Smart Textiles for Military Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Smart Textiles for Military Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The smart textiles for the military market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15% during the forecast period (2022 - 2027).

The COVID-19 pandemic did not have any major impact on the market. The global military expenditure reached USD 2.1 trillion in 2021, with several military powerhouses continuing to invest in soldier modernization and in the R&D of advanced technologies for the soldiers. Several such investments are focused on the development and deployment of advanced smart textiles for their military personnel, which is expected to propel the growth of the market.

Companies and research facilities are currently focusing on the various categories of technology-enabled fibers, such as dual-channel data transfer capable fibers, color-changing fibers, and fibers that can store electricity. Also, textile-based materials equipped with nanotechnology and electronics play a key role in the development of technologically advanced military uniforms and materials. The growing emphasis on the integration of such technologies into military textiles is expected to bolster the market prospects during the forecast period.

Key Market TrendsHealth Monitoring and Diagnostics Segment to Dominate the Market

The operation of military personnel in harsh terrains for extended tenure necessitates protection from elements and battle hazards. Biological and chemical agents continue to pose severe threats because of their broad defensive and offensive potential. Recently, the threat of bioterrorism increased due to the concerns that non-state armed actors, such as terrorists and militia groups, could use biological agents to target air, water sources, food supplies, and other vital infrastructures. The integration of IoT sensors in smart clothes to determine the presence and level of hazardous gas in the environment and allow the military to mitigate the harm caused by hazardous gases efficiently. Acellent Technologies Inc., a US-based company, in collaboration with the US Army, developed the SmartArmor system that can be used for the in-service monitoring of the health of body armor structures. The system is specially designed to monitor personal body armor comprising of SMART layer and software to increase the safety of the soldiers in a combat zone. Furthermore, as of May 2022, researchers in the US are working on wearable gas sensors integrated with uniforms. The flexible, porous, and highly sensitive nitrogen dioxide sensors can be used for military applications to monitor the health and safety of the soldier on the battleground or in case of the presence of hazardous gases. Several such technologically advanced product research and developments are expected to drive this segment of the market at significant growth rates during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific Region will Experience the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period

The Asia-Pacific houses some of the largest importers of arms such as India, Australia, China, South Korea, etc. Due to the ongoing territorial issues and geographical tensions in the region, the countries in the region are rapidly increasing their military spending. China and India are two of the world’s largest defense spenders with USD 293 billion and USD 76.6 billion in military spending in 2021, respectively. The increase in defense spending is propelling the investments toward the development and deployment of smart textiles for military personnel. In November 2020, China has shortlisted nearly two dozen private companies to supply advanced unmanned weaponry and graphene clothing to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) regiments deployed along with the long high-altitude border areas with India. The Chinese armed forces are also looking for advanced logistics support equipment like portable solar chargers, smart warm clothing made of graphene, and portable oxygenators to fuse its military needs with the technology available in the civilian sector. However, the adoption is not without its constraints and criticism associated with the lower security protocols that may threaten an entire operation due to hostile capture or manipulation of transmitted data. Hence, in recent years, China has imposed a ban on the use of smart wearables in the PLA Army and deemed the use of wearables with internet access, location information, and voice-calling functions should be considered a violation of confidential regulations when used by military personnel. This may limit the adoption of smart textiles and associated wearables in the region to a certain extent. Nevertheless, the growth in the research activities to develop smart textiles for the militaries of countries like India, Japan, among others is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The smart textiles for the military market are fragmented due to the presence of many players in the market. Some of the prominent players in the market are BAE Systems plc, Texas Instruments Incorporated, TenCate Protective Fabrics, Dupont de Nemours Inc., and Schoeller Textil AG. Players in the market are collaborating with several universities and research organizations in Europe and North America to develop advanced smart textiles for the global militaries. Companies are also partnering with the governments and armed forces to develop specifically tailored products for their military personnel. The market is emerging, with a lot of scope for technological advancements. Since several countries now realize the importance of these smart textiles on the battlefield, significant investments in R&D are anticipated from many countries, which may provide new opportunities for the local players during the forecast period.

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