Although surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) have seldom been used in active combat in recent years, their production is still anticipated to be worth some $28 billion to manufacturers worldwide over the next 10 years.

"MBDA, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon will dominate this market," said Larry Dickerson, Senior Missile Analyst for Forecast International. The three companies will earn a combined $11.4 billion in SAM sales during the 2009-2018 period.

"Raytheon's revenues will come from supplying missiles to navies worldwide, while Lockheed Martin's earnings will be generated by meeting land-based needs," Dickerson said.

He added, "These companies will earn $5.2 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively. MBDA's sales of $2.8 billion will fit between these two market segments." These three companies will build over 23,000 of the more than 80,000 missiles forecast for production through 2018.

With respect to production in China, Dickerson said, "China will produce nearly as many missiles and earn $5 billion from missile sales, but the overwhelming majority will go to meeting Chinese requirements. Chinese companies will have very little success outside the domestic market."

Dickerson added with regard to Russia that it is attempting to rebuild its market share, but is encountering difficulty competing head-to-head with Western systems.

Of growing importance is a system's ability to engage cruise and ballistic missiles. Israel, for example, faces a considerable missile and rocket threat, which is fueling development of countermeasures. According to Dickerson, Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling are new defensive systems that will enter service in the near future.