Armored Vehicle Upgrade and Retrofit Market Report 2026

The armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $6.46 billion in 2025 to $6.75 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising need to extend service life of aging military vehicle fleets, increased deployment of armored vehicles in conflict zones driving mid-life upgrades, advancements in armor materials enabling retrofit demand, growing adoption of digital battlefield systems requiring vehicle modernization, post-cold war defense budget reallocations supporting refurbishment programs.

The armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.98 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expanding focus on survivability enhancements against emerging threats, increasing integration of advanced situational awareness and sensor suites, growing demand for modular upgrade kits for rapid fleet modernization, rising procurement of unmanned and remote weapon systems requiring retrofit compatibility, shift toward cost-effective modernization over new vehicle acquisitions. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing integration of modular protection systems, rising adoption of hybrid armor materials, growth in retrofit demand for legacy armored fleets, enhanced survivability solutions through lightweight composites, upgrades focused on extended vehicle lifecycle optimization.

The increasing budget allocation for military and law enforcement sectors is also expected to drive the growth of the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market moving forward. Budget allocation for these sectors involves assigning financial resources to support the operations and needs of armed forces and law enforcement agencies within a government. This allocation is vital in shaping the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market, ensuring that vehicles remain effective, secure, and aligned with evolving security requirements. For instance, in April 2024, the UK Defence in Numbers 2023 report published by the Ministry of Defence, a UK-based government body, revealed that £2.3 billion was allocated for military support in both 2022 and 2023, with an increase to £2.5 billion planned for the following year. Additionally, defense spending rose from £52.8 billion in 2022/23 to £54.2 billion in 2023/24. Thus, the growing budget allocation for military and law enforcement sectors is driving the growth of the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market.

Major companies operating in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as high-power engine retrofits, to address the growing demand for enhanced battlefield mobility and offensive capabilities. High-power engine retrofits involve upgrading existing armored vehicles with more powerful engines, improving speed, maneuverability, and operational efficiency compared to traditional engines. For example, in March 2025, Rosoboronexport, a Russia-based state-owned defense exporter, signed a $248 million agreement with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, to supply 1000 hp engines for T-72 tanks, replacing the current 780 hp engines. The engines will be delivered in fully formed, completely knocked down (CKD), and semi-knocked down (SKD) configurations, with technology transfer to Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVANI), Heavy Vehicle Factory (HVF), Chennai, enabling licensed local production under India’s “Make in India” initiative. These upgraded engines are designed to enhance battlefield performance, simplify maintenance, and extend the operational lifespan of the existing tank fleet, offering a cost-effective alternative to acquiring new vehicles. The engines can be integrated into current T-72 tanks to significantly improve mobility, firepower responsiveness, and overall combat readiness.

In April 2023, INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing, a Canadian-based manufacturing company, entered into a partnership with Force Development Services (FDS) to integrate a high-grip surface into their vehicle platform. The platform is constructed with a glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) cover. Through this collaboration, FDS's vehicle-borne intervention systems, which have demonstrated operational effectiveness for over two decades, will enhance the ability of tactical teams to efficiently and discreetly access aircraft, buses, trains, buildings, or ships in port. Force Development Services (FDS) is a UK-based engineering equipment manufacturing company specializing in customized tactical systems, entry tools, body shields, and military tactical gear.

Major companies operating in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market are Hyundai Motor Group, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited., Hanwha Group, Tata Motors Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Rostec State Corporation, BAE Systems PLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Iveco S.p.A, Textron Inc., Navistar Inc., ST Engineering, Oshkosh Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Nexter Systems, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Co. KG, Ukroboronprom, RUAG Holding, AM General LLC, Patria Plc., CMI Group Inc., FNSS Savunma Sistemleri AS., Denel Land Systems, MKU Limited.

North America was the largest region in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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.

Tariffs are influencing the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market by raising the cost of imported armor materials, electronic systems, and advanced components, thereby increasing overall upgrade expenses and slowing procurement cycles. Wheeled and tracked vehicle segments relying on foreign armor composites, engine parts, and weapon stations are particularly impacted, with regions such as Asia-Pacific and Europe facing the strongest cost pressures. However, tariffs are also encouraging domestic manufacturing, promoting local sourcing of armor modules and retrofit components, which can strengthen regional defense industries and reduce long-term supply risks.

The armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market statistics, including armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market share, detailed armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit industry. This armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit 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.

The practice of upgrading and retrofitting armored vehicles is a common approach to improve their performance, capabilities, and overall lifespan. These upgrades can vary from simple enhancements to more extensive modifications, depending on specific requirements and objectives.

Armored vehicle upgrades and retrofits encompass various designs, with wheeled and tracked armored vehicles being the main types. Wheeled armored vehicles rely on wheels for mobility and may be equipped with tires or tracks. These vehicles can undergo upgrades and retrofits to improve performance, protection, and capabilities. They find application in diverse vehicle types, including tactical trucks, main battle tanks (MBT), assault amphibious vehicles (AAV), armored personnel carriers (APC), armored recovery vehicles, armored fighting vehicles, among others. The armor levels involved range from rifle-resistant to mine-resistant. These upgrades and retrofits are available through different distribution channels, including original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and retrofit providers.

The countries covered in the armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The armored vehicle upgrade and retrofit market includes revenues earned by entities by central tire inflation systems (CTIS), remotely operated weapon stations (ROWS), and integration of explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.