Automatic Weapons Market

Global Automatic Weapons Market Size (2023 to 2028)

The automatic weapons market size is evaluated to reach USD 12.16 billion by the end of 2028 from USD 8.67 billion in 2023, registering a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period.

The trend towards the adoption of advanced polymers to manufacture affordable and accurate weapons is ascribed to show potential growth opportunities for the market. The growing need to improve the development process through fine-tuning to reduce the cost of the weapons is surging the market growth rate. The use of advanced polymer material leverages the scope to manufacture lighter and stronger weapons. For instance, the Indian Army gave a contract to Swedish defense contractor Saab (Swedish Aerospace and Defense Company) to supply AT4 armor weapons as fully disposable weapons. Additionally, Saab also received a contract from the Australia Department of Defense to deliver additional Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons in 2024-2025. Saab secured a 100% ownership to manufacture Curl-Gustaf M4 in India as well as a partnership with the Indian sub-suppliers under the Indian government’s ‘Made in India’ policy.

MARKET DRIVERS: 

A growing number of regional conflicts between the countries is a primary driving factor for the market to grow eventually. Cross-border disputes between countries like India, Russia and Ukraine, India and Pakistan, and Gaza and Israel are increasing the demand to manufacture a greater number of automatic weapons. Emerging countries are spending more military force, which is prompting the market value. For instance, the demand for the AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle has been growing actively for many years, and it is the most popular weapon in America. According to government records, as of 2020, around 725,000 fully automated weapons were owned by private ownership only in the United States.

The need to use precision weapon systems is greatly influencing the growth rate of the automatic weapons market. The modernization of defense equipment in favor of combatting the rising incidents of terrorist attacks is enhancing the growth rate of the market. The manufacturing units are focusing on reducing the production cost of the weapons, which is likely to increase the demand for automatic weapons in both developed and developing countries. Government plans to safeguard the country through investments are highly elevating the need to invest more in weapons that procure safety and efficiency in conflicts. With the rising extremist activities on the border of the countries, the need to adopt highly advanced and modernized weapons is amplifying the market growth rate. Also, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions emphasize the manufacturing of lightweight combat equipment, which leverages the scope to adopt automatic weapons.

MARKET RESTRAINTS:

However, the manufacturing of highly advanced weapons with the latest technology needs heavy investments, which is a major restraining factor for the automatic weapons market. Precision firearms are made up of advanced fire control technology that enhances operational efficiency on the battlefield. This technology is only made up of huge investments, which is inhibiting the market value. Major companies are focusing on the development of precision firearms with advanced technology at affordable cost.

MARKET CHALLENGES:

Lack of standardization is a big challenging factor for the market key players. The growing use of automatic weapons that are not restricted to use only on the battlefield is raising concern among government bodies to restrict the supply of automatic weapons across the world. Many organizations are fighting to launch stringent rules and regulations, which is slowly degrading the market share.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Automatic Weapons Market: 

The automatic weapons market had declined growth opportunities due to the pandemic. COVID-19 disrupted the supply chain of the raw materials that are highly essential to manufacture the weapons. Strict lockdown restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 are among the major factors that have affected the market negatively during this time. The global economic crisis imposed certain limitations on the growth rate of the automatic weapons market. However, the demand to supply highly advanced weapons has increased with the increased number of conflicts between the countries. Ukraine and Russia are one the biggest conflicts that increased the sales of weapons from many countries like the US, India, China, and others. Therefore, the size of the automatic weapons market is expected to grow at a higher rate in the coming years.

REPORT COVERAGE:

This research report on the global automatic weapons market has been segmented and sub-segmented into the following categories.

Global Automatic Weapons Market - By Product: 

• Automatic Rifle
• Machine Gun
  • Light Machine Gun (LMG)
  • Medium Machine Gun (MMG)
  • Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)
• Automatic Launchers
  • Grenade launcher
  • Mortar Launcher
  • Missile Launcher
• Automatic Cannon
• Gatling Gun

The automatic rifle segment is leading with the largest share of the market and the rising production rate of these weapons. Increasing orders from major countries to manufacture these weapons is escalating the growth rate of the market. Also, the machine gun segment is next in holding the prominent share, while the automatic launchers segment is deemed to have prominent growth opportunities in the coming years.

