Product Code: KSI061610303
The Infrared Imaging Market is expected to grow from USD 8.531 billion in 2025 to USD 11.151 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 5.50%.
The infrared imaging market, encompassing thermal imaging technology, captures heat emissions to produce visible images, enabling visualization in darkness or through obscurants like smoke and fog. This non-invasive technology is critical across defense, healthcare, automotive, and industrial sectors. Driven by advancements in microbolometer technology and AI integration, the market is expanding rapidly, with applications in night vision, medical diagnostics, autonomous vehicles, and predictive maintenance. North America leads due to robust defense spending and innovation, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe. Despite challenges like high costs and regulatory restrictions, the market is poised for significant growth through 2030.
Market Overview
Infrared imaging systems detect radiation in the 0.7-14 micrometer range using sensors like microbolometers (uncooled) or cooled detectors (e.g., indium antimonide). Recent advancements have lowered costs and enhanced performance, broadening commercial adoption. In 2024, a University of California, San Diego study introduced a microbolometer design improving sensitivity by 20% and cutting costs by 15% (industry report, 2024). AI integration further enhances real-time anomaly detection, with a 2025 MIT collaboration achieving 95% accuracy in identifying concealed objects (industry report, 2025). The market serves defense (night vision), healthcare (diagnostics), automotive (ADAS), and industrial applications, with emerging uses in environmental monitoring.
Growth Drivers
Key factors driving market expansion include:
- Technological Advancements: Improved microbolometers and AI integration enhance affordability and performance. The 2024 UC San Diego microbolometer breakthrough reduced costs, while a 2025 MIT AI-driven system improved threat detection accuracy (industry reports, 2024, 2025).
- Defense Demand: A $500 million U.S. DoD contract in 2024 upgraded night vision systems, and the EU allocated €200 million for border surveillance, reflecting strong security needs (industry reports, 2024).
- Healthcare Innovation: A 2025 study in the Journal of Medical Imaging reported thermal imaging improved diabetic foot ulcer monitoring by 30%, boosting non-invasive diagnostics (industry report, 2025).
- Automotive Growth: Thermal cameras in Level 4 autonomous vehicles increased pedestrian detection by 25% in 2025, supporting ADAS and smart city applications (industry report, 2025).
Market Restraints
Challenges include:
- High Costs: Cooled systems, critical for defense, cost up to 10 times more than uncooled alternatives, limiting adoption (industry report, 2024).
- Regulatory Restrictions: U.S. ITAR regulations restrict exports, complicating global supply chains (U.S. Department of State, 2025).
- Skills Gap: Accurate thermal data interpretation requires expertise, with a 2024 study noting inconsistent outcomes due to training shortages (Journal of Medical Imaging, 2024).
- Competition: Radar and LiDAR challenge infrared imaging in automotive applications, with LiDAR preferred for 3D mapping (industry report, 2025).
Geographical Analysis
- North America: Leads with U.S. defense spending ($500M contract, 2024) and innovations like DARPA's 2024 drone thermal system, improving detection by 30% (industry report, 2024).
- Asia-Pacific: India's 2025 DRDO infrared detector fab line (INR 2,000 crore) signals growth, driven by military and commercial demand (industry report, 2025).
- Europe: EU's €200 million investment in border surveillance supports market expansion, though regulatory complexities persist (industry report, 2024).
Segment Analysis
- LWIR Cameras: Dominate with a 32% market share in 2024, driven by versatility in surveillance and automotive applications (industry report, 2024).
- Uncooled Systems: Lead due to affordability and portability, with 2024 advancements enhancing sensitivity (industry report, 2024).
- Military and Defense: The largest end-user, fueled by 2024 DoD and EU investments (industry reports, 2024).
- North America: Dominates due to defense and automotive innovation (industry report, 2024).
Key Developments
- India's Infrared Detector Fab Line: DRDO's 2025 INR 2,000 crore project in Lucknow to produce advanced detectors (industry report, 2025).
- FLIR's LWIR Camera: Launched in 2024 with 20% size reduction and enhanced resolution for drones and inspections (industry report, 2024).
The infrared imaging market is thriving, driven by technological advancements, defense investments, and growing applications in healthcare and automotive sectors. North America leads, with Asia-Pacific gaining momentum. Industry experts should focus on cost reduction, AI integration, and training to overcome restraints and capitalize on opportunities through 2030.
Key Benefits of this Report:
- Insightful Analysis: Gain detailed market insights covering major as well as emerging geographical regions, focusing on customer segments, government policies and socio-economic factors, consumer preferences, industry verticals, and other sub-segments.
