CBRN Defense Industry and market

Rajesh Uppal October 24, 2022 Industry, Threats Comments Off on CBRN Defense Industry and market 235 Views

The threats of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) hazards continue to advance. According to the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database, there were a total of 143 attacks – 35 biological, 95 chemical, and 13 radiological – using CBRN weapons across the world from 1970 to 2014. The rising global trend for civil war and internal conflict, especially in large cities, increases the probability that industrialized chemicals will either intentionally or accidentally become a hazard to military and security forces or the localities’ residents.

According to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), international peace
and security have been under serious threat owing to the prospect of CBRNE materials’
accessibility to the terrorists & their supporters and non-state actors. This development
has emphasized governments worldwide to invest and nurture R&D, and the
manufacturing of systems for homeland security is anticipated to propel the market.
As per the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), United Nations General Assembly has
asked its member states in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy’s sixth review to
restrict terrorists and non-state actors from accessing weapons and their delivery systems.
It has also asked for cooperation within and between member states and regional and
international organizations for capability enhancement of defense and restrictions on the
proliferation of CBRNE weapons.

In November 2020, INTERPOL and UNCCT initiated a five-year joint initiative for the Global
Threat Assessment Study on Non-State Actors & their materials. Such initiatives for
measuring the threats and implementation of regulatory norms are expected to drive the
market growth of the market.

According to NATO’s Comprehensive and Strategic Level Policy for the proliferation of
CBRNE defense, the 12th section emphasizes the reduction of the proliferation of weapons
& their delivery systems and capability enhancements. Such a regulatory framework for
the development of chemical biological radiological and nuclear defense marine solutions
is anticipated to drive market growth.

According to the 2017 EU CBRN Action Plan, the European Union has adopted and focused
on the accessibility reduction of materials, a robust preparedness against any internal and
external links with regional and international partners. It has also been proposed that
medical preparedness should be a priority of action plans. This regulatory adoption has
further pushed the demand for defense specialist schools in the European market.
Further, this has resulted in emphasizing defense specialist courses attributed to the rise in
the demand of a skilled workforce in this market by region.

CBRN Defense

CBRN defence remains an indispensible part of the strategic security preparedness of all nations. The overarching goal of CBRN Defense measures is keeping CBRN environments from having adverse effect on personnel, equipment, critical assets and facilities. This includes providing the most advanced diagnostic equipment and countermeasure technology for identifying and protecting against imminent threats.

In addition to protecting against battlefield CBRNE threats, there is an increasing demand to protect borders, ports, and other geographical points of entry, from the emergent threats of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), homemade explosives (HMEs), nuclear devices and radiological dispersal devices. These threats have elevated the importance of technologies for the reliable detection, classification, and identification of asymmetric threats.

CBRN Defense Market

The global CBRN defense market is projected to grow from USD 17.4 billion in 2021 to USD 22.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period.

The demand for CBRN defense solutions can be attributed to the increasing investments by countries for the development and procurement of advanced CBRN defense solutions for their armed forces, border protection, biowarfare programs.

Rising geopolitical unrest and high demand for safety measures by various economies worldwide are driving the key market players to emphasize technological innovations against the CBRNE weapons utilized by terrorist groups, non-state actors, and certain international regimes. According to 2018 & 2019 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community
reports, the international regimes such as Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, China,
and the terrorist group has increased the weapons threats through capability enhancement, production, proliferation, and utilization of weapons on the world populace.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Strategy for CBRNE Standards, the
strategy emphasizes interagency collaboration for better response and utilizes the
research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of CBRNE infrastructure. It also
emphasizes the establishment of the standards required for detection equipment,
interoperability of various agencies, user training, and standard operating processes for
the systems protection.

Restraining Factors

Lack of Investments in Research and Development to Hamper the Market Growth
CBRNE incidents and attacks on various countries worldwide have derived the conclusion
that governments worldwide have been lacking in the CBRNE situational awareness, a
robust SOP for first responders, the prevention strategy. These factors have been
influencing the market growth owing to the limited investments in biological radiological
and nuclear defense (CBRN) capabilities.

The lack of stringent equipment manufacturing standards and lack of investments in the
research and development (R&D) of defense product portfolio and solutions by
governments have long been derailing the capabilities of the manufacturer to produce
state-of-the-art equipment and solutions. Such factors are restraining the growth of the
market.

Governments are anticipated to learn from such fiascoes and invest in CBRNE equipment
for future risks posed by terrorist and non-state actors owing to the easy accessibility of
chemicals and materials required for weapon manufacturing.

