Growing Demand for PCB Assemblies in the Aerospace and Military Industries

Over the last few decades, electronics as a segment has penetrated into virtually all the sectors, and printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies have evolved hugely from single-layer basic designs to miniature-sized chips with multiple layers and complex functionalities. Thanks to the advancements in terms of materials, manufacturing processes, testing methods, and automated assembling processes, PCB assemblies can now be lightweight and flexible, yet loaded with components, and withstand temperature extremes, radioactive conditions in low earth orbit, high speeds and vibration, and even solar storms. No wonder these assemblies find a large application in mission-critical applications in the aerospace and military industries. This post discusses the growing demand for advanced PCB assemblies in aerospace and military industries, its drivers, future prospects, and more.

 

Even on considering a bird’s eye view of the market scenario, one may realize the growing demand for modern PCB assemblies in mission-critical applications in aerospace and defense, such as GPS and navigation systems, propulsion systems, payload, space-to-ground communication systems, in-flight power supplies, temperature sensing systems, instrumentation and control, radar systems, and more. According to some research reports, the global PCB assembly market for aerospace and defense was valued at $8.5 Billion in 2023 and is slated to reach $14.3 Billion by 2032.It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024 to 2032. The needs of the aerospace and defense sectors are very specific and there is zero tolerance for errors, malfunctioning, and so on. The increasing reliability of lightweight rigid-flex PCBs that can withstand harsh conditions is one of the key drivers of this market growth. Also, there are several other factors in terms of meeting legal compliance, industry standards, and technical aspects that have fostered this growth.

 

Here are some factors driving the growth of this market.

• Increasing research and innovation in space satellites, their launches, and missions to various planets, Sun, Moon, and more have increased the demand for such robust PCBs that meet all the requirements.
• The demand for commercial flights is also high due to the increasing number of domestic and international travelers. This has led to a surge in the number of aircraft being manufactured and refurbished, and in turn the advanced electronics installed inside.
• The defense sector is also increasingly using satellite systems to locate discrete spots, electronic warfare systems, advanced surveillance systems, and more. All of which requires advanced electronic systems.
• The overall digitization in these sectors has led to an increasing demand for high-speed, high-frequency PCB assemblies integrated with high-density interconnects (HDIs), advanced and highly-resistant materials, and so on.
• Another important segment here is of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They are widely used in the defense sector and require advanced PCB assemblies for reliable performance, precision control, and communication systems.

Here are some pointers that highlight the current trends and future of PCB assembly applications in the aerospace and defense sectors.

• Materials: Increasing number of materials such as Teflon, ceramics, polyimide, and more are being used owing to their flexibility and durability, and their ability to withstand extreme harsh environments, such as extreme radiation, microgravity, and thermal variations. More such materials are under experimentation and research.
• HDIs: To cater to the high-frequency and heat-generating applications, high-density interconnect boards are used and gaining huge traction for complex applications. These high-performance boards are also compact and lightweight, which is a requirement in aerospace applications.
• Use of multilayered rigid-flex PCBs: Increased circuit density prompts for wide use of multilayered PCBs, which enables advanced functionalities required in radar and other avionic systems.
• Automation and AI-powered systems: PCB manufacturing, assembling, and testing processes are already automated. Automation is especially useful for complex designs and high-density boards as it improves efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability and reduces human intervention. The future will have an increased number of AI-powered defense systems, drones, aircraft, and spacecraft which will require advanced PCB assemblies made using automation and AI. Such high-performance assemblies would enable real-time processing, sensing, communication, and control.
• Solar-powered drones: Power management and its increased efficiency would be the next big thing in this segment. Already efforts are being made to integrate renewable energy sources with technology, and solar-powered drones is one such example.
• Sustainability: Green PCBs are gaining momentum owing to the increased demand for sustainability across industries. Already lead-free PCB assemblies are in use and this trend is likely to continue. There may be an increasing demand for newer non-toxic materials and recyclable substrates.
• Quantum computing: Advancements in sensing technologies is the need of the hour, and this trend will continue over the next few years. PCB assemblies with advanced features will be needed to support quantum computing and advanced sensors
• Tamper-proof systems: Security is a huge issue in electronics, and several measures are being taken to prevent data tampering and other thefts. Already, tamper-proof systems with robust PCB assemblies have been developed. However, this is an ongoing process because criminals and enemies always find new ways to hack systems in spite of security measures. Tamper-proof systems and devices are extremely important in the defense and aerospace sectors, and this is increasing the demand for advanced PCB assemblies to ensure the detection of possible cyber-attacks and hacking attempts.

If you are an OEM manufacturing aerospace or military components, you will need a robust PCB design with the right materials, and specific characteristics such as resistance to environmental extremes, and more. If you are look for a PCB assembly service provider, consider partnering with Accelerated Assemblies. The company has several years of market presence and the privilege of working with clients from diverse industries. Contact the team at Accelerated Assemblies via phone or email in case you need further information on their PCB assembly services, and how you can use them in your project to gain a competitive advantage.