CBRNe Defense Market Size and Share
CBRNe Defense Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The CBRNe defense market size is estimated at USD 18.70 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 24.93 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 5.92% during the forecast period. Spending growth is tied to defense modernization, favoring chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) capabilities over conventional tools. Nations are shifting resources toward AI-enabled autonomous detection networks that reduce risk to personnel and keep situational awareness high in contested zones. Budget re-allocations are evident in the US Chemical and Biological Defense Program’s USD 1,656.70 million FY-2025 outlay and Europe’s EUR 800 billion (USD 938.36 billion) ReArm Europe fund, which allocates meaningful shares to next-generation CBRNe programs. Demand is further shaped by threats from non-state actors that exploit commercial drones and 3D printing, prompting militaries and civil agencies to purchase portable sensors, UAV-borne payloads, and mixed-reality training kits. Although North America retains leadership, Asia-Pacific shows rising procurement as regional tensions keep defense budgets upward.
Key Report Takeaways
- By purpose, protection systems led with 35.78% of CBRNe defense market share in 2024; simulation and training systems are forecasted to rise at a 7.67% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user, the military segment held 70.01% of the CBRNe defense market size in 2024, while civil and law-enforcement applications are advancing at a 7.54% CAGR through 2030.
- By platform, portable and wearable systems accounted for a 31.89% share of the CBRNe defense market in 2024, yet drone and UAV-based solutions are projected to grow at an 8.10% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
- By type, chemical detection dominated the CBRNe defense market with a 26.22% share in 2024; biological detection is expanding at an 8.25% CAGR through 2030.
- By geography, North America commanded 33.47% of the CBRNe defense market size in 2024, whereas Asia-Pacific exhibits the fastest CAGR at 7.86% to 2030.
Global CBRNe Defense Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Defense budget modernization and strategic reprioritization | +1.8% | NATO members; Asia-Pacific | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Rising threat of asymmetric warfare and non-state actor capabilities | +1.2% | Conflict zones worldwide | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Broader civil defense and homeland security integration | +0.9% | North America; EU; urban APAC | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Emergence of AI-driven autonomous detection networks | +0.7% | US, EU, advanced APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Development of bio-digital pathogen analyzer chips | +0.5% | Global research hubs, commercial deployment in developed markets | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Mandates for dual-use decontamination infrastructure | +0.4% | EU and North America, with selective APAC adoption | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Defense Budget Modernization and Strategic Reprioritization
Defense ministries are channeling larger shares of multi-year programs into CBRNe readiness as part of multi-domain deterrence strategies. The US Strategic Management Plan 2022-2026 frames CBRNe preparedness as essential to maintaining freedom of maneuver.[1]“Department of Defense Strategic Management Plan 2022-2026,” Office of the Secretary of Defense, defense.gov Parallel efforts such as Europe’s ReArm Europe initiative earmark sizeable sums for CBRNe sensor suites that integrate with broader air- and missile-defense networks. Procurement priorities now favor scalable detection grids, autonomous decontamination assets, and protective ensembles compatible with joint-force logistics. Vendors able to demonstrate dual-use value stand to benefit as governments look to stretch budgets across military and civil protection mandates.
Rising Threat of Asymmetric Warfare and Non-State Actor Capabilities
Accessible technologies, including additive manufacturing and commercial drones, enable small groups to weaponize toxic chemicals or biological agents, raising the attractiveness of CBRNe attacks against superior conventional forces. Intelligence reports underscore evolving tactics that bypass traditional warning indicators, demanding adaptive sensors that recognize atypical signatures. This risk profile accelerates the CBRNe defense market’s adoption of analytics that spot real-time anomalies and identify materials previously unseen in defense databases.
Broader Civil Defense and Homeland Security Integration
After recent global crises, policymakers have linked military CBRNe assets with civilian emergency networks. The US Department of Homeland Security is piloting AI-enabled emergency operations centers that merge military sensor data with municipal first-responder workflows.[2]“Emergency Management of Tomorrow Research Program,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, dhs.gov Such convergence spurs demand for interoperable command platforms, fuels joint training exercises, and opens procurement pathways for civil agencies to field military-grade detection and decontamination solutions.
