CBRN Defense Market

Global CBRN Defense Market:

The global CBRN defense market size reached USD 21.6 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 33.1 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.64% during 2025-2033. The launch of protective measures by government bodies to identify defense measures that can be used in situations where advanced R&D activities of medical countermeasures are necessary, is primarily augmenting the market growth.

Global CBRN Defense Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The growing demand for suitable defense systems, owing to the increasing adoption of materials and chemicals for manufacturing CBRN weapons, is one of the key factors stimulating the CBRN defense market outlook. Besides this, various safety measures undertaken by government authorities concerned with medical services are also acting as significant growth-inducing factors.
• Key Market Trends: The introduction of CBRN reconnaissance vehicles with real-time monitoring capabilities is one of the emerging trends stimulating the CBRN defense market value. Additionally, the inflating popularity of LASER technology and georeferencing chemical compounds for long-range detection of CBRN threats is expected to bolster the CBRN defense market over the forecasted period.
• Geographical Trends: According to the CBRN defense market overview, North America currently dominates the global market. This can be attributed to the rising expenditure capacities of government bodies on the military. Moreover, the elevating investments in CBRN resistance technologies are positively influencing the CBRN defense market demand in North America.
• Competitive Landscape: According to the CBRN defense market research, some of the key players across the global market include Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd., Avon Protection Systems Inc., Blücher GmbH, Bruker Corporation, Chemring Group PLC, Cristanini SPA, Environics Oy, FLIR System, Kärcher Futuretech GmbH (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG.), MSA Safety Inc., Smiths Group PLC, and Thales Group, among many others.
• Challenges and Opportunities: One of the primary challenges negatively impacting the CBRN defense market revenue is the lack of stringent equipment manufacturing standards. Apart from this, large organizations have established their niche services in developed countries, thereby making it difficult for new players to enter the market. However, the development of novel advanced CBRN defense systems with improved detection capabilities, effectiveness, and rapid decontamination functions is projected to drive the CBRN defense market share.

Global CBRN Defense Market Trends:

Development of Effective Countermeasures

The increasing prevalence of political tensions and the rising threats from terrorists are escalating the need for CBRN weapons. Government bodies and defense departments are launching favorable policies to protect military personnel and the public from these weapons. In addition to this, they are introducing the necessary framework for tackling the threats caused by CBRN incidents. For example, in December 2021, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in South Korea announced that the Republic of Korea Armed Forces deployed upgraded reconnaissance vehicles with improved capabilities to counter chemical and biological security threats. Furthermore, regulatory authorities are also formulating a national strategy for the coordination, establishment, and implementation of CBRN equipment standards, thereby acting as significant growth-inducing factors. For instance, in June 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided US$ 2 Million in funding under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program to two companies for introducing machine learning technologies to detect CBRN threats. The DHS planned to minimize the time, redundancy, and costs and improve the accuracy in detecting threats, including chemical explosives, agents, narcotics, etc., by adopting ML technologies. In addition to this, in April 2022, Kromek was given a contract of US$ 2.23 Million from an existing U.K. government-related customer to deliver CBRN detection services and products. The delivery of CBRN products is scheduled for 2026. Similarly, in February 2023, Teledyne FLIR was given a contract of US$ 13.3 Million by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to further expand the capabilities of its R80D SkyRaider unmanned aerial system to perform chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance missions autonomously.

Introduction of Defense Equipment

The wide presence of prominent players, including Chemring Group PLC and Smiths Group plc, is catalyzing the CBRN defense market. Furthermore, various companies are collaborating with research institutions and laboratories to develop advanced CBRN defense equipment or devices. For example, in May 2022, RedWave Technology launched the XplorIR, which is a gas-identification system designed specifically to meet the requirements of emergency response missions. The XplorIR system refers to a handheld Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) identification equipment that can identify more than 5,500 gases at low part per million (ppm) concentrations. Besides this, key players are integrating advanced sensors and payloads for conducting CBRN missions. In line with this, they are further focusing on building trust with the stakeholders, reducing product costs, increasing awareness, etc. For instance, in February 2024, Avon Protection, a leader in innovative CBRN personal protective equipment, introduced its new EXOSKIN-S1 CBRN protective suit, an important addition to its range of CBRN protective wear. This launch marks a significant event in Avon Protection’s mission to deliver advanced protective capabilities for individuals operating in a CBRN threat environment across the globe. Moreover, specifically designed to meet the NATO AEP-38 standard, the EXOSKIN-S1 provides defense against Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC), vapor, liquid, and particulate Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA), and biological threats for up to 24 hours at a time, thereby giving wearers continuous protection for extended operational durations.