The R&D in defense manufacturing and regulatory framework for non-proliferation has
been widely limited to the developed and some of the developing economies. This has
prevented the widespread capabilities’ enhancements of UN member states from the risks
of proliferation into their states and defense capabilities against the CBRNE attacks.

Segments

Based on the purpose, the market is divided into detection, protection, decontamination, and simulation and training.

The protection segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment with the highest
CAGR of 6.87% in 2020. The rising need to improve the safety and security of military
personnel and civilians by procuring and deploying defense solutions at public places such
as airports, public transportations, country, and state borders is expected to boost the
segment growth during the forecast period.

The detection segment held the largest market share in the year 2020 owing to the
continuous increase in demand of a range of field-proven detection systems that are
specially developed to provide military users with reliable tools that enable effective
warning and response. For instance, Bruker Corporation’s RAPIDplus offers instantaneous
stand-off chemical detection and identification at up to 5000 meters.

The decontamination segment contributed 23.98% of market shares, and is estimated to
reach USD 5.42 billion by 2028. This share is accredited to the surge in the production of
weapons across the globe. This factor increases concern regarding the safety and security
of civilians and military personnel. Thus, to destroy, remove or neutralize the weapon
impact, the need for a decontamination solution has increased significantly.

Simulation and training is a crucial aspect of defense. The demand for trained military
personnel to carry out battlefield operations is rising over the last couple of years. Thus, it
is estimated to have considerable growth during the forecast period owing to the rising
simulation equipment procurement from Asian countries such as China, India, and
Australia. This is expected to boost the growth of the market segment during the forecast
period.

Based on the application, the market is segmented into military and civil, and law enforcement.

Based on end use, defense segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the CBRN Defense market from 2021 to 2026.

Based on end use, defense segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the CBRN Defense during the forecast period. The defense segment includes military and homeland security. Military users include the army, navy, and air force. The CBRN defense equipment used by the defense segment includes protective wearables, detection equipment, and decontamination systems. Homeland security personnel using CBRN defense equipment comprises first responders in the police, fire safety departments, and hazmat safety officers.

The military segment registered the largest CBRNE defense market share of 78% in 2020
and is anticipated to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The growing
adoption of advanced defense solutions and military drones as well as increased defense
budget worldwide are likely to boost the growth of the military segment. Moreover, the
rising procurement of unmanned ground and unmanned aerial vehicles with CBRNE
capabilities in homeland security is expected to boost the market’s growth.

According to the report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2021,
the total global military expenditure rose to USD 1,981 billion last year, an increase of 2.6
percent in real terms from 2019.

The civil and law enforcement segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.81% and is
predicted to reach USD 5.11 billion in 2028. The rising terrorist threats, activities, and
attacks using chemicals and biological weapons across the world, and increasing concerns
related to the safety of civilians are expected to drive the segment growth during the
forecast period. This factor also leads to the formulation of stringent laws by governments
against terrorism leads to enhance the nation’s security. These are the primary factors that
are anticipated to support the growth of the civil and law enforcement segment.

Based on Type, chemical segment is estimated to witness the largest share of the CBRN Defense market from 2021 to 2026.

Based on type, chemical segment of the CBRN Defense market is estimated to held the dominant market share in 2021. The chemical defense segment includes detection, identification, and protective equipment used against chemical agents such as Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC), Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM), and Chemical War Agents (CWA). The protective equipment used for CBRN defense includes protective wearables such as hazmat suits, gas masks, gloves, and footwear. Equipment such as portable devices and laboratory test instruments are used for the detection of chemical agents. Due to increase in chemical warfare threats globally, will drive this segment.

On the basis of Type, the market is segmented into Protective Wearables, Respiratory Systems, Detection & Monitoring Systems, Decontamination Systems, Simulators, Information Management Software.

Based on equipment, protective wearables segment is projected to lead the CBRN Defense market during the forecast period. Protective wearables provide protection against CBRN threats. The protective wearables include protective clothing, protective gas mask and hoods, escape devices, protective shoes, and protective gloves. The main users of CBRN defense equipment include first responders in the police, fire safety department, and hazmat safety officers in the commercial and civil sectors. Military users include CBRN response teams in the armed forces. The level and contamination determine which type of CBRN protective wearable can be used. This segment is leading due to fully integrated Mopp-4 suit for the highest chemical and biological threat protection, wide industrial application, and advancement in technology.

Protective Wearables:

Protective wearables are items that provide protection against CBRN. These include respirators, protective suits, and gloves. This type of equipment is a necessity for emergency responders in case they are exposed to dangerous substances or potentially contaminated environments.

