Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market Size By Technology (Guided Weapons, Unguided Weapons), By Range (Short-Range, Medium-Range, Long-Range), By Application (Anti-Air, Anti-Tank, Anti-Personnel), By Assembly Type (Launchers, Projectiles), By End-Users (Military, Law Enforcement, Special Forces), By

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market Size And Forecast

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market size was valued at USD 16.50 Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 24.81 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2024 to 2031.

• Weapons that can be fired with the buttstock pushed against the user’s shoulder for stability and increased accuracy are known as shoulder-fired weapons. These are hand-carriable firearms.
• In combat circumstances, these weapons offer for greater mobility and flexibility because they are usually lighter and more portable than larger weapons like machine guns or mortars.
• Shoulder-fired weapons are widely being used for a variety of purposes in military and law enforcement owing to greater mobility and user-friendliness compared to the heavy weapons.
• As a result, manufacturers are constantly innovating and creating shoulder-fired weapons that are more accurate, range, and powerful. This attracts buyers who are looking for modern and effective weapons.
• Also, the growing political and regional conflicts are leading to war, thereby spurring demand for portable and versatile shoulder-fired weapons.

Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market Dynamics

The key market dynamics that are shaping the global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market include

Key Market Drivers

• Rising Global Military Spending Many countries, particularly those dealing with regional conflicts or perceived security threats, are spurring up their defense spending. This trend is leading higher procurement of various weaponry, including shoulder-fired weapons, to equip and modernize their armed forces.
• Counter-Terrorism OperationsGrowing terrorist activities and security concerns worldwide is encouraging government to support cand fund for counter-terrorism operations. This demand for effective weapon systems among law enforcement and military is boosting the sales of portable and effective shoulder-fired weapons.
• Geopolitical TensionsAs a result of geopolitical tension and regional conflicts, more and more countries are looking to shoulder-fire weapons as a means of defense and deterrence against potential adversaries.
• Rise in Asymmetric Warfare Growing conflicts among opposing forces and urban warfare is leading to different level of application of military power. Thus, these non-state actors and insurgent groups might utilize readily available and portable shoulder-fired weapons to counter more powerful militaries.

Key Challenges

• Rise in Misuse & Humanitarian Impact of Shoulder-Fired Weapons The easy and widely available portable shoulder-fired weapons at a reasonable price is projected to contribute to their proliferationand potential misuse by non-state actors, criminal organizations, and even terrorists. Thereby, increasing violence, instability, and civilian casualties in various regions, leading to devastating humanitarian consequences.
• Stringent International Regulations International treaties and agreements, such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), focuses on regulating the international trade of conventional arms, such as shoulder-fired weapons. The major aim of such regulations is to prevent their uncontrolled flow and ensure responsible transfer practices. The varying regulations across borders is proving challenging for the market.
• Demand for Countermeasures and defense systemsIncreasing use of countermeasures and defense systems, like armored vehicles and active protection systems, instead of the shoulder-fired weapons, particularly unguided ones. This upsurges the demand towards more sophisticated and expensive weapons capable of defeating such countermeasures.
• Economic and Political Instability The political instability and economic crisis is likely to impact the sales of shoulder-fired weapons, impacting the growth of the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market.
• Public Opposition and Ethical ConcernsGrowing ethical and humanitarian concerns surrounding the use of shoulder-fired weapons is increasing public opposition, thereby pressurizing government to limit the trade, production, and use of shoulder-fired weapons.

Key Opportunities

• Demand for Technological AdvancementsOngoing technological advancements, such as latest guidance systems, enhanced accuracy, and miniaturization of components, is offering new growth opportunities to the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market.
• Focus on Anti-Armor CapabilitiesGrowing focus on enhancing the anti-armor capabilities of shoulder-fired weapons to address evolving threats on the battlefield is surging development of advanced and more powerful warheads capable of penetrating modern armored vehicles.
• Lightweight and Portable Systems The trend of using lightweight and portable shoulder-fired weapons, especially for infantry and special forces. The goal of reducing the weight of launchers and ammunition while maintaining or improving performance is likely to enhance the demand for shoulder-fired weapons.
• Enhanced Counter-Drone Capabilities With the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on the battlefield, there is a trend toward developing shoulder-fired weapons with enhanced counter-drone capabilities. These systems may include guided missiles designed to neutralize drones.

Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market Regional Analysis

Here is a more detailed regional analysis of the global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market

Asia Pacific

• In the Asia Pacific region, the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market is influenced by factors such as escalating territorial disputes, military modernization initiatives, and the threat of asymmetric warfare.
• Countries like China, India, and Japan are major players driving market growth, investing in advanced missile systems and portable anti-tank/anti-aircraft weapons to bolster their defense capabilities.
• Rising defense budgets across Southeast Asia, coupled with ongoing conflicts and security challenges, further contribute to the demand for shoulder-fired weapons in the region.
• Also, the effectiveness of Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to promote responsible arms trade practices and prevent the proliferation of weapons in the region. Thus, Asia Pacific is proving to be a maturing market for Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market.