Numerous Collaborations

Various regulatory authorities and government organizations operating across countries are partnering with prominent key players and entering into agreements for investing in CBRN resistance technologies. This, in turn, is enhancing the CBRN defense market price. For instance, the Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) is a well-established community focused on rapid prototyping and maturing medical countermeasures to detect, prevent, and treat exposure to CBRN threats. Through the other transaction agreement with the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), the MCDC is developing medical pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and therapeutics to protect and enhance the mission of service members. In September 2023, Avon Protection announced a strategic partnership with OPEC CBRNe, a manufacturer and designer of chemical, biological, and antiviral suit systems. This collaboration was aimed to enhance CBRN protective suit technologies, thereby catering to the international military and special forces.

Global CBRN Defense Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on the threat type, equipment, and end use.

Breakup by Threat Type:

• Chemical
• Biological
• Radiological
• Nuclear
   

Currently, chemical accounts for the majority of the global market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the threat type. This includes chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. According to the report, chemical accounted for the largest market share.

The rising incidents of chemical warfare threats are one of the key factors propelling the market growth in this segmentation. For instance, countries, such as Russia, along with China, have deliberately attacked the legitimacy and authority of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its attribution and investigative mechanisms. Additionally, Russia has increased the spread of disinformation about biological and chemical weapons, including during the war in Ukraine. Consequently, the inflating need for detecting chemical agents is stimulating the adoption of portable devices and laboratory test instruments, which will continue to propel the global market in this segmentation in the coming years.

Breakup by Equipment:

• Protective Wearables
• Respiratory Systems
• Detection and Monitoring Systems
• Decontamination Systems
• Simulators
• Others
   

Among these, protective wearables currently exhibit a clear dominance in the market

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the equipment. This includes protective wearables, respiratory systems, detection and monitoring systems, decontamination systems, simulators, and others. According to the report, protective wearables accounted for the largest market share.

Protective wearables, including gas masks, gloves, hazmat suits, footwear, etc., form a crucial part of CBRN defense equipment. They are extensively designed to protect against chemical agents, including toxic industrial chemicals (TIC), chemical war agents (CWA), toxic industrial materials (TIM), etc. Besides this, the selection of CBRN protective wearables generally depends on the type and level of contamination. For example, AirBoss Defense Group, a global leader in survivability solutions, produces rubber products that are designed to protect wearers from chem-bio contamination and other environmental threats, thereby enabling the execution of complex critical tasks in extremely hazardous conditions effectively.

Breakup by End Use:

• Military
• Civil and Law Enforcement
• Others
   

Currently, the military holds the largest market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the end use. This includes military, civil and law enforcement, and others. According to the report, the military accounted for the largest market share. 

According to the CBRN defense market statistics, the growth in this segmentation is primarily propelled, owing to the rising investments by government bodies in the CBRN defense systems. For example, under the Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), the U.S. Army is acquiring unmanned ground vehicles to support special operations forces, engineers, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) soldiers, etc. Additionally, the new UGVs are replacing the aging non-standard fleet of robots for identifying, locating, and clearing unexploded ordnance, landmines, and improvised explosive devices, which improve the maneuverability of military personnel.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America exhibits a clear dominance in the market

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America accounted for the largest market share.

The increasing investments by government bodies across North America in improving safety measures and CBRN resistance technologies are among the key factors stimulating the regional market. For example, in February 2023, Teledyne FLIR was offered a US$ 13.3 Million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to expand the capabilities of its R80D SkyRaider unmanned aerial system to autonomously perform CBRN reconnaissance missions. In line with this, regulatory bodies are also acquiring enhanced CBRN defense equipment, which is further acting as another significant growth-inducing factor. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense oversees the implementation of strategies and countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) policies, which include advancing cooperation with allies and partners to strengthen CBRN defense posture and capabilities, support WMD interdictions, improve multilateral WMD arms control, etc. These measures and adequate research to identify defense measures are projected to augment the CBRN defense market over the forecasted period.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd.
• Avon Protection Systems Inc.
• Blücher GmbH
• Bruker Corporation
• Chemring Group PLC
• Cristanini SPA
• Environics Oy
• FLIR System
• Kärcher Futuretech GmbH (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG.)
• MSA Safety Inc.
• Smiths Group PLC
• Thales Group
   

(Please note that this is only a partial list of the key players, and the complete list is provided in the report.)

Global CBRN Defense Market News:

• February 2024: The wheeled CBRN, a vehicle developed and designed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to protect the lives of soldiers from CBRN hazards, was exhibited for the first time at the MSME Defense Expo in Pune, India.
• February 2024: Avon Protection, a leader in innovative CBRN personal protective equipment, introduced its new EXOSKIN-S1 CBRN protective suit, an important addition to its range of CBRN protective wear.
• January 2024: Researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) are leading a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partnership to address emerging security challenges that are presented by quantum technologies.

CBRN Defense Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the CBRN defense market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global CBRN defense market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assists stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the CBRN defense industry and its attractiveness.
• The competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides insight into the current positions of key players in the market.