upgrade from primary radars to SSR.
• Emphasis on flight safety through use of technologies like Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) which rely on SSR transponders. Reduces risks of mid-air collisions.
• Regulatory requirements making SSR mandatory for civil aircrafts in many countries. For instance, FAA rule in US requiring SSR transponders for all aircrafts in certain airspaces.
• Development of sophisticated airport surfaces surveillance like multi-lateration systems that integrate SSR for total airfield visibility.
• Advances in SSR technologies like Mode S allowing selective interrogations, redundancy reduction, and dense airspace handling capabilities.

Restraining Factors

• High costs of developing and maintaining ground-based SSR infrastructure. Requires extensive coordination between civil aviation authorities and environment agencies.
• Phasing out of older analog transponders in favor of digital ones involves considerable costs for aircraft operators.
• Frequency congestion issues due to larger transponder populations. Requires regular frequency reassignment.
• Growing use of satellites for air traffic surveillance, especially over oceans, reduces reliance on ground-based SSR.

Opportunities

• Development of new compact transponders to tap into general aviation, UAVs and other small aircraft applications.
• Airspace modernization programs in emerging economies with growing air traffic like China, India, Middle East, South East Asia etc.
• Uptake of new capabilities like ADS-B, multi-lateration and wide area multilateration integrated with SSR to enable advanced air traffic control.
• Scope for building harmonized surveillance infrastructure through collaboration between aviation agencies like FAA, EASA, ICAO etc.
• Leveraging satellite-based ADS-B mesh network to complement ground SSR particularly in oceanic regions and other gaps.

Challenges

• Balancing surveillance performance enhancements with cost considerations for budget-constrained aviation authorities and airlines.
• Cybersecurity risks with greater connectivity between aircraft systems and integration with air traffic control networks.
• Achieving global interoperability between different SSR technologies and transponder modes.
• Maintaining SSR effectiveness as air traffic shifts to outer space in coming decades with space tourism and hypersonic aircrafts.
• Keeping transponders reliable in the face of evolving electronic warfare measures that can jam signals.

Trends

• Shift from legacy analog Mode A/C transponders to digital Mode S and ADS-B enabled transponders.
• Growing network-centric integration between SSR, ADS-B, wide area multilateration and satellite surveillance.
• Use of dual SSR frequencies to isolate civil and military air traffic control. Separation of modes for enroute vs terminal area surveillance.
• Adoption of randomized interrogation patterns by SSR systems to make selective addressing more secure.
• Leveraging SSR for advanced applications beyond just location monitoring like flight data recording, collision avoidance, weather data uplink etc.

Key Market Segments

By Type

• Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)
• Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)

By Application

• Defense and Space
• Civil Airports
• National Security

Regional Analysis

In 2023, the Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) market saw North America holding a dominant position, thanks largely to the region’s advanced aviation infrastructure and the high priority placed on national security. This dominance is also supported by the presence of key aerospace and defense players, coupled with substantial investments in modernizing air traffic control systems.

Europe follows closely, with a significant presence in the SSR market. The region’s stringent air safety regulations drive the demand for advanced SSR systems. European countries are heavily focused on incorporating the latest technologies in SSR to manage their dense and complex airspaces, especially around major international airports.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is marked by rapid growth in the SSR market. This is fueled by the expanding aviation sector in populous countries like China and India. The construction of new airports and the expansion of existing ones in this region are creating a burgeoning demand for sophisticated SSR systems.

Latin America, though an emerging player in the SSR market, shows potential for substantial growth. As countries in Latin America continue to build up their aviation capabilities, their demand for SSR is expected to increase significantly.

Lastly, the Middle East and Africa are gaining momentum in the SSR market. This growth is driven by efforts to modernize aviation infrastructure and heightened focus on airspace security. The increasing importance of aviation as a key economic driver in these regions is propelling the demand for advanced SSR systems.

Key Regions and Countries Covered in this Report

• North America
  • The US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Netherland
  • Rest of Europe
• APAC
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Rest of MEA

Top Key Players

• Hensoldt
• Indra Sistemas
• ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES. LTD
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Leonardo S.P.A
• NEC Corporation
• Northrop Grumman
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation
• Thales Group
• Rockwell Collins
• Harris Corporation
• Intel

Recent Development

• In 2020, Thales launched the FlytX, a new family of SSR transponders.
• In 2020, Saab launched the PS-8000 Mode S SSR.
• In 2021, Northrop Grumman launched the AN/APX-118 Advanced Interrogator-Transponder (AIT).
• In 2022, Airbus Defence and Space launched the SkyWatch SSR.
• In 2023, Leonardo launched the LPD-8000 Mode S SSR.

Report Scope