Shoulder Fired Weapons Global Market Report 2025

The shoulder fired weapons market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $7.91 billion in 2024 to $8.8 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to military modernization programs, counter-terrorism and insurgency operations, geopolitical conflicts and regional tensions, infantry and special operations requirements, law enforcement and homeland security needs.

The shoulder fired weapons market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.14 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to emerging security threats, shift in military doctrine, urban warfare considerations, upgrades and replacements, international defense collaborations. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in seeker technologies, rapid development of counter-countermeasure systems, growing interest in non-line-of-sight capabilities, enhanced multi-role capabilities, integration of networking and communication technologies.

The forecast of 10.5% growth over the next five years remains unchanged from the previous projection for this market. Despite the stable forecast, ongoing tariff-related uncertainties between the U.S. and its trade partners continue to pose risks.This is likely to directly affect the US through supply chain disruptions for lightweight launch tube composites, sourced from key regions such as Sweden, the UK, and Japan, which could constrain anti-tank missile production.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The rise in defense spending is anticipated to propel the shoulder-fired weapons market. Defense expenditures are growing as countries strive to maintain power and secure their positions. Armed forces worldwide utilize shoulder-fired weapons for defense and security, providing troops with a significant advantage by enabling target engagement without concerns over strike accuracy or weapon weight. For instance, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a Sweden-based independent international institute, reported that global military spending reached $2.443 trillion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022. Russia's military expenditure rose by 24%, reaching an estimated $109 billion in 2023 compared to 2022. Consequently, rising defense expenditure is fueling the growth of the shoulder-fired weapons market.

The increase in terrorist attacks is expected to drive the growth of the shoulder-fired weapons market. A terrorist attack is defined as any violent act or threat intended to create fear and intimidation for political, religious, or ideological purposes. The use of shoulder-fired weapons in such attacks is linked to their accessibility, symbolic value, effectiveness for high-profile targets, ease of use, and proven success in previous incidents. For example, in 2023, the Global Terrorism Index from the Institute for Economics & Peace, an Australia-based think tank, reported that terrorist attacks became deadlier in 2022, averaging 1.7 deaths per attack compared to 1.3 in 2021. Therefore, the increase in terrorist incidents is driving the demand for shoulder-fired weapons in the market.

The advancement of recoilless artillery is a significant trend in the shoulder-fired weapons market. Recoilless weapons are direct-fire arms distinguished by their unique operation, in which propellant gases (or another counter-mass such as powder or liquid) are expelled from the back of the barrel to offset the recoil generated by the projectile's forward motion. This design eliminates the need for the bulky recoil-mitigating equipment seen in typical cannons, allowing for a thinner-walled barrel. Consequently, a relatively large projectile can be fired from a platform that otherwise would not handle the weight or recoil of a similarly sized conventional cannon. For example, in May 2022, Sweden's military announced it would be acquiring new ammunition for the Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle. The Carl Gustaf, part of a lineage of recoilless rifles, uses a hollow tube with spiral grooves in the barrel to improve shot accuracy.

Shoulder-fired weapons are firearms designed to be shot while held against the shoulder, typically having a butt pressed against it during firing.

The primary types of shoulder-fired weapons are guided and unguided. Guided shoulder-fired weapons refer to those whose path can be changed in flight by a radar device. These weapons, equipped with launchers and ammunition, find use in defense, home security, and other applications.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp increase in U.S. tariffs and resulting trade disputes in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the aerospace and defense sector. Prices for key materials such as titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics primarily sourced from international suppliers have surged. Defense contractors, constrained by fixed-price government contracts, are forced to absorb these rising costs. Meanwhile, commercial aerospace companies are encountering resistance from airlines over increased aircraft prices. In addition, customs delays are disrupting already tight production timelines for jets and satellites. In response, the industry is stockpiling essential materials, pursuing import waivers for defense-related goods, and working with allied nations to diversify supply chains.

The shoulder fired weapons market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides shoulder fired weapons market statistics, including shoulder fired weapons industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a shoulder fired weapons market share, detailed shoulder fired weapons market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the shoulder fired weapons industry. This shoulder fired weapons market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Leading companies in the shoulder-fired weapons market are prioritizing production expansion to satisfy the increasing demand for advanced, portable, and lethal weapons. Production expansion involves increasing a company's or industry's manufacturing capacity, including the expansion of facilities, processes, and resources to produce a higher volume of goods or services. For instance, in May 2022, Lockheed Martin Corporation, a U.S.-based aerospace company, announced plans to nearly double its annual production of the Javelin anti-tank shoulder-fired weapon from 2,100 to 4,000 units. This decision was made in response to heightened global demand for the precision weapon system, used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and international customers. The Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, fire-and-forget missile system capable of targeting armored vehicles, bunkers, and caves.

In January 2023, NIOA, an Australia-based provider of firearms, weapons, and ammunition for the military, acquired Barrett Firearms Manufacturing for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows NIOA to expand its global presence and enhance its defense capabilities by leveraging Barrett Firearms' proficiency in long-range precision rifles, ensuring the continued provision of high-quality firearms and munitions to military and law enforcement markets worldwide. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing is a U.S.-based company specializing in the design and manufacture of shoulder-fired weapons.

Major companies operating in the shoulder fired weapons market include China North Industries Group Corporation, Raytheon Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Rheinmetall AG, Saab AB, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Poongsan Corporation, John Cockerill, Chemring Group plc, Fabrique Nationale Herstal S.A., Mesko S.A., Bharat Dynamics Limited, Denel Land Systems, JSC Arsenal AD, AirTronic USA LLC, Instalaza S.A., Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S., JSC Konstruktorskoe Buro Priborostroeniya, Giat Industries SASU.

North America was the largest region in the shoulder fired weapons market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the shoulder fired weapons market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the shoulder fired weapons market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The shoulder fired weapons market consists of sales of rocket-propellant grenade and bazooka. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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