Airborne Lightning Detection System Market Research Report Information by Equipment (Lightning Sensor, Lightning Processor, Lightning Display), Aircraft Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, UAV), End User (Defense, Commercial), Fit (Line, Retro), Region - Global Forecast till 2027

Global Airborne Lightning Detection System Market

Airborne lightning detection systems help avoid weather-related hazards such as thunderstorms by detecting electromagnetic activity. This helps minimize flight delays as the system sends impact data to maintenance centers ahead of landing, allowing for rapid post-landing analysis. In recent years, there have been a number of incidents of aircraft being struck by lightning or severely affected by harsh weather conditions. As a result, the airborne lightning detection system market is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period.

However, the initial R&D expenses for airborne lightning detection technology is extremely high and there are backlogs in new aircraft deliveries, which limit use and restrict market growth. A lack of proper standards is also expected to hinder the growth of the airborne lightning detection system market. 

Market Segmentation

The market has been segmented by equipment, aircraft type, end user, fit, and region.

On the basis of equipment, the market has been divided into lightning sensor, lightning processor, and lightning display. This equipment helps reduce the extent of damage caused by lightning strikes. The lightning sensor segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period owing to the increased adoption of these sensors. The lightning display segment is projected to be the largest during the review period.

By aircraft type, the market has been classified as fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and UAV. The fixed-wing segment is expected to be the largest and fastest-growing during the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for new commercial and military aircraft and the rising defense budgets in the US, China, and Germany.

On the basis of end user, the market has been segmented into defense and commercial. The commercial segment of the market is expected to be the larger and faster-growing during the forecast period owing to increasing air travel and a rise in per capita disposable income of the middle-class population.

Based on fit, the global market has been segregated into linefit and retrofit. The linefit segment of the market is expected to be the larger and faster-growing during the forecast period. This can be attributed to an increase in air passenger traffic in recent years.

Regional Insights

The global airborne lightning detection system market has also been studied for five regions—North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The market in North America is expected to be the fastest-growing during the review period owing to the presence of major aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Bombardier in the region. Europe is expected to dominate the global market during the review period.

Recent Development:

Strategic Partnerships: Companies are also forming strategic partnerships to develop and commercialize new airborne lightning detection technologies. For example, in 2023, Saab AB and Airbus Defence and Space signed a cooperation agreement to develop and market a new airborne lightning detection system for commercial aircraft.

Technological Advancements: Companies are continuously developing new and improved airborne lightning detection systems. For example, Honeywell International Inc. recently introduced its new RDR-4700 weather radar, which features an integrated lightning detection system that can detect lightning strikes up to 200 nautical miles away.

Key Players

The key players in the airborne lightning detection system market are Aselsan AS (Turkey), BAE Systems (UK), United Technologies Corporation (US), Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel), Sarasota Avionics International (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Raytheon Company (US), RUAG Group (Switzerland), Saab AB (Sweden), and Terma (Denmark).

Intended Audience

• Airline Operators


• Aircraft Carriers


• Research Organizations

Scope of the Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global market, tracking four market segments across five geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size and share for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years in each region. The scope of the study segments the global market by equipment, aircraft type, end user, fit, and by region.

By Equipment

• Lightning Sensor


• Lightning Processor


• Lightning Display

• Fixed-Wing


• Rotary-Wing


• UAV

• Defense


• Commercial

• Linefit


• Retrofit

• North America


• Europe 


• Asia-Pacific 


• Middle East & Africa


• Latin America

The report on the global market by Market Research Future covers extensive primary research. This is accompanied by a detailed analysis of the qualitative and quantitative aspects by various industry experts and key opinion leaders to gain deeper insights into the market and industry performance. The report offers a clear picture of the current market scenario, which includes the historical and forecast market size, in terms of value and volume, and the technological, macroeconomic, and governing factors of the market. The report also provides comprehensive information about the strategies of the top companies in the industry, along with a broad study of the different market segments and regions.