Emergence of AI-Driven Autonomous Detection Networks
Autonomous sensor nodes mounted on ground robots or UAVs now handle reconnaissance in areas too hazardous for human teams. The US Army’s Autonomous Equipment Decontamination System and Draper’s USD 26 million drone teaming contract prove the concept’s viability. Algorithms fuse multi-spectral data, isolate abnormal readings, and prompt rapid response actions, cutting decision cycles from hours to minutes. Field trials show higher detection accuracy and reduced personnel exposure, reinforcing confidence in fully networked architectures.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
High procurement and total lifecycle costs | -1.1% | Budget-constrained markets | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Stringent export regulations and technology transfer restrictions | -0.8% | US-origin trade flows | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Supply chain vulnerability in rare-earth and exotic sensor materials | -0.6% | Global manufacturing, concentrated impact in Asia-Pacific production | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Operator cognitive burden due to complex system interfaces | -0.4% | Deployment regions with limited technical infrastructure | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
High Procurement and Total Lifecycle Costs
Advanced CBRNe gear demands long-term investments that multiply once training, maintenance, and mid-life upgrades are added. Over a typical 20-year span, sustainment can run three to five times the original purchase price, pushing smaller defense establishments to limit quantities or delay refresh cycles. Vendors increasingly pitch modular upgrades to ease this burden, yet locked-in proprietary ecosystems often offset near-term savings with higher downstream fees, keeping budget pressure intense.
Stringent Export Regulations and Technology Transfer Restrictions
International Traffic in Arms Regulations, EAR protocols, and chemical-weapon treaty obligations add 6–18 months to many transactions, complicating allied procurements that rely on US components. Compliance overhead weighs heaviest on smaller innovators and can slow deliveries at a time when operational gaps widen. Tightening geopolitical climates further heighten scrutiny, reinforcing the advantage of incumbents that already maintain robust export-control teams.
Segment Analysis
By Purpose: Protection Systems Drive Current Demand
Protection systems commanded 35.78% of the CBRNe defense market share in 2024, confirming the enduring importance of individual and collective protection across all services. They range from next-generation respirators to over-pressurized shelters that shield personnel from aerosolized agents. Demand is supported by NATO standards that prescribe minimum personal protective equipment inventories for forward-deployed units. Detection systems trail closely, serving as the trigger for activating protective measures once a threat cloud is sensed. Decontamination assets complete the triad by restoring platforms to service and preventing mission attrition.
Simulation and training solutions represent the fastest-growing slice at a 7.67% CAGR to 2030. Defense organizations deploy mixed-reality suites to replicate complex release scenarios without hazardous agents, reducing live-agent range usage and cutting per-trainee costs. ForgeFX’s HoloLens-based program is emblematic of immersive tools that foster skills retention while shortening course timelines.[3]“ForgeFX Mixed-Reality CBRN Trainer,” ForgeFX Simulations, forgefx.com As digital twins mirror actual detection gear, commanders can rehearse wide-area response plans and refine tactics in secure virtual sandboxes. This learning curve efficiency amplifies adoption across military and civil jurisdictions, cementing a robust outlook for this subsegment.
By End-User: Military Dominance with Civil Expansion
The military end-user segment accounted for 70.01% of the CBRNe defense market size in 2024, reflecting the armed forces’ mandate to fight through contamination and preserve combat power. Large budgets allow investment in ruggedized sensor arrays, hardened command-and-control nodes, and extensive protective suit inventories. Platform roadmaps emphasize drone-based reconnaissance and AI-enabled threat analytics that integrate with broader battlefield networks.
Civil and law-enforcement agencies are growing at a 7.54% CAGR, spurred by homeland security directives designating first responders as primary stakeholders in domestic incidents. Initiatives like India’s “Year of CBRN Preparedness” program funnel funds into municipal hazmat teams, boosting procurement of handheld detectors and mobile decontamination units. The convergence of military-grade technology with civil budgets promotes common standards, improving interoperability when joint task forces deploy during large-scale emergencies.