Global Automatic Weapons Market - By End-User:

• Land
  • Battle Tanks
  • Armored Fighting Vehicles
  • Light Protected Vehicles
• Naval
  • Destroyers
  • Frigates
  • Corvettes
  • Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)
• Airborne
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Helicopters
  • Combat Support Aircraft

Based on the end user, the land segment is ruling with the prominent growth rate. The battle tank sub-segment holds the majority of the revenue share of the market. Increasing prominence to elevate the safety measures for the soldiers on the battlefield is amplifying the need to adopt highly advanced weapons. The warfare platforms have increased in the past few years, and the need for weapon systems, either semi-automatic or automatic, in war-like situations is also surging proportionally.  

Global Automatic Weapons Market - By Caliber:

• Small Caliber, By Type
  • 5.56mm
  • 7.62mm
  • 12.7mm
  • 14.5mm
• Medium Caliber, By Type
  • 20mm
  • 25mm
  • 30mm
  • 40mm
  • Others (35,27)
• Large Caliber, By Type
  • 81mm
  • 120mm
  • Others (50, 68, 82)

By Caliber, the Medium segment is gaining traction over the market growth rate, and the large caliber is esteemed to have robust growth opportunities in the coming foreseen years. The small caliber segment may exhibit significant growth opportunities in the future. Calibers play a crucial role in manufacturing weapons like the Anzio rifle, M82 rifle, MK 108 assault rifle, and others.

Global Automatic Weapons Market - By Type:

• Fully Automatic
• Semi-Automatic

The fully automatic segment is holding a prominent growth rate, whereas the semi-automatic segment is likely to hold the highest market share throughout the forecast period. The rising demand for semi-automatic weapons is from various countries like India, China, India, Russia, and Ukraine, with the growing border conflicts.

Global Automatic Weapons Market – By Region: 

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

North America's automatic weapons market is gaining traction over the share with the increasing demand to maintain high security in the military forces with the increasing number of conflicts between emerging countries around the globe. Growing investments in the development of new weapons with advanced technology and increasing acquisitions between the key players are bolstering the growth rate of the market. In addition, the rising popularity of the use of 3D and 4D technologies is greatly prompting the market share in North America.

Following North America, Asia Pacific is next in leading the prominent share of the market. India and China border conflict is one of the major factors that is leveraging the demand for the automatic weapon production rate in this region. In 2020, India and China went through a deadly clash over a border dispute. This dispute accelerated the contracts to purchase more weapons from various countries. Also, growing support from government officials to improve the army forces with technological advancements is positively impacting the growth rate of the automatic weapons market.

Europe's automatic weapons market is leading with the highest CAGR due to growing per capita income and the increasing presence of key players. The U.K. is leading with the highest share of the market with the launch of innovative products in favor of the army forces. For instance, the Royal Navy is to get the Future Cruise/ Anti-slip weapon (FC/ASW) operations by the end of 2028.

Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are likely to have prominent growth opportunities in the foreseen years.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS:

The Major Players in the Automatic Weapons market are BAE Systems (U.K.), Denel Land Systems (South Africa), F.N. Herstal (U.K.), General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.), Kalashnikov Concern (Russia), Kbp Instrument Design Bureau (Russia), Northrop Grumman Corporation. (U.S.), RHEINMETALL AG (Germany), S.T. Engineering (Singapore), Israel Weapon Industries (Iwi) (Israel)

RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE MARKET: 

• On March 01, 2023, BAE Systems received a contract valued at $219 million to deliver M.K. 45 Maritime Indirect Fire Systems for the UK Royal Navy. This system can perform various operations and enhance the overall capability of the warships once deployed.
• In February 2023, the Japan Ministry of Defense announced that they signed an agreement to procure F.N. Herstal Minimi MK3 squad support weapons.
• In August 2023, F.N. Herstal launched a new versatile weapon mount for land and sea platforms. This weapon got certification from the MIL-STD and is ready to join a wide range of high-performance products in F.N. Herstal’s Air.