FI Projects Robust $11+ Billion Multimission Communications Market

(NEWTOWN, Conn., August 3, 2009) -- Forecast International is projecting that defense departments worldwide will spend approximately $11.05 billion on 25 different multimission communications development, acquisition, and maintenance programs over the next decade. Specifically, this amount will be allocated for the development, procurement, or maintenance of multimission communications systems or technology.

In its annual market analysis entitled "The Market for Multimission Communications Systems," FI further projects that defense departments throughout the world will purchase 634,690 individual units from among 18 different multimission communications products over the next 10 years.


"Replenishing communications equipment used in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the excessive costs of and setbacks in the development of the U.S. DoD's Joint Tactical Radio System are the principal factors driving current expenditures for multimission communications," said Greg Giaquinto, Forecast International senior analyst.

According to the analysis, the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program, the Bowman Tactical Radio program, and the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) will significantly impact the market for multimission communications in the coming decade.

The JTRS is a U.S. Department of Defense program to develop and produce a single standard, software-operated radio system for the U.S. armed services; the program is currently in research and development. Forecast International projects that the Defense Department will invest some $2.89 billion from FY09 to FY13 on JTRS research and development.

The U.K.'s Bowman Tactical Radio program is seeking to develop and procure a family of multimission communications combat radios for the British armed services. General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd is the prime contractor for this program, and has chosen ITT and Harris to supply most of the multimission communications systems to be purchased under the program. Forecast International estimates that the British armed services will buy approximately 44,000 tactical radios under the Bowman program from 2009 to 2018.

The Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System is a family of manpack, vehicular, and airborne radios manufactured by ITT Corporation's Communications Systems Division. The most popular member of the SINCGARS family of military radios, which are software operated, is the PRC-119, which is forecast to be bought in significant numbers by the U.S. DoD over the next several years.

Forecast International is projecting that, over the next 10 years, five companies will receive 51.52 percent of the total dollar amount that defense departments worldwide will spend on the 25 products and programs covered in this analysis. These companies are General Dynamics, Harris, Northrop Grumman, ITT, and Rockwell Collins. General Dynamics will lead with $1.68 billion in revenue. Harris, Northrop Grumman, ITT, and Rockwell will follow with $1.37 billion, $1.07 billion, $910.93 million, and $659.44 million in revenue, respectively.

Source : Forecast International Inc.