URGENT UPDATE: A groundbreaking report from Frost & Sullivan reveals that the integration of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and secure communications is set to revolutionize global military operations by 2027. This transformation, detailed in the report titled Human-Machine Integration/Manned–Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), Global, 2025–2027, marks a critical shift from experimentation to scalable deployment.
Global spending on MUM-T is projected to surge from approximately $5.0 billion in 2024 to $7.6 billion by 2027, reflecting a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2%. Defence organizations are prioritizing this technology to enhance force multiplication, survivability, and operational agility.
Avi Kalo, Global Aerospace & Defence Director at Frost & Sullivan, stated, “Manned–unmanned teaming is moving decisively from experimentation into scalable deployment.” This new phase is characterized by the integration of AI-enabled autonomy, open architectures, and real-time human oversight, enabling armed forces to coordinate assets across air, land, and maritime domains with unprecedented speed and flexibility.
Once confined to niche trials, MUM-T has now become a core pillar of next-generation force modernization. It allows manned platforms to work seamlessly alongside unmanned aerial, ground, and maritime systems. This capability supports critical missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and logistics, significantly reducing risks to human operators.
The report highlights that leading defence organizations, especially in North America and Europe, are accelerating adoption through flagship programs like collaborative combat aircraft and naval unmanned teaming initiatives. Concurrently, markets in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are ramping up MUM-T investments in response to evolving regional security dynamics.
Frost & Sullivan identifies several factors fueling this market expansion: advances in AI and autonomy enabling better interoperability, modular open systems architectures (MOSA) streamlining integration, rising defence budgets, and cross-sector collaborations between traditional defence primes and agile defence-tech innovators.
However, challenges such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities, integration complexities, and ethical considerations surrounding human oversight remain prominent. Kalo pointed out, “Our analysis identifies significant growth opportunities across procurement, research and development, and defence-tech collaboration, as governments and industry partners aim to accelerate innovation cycles and operationalize MUM-T at scale.”
Key areas of focus over the next three years will include upgrading legacy platforms, investing in AI-driven mission software, and expanding testing and simulation environments to ensure operational effectiveness.
As geopolitical tensions escalate and operational environments become increasingly contested, MUM-T is deemed a strategic necessity rather than an option. Kalo concluded, “Defence organizations that align doctrine, technology, and partnerships around human–machine teaming will be best positioned to achieve sustainable operational dominance.”
This report underscores the urgent need for military stakeholders to adapt and innovate in the face of rapidly changing global security dynamics. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
