Advanced Combat Helmet Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Material (Ballistic Fiber, Thermoplastic, and Metal), By Application (Military & Defense, and Law Enforcement), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

The global advanced combat helmet market size was USD 2.31 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 3.64 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.73% during the forecast period (2020-2027).  

An advanced combat helmet (ACH) is used by military & defense, law enforcement organizations, and homeland security to improve soldiers' ballistic protection. The increasing use of these helmets greatly reduces penetrating injuries and protects soldiers. The ACH is lighter than the previous PASGT infantry helmet. This advanced helmet includes pad suspension system and enhanced 4-point retention that attaches at four different points with ballistic resistant hardware. The helmets are stable and properly fitted as adjustment slides are located on front and rear retention.

Furthermore, the advanced combat helmet consists of head-mounted lights and night vision cameras for enhanced vision in the dark or in any critical situation. The introduction of these advanced features is also boosting the market for advanced combat. Key players are increasing their R&D activities and growing expenditure on the development of cost-efficient and high-quality lightweight combat helmets.

In 2019, Jarvish, a smart helmet maker company in Taiwan, developed a prototype augmented reality (AR) smart combat helmet system. The helmet includes advanced features such as a transparent heads-up display, 4k night vision camera, AI-assisted threat detection, and situational awareness, an intrinsically safe military-grade battery, and long-range broadband ad hoc communication. The first set of AR smart combat helmets will be delivered in 2020.

LATEST TRENDS

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Growing Demand for Lightweight Combat Helmets in Military Operations to Boost Market

A new ACH, Generation II, actually uses ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which is a lighter material than kevlar, which reduces 22 percent weight than other helmets. The lightweight material ultra-high weight molecular weight polyethylene has high breaking strength about 15 times stronger than steel, but it is flexible like fabrics. The new helmet has the capability to 9mm handgun round. The development of ACH Gen II Combat Helmet reduces the tactical weight of soldiers on the ground. It improves combat effectiveness while decreasing battlefield injury and fatigue. In addition, due to its lightweight feature, it improves soldiers' effectiveness and overall survivability.

Increasing Adoption of Robust Combat Helmets to Foster Market Growth

The primary function of the combat helmet is to protect soldiers from bullets. The introduction of the latest technologies, such as night vision, data display, secure communication, and others drive the growth of the market. The joint helmet-mounted cueing system (JHMCS) used by the US Air Force, US navy, and Russian F-35 and F-22 pilot uses bones instead of earphones to transmit voice communication.

The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research and Engineering Center, in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), have jointly developed a heads-up display technology system. This system will be a combination of the Heads Up Navigation, Tracking, and Reporting (HUNTR) technology to visualize data, especially at night, as it has helmet-mounted night vision goggles. Furthermore, China developed a non-metal combat helmet that uses glass fiber, nylon-reinforced resin, and aramid fiber for fragmentation resistance.

Furthermore, combat helmets manufactured by using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence help soldiers in analyzing battlefield environment, and provide extra specific vision.

DRIVING FACTORS 

Rising Emphasis on Soldier’s Safety in Combat Operations to Spur Demand

Rising emphasis on soldiers' security from defense forces and governments due to growing security threats such as cross-border disputes, rising terrorist activities, and political unrest. Increasing global security threats such as border insurgencies, terrorist activities, and internal conflicts drive the growth of the global market. Manufacturers are focusing on the development of lightweight and fireproof army helmets that enhances performance and can protect the wearer from attacks. This ACH is compatible with the current night-vision goggles (NVG), nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) defense equipment, communications packages, and body armor.

Growing Defense Budget and Military Modernization Programs Drive the Market

The increasing focus on strengthening defense forces by troops expansion and expansion of military camps through new recruitment by most of the countries worldwide. Growing political conflicts, cross-border issues, increasing crime rate, rising terrorist activities leads to the expansion of the military, law enforcement officers, homeland security forces. In 2019, the U.S.  government announced a defense budget of around USD 686.1 billion for improving the capability of armed forces. Emerging defense powers, such as China and India, also increase spending on military modernization programs.

Public safety & law enforcement, disaster management & first responders, and government critical infrastructure security are included in homeland security. Thus, increasing demand for combat helmets from these homeland securities personal to protect themselves drives the growth of the market.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Development Cost and Malfunctioning of ACH to Restrict Growth

Comparatively high development cost associated with building the combat helmet is a prime factor hampering the market growth. The ACH systems consist of night vision goggles, head-up displays, that are highly expensive compared to other helmets. Furthermore, malfunctioning of a few technologies and requirements of regular replacement is acting as a restraining factor to the market.

