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Unattended Ground Sensor Market size is slated to witness a major upsurge over 2022-2028, as a result of the increasing launch of tactical unattended ground sensors to help provide an early warning and additional layer of protection on the battlefield. Likewise, the rising application scope of UGS systems in locations where surveillance infrastructure is unavailable, including regions where no border security soldiers are deployed, will also drive industry size in the years ahead. UGS refers to small ground-based sensors that can collect intelligence through acoustic, seismic, electro-optic, and radiological nuclear means. They are networked devices designed to provide an early warning of infiltration and are capable of remote operation.
Rise in terrorism and insurgencies is one of the prominent trends augmenting the unattended ground sensor (UGS) market dynamics through 2022-2028. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the rate of domestic terrorist incidents linked to reserve and active-duty personnel surged by 6.4% in 2020, a hike from 1.5% in 2019 in the U.S. These factors, alongside the escalating spending on the military sector and the high emphasis on national security in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, will further generate growth opportunities.
With regards to sensor type, the unattended ground sensor market from the infrared segment will record appreciable revenue by 2028. This is driven by the myriad benefits of infrared proximity sensors, such as contactless detection, secured communication via a line of sight, and their ability to detect soft objects such as ultrasound proximity sensors.
Based on end user, the critical infrastructure segment is poised to depict a strong growth rate through the forecast spell, owing to the availability of lightweight unattended ground sensor systems tailored for home security applications. These sensors can offer modular, wireless, and scalable sensor solutions to detect threats in critical areas and infrastructures, thus proliferating the segmental expansion over the projected timeframe.
On the regional front, the Middle East and Africa unattended ground sensor market is likely to amass considerable profits by 2028, on account of the mounting violence within the military sector and the increase in defense spending in Saudi Arabia. In February 2021, Saudi Arabia announced plans to invest above $20 billion in the domestic military sector over the next decade as a part of its plan to manufacture and develop military systems. The increasing risk of terror attacks across the country is also another contributory factor to the regional industry outlook over the forthcoming years.
Some of the key players in the unattended ground sensor (UGS) industry include Cobham (Meggitt Polymers & Composites Ltd.), Qual-Tron, Exensor Technology (Bertin Technologies SAS), Prust Holding, Seraphim Optronics, L3 Technologies (formerly L-3 Communications), Ferranti, Thales, Harris Corporation, Quantum Corporation, McQ Inc., Depository Trust Company (DTC), Textron Systems, and Northrop Grumman, among others. These firms are focusing on varied strategies including new sensor launches and business expansions to strengthen their presence in the competitive market. For instance, in December 2021, Exensor Technology received additional orders from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, FMV, for its Flexnet unattended ground sensor technologies for Swedish armed forces.
Impact of COVID-19 on unattended ground sensor market trends:
Despite the economic challenges induced by the novel coronavirus outbreak on various industry verticals, military spending witnessed a hike during the peak of the pandemic. Also, there has been a significant increase in planned attacks during the crises. For example, the Federal Intelligence Service of Switzerland warned of potential terrorist attacks across COVID-19 vaccinations sites and manufacturing facilities in the region. Factors such as these may assert a positive influence on the unattended ground sensor industry share.