Shoulder Fired Weapons Market: Market Size & Forecast 2026

The global shoulder-fired weapons market covers a broad category of man-portable, canister-fired systems including anti-tank guided weapons, recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and man-portable air-defense systems. From a base of roughly $5.7 billion in 2022 and multiple convergent 2023 estimates ranging from $4.5 billion to $6.8 billion, the market has demonstrated consistent mid-single-digit expansion. By 2026, the sector is valued at approximately $10.2 billion, with long-term projections pointing toward a range of $11 billion to $25 billion by the early 2030s depending on regional conflict trajectories and procurement cycles.

• •2026 market valuation of approximately $10.2 billion, up from a $5.7 billion base in 2022
• •Multi-source CAGR estimates span 4.7% to 5.9% through the early 2030s, indicating strong consensus on mid-single-digit growth

Escalating great-power competition and regional conflicts have elevated demand for portable anti-armor and air-defense capabilities, as modern armies prioritize infantry-level overmatch against peer and near-peer adversaries. Rapid equipment obsolescence among legacy Cold War systems has accelerated replacement programs, particularly across NATO nations fulfilling readiness commitments. Defense ministries are also investing in lighter, precision-guided variants that reduce the logistical burden while extending engagement ranges against next-generation armor and low-altitude unmanned platforms.

• •Geopolitical tensions and NATO force-readiness upgrades are driving accelerated procurement across Europe and the Asia-Pacific
• •Aging Cold War-era stockpiles across multiple armed forces require urgent replacement, creating near-term order visibility

The market is commonly segmented by weapon type into anti-tank guided weapons, unguided rocket systems, man-portable air-defense systems, and anti-structure munitions. Geographically, North America and Europe represent the largest established demand centers due to mature defense industrial bases and NATO procurement frameworks. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing segment, fueled by border tensions, rising military budgets, and large-scale indigenous development programs. The Middle East and Africa sustain steady demand driven by ongoing regional conflicts and the need to equip both conventional and irregular forces.

• •Anti-tank guided weapons and MANPADS together account for the dominant revenue share within the product mix
• •Asia-Pacific is the highest-growth regional market, while North America and Europe together represent the largest absolute market value

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape of the global shoulder-fired weapons market is anchored by a small group of large, vertically integrated prime defense contractors that control program development, manufacturing, and full-lifecycle support, alongside a longer tail of specialty manufacturers focused on specific subsystems or munition types. Lockheed Martin Corporation, listed at USD 9.0 billion in shoulder-fired weapons, is a US-based prime contractor and a significant shoulder-fired weapons producer. RTX Corporation serves as another major US defense prime in this segment. MBDA, the European missile joint venture, and Saab AB of Sweden are key European producers of man-portable and anti-tank guided systems. RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is an Israeli specialist recognized for advanced shoulder-launched munitions. Thales Group contributes through fire-control, guidance electronics, and air-defense integration rather than as a primary launcher producer. Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau is a longstanding designer of portable anti-armor systems, while BAE Systems represents a UK-headquartered prime active in missile and launcher programs. The production architecture relies on precision-machined metal components, advanced propulsion formulations, and increasingly on digital fire-control and guidance electronics, with capacity concentrated in a limited number of industrialized nations whose export-control regimes and foreign-military-sales approvals shape market access.

• •A mix of large vertically integrated prime contractors and smaller specialty producers serves distinct product niches and government customer bases
• •Core production processes center on precision metal forming, composite munition casings, rocket motor casting, and embedded guidance-system integration
• •Manufacturing and R&D capacity is concentrated in a small number of industrialized nations with established defense export frameworks

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Precision guidance integration is reshaping product development, as militaries increasingly demand fire-and-forget capability, multi-purpose warheads, and connectivity to network-centric battlefield systems. Non-state actor proliferation and the battlefield effectiveness of portable anti-armor and anti-air systems in recent regional conflicts have reinforced long-term demand, even as export control regimes tighten. Looking forward, the market trajectory remains sensitive to near-term conflict resolution timelines, but structural drivers, force modernization mandates, NATO 2% GDP spending targets, and counter-UAS requirements, support sustained mid-single-digit growth through the early 2030s.

• •Networked, precision-guided variants and multi-role warhead designs are becoming the industry standard for next-generation procurement programs
• •Counter-drone and low-altitude air-defense applications are creating new demand vectors beyond traditional anti-armor roles