Nuclear Missiles and Bombs Market Report 2025

The nuclear missiles and bombs market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $8.89 billion in 2024 to $9.34 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased geopolitical tensions worldwide, rise in defense modernization budgets, growing nuclear weapons proliferation, increased cross-border conflicts, and heightened national security concerns.

The nuclear missiles and bombs market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $11.31 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing military procurement budgets, rising demand for precision strikes, growing cross-border threat perception, expanding space exploration activities, and rising investment in hypersonic technology. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in miniaturized warhead designs, integration of AI in targeting systems, technological upgrades in missile guidance, developments in stealth delivery platforms, and integration of satellite-based command systems.

Increasing investments in defense systems are expected to drive the growth of the nuclear missiles and bombs market in the coming years. Defense systems encompass integrated technologies, strategies, and equipment designed to detect, prevent, or respond to threats against a nation’s military and civilian security. These investments are rising as countries aim to modernize their aging military infrastructure with advanced technologies such as unmanned systems, AI-powered platforms, and next-generation missile defenses to maintain strategic advantages. Such investments support nuclear missiles and bombs by improving delivery technologies, enhancing command and control systems, and ensuring the security and readiness of nuclear arsenals for effective deterrence. For example, in November 2023, a report from the UK Ministry of Defense revealed that the UK government spent $60.91 billion (£52.8 billion) on defense in 2022-23, increasing to $62.52 billion (£54.2 billion) in 2023-24. Thus, rising investments in defense systems are propelling growth in the nuclear missiles and bombs market.

Key players in the nuclear missiles and bombs market are focusing on developing advanced solutions such as nuclear cruise missiles to strengthen strategic deterrence, improve precision targeting, and extend operational range. Nuclear cruise missiles are long-range, jet-powered missiles equipped with nuclear warheads that fly at low altitudes and can maneuver mid-flight, making them challenging to detect and intercept. For instance, in June 2025, the United States Air Force unveiled the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile, intended to arm both the B-21 Raider and upgraded B-52 Stratofortress bombers as part of the modernization of the US nuclear triad. Developed by Raytheon, the LRSO will replace the aging AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile, featuring advanced stealth capabilities, a range exceeding 1,500 miles, and the ability to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems from long distances. Its design includes a trapezoidal body, wedge-shaped nose, and folding wings, optimized for survivability in GPS-denied and electronically contested environments.

In July 2023, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., a US-based defense contractor, acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen L3Harris’s defense industrial base, boost competition, and accelerate innovation in advanced propulsion and missile technologies to better address evolving national security challenges. Aerojet Rocketdyne is a US aerospace and defense company specializing in the design, development, and production of land- and sea-based nuclear ballistic missile systems.

Major players in the nuclear missiles and bombs market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems plc, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Fluor Corporation, Textron Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., China National Nuclear Corporation, Babcock International Group plc, Naval Group S.A., MBDA Missile Systems, Bechtel Corporation, ArianeGroup SAS, BWX Technologies Inc., Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc.

North America was the largest region in the nuclear missiles and bombs market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in nuclear missiles and bombs report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the nuclear missiles and bombs 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 intensifying U.S. tariffs and escalating trade tensions in spring 2025 are expected to have a significant impact on the chemicals sector, which is bearing a disproportionate burden, particularly from tariffs on petrochemicals and intermediates, where affordable domestic substitutes are often unavailable. Producers of specialty chemicals, heavily dependent on Chinese raw materials, are experiencing production disruptions. At the same time, fertilizer manufacturers are seeing profit margins eroded due to tariffs on phosphate imports. In response, companies are ramping up R&D into bio-based alternatives, forming procurement alliances to consolidate buying power, and shifting production to tariff-neutral nations such as Saudi Arabia.

Nuclear missiles and bombs are powerful weapons that release vast amounts of energy through nuclear fission or fusion, resulting in massive explosions with extensive destruction and persistent radioactive fallout. Typically, nuclear bombs are deployed by being dropped from aircraft, while nuclear missiles are advanced delivery systems engineered to accurately transport nuclear warheads over long distances.

The primary categories of nuclear missiles and bombs include intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, tactical nuclear weapons, and strategic bombs. Intercontinental ballistic missiles are long-range weapons designed to carry nuclear warheads between continents. They use different propulsion types such as solid, liquid, or hybrid propellants, and are categorized based on their range: under 1000 km, between 1000 km and 5000 km, and over 5000 km. These missiles have various applications, including military defense, nuclear research institutions, and international regulatory agencies.

The nuclear missiles and bombs market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides nuclear missiles and bombs market statistics, including nuclear missiles and bombs industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a nuclear missiles and bombs market share, detailed nuclear missiles and bombs market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the nuclear missiles and bombs industry. This nuclear missiles and bombs 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 nuclear missiles and bombs market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as nuclear deterrence, geopolitical influence, mutual defense commitments, crisis management, and conflict prevention. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The nuclear missiles and bomb market also includes sales of nuclear warheads, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, bombers and aircraft systems, and submarines. 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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