North America

• North America accounts for a substantial portion of the global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market. The United States, a major power in the region, is one of the world’s largest spender on defense, with a significant portion of its budget billed to weaponry procurement.
• The ammunition companies in this region are at the forefront of developing and producing advanced shoulder-fired weapons, catering to the demands of modern warfare.
• In addition to this, the United States, a major arms exporter, is influencing the regional market through its foreign military sales and defense partnerships.
• The presence of leading defense contractors and a strong focus on military modernization initiatives further propel market growth in the region. Furthermore, the evolving security landscape, including the threat of terrorism and regional conflicts, continues to drive demand for shoulder-fired weapons across North America.

Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons MarketSegmentation Analysis

The Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market is segmented on the basis of Technology, Range, Assembly Type, Application, End-Users, and Geography.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market, By Technology

• Guided Weapons
  1. Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS)
  2. Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)
• Unguided Weapons
  1. Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG)
  2. Recoilless Rifles
  3. Grenade Launchers

Based on Technology, The market is divided into Guided Weapons and Unguided Weapons. The guided weapons segment is expected to dominate the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market over the forecast period. Guided weapons are known to provide superior accuracy and range compared to unguided weapons, making them more effective in engaging targets and reducing the risk of collateral damage. Thus, the demand for precision and targeted strikes is likely to align well with guided weapons. Continuous advancements in guidance systems, including Faser, infrared, and radio frequency technologies, are driving the development of more sophisticated and effective guided weapons.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market, By Range

• Short-Range
• Medium-Range
• Long-Range

Based on Range, The market is divided into Short-Range, Medium-Range, and Long-Range. The medium-range segment holds the largest share in the global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market. The balance between transportability and effectiveness offered by medium range makes them a suitable choice for various combat situations and terrains. This range segment includes essential weapons such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), making them crucial for modern militaries.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market, By Assembly Type

• Launchers
• Projectiles

Based on Assembly Type, The market is divided into Launchers and Projectiles. The trends in international defense procurement are influencing the dominance of launcher segment. Some regions or countries use specific launchers depending on its operational strategic features. The versatility and multi-role competence of guided missile launchers is contributing to their dominance. The launchers are effectively being used in both armored and airborne threats to offer flexibility in diverse operational scenarios.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market, By Application

• Anti-Air
• Anti-Tank
• Anti-Personnel

Based on Application, The market is divided into Anti-Air, Anti-Tank, and Anti-Personnel. MANPADS are a dominant category within the anti-air segment of the shoulder-fired weapon market. These systems are designed to be easily carried by an individual soldier and are capable of engaging low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Thereby, enabling the anti-air segment hold a major share in the global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market. These weapons are developed to engage a variety of aerial threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones. Their versatility makes them valuable for protecting ground forces against a range of airborne threats.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market, By End-Users

• Military
• Law Enforcement
• Special Forces

Based on End-Users, The market is divided into Military, Law Enforcement, and Special Forces. Military segment is estimated to dominate the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market. The demand for portable, regulation compliant, and convenient infantry in the military sector to counteract terrorism and other illegal activities arising due to geopolitical and regional conflicts is creating lucrative opportunities of growth for the Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market. In addition to this, rise in military spending on weaponry for the safety of the nation and citizens is projected to increase sales of shoulder-fired weapons in this sector.

Key Players

The “Global Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market” study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Saab AB, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Denel SOC Ltd., Leonardo S.p.A., Hanwha Corporation, Safran SA, and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated for such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight to the financial statements of all the major players, along with its product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The competitive landscape section also includes key development strategies, market share and market ranking analysis of the above-mentioned players globally.

Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market Recent Developments

• In May 2022, Lockheed Martin has plans nearly double the production of a Javelin anti- tank shoulder-fired weapon from 2,100 annually to 4000 annually. At the same time, the US army also planned to purchase 1,300 stinger man-portable anti-tank systems from Lockheed-Raytheon joint venture.
• In April 2022, the US army released a request for RFI to the industry as part of its replacing its stockpiles of FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS with new similar functioning missiles.
• In May 2023, The US Army awarded the JJV (Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Lockheed Martin) an IDIQ (Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity) production contract with a total ceiling of USD 7.2 Billion for fiscal years 2023 to 2026 for the Javelin weapon system and associated equipment & services.
• In April 2023, the IMoD (Israel Ministry of Defense) and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense (Greece) signed a defense exports agreement to acquire ‘Spike’ missiles of the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., i.e., valued at approximately USD 403 Million.
• In February 2023, Saab AB signed a framework agreement with a Government of a Western country and received orders for Carl-Gustaf multi-purpose shoulder-launched weapon, the RBS 70 NG short-range air defense system, and the Giraffe 1X radar, with the order value of approximately USD 767.54 Million and deliveries planned between 2023–2026.

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