Market Trends of Armored Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems Industry
Combat Vehicles to Witness Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
The crew compartment in armored combat vehicles such as infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) provides limited space for the body movement of troops. This escalates a hazardous situation wherein the occupants may be subjected to lethal fire burn or suffocation due to smoke inhalation. Most current fire suppression systems are solid-based. However, the recent advancements in technology, such as the introduction of gas-based suppression agents that are less corrosive and have high oxygen deprivation capability, have driven the adoption of gas-based armored vehicle fire suppression systems.
The demand for combat vehicles is expected to increase due to rising military expenditure and the armored vehicles that are being procured by major countries such as the United States, China, Russia, South Korea, and Turkey. Most countries have undertaken armored vehicle procurement or upgrade plans to modernize and enhance their military capabilities. For instance, in June 2022, the US Army awarded a contract to General Dynamics Land Systems for its Mobile Protected Firepower program. As part of its multi-billion modernization effort, the US Army's next-generation combat vehicle portfolio is working on the development of future ground vehicles, including the mobile protected firepower program and the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFW).
Even smaller countries based in third-world regions are also inducting new armored vehicles into active service. For instance, in October 2023, Otokar was awarded a contract by Estonia for ARMA 4X4 and 6X6 armored personal vehicles for USD 137 million. The deliveries are planned to take place between 2024 and 2025. The vehicle has automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression system. Thus, with the demand for armored vehicles on the rise, the subsequent requirement for fire suppression systems/components is also anticipated to increase during the forecast period.
North America to Dominate the Market Share During the Forecast Period
North American countries, especially the United States and Canada, are amongst the top military spenders globally. The United States has actively deployed its troops in conflict-affected regions such as the Middle East, wherein large-scale use of rocket-propelled explosive projectiles and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) pose a major threat to the safety of armored vehicles and troops inside them. This factor has significantly propelled the market development of safety measures such as fire suppression and extinguishing systems for Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), IFVs, etc.
The increasing use of sophisticated sensor systems to detect a fire outbreak has also enhanced the complexity of the system, which has driven the cost of such systems. Modern fire suppression systems, such as those produced by Ares, can detect a fire in less than three milliseconds and suppress it within 250 milliseconds. Army collaboration with research institutes has driven the development of better fire suppression systems by upgrading the existing old-school systems. For instance, in March 2021, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed a new interactive tool to help the US Army fight the fire effectively using the right amount of pressure parameters to extinguish the fire. New armored vehicle programs such as the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) are envisioned to drive the demand for fire suppression systems market in the region during the forecast period.