By Platform: Portable Systems Lead, Drones Surge
Portable and wearable devices maintained a 31.89% market share in 2024, illustrating the premium on mobility and rapid situational awareness. Lightweight chemical detectors clipped to web gear and smart respirators that monitor filter degradation exemplify the trend. Vehicle-mounted rigs extend range and throughput for unit-level monitoring, while fixed installations secure critical bases, ports, and government facilities.
Drone and UAV platforms record the sharpest ascent at 8.10% CAGR. The CBRNe defense market finds UAVs indispensable for sampling air columns above suspected release points without risking ground crews. Draper’s remote sensing swarm contract and the T4i DOVER drone chemistry sampler prove that lightweight payloads can deliver full-spectrum analytics in flight. Advances in low-SWaP sensors simplify integration, anchoring drones as a staple line item in future budgets.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Type: Chemical Detection Dominates, Biological Accelerates
Chemical detection held 26.22% of the CBRNe defense market share 2024, relying on mature colorimetric, ion-mobility, and Fourier-transform infrared methods that rapidly spot known warfare agents. Radiological and nuclear sensors occupy the next tier, supporting interdiction of illicit materials and safeguarding strategic assets. Explosive detection, often derived from counter-terrorism technology, rounds out the category with continued relevance for border and checkpoint security.
Biological detection rises at 8.25% CAGR on the back of microfluidic biochips, which shortens identification cycles to minutes. Recent academic demonstrations show bead-based immunoassays detecting sub-picogram toxin levels in under 10 minutes. CRISPR-Cas12a sensors add sequence-specific fidelity that lowers false positives, while AI engines mine large pathogen libraries to flag unknown organisms. These capabilities reassure planners that emerging threats can be recognized even when adversaries design novel synthetic agents.
Geography Analysis
North America led the CBRNe defense market with 33.47% share in 2024, anchored by the United States’ deep industrial base and stable funding lines that cover detection, protection, and training. Significant R&D centers—spanning Edgewood, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and multiple national labs—accelerate technology maturation and transition to field units. Canada complements US spending with its Joint CBRN Defense Program, which fields interoperable systems for NATO operations.
Europe ranks second, bolstered by the ReArm Europe initiative that injects fresh capital into collective defense. Standardization agreements smooth cross-border equipment compatibility, while EU civil-protection funding invites suppliers to tailor dual-use products. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany allocate notable portions of recapped budgets toward upgrading legacy reconnaissance vehicle fleets, with the UK’s Fox fleet overhaul illustrating demand for sensor and comms retrofits.
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region at 7.86% CAGR. Heightened tensions in East Asia pushed combined military outlays to USD 411 billion in 2023 and fueled the appetite for CBRNe deterrence tools. South Korea fielded enhanced K216 NBC Recon Vehicles capable of chemical detection at 5-km standoff, and Australia continues to test immersive training kits for explosive hazard response. India’s National Disaster Response Force presses with nationwide CBRN drills that create pull-through demand for detectors and decon gear. Regional industrial partnerships, including technology transfers from Japan and the United States, speed deployment while building indigenous support ecosystems.

Competitive Landscape
The CBRNe defense market shows moderate concentration, with a handful of diversified defense contractors leveraging legacy relationships, export-control expertise, and wide portfolios. Teledyne’s USD 8 billion takeover of FLIR Systems in 2021 and its USD 710 million Excelitas acquisition in 2025 expand vertical integration from thermal imaging to optics and small-form sensors.[4]“Teledyne to Acquire FLIR,” Teledyne Technologies, teledyne.comRheinmetall’s 73% jump in Q1 2025 defense sales and EUR 63 billion (USD 73.90 billion) backlog illustrate how conflict-driven demand can rapidly amplify scale advantages.
Technology is the main differentiator. Leaders pour capital into AI algorithms, autonomous swarms, and advanced composite materials to hold ground against niche entrants. Joint ventures—such as Rheinmetall’s partnership with Leonardo—share risk and unlock domestic procurement channels, while prime contractors license disruptive bio-digital platforms to stay ahead. Regulatory complexity remains a natural moat: established firms manage ITAR and EAR paperwork efficiently, whereas start-ups face steep compliance costs that slow market entry.
