The global military bulletproof vest market is accelerating its development
2024-06-06
According to a recent report on the US Army Technology website, as more and more countries begin to value individual protective capabilities, the market for military bulletproof vests, helmets, flame-retardant clothing and other individual protective equipment is showing a rapid development trend. It is predicted that the global military bulletproof vest market sales will increase by over 50% in the next 10 years. The report on broad market prospects cites an analysis report by Global Data Consulting, stating that the global military bulletproof vest market sales will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.4% over the next 10 years. From the perspective of material types, hard bulletproof vests with metal, ceramic and other materials as bulletproof layers account for 62.3% of the market share, while soft bulletproof vests with high-strength fiber and other materials as bulletproof layers account for 20.7% of the market share. From a regional distribution perspective, North America holds the top market share with over 40%, Asia Pacific has a market share of 29%, Europe has a market share of 22.2%, and South America will become the fastest-growing region. The analysis points out that the expected good performance of the bulletproof vest market is mainly due to the following two reasons. On the one hand, local conflicts highlight the importance of military bulletproof vests. In local conflicts in Europe, micro and small attack drones are widely used, and infantry face various threats such as bomb fragments and small caliber weapons. Bulletproof vests are seen as the last line of defense for life. Street battles are frequent in conflicts in the Middle East, and bulletproof vests are an important guarantee for infantry to improve their survival ability. Therefore, many countries are increasing their procurement of military bulletproof vests, especially hardware bulletproof vests with stronger defense capabilities. On the other hand, technological development is driving the renewal and replacement of bulletproof vests. The report states that although there has been no fundamental change in material technology in recent years, innovation in fast wear structures and optional accessories has driven relevant countries to purchase new bulletproof vests. The US Army is one of the earliest units in the world to equip all personnel with bulletproof vests. In order to consolidate its leading position in individual protection capabilities, the US military spent approximately $70 million in 2019 to purchase modular designed new bulletproof vests. The British Army will begin creating adjustable bulletproof vests based on the gender and body characteristics of soldiers in 2022. The future development trend is that the research and development level of bulletproof vests is constantly improving, but the protective ability is always the most important indicator of the performance of bulletproof vests. Based on this, the development of bulletproof vests presents new characteristics. Firstly, focus on lightweight design. Nowadays, bulletproof vests are highly integrated with backup magazines, chemical defense equipment, auxiliary equipment, and more. Soldiers need to perform tactical actions such as rolling and crossing while wearing bulletproof vests for a long time, so lightweight has become an important indicator for the development of bulletproof vests. The total weight of the new US military bulletproof vest is reduced by 25% compared to the original style. The SMR minimalist bulletproof vest developed by Sanders in the United States only uses a frame to wrap around the overall cut bulletproof insert. Secondly, provide customized services. Modular design is gradually becoming a trend in the development of bulletproof vests market. The new bulletproof vest can be equipped with different sub packages, auxiliary accessories, etc. through standard interfaces, and different protective plates with different protection capabilities and weights can be selected according to the type of task. When the Singapore Army purchases new bulletproof vests, it selects enhanced bulletproof vests for infantry, special forces, etc., while other branches are equipped with regular bulletproof vests; The new British "Vitus" bulletproof vest can independently increase or decrease soft armor pads and hard protective plates according to the mission. Once again, expand diversified functions. In recent years, many defense companies have actively expanded the comprehensive defense capabilities of extended bulletproof vests. In Russia's latest "Warrior-3" individual combat system, bulletproof vests use electrically induced materials that can change camouflage colors according to the environment, and have anti infrared detection function. The United States has launched an Arctic low-temperature protection project, focusing on addressing the issue of reduced performance of bulletproof vests in extreme cold conditions. In addition, graphene bulletproof vests that can float on the water surface, lighter nanotechnology bulletproof vests, and liquid bulletproof vests are also under development. Foreign media pointed out that in recent years, more and more countries have purchased bulletproof vests as full staff equipment, and bulletproof vests may become the standard equipment for individual soldiers in various countries in the future. Some argue that the market for bulletproof vests is not clear. On the one hand, bulletproof vests are greatly affected by the environment, and maintenance has always been a thorny issue. A report by the US military shows that the service life of bulletproof vests usually does not exceed 5 years. On the other hand, the booming development of unmanned equipment reduces the direct exposure risk of combat personnel and reduces the necessity of full personnel armament. Therefore, it remains to be seen how much funding countries will invest in the field of bulletproof vests in the future. (Lai Xin She)
Edit：Luo yu Responsible editor：Wang xiao jing
Source：China national defense daily
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