Explosives, Weapons and Contraband Detection Equipment Market Report 2025

The explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $8.26 billion in 2024 to $8.71 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to mandatory security screening at ports and borders, government investments in homeland security infrastructure, international cooperation on counter-terrorism, standardization of security protocols across transportation hubs, and public safety regulations for critical infrastructure.

The explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.61 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%. Factors contributing to this forecasted growth include increasing defense expenditures, rising global air passenger numbers, expansion in air cargo and e-commerce screening, growing need for security across mass transit networks, and more comprehensive screening measures at high-footfall locations. Emerging trends during this period will involve AI-powered threat detection systems, integration of machine learning in image analysis, innovations in x-ray diffraction and computed tomography, development of trace-level detection tools, and the downsizing of detection technologies for mobile use.

The increasing terrorist activities are expected to propel the growth of the explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market going forward. Terrorist activities refer to the use of violence, threats, or intimidation by non-state actors to achieve political, ideological, or religious goals. Terrorist activities are rising due to growing regional conflicts as these conflicts destabilize governments, disrupt social order, and create safe havens where extremist groups can operate, recruit, and plan attacks more easily. The rise in terrorist activities increases the perceived threat to public safety, compelling governments and private entities to invest in advanced detection systems to proactively identify and neutralize potential threats before they materialize. For instance, in January 2025, according to the European Parliament, a France-based government body, there were 120 terrorist incidents reported across the European Union in 2023, including 98 carried-out attacks, nine unsuccessful attempts, and 13 plots that were prevented. This reflects a notable rise from 28 incidents recorded in 2022 and 18 in 2021. Therefore, the increasing terrorist activities will boost the growth of the explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market.

Leading players in the explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market are concentrating on advanced imaging technologies, such as x-ray diffraction scanners, to enhance their ability to identify hazardous materials without altering or damaging the scanned items. X-ray diffraction scanners function by examining how X-rays interact with a substance’s atomic structure, allowing for detailed analysis and differentiation of materials. For example, in April 2024, Smiths Detection, a UK-based leader in threat detection technologies, introduced the SDX 10060 XDi, an x-ray diffraction scanner. This system allows for precise identification of a wide variety of substances by analyzing molecular configurations and can differentiate items with similar density profiles. It proves particularly useful in identifying substances like narcotics or homemade explosives in various forms and offers automated alarm resolution capabilities. The system is compatible with material and baggage handling setups and is engineered to comply with global regulatory standards such as ECAC 3.1/3.2 and TSA 7.2.

In March 2023, Tek84 Inc., a US-based provider of high-end security screening solutions, completed the acquisition of IDSS Corp. for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Tek84 incorporated computed tomography (CT) screening technologies into its suite of body, vehicle, and package scanners. This expansion allows the company to deliver a comprehensive, integrated detection solution capable of identifying explosives, weapons, narcotics, and other illicit materials across a broad range of high-security applications, such as airports, government sites, and critical infrastructure facilities. IDSS Corp. is a US-based producer of explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment.

Major players in the explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market are L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., Bruker Corp., OSI Systems Inc., FLIR Systems Inc., Smiths Detection Group Ltd., Nuctech Company Limited, Rapiscan Systems, Astrophysics Inc., Kromek Group plc, Metrasens Ltd., Autoclear LLC, DetectaChem LLC, Scanna MSC Ltd., Tek84 Engineering Group LLC, CEIA S.p.A., Morphix Technologies Inc., Field Forensics Inc., RS Dynamics LLC, Garrett Metal Detectors.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment market in 2024. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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 hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment refers to specialized systems designed to detect and alert authorities to the presence of hazardous, illegal, or restricted items that may threaten safety and security. These systems function by examining specific characteristics and indicators associated with such items to support preventative screening and threat mitigation.

The primary types of explosives, weapons, and contraband detection equipment include handheld detectors, portable detectors, fixed detectors, baggage scanners, and vehicle scanners. Handheld detectors are compact, battery-operated devices designed to examine individuals, luggage, or packages for explosives, weapons, or illicit items. These detectors employ technologies such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), computed tomography (CT), X-ray imaging, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). They are utilized across various end-use sectors, including government, transportation, commercial, and industrial.

The explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market statistics, including explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market share, detailed explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment industry. This explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment 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 explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as installation, commissioning services, repair services, risk assessment, and remote monitoring. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The explosives, weapons and contraband detection equipment market also includes sales of metal detectors, radiographic imaging systems, walk-through detection portals, and freight scanners. 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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