Respiratory Systems:

Respiratory systems are items that protect the wearer’s respiratory tract from exposure to harmful substances. Respirators come in two types: air-purifying respirator (APR) or
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The main difference between APR and SCBA is whether they supply oxygen or not. APRs only filter contaminants, while SCBAs also
provide a source of breathable air for the user via a compressed gas cylinder carried on the back of the armor suit.

Detection & Monitoring Systems:

Detection and monitoring systems are the devices that detect the chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) agent in the air. The detection system can then be used
to monitor this contamination over time by taking samples of air for later analysis. These monitors will typically measure radiation levels and send alarms if high enough levels
have been detected so protective measures can be taken such as using respirators. They may also display a reading on an LCD screen showing the level of contamination inside it is safe or unsafe to stay there.

Decontamination Systems:

Decontamination Systems refer to the equipment used for decontaminating any surface or material that may have been contaminated by a chemical, biological, and/or
radiological substance. Decontamination systems are mostly designed in order to protect people from dangerous substances such as toxic gases, anthrax spores, viruses, and
bacteria. Newer models of decontamination systems also include protection against nuclear radiation.

Simulators:

A simulator is a device that replicates the input and output of an environment for use in training. They help train personnel to recognize, understand, interact with or manipulate an object or environment without having physical access to it. Simulators used in CBRN defense mainly include gas detection simulators and thermal imaging simulation devices which are designed to teach users how hazardous materials such as toxic gases dissipate over time through ventilation systems according to temperature changes.

The global CBRNE defense market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America dominated the market in 2020. The market size stood at USD 5.90 billion in
2020. The adoption of safety measures to protect armed forces and high military budgets
are the primary factors supporting the growth of the market in North America. According
to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report 2021, the U.S.
accounted for 39% of total military expenditures in 2020; this will facilitate the growth of
the market in the next few years.

The market in Latin America is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
The growing focus on strengthening border security in Mexico is likely to fuel the market
growth in Latin America. For instance, in 2019, the Mexican government had deployed
27,000 military and security forces to enforce migration laws.

The Asia Pacific market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026 in the CBRN Defense market Based on region, Asia Pacific is expected to lead the CBRN Defense market from 2021 to 2026 in terms of market share.

The rising disputes among neighboring countries will increase the focus of governments, leading to the strengthening of the nation’s security in coming years. Moreover, the growing defense budgets of China and India to strengthen their border security are anticipated to fuel the market growth in Asia Pacific. For instance, in 2020, China and India invested USD 252 billion and 72.9 billion, respectively, on the development and modernization of the military and defense sectors.

An increase in the instances of terror attacks in the Asia Pacific region has led countries of the region to enhance their CBRN defense capabilities. In addition, the increase in defense expenditures of India and China, among others, and the expansion of military commands in emerging economies have accelerated the demand for CBRN Defense in the Asia Pacific region.

The market in Europe is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to
the presence of CBRNE solution manufacturers such as Argon Electronics, Avon Protection
Plc, and Blucher Gmbh. The market in the Middle East and Africa is anticipated to grow at a
moderate rate during 2021-2028. This growth is accredited to the increase in terrorist
attacks and the focus of defense authorities on improving airport and border security.

Industry

Prominent players include Argon Electronics (U.K.), Avon protection Plc (U.K.), Battelle (U.S.)
Blucher Gmbh (U.S.), HDT Global (U.S.), Saab Ab (Sweden), CQC (U.K.), Leidos Holding Plc (U.S.), QinetiQ (U.K.), Teledyne FLIR Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Nexter NBC sys (Germany), Karcher Futuretech Gmbh (Germany), Murtech, Inc. (U.S.), Rheinmetall Defence (Germany), Smiths Group PLC (UK), and Chemring Group PLC (UK).

In May 2021, Teledyne FLIR was awarded a contract worth USD 70 million for
approximately 600 FLIR Centaur UGVs for the U.S. Armed Services, which has been capable
in the detection of weapons and incidences by quickly attaching various detection sensors
and payloads.

May 2021– HDT Global was acquired by Nexus Capital Management. The company
is primarily involved in the design and development of a range of products and
solutions such as environmental control units, heaters and power generators, military
vehicles, tactical shelters, chemical/biological/ radiological/nuclear (CBRN) filtration and
protection systems. It mainly serves the U.S. military and its allies.

In March 2021, Teledyne FLIR systems Inc. was given an R&D contract worth USD 8 million
for the development of the next-generation technology development from the Office of
Joint Science and Technology of the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA
JSTO).

In December 2021, U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Joint Science and Technology Office awarded an contract worth USD 15.7 million to Teledyne FLIR to develop augmented reality software that can pinpoint chemical threats and map them for the military.

References and Resources also include:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/cbrne-defense-market-106142