Press Release
Contact: Larry Dickerson, Missile Systems Analyst
Phone: (203) 426-0800
Fax: (203) 426-4262
Web site: www.forecastinternational.com
E-mail: larry.dickerson@forecast1.com
Forecast International, Inc.
22 Commerce Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MBDA and Raytheon Battle for Air-to-Air Missile Market
Dominance
NEWTOWN, Conn. [January 30, 2006] — A recent analysis by
Forecast International estimates that the market for air-to-air missiles will
be worth $15.4 billion over the next 10 years, with Raytheon and MBDA sharing
the lead. According to Larry Dickerson, Missile Analyst for Forecast
International, the continued strong demand for combat aircraft and the drive to
modernize air forces is fueling demand for these missiles. More than 52,000
air-to-air missiles will be built worldwide between 2006 and 2015.
“As in previous years, this market is dominated by Raytheon
and MBDA,” said Dickerson. “Raytheon is on top of this market due to the
popularity of the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM. Sales of these
missiles will be worth $4.5 billion. MBDA, which is producing the MICA and
ASRAAM and will introduce the Meteor in the future, will see its air-to-air
missile revenues top $3.3 billion through 2015.”
MBDA’s Meteor is the company’s challenger to AMRAAM’s
dominance of the medium-range air-to-air missile segment. Yet Raytheon is
already introducing new versions of the AIM-120 to maintain its market share.
“Raytheon has a big advantage in that the U.S. is a leading
provider of combat aircraft to the world,” said Dickerson. U.S. aircraft
companies are expected to outsell their European competitors, helping to
stimulate purchases of U.S.-built missiles. “Those countries buying U.S.-built
fighters usually arm them with U.S.-built weapons, although there are
exceptions,” Dickerson said. He added, “MBDA is aiming to have its air-to-air
missiles integrated with the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which is
being developed by the United States, to lessen this advantage.”
Together, Raytheon and MBDA account for 51 percent of all
sales in the air-to-air missile market. If certain non-competitive firms, such
as those located in China and Japan, are eliminated from the rankings, the
market share of these firms jumps to 66 percent.
“The vast majority of Chinese air-to-air missile sales are
to its own government, and those that are exported have little effect on the
overall market,” said Dickerson. “Japan is forbidden to export weapons and
Taiwan has yet to sell an air-to-air missile to a foreign customer,” he said.
Forecast International, Inc., is a leading provider of
Market Intelligence and Analyses in the areas of aerospace, defense, power
systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, CT, USA, Forecast
International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and innovative
marketing presentations, including regular 10-year forecasts. To arrange an
interview with Forecast International’s analysts, please contact Monty Nebinger
(203-426-0800, monty.nebinger@forecast1.com).