Expected to face its biggest setback since the Great Recession, the global market for Combat Management System will derail in the medium term before reaching a projected US$406. 6million by 2027. The world is now staring at a corona virus led recession, the worst ever to be witnessed in recent history with both developing and developed countries expecting to see their GDP growth go into negative. Reprioritization away from the defense in the medium term is the most obvious fallout. When the world plans for the next global threat, it will not be for war or national security but for healthcare given the disproportionately large expenditures governments had to make for testing and treatment in the ongoing pandemic. Undoubtedly there will be severe pressure to overhaul the world`s healthcare system to prepare for future pandemics. A large portion of budgetary grants will be directed towards the healthcare system to improve surveillance systems, update diagnostic equipment, expand hospital capacities, train staff, and improve drug manufacturing capacities. Defense spending in the midst of all this is expected to receive a major blow. Top countries until now who were the leading spenders on military & defense will now witness their budgets grow smaller. The United States, for instance, the world`s largest spender on defense will acutely feel the crunch. The US$2 trillion relief bill signed by the Trump government to fight the pandemic will expand the country`s total debt by nearly 10%. The county`s debt which averaged to nearly US$23. 4 trillion before the pandemic will now grow even bigger, putting defense among the first government expenditures to be curtailed. The macroeconomic scenario discussed above means far lesser resources will be available for the department of defense (DoD). Over US$$450 to US$$600 billion will be reduced over the next 10 years. The reductions will likely be higher than the US$500 billion cuts over a 10-year period executed for the DoD under the Budget Control Act of 2011 enacted as part of the Congressional response to the ballooning deficit. For the US DoD the spending cutback will be comparable to a second sequestration. Against this backdrop, defense spending as percentage of GDP is expected to fall and defense companies must brace for a shock and develop preemptive strategies and take measures to weather the storm.

A Combat Management System (CMS) comprises the central command and decision-making element of a vessel combat system. The system basically comprises a computer and software that integrates the ship sensors, weapons, radars, and data and other equipment into a single system. The system is designed to offer situational awareness and intelligence to the crew to enable them to perform combat tasks efficiently. Key functions of the Combat Management System include weapons control, threat evaluation, situation assessment, picture compilation, among others. Combat Management Systems collect data from surrounding environment through sensors and radars. The data collected is collated, converted and disseminate into actionable intelligence. Modern CMS systems are capable of handling huge amounts of data and monitor thousands of positions and are highly automated and also feature a command, control and communication capability. Some of the systems also feature electro-optical infrared cameras, short-range anti-air missiles, and countermeasure devices designed to delude detection systems. Global demand for combat management systems post recovery from COVID-19 will be propelled by increasing focus on superior situational awareness and growing military expenditure across emerging countries.