The study, entitled 'The Land-Based Air Defence Systems Report', reveals that the land-based air defence market is being given new impetus as a result of dual concerns over ballistic missile proliferation and the emergence of new aerial threats, including UAVs and cruise missiles.

At the same time, land-based air defence is embracing the doctrine of network-centric warfare and continuing to develop new technologies, including lasers and hypersonic missiles, offering significant opportunities for investment.

While visiongain believes that the surface-to-air missile will retain its dominant position in the missile market, trends in global defence spending mean the main priorities in the next decade will be the upgrade and service-life extension of existing systems, as well as the refurbishment of surplus equipment.

These tendencies will present smaller companies with the possibility of obtaining 'tailor-made' contracts, notably in the field of electro optical sensors, fire control systems and datalinks.

"While land-based air defence developments will be typified by upgrades and the acquisition of off-the-shelf equipment, we will nevertheless see major sales of new systems in the Asia-Pacific Rim, driven by air defence restructuring in China and India," comments report author Thomas Newdick.

"Within NATO the situation is less clear-cut, but all signs indicate that the organisation is on the verge of implementing an integrated anti-tactical ballistic missile system, which will undoubtedly generate lucrative new contracts, especially in terms of ensuring interoperability."

A shift in land-based air defence priorities will see increasing emphasis placed on flexible anti-tactical ballistic missile systems capable of both forward deployment and homeland defence, the visiongain study forecasts.

Anti-tactical ballistic missile systems will increasingly become available to new operators, while established short-range air defence systems will become the focus of new interception technologies and will continue to stress mobility and survivability.

'The Land-Based Air Defence Systems Report' examines the current land-based air defence market country by country, and identifies where the major industry players, including Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Raytheon and Thales, are investing. It also forecasts the potential opportunities (and possible pitfalls) in the market.

In addition, the report provides an inventory of the major systems available or in development (include contract information), and profiles the most significant manufacturers involved in this fast-changing industry.

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