- Competitive Landscape: Understand the strategic maneuvers employed by key players globally to understand possible market penetration with the correct strategy.
- Market Drivers & Future Trends: Explore the dynamic factors and pivotal market trends and how they will shape future market developments.
- Actionable Recommendations: Utilize the insights to exercise strategic decisions to uncover new business streams and revenues in a dynamic environment.
- Caters to a Wide Audience: Beneficial and cost-effective for startups, research institutions, consultants, SMEs, and large enterprises.
What do businesses use our reports for?
Industry and Market Insights, Opportunity Assessment, Product Demand Forecasting, Market Entry Strategy, Geographical Expansion, Capital Investment Decisions, Regulatory Framework & Implications, New Product Development, Competitive Intelligence
Report Coverage:
- Historical data from 2022 to 2024 & forecast data from 2025 to 2030
- Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Supply Chain Outlook, Regulatory Framework, and Trend Analysis
- Competitive Positioning, Strategies, and Market Share Analysis
- Revenue Growth and Forecast Assessment of segments and regions including countries
- Company Profiling (Strategies, Products, Financial Information, and Key Developments among others.
Infrared Imaging Market Segmentation:
By Type
By Wavelength
- Near-Infrared (NIR)
- Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR)
- Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR)
By End-User
- Manufacturing
- Military & Defense
- Building & Construction
- Medical & Healthcare
- Power & Energy
- Others
By Geography
- North America
- USA
- Canada
- Mexico
- South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Others
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Spain
- Others
- Middle East and Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Others
- Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Taiwan
- Others
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. MARKET SNAPSHOT
- 2.1. Market Overview
- 2.2. Market Definition
- 2.3. Scope of the Study
- 2.4. Market Segmentation
3. BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
- 3.1. Market Drivers
- 3.2. Market Restraints
- 3.3. Market Opportunities
- 3.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 3.5. Industry Value Chain Analysis
- 3.6. Policies and Regulations
- 3.7. Strategic Recommendations
4. TECHNOLOGICAL OUTLOOK
5. INFRARED IMAGING MARKET BY TYPE
- 5.1. Introduction
- 5.2. Cooled
- 5.3. Uncooled
6. INFRARED IMAGING MARKET BY WAVELENGTH
- 6.1. Introduction
- 6.2. Near-Infrared (NIR)
- 6.3. Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR)
- 6.4. Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR)
7. INFRARED IMAGING MARKET BY END-USER
- 7.1. Introduction
- 7.2. Manufacturing
- 7.3. Military & Defense
- 7.4. Building & Construction
- 7.5. Medical & Healthcare
- 7.6. Power & Energy
- 7.7. Others
8. INFRARED IMAGING MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY
- 8.1. Introduction
- 8.2. North America
- 8.2.1. USA
- 8.2.2. Canada
- 8.2.3. Mexico
- 8.3. South America
- 8.3.1. Brazil
- 8.3.2. Argentina
- 8.3.3. Others
- 8.4. Europe
- 8.4.1. Germany
- 8.4.2. France
- 8.4.3. United Kingdom
- 8.4.4. Italy
- 8.4.5. Spain
- 8.4.6. Others
- 8.5. Middle East and Africa
- 8.5.1. Saudi Arabia
- 8.5.2. UAE
- 8.5.3. Others
- 8.6. Asia Pacific
- 8.6.1. China
- 8.6.2. India
- 8.6.3. Japan
- 8.6.4. South Korea
- 8.6.5. Indonesia
- 8.6.6. Thailand
- 8.6.7. Taiwan
- 8.6.8. Others
9. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS
- 9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis
- 9.2. Market Share Analysis
- 9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations
- 9.4. Competitive Dashboard
10. COMPANY PROFILES
- 10.1. Teledyne Technologies
- 10.2. Fluke Corporation
- 10.3. Leonardo DRS
- 10.4. Axis Communications Inc.
- 10.5. L3 Technologies Inc
- 10.6. Robert Bosch GmbH
- 10.7. Opgal (Rafael Advanced Defense System Ltd.)
- 10.8. SATIR
- 10.9. Allied Vision Technologies GmbH (TKH Group NV)
- 10.10. InfraTec GmbH
11. APPENDIX
- 11.1. Currency
- 11.2. Assumptions
- 11.3. Base and Forecast Years Timeline
- 11.4. Key benefits for the stakeholders
- 11.5. Research Methodology
- 11.6. Abbreviations