Thermobaric Munitions Market Report 2026

The thermobaric munitions market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.96 billion in 2025 to $2.08 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing development of thermobaric warheads to enhance bunker and cave penetration capabilities, adoption of thermobaric grenades and rockets in specialized combat units, expansion of missile and artillery programs incorporating fuel-air explosive technologies, rising defense investments in high-temperature explosive formulations, deployment of thermobaric demolition charges for targeted infrastructure neutralization.

The thermobaric munitions market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.62 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth in next-generation thermobaric missile programs with improved blast efficiency, rising demand for precision-guided thermobaric munitions for reduced collateral damage, increased integration of thermobaric payloads into unmanned aerial platforms, adoption of advanced safety and handling systems for thermobaric storage and transport, expansion of research into extended-range thermobaric delivery systems. Major trends in the forecast period include development of enhanced blast yield formulations, advancement in high-temperature resistant materials, increased adoption of multi-platform thermobaric payloads, growth in urban warfare and bunker neutralization requirements, rising demand for low-cost thermobaric tactical systems.

The rise in geopolitical tensions is expected to propel the growth of the thermobaric munitions market going forward. Geopolitical tensions refer to increasing political, military, and social conflicts between countries or regions, often arising from power struggles, ideological differences, or competing territorial and economic interests. This rise is driven by escalating international and state level conflicts, the resurgence of long running disputes, and the growing influence of non state armed groups. Thermobaric munitions support this shift by providing militaries with highly effective explosive solutions capable of neutralizing fortified positions, bunkers, and enclosed spaces, making them a critical asset in modern warfare where conflicts are increasingly intense and unpredictable. For instance, in January 2025, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a US based nonprofit organization tracking political violence, reported that conflict event rates had increased by over 25 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, and further escalations were expected in 2025. Therefore, the rise in geopolitical tensions is driving the growth of the thermobaric munitions market.

The rise in defense budgets is expected to propel the growth of the thermobaric munitions market going forward. Increases in defense budgets are fueled by intensifying global security challenges, regional conflicts, and heightened threat perceptions. These factors have enabled governments to invest in advanced military capabilities rather than merely covering operational costs. Thermobaric munitions contribute to this development by providing armed forces with high yield explosive capabilities that are particularly effective against fortified structures, bunkers, and enclosed spaces. Consequently, they are increasingly prioritized within modern military arsenals as defense expenditures grow. For instance, in February 2025, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a UK based nonprofit organization, global defense spending reached 2.46 trillion dollars in 2024, up from 2.24 trillion dollars in 2023, reflecting a 7.4 percent real terms increase. Therefore, the rise in defense budgets is driving the growth of the thermobaric munitions market.

Primary companies operating in the thermobaric munitions market are focusing on innovation in warhead design and delivery integration, such as UAV deployable thermobaric warheads, to enable precise, lightweight, and versatile ordnance for modern combat scenarios. UAV deployable thermobaric munitions refer to warheads designed for use from unmanned aerial vehicles, combining high explosive blast effects with minimal payload weight to maximize operational flexibility. For instance, in August 2024, the Russian KBP Instrument Design Bureau, a Russia based defense manufacturer, announced the launch of the Kh BPLA guided missile designed for use from unmanned aerial vehicles. Its high explosive variant weighs six kilograms and is equipped with a thermobaric warhead weighing 3.2 kilograms. The Kh BPLA represents a modular and precise approach to deploying thermobaric munitions from unmanned platforms, reflecting the broader trend of integration driven innovation in defense technologies.

Major companies operating in the thermobaric munitions market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), Ukroboronprom, Roketsan Roket Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Nammo AS, Vazovski Mashinostroitelni Zavodi EAD, TRAYAL Corporation, Research and Production Association Splav, ARMACO JSC, DUNARIT d.d., Bulcomers KS, Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) DRDO, Rostec, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), Scientific Production Association NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Munitions India Limited, Balkan NovoTeh, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu (MKE), Arsenal JSCo., Research and Production Association Bazalt.

North America was the largest region in the thermobaric munitions market in 2025. The regions covered in the thermobaric munitions 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 on metal casings, chemical precursors, propulsion components, and electronic guidance modules have increased production costs for thermobaric munitions, particularly affecting missile and rocket platforms that depend on cross-border supply chains. Regions with high import reliance, including parts of Asia-Pacific and Europe, face extended procurement cycles and elevated integration costs. However, tariffs have also encouraged domestic manufacturing expansion, stimulated investment in indigenous explosive formulations, and reduced dependency on foreign raw materials in several defense-producing nations.

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

Thermobaric munitions are explosive weapons that use atmospheric oxygen to generate a high temperature blast. They produce a pressure wave that is significantly longer and more intense than that of conventional explosives. The resulting explosion creates extreme heat and a powerful vacuum effect that can devastate enclosed or open spaces alike.

The primary munitions types of thermobaric munitions are rockets, missiles, aerial bombs, artillery shells, grenades, and others. A rocket is a self propelled weapon, vehicle, or device that moves by expelling gases produced by burning propellants in a confined chamber through a nozzle to generate thrust. Several explosive mixes are used, such as liquid mixtures, solid mixtures, and advanced composites, and they can be deployed from a variety of platforms, including man portable launchers, armored vehicles, howitzers, mortars, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and naval vessels. Guidance systems range from unguided to laser guided, global positioning system (GPS) or inertial navigation system (INS) guided, infrared (IR) or electro optical (EO) or TV guided, anti radiation (ARM), wire guided or semi automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS). The primary end users are the army, air force, and navy.

The countries covered in the thermobaric munitions market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The thermobaric munitions market consists of sales of thermobaric bombs, thermobaric warheads, thermobaric grenades, thermobaric rockets, thermobaric missiles, thermobaric artillery shells, and thermobaric demolition charges. 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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