White-space opportunities lie in rapid pathogen analytics, automated decontamination robotics, and civilian-military integrated command software. Big contractors respond by setting up venture arms that invest in promising specialist firms, ensuring pipeline access to breakthrough technology. Yet, sustained consolidation during 2025–2030 could lift barriers for new innovators, potentially reducing price competition in high-end segments.
CBRNe Defense Industry Leaders
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Smiths Detection (Smiths Group PLC)
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Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
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Bruker Corporation
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Thales Group
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Rheinmetall AG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- June 2025: The United States Army's Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) selected Safeware, Inc. as an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awardee.
- June 2025: NOBLE received a USD 500 million US Army JPEO CBRND Commercial Solutions IDIQ contract. The IDIQ contract supplies Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) items, equipment, ancillary training, and services for the JPEO CBRND.
- January 2024: Draper received a USD 26 million Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance its unmanned autonomous systems (UAS) software capabilities. The software improvements will enable UAS to conduct chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance missions in collaborative teams and challenging environments.
Global CBRNe Defense Market Report Scope
Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats have collectively come to be known as CBRNe threats, and the actualization of the threats as CBRNe incidents. These include attacks using NBC weapons, otherwise called weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives defense includes protective measures taken in situations where hazards such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) may be present. CBRNe defense consists of CBRNe passive protection, contamination avoidance, and CBRNe mitigation.
The market is segmented by purpose, application, and geography. By purpose, the market is segmented into detection, protection, decontamination, and simulation and training. By application, the market is segmented into military and civil and law enforcement. The report also covers the sizes and forecasts for the CBRNe market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).
By Purpose | Detection | |||
Protection | ||||
Decontamination | ||||
Simulation and Training | ||||
By End-User | Military | |||
Civil and Law-Enforcement | ||||
By Platform | Portable and Wearable Systems | |||
Vehicle-mounted | ||||
Fixed and Facility-Based Installations | ||||
Drone-/UAV-based | ||||
By Type | Chemical | |||
Biological | ||||
Radiological | ||||
Nuclear | ||||
Explosive | ||||
By Geography | North America | United States | ||
Canada | ||||
Mexico | ||||
Europe | United Kingdom | |||
France | ||||
Germany | ||||
Russia | ||||
Rest of Europe | ||||
Asia-Pacific | China | |||
India | ||||
Japan | ||||
South Korea | ||||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||||
South America | Brazil | |||
Rest of South America | ||||
Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia | ||
United Arab Emirates | ||||
Rest of Middle East | ||||
Africa | South Africa | |||
Rest of Africa |
Detection |
Protection |
Decontamination |
Simulation and Training |
Military |
Civil and Law-Enforcement |
Portable and Wearable Systems |
Vehicle-mounted |
Fixed and Facility-Based Installations |
Drone-/UAV-based |
Chemical |
Biological |
Radiological |
Nuclear |
Explosive |
North America | United States | ||
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | United Kingdom | ||
France | |||
Germany | |||
Russia | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
Asia-Pacific | China | ||
India | |||
Japan | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Rest of South America | |||
Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
United Arab Emirates | |||
Rest of Middle East | |||
Africa | South Africa | ||
Rest of Africa |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the CBRNe defense market?
The CBRNe defense market reached USD 18.70 billion in 2025 and is forecasted at USD 24.93 billion by 2030,reflecting a 5.92% CAGR.
Which region is growing fastest in CBRNe procurement?
Asia-Pacific is expanding the quickest, with a 7.86% CAGR through 2030 as defense budgets climb amid regional tensions.
Which segment shows the highest growth rate?
Simulation and training systems lead with a 7.67% CAGR, driven by virtual- and augmented-reality adoption for safer, lower-cost exercises.
Why are drones becoming important in CBRNe defense?
Unmanned aerial platforms collect samples and perform reconnaissance without exposing personnel, a capability now advancing at an 8.10% CAGR within the broader market.
How significant is military demand compared with civil applications?
Military buyers accounted for 70.01% of the market in 2024, yet civil and law-enforcement agencies are catching up, posting a 7.54% CAGR through 2030.
What are the main obstacles to wider technology adoption?
High lifecycle costs and strict export-control rules slow procurements, especially for smaller countries and emerging suppliers.
Page last updated on: July 1, 2025