Recoilless Rifle Market Report 2025

The recoilless rifle market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.06 billion in 2024 to $1.13 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The historical growth has been driven by increasing demand for lightweight infantry weapons, post-World War II military modernization, Cold War-era arms development, rising counterinsurgency activities, growing defense budgets, and the necessity for affordable anti-armor solutions.

The recoilless rifle market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.45 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. This expansion is forecasted due to rising defense modernization initiatives, growing emphasis on portable anti-armor systems, increasing demand for multi-role capabilities, higher defense spending in emerging markets, and the requirement for quickly deployable weapons in asymmetric warfare. Prominent trends anticipated in the coming years include the use of enhanced lightweight materials, advancements in targeting technologies, incorporation of smart optics, modular weapon configurations, increased compatibility with precision-guided munitions, and growing adoption for urban combat scenarios.

The increasing defense budget is expected to propel the growth of the recoilless rifle market going forward. Defense budget refers to the funds allocated by a nation's military to purchase, replenish, and maintain its stockpile of bullets, shells, missiles, and other munitions. The defense budget is increasing due to heightened geopolitical tensions, expanded military operations, and the need to restock depleted ammunition supplies. The rise in defense budgets is accelerating recoilless rifle development by funding advanced technologies, increased production, and modernization efforts for enhanced battlefield effectiveness. For instance, in December 2023, according to the House of Commons Library, a UK-based library, the UK won defense orders worth $16.04 billion (£12 billion) in real terms in 2022. This is a $6.15 (£4.6 billion) increase from 2021, reflecting a significant rise in defense procurement and investment in advanced military capabilities. Therefore, the increasing defense budget is driving the growth of the recoilless rifle market.

Leading companies in the recoilless rifle market are investing in technological innovations such as portable shoulder-launched weapon systems to boost mobility, precision, and deliver lightweight yet powerful options for modern infantry and special forces. These man-portable, shoulder-fired weapons are compact, allowing a single soldier to operate them, designed to engage armored vehicles, bunkers, or enemy personnel effectively. For example, in March 2024, Sweden-based Saab AB introduced the Carl-Gustaf M4, a sophisticated shoulder-fired weapon engineered for contemporary infantry operations, capable of countering armored threats, fortifications, and urban targets, providing enhanced flexibility and power in both traditional and peacekeeping missions. The Carl-Gustaf M4 is an improved iteration of the versatile Carl-Gustaf M3 shoulder-fired recoilless rifle system.

In May 2024, Colt CZ Group SE, a firearms manufacturer headquartered in the Czech Republic, acquired Sellier & Bellot for $703 million. This acquisition strengthens its small-caliber ammunition production capabilities, extends its international presence, and allows it to offer integrated weapon systems, supporting its strategic goal to grow and diversify. Sellier & Bellot is a Czech company specializing in firearms and ammunition manufacturing.

Major players in the recoilless rifle market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems, Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A., Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Saab AB, MBDA Inc., Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG, FN Herstal, Nammo AS, Denel SOC Ltd., Taurus Systems GmbH, ST Engineering, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., and Nexter Group.

North America was the largest region in the recoilless rifle market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in recoilless rifle report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the recoilless rifle 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 steep increase in U.S. tariffs and the triggered trade tensions in spring 2025 are profoundly impacting the metal and minerals sector by disrupting supply chains for automakers, appliance manufacturers, and infrastructure projects. Domestic mills have raised prices in response to reduced import competition, but capacity constraints limit their ability to meet demand. Mining firms, meanwhile, grapple with retaliatory tariffs on mineral exports, particularly lithium and rare earths. Industry players are investing in scrap metal recycling, lobbying for exemptions, and forming joint ventures with overseas producers to secure stable supply.

A recoilless rifle is a lightweight artillery weapon designed to significantly reduce or eliminate the recoil that usually occurs when firing a projectile. It accomplishes this by releasing propellant gases out the rear of the weapon simultaneously as the projectile is propelled forward, balancing the forces and minimizing backward kick.

Recoilless rifles come mainly in two forms: man-portable and vehicle-mounted. Man-portable recoilless rifles are designed to be lightweight for operation by a single soldier, allowing for greater mobility and quick deployment. These weapons are produced in various calibers - small, medium, and large - and employ different firing mechanisms including semi-automatic, automatic, and manual modes. They are used across several applications such as defense and law enforcement and are employed by military units as well as homeland security organizations.

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

The recoilless rifle market consists of sales of shoulder-fired systems, tripod-mounted systems, laser rangefinders, and smoke and illumination rounds. 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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