The Rise of Network-Centric Warfare and Its Impact on Command and Control Systems Market
The MRFR “Command & Control Systems Market” report provides meaningful insight into how various segments (installation type, solution, application) behave within the global market.
Installation Type: New Installation vs Upgradation
Among installation types, the new installation segment is forecast to hold the largest share, suggesting that many countries and agencies are still building out C2 infrastructure rather than solely upgrading legacy systems. This indicates that green-field opportunities (new command centres, fully modernised networks) are significant. Upgradation remains important, though may involve smaller incremental spend.
Installation Base: Fixed Command Centre vs Deployable Command Centre
In terms of base, the fixed command centre segment dominates, according to MRFR, reflecting the sustained demand for centralised command facilities that coordinate large-scale operations. Deployable command centres (e.g., mobile/forward nodes) will also grow, but the fixed segment remains primary for national defence and large agency operations.
Solution: Hardware, Software & Services
Hardware remains the largest piece of the solution category. This includes sensors, communications terminals, computing servers, displays, and networking devices — essential building blocks for C2 infrastructures. The large share of hardware underscores that significant investments are still going into the physical backbone of C2 systems.
However, software (analytics, decision-support, visualization) and services (integration, maintenance, training) are increasingly strategic. Vendors that can align hardware with advanced software and lifecycle services stand to capture more value.
Application: Land, Airborne, Maritime, Space
The application dimension emphasises that command & control systems are deployed across land, air, maritime and space domains. The breadth of these platforms means that suppliers must support multi-domain operations and interoperability across environments. While MRFR’s summary extract does not provide detailed share breakdowns by application, the distributed platform coverage implies that growth is not limited to traditional land/air domains; maritime and space are becoming consequential.
Strategic takeaways
From a segmentation standpoint:
New installations in emerging markets offer growth potential.
Fixed command centres remain high-value investments.
Hardware investments continue to dominate, but software and services will play an increasingly strategic role.
Multi-domain applications mean that supplier ecosystems must be diversified and interoperable. For companies in the C2 market, aligning product portfolios and go-to-market strategies with these segmental dynamics is key to maximising success.