In the financial year of 2019-2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) effect, the key players of the market across the globe are facing major supply issues, and this effect will continue to have a huge reverse impact on the defense industry. The direct effect of COVID-19 effect on the defense industry is production halt, and supply chains are largely affected due to lock-down that hampers the advanced combat helmet market growth across the globe.

SEGMENTATION

By Material Analysis

Ballistic Segment to Lead the Market During the Forecast Period

Based on material, the market is segmented into ballistic, metal, and thermoplastic. Among these, the ballistic segment holds the highest shares in the market during the forecast period. The growing use of lightweight materials such as twaron, kevlar, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is driving the growth of the advanced combat helmet market. In 2018, MKU Limited signed a contract worth USD 24.19 million with the Indian Army to provide 1,58,000 ballistic helmets. The metal and thermoplastic segment will witness moderate growth owing to the rising demand from law enforcement agencies and homeland security forces.

By Application Analysis

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Military & Defense Segment to Lead the Market with a Significant Share

By application, the market is classified into military & defense, and law enforcement. The military & defense segment is anticipated to hold the largest market share and continue its domination during the forecast period. They are increasing the use of combat helmet from the military and defense sector to protect their soldiers from head injuries caused by shrapnel, gunshots, and IED explosions. The law enforcement segment will witness significant growth in the market. The development of advanced helmets for improved performance, survivability, and protection of the wearer drives the growth of the segment during the forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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The market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America holds the largest market share in the global market during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increasing defense expenditure, growing spending on R&D activities, and military modernization programs. Furthermore, the presence of key OEMs such as ArmorSource LLC, GENTEX CORPORATION, Revision Military, 3M, Honeywell International Inc., and others drive the growth of the ACH market across North America.

Asia-Pacific will witness remarkable growth in the market during the forecast period. Increasing defense expenditure, and growing procurement of advanced combat helmets from countries such as China, India, and Japan drive the growth of the market. Rising cross-border conflicts and increasing terrorist attacks result in strengthening military forces, which in turn creates demand across the region. 

The market in Europe is anticipated to grow at a moderate pace due to the expansion of defense forces in different countries such as Russia, Germany, The U.K, and others. In addition, the presence of key manufacturers such as BAE Systems, Morgan Advanced Materials, and others propels the growth of the market across Europe. The rest of the World registers a remarkable growth in the market during the forecast period. This growth is owing to the increasing spending on military modernization programs.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Introduction of Innovative Technologies by Key Market Players are Propelling the Market Growth

Development of lightweight combat helmets, the introduction of advanced technologies such as night vision, head-up displays, secure communication, and others are the upcoming trends in the market. A diversified product portfolio and rising expenditure on R&D activity is the prominent factor responsible for the dominance of these key market players.

Furthermore, companies adopted key growth strategies such as merger & acquisitions, partnerships, contracts, and agreements for business expansion. In January 2020, Avon Rubber p.l.c acquired 3M’s ballistic protection business. The unit includes ballistic helmets, helmet attachment products, body armor, and others.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Avon Rubber p.l.c (The U.K)


• ArmorSource LLC (The U.S.)


• BAE Systems (The U.K)


• GENTEX CORPORATION (The U.S.)


• Morgan Advanced Materials (The U.K)


• Revision Military (The U.S.)


• MKU Limited (India)


• Honeywell International Inc. (The U.S.)


• Point Blank Enterprises Inc. (The U.S.)


• DuPont (The U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2019 – GENTEX CORPORATION signed a five-year contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) worth USD 95 million to provide Ops-Core® FAST SF Carbon Composite Helmet System.


• March 2017-  Revision Military signed a contract of worth USD 98 million with the U.S. Army to produce 2,93,870 lighter combat helmets.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The advanced combat helmet market research report offers qualitative and quantitative insights on this market. It offers a detailed analysis of the market size & growth rate for all possible segments in the market. Along with this, the report provides an elaborative analysis of dynamics, COVID-19 effect, emerging trends, and competitive landscape in the market.

Key insights offered in the report are the adoption trends of advanced combat helmet systems by individual segments, recent industry developments such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, consolidated SWOT analysis of key players, porter’s five forces analysis, business strategies of leading market players, micro and macroeconomic indicators, and the leading industry trends.

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