Soldier Systems Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Soldier Systems Market is projected to expand from USD 12.12 Billion in 2025 to USD 16.21 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 4.97%. These systems encompass integrated suites of equipment - ranging from personal protection to communication and power units - engineered to improve infantry lethality, survivability, and situational awareness. The market is primarily driven by the urgent need for military modernization as nations upgrade outdated equipment to counter asymmetric threats and ensure interoperability with allied forces. Furthermore, rising geopolitical instability has led to increased procurement budgets for tactical readiness. This surge in demand is reflected in data from the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), which reported a 13.8 percent turnover increase in the defense sector in 2024.

Despite this growth, the market faces significant hurdles due to the size, weight, and power limitations inherent in modern electronic gear. Adding sensors, radios, and batteries increases the physical load on soldiers, severely impacting their mobility and stamina during prolonged missions. This challenge necessitates difficult engineering trade-offs to miniaturize components without sacrificing performance, a complexity that often slows the development and deployment of integrated combat solutions.

Market Drivers

The primary catalyst for market growth is the global increase in defense budgets and military expenditure, enabling nations to invest heavily in next-generation infantry equipment. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023' Fact Sheet published in April 2024, global military spending rose by 6.8 percent in real terms to reach $2.44 trillion in 2023. This financial influx allows defense departments to upgrade personnel protection and lethality systems significantly. Additionally, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) expects a record 23 member nations to meet the guideline of spending at least 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense in 2024.

Concurrently, strategic soldier modernization programs are accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies and smart wearable systems. Defense agencies are shifting toward digital solutions that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency, leading to large-scale contracts for networked combat suites, night vision optics, and communication devices. For example, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced in a March 2024 press release that it had secured a contract valued at approximately $300 million to supply defense solutions to an international customer. Such investments underscore the growing focus on equipping infantry with connected systems to ensure tactical superiority.

Market Challenges

The growth of the Global Soldier Systems Market is significantly restricted by rigid Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints affecting modern infantry gear. As manufacturers incorporate more electronic components like advanced sensors, radios, and battery packs into soldier ensembles, the physical burden on personnel increases dramatically. This excessive load negatively impacts mobility, endurance, and cognitive performance, prompting military procurement officials to enforce strict weight limits that many emerging technologies struggle to meet. Consequently, engineering efforts must focus on miniaturization rather than the rapid release of new capabilities, leading to extended development cycles.

This technical bottleneck remains a formidable obstacle even within a financially strong defense sector. According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the U.S. aerospace and defense industry generated combined sales of $995 billion in 2024, signaling robust capital availability and demand for military hardware. However, within the soldier systems sector, the difficulty of reducing equipment weight without compromising power or protection prevents this investment potential from fully translating into accelerated market growth. The complexity of resolving these engineering trade-offs raises entry barriers for new products and slows the overall momentum of the market.

Market Trends

The deployment of Software-Defined Tactical Communication Networks is transforming infantry operations by facilitating dynamic waveform updates and seamless interoperability. Unlike legacy hardware-dependent systems, these advanced networks allow defense forces to quickly adapt to electronic warfare and jamming threats through software patches rather than physical replacements. This flexibility is essential for maintaining a common operating picture and ensuring secure data exchange at the tactical edge. Highlighting this shift, L3Harris Technologies announced in August 2024 that it received an order exceeding $120 million for multi-channel handheld and vehicular radio systems, underscoring the move toward resilient and upgradeable communication architectures.

In parallel, the implementation of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities is improving soldier survivability by integrating autonomous systems into squad-level maneuvers. Equipping infantry with personal reconnaissance drones allows units to scout hazardous urban environments from safe standoff distances, extending their sensory range without risking personnel. This synergy between human decision-making and robotic autonomy is becoming a standard requirement for modern ground forces. For instance, Teledyne FLIR Defense secured a contract worth up to $91 million from the U.S. Army for Black Hornet 4 Nano-Drones in October 2024, revealing the increasing reliance on connected robotic assets for tactical superiority.

Key Players Profiled in the Soldier Systems Market

• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• BAE Systems PLC
• Kopin Corporation
• Thales S.A.
• Safariland, LLC
• Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• Rheinmetall AG
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Soldier Systems Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Soldier Systems Market, by Equipment:

• Personal Protection
• Communication
• Navigation & Targeting
• Others

Soldier Systems Market, by Application:

• Combat Operations
• Surveillance and Reconnaissance
• Training and Simulation
• Others

Soldier Systems Market, by Region:

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

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Soldier Systems Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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