The global CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) defence market is witnessing steady growth, reflecting heightened defence budgets, expanding threat profiles and significant investments in detection, protection and decontamination systems. According to MRFR, the market size is projected to reach USD 17,504.6 million by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.72% during 2024–2030.
In 2021, the North America region alone accounted for a CBRN Defense Market size of approximately USD 5,003.4 million. This dominance underscores the region’s robust defence infrastructure, strong procurement programmes and established supplier networks. The share of the market by type of system, by application and by function further outlines how the market share is distributed and the growth pockets. For example, MRFR segments the market by type (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear), by system (protective wearable systems, respiratory systems, detection & monitoring systems, decontamination systems, simulators, information management software, colpro system), by function (protection, detection, decontamination, simulation & training) and by application (military, civil law enforcement) and by region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of World).
The growth dynamics are driven by several factors: increased state and non-state actor CBRN threats, rising military and homeland security expenditures, and the evolution of new defence technologies. MRFR attributes part of the growth to “the increasing CBRN threats from state and non‐state actors, alongside rising military expenditures.” The industry segment — detection, protection and decontamination — is being upgraded globally and this further fuels growth in the broader CBRN defence market.
From an industry viewpoint, the growth in the CBRN defence market is aided by cross-industry convergence: defence contracting, first responder equipment, emergency services and public safety sectors all contribute. Growth in the protection segment (protective wearable systems and respiratory systems) is especially noteworthy, as personnel safety remains central to CBRN defence strategies.
Forecasts beyond 2030 suggest longer-term growth, as MRFR mentions that for a slightly different horizon (2024–2035) the market could reach higher levels, though the core 2030 forecast remains USD 17.50 billion. Thus, companies engaging in the CBRN defence industry have a clear runway of moderate growth ahead.
Key take-aways
- The CBRN defence market is large and growing, albeit at a moderate pace (CAGR ~5.7%).
- North America leads in share and remains the industry anchor.
- Segmentation across system types and functions provides multiple sub-markets for growth.
- Defence industry players, first-responder equipment suppliers and software/analytics vendors all have roles to play in the expanding market.
- For new entrants, understanding the segmentation (e.g., detection vs. decontamination) is critical to capturing growth.
In summary, the CBRN defence market offers steady growth prospects — anchored by rising threats, government budgets and evolving technology — with ample opportunity for companies positioned to serve protection, detection and decontamination segments across defence, homeland and public safety applications.
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