Composites In The Defense Market Report 2026

Composites In The Defense Market Overview

• Composites In The Defense market size has reached to $14.87 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $20.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% • Growth Driver: Rising Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Adoption Fueling The Growth Of The Market Due To Lightweight Material Requirements • Market Trend: Technological Advancements Of Customizable Composite Ballistic Protection To Enhance Mission-Specific Defense Capabilities • North America was the largest region in 2025 and Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Composites In The Defense Market?

Composites in the defense refer to advanced materials formed by combining two or more constituents, typically fibers and resins, to produce lightweight yet strong components. They are used in defense applications such as aircraft structures, body armor, helmets, and vehicle parts due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and resistance to harsh conditions, making them ideal for improving performance and protection in military operations. The main types of composites in the defense are carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), aramid fiber reinforced plastic (AFRP), and boron fiber reinforced plastic (BFRP). Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is a strong and lightweight material made by mixing carbon fibers with a plastic base. It has excellent strength, stiffness, and resistance to heat and chemicals, making it ideal for high-performance applications. The resin type includes thermoset composites, thermoplastic composites, and ceramic matrix composites, with the manufacturing process including layup, filament winding, injection molding, pultrusion, and others. The applications such as military aircraft, naval systems, land vehicles, arms and ammunition, body armor, and military hard wall shelters.

What Is The Composites In The Defense Market Growth Forecast?

The composites in the defense market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for advanced composites to support next-generation stealth platforms, increasing use of high-temperature and impact-resistant composites in missile and drone systems, rising defense modernization programs emphasizing lightweight vehicle components, advancement in resin and fiber technologies enabling stronger multifunctional composite structures, expanding applications of composites in autonomous defense systems and space-related military programs. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of lightweight composite structures, rising demand for high-impact ballistic composites, growing use of stealth-grade composite materials, expansion of composites in missile casings and uav airframes, higher preference for corrosion-resistant naval composites.

Global Composites In The Defense Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastic (AFRP), Boron Fiber Reinforced Plastic (BFRP) 2) By Resin Type: Thermoset Composites, Thermoplastic Composites, Ceramic Matrix Composites 3) By Manufacturing Process: Layup, Filament Winding, Injection Molding, Pultrusion, Other Manufacturing Processes 4) By Applications: Military Aircraft, Naval System, Land Vehicles, Arms And Ammunition, Body Armor, Military Hard Wall Shelters Subsegments: 1) By Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP): Thermoset Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), High-Modulus Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Standard-Modulus Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Aerospace Grade Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) 2) By Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP): E-Glass Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), S-Glass Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), R-Glass Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), Thermoset Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), Thermoplastic Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) 3) By Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastic (AFRP): Meta-Aramid Reinforced Plastic, Para-Aramid Reinforced Plastic, Thermoset Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastic (AFRP), Thermoplastic Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastic (AFRP) 4) By Boron Fiber Reinforced Plastic (BFRP): Boron-Epoxy Composites, Boron-Aluminum Composites, Hybrid Boron Composites, High-Strength Boron Fiber Reinforced Plastic (BFRP)

What Is Driver Of The Composites In The Defense Market?

The increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to propel the growth of composites in the defense market going forward. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft that operates without a human pilot onboard, controlled either remotely or autonomously, and commonly used for a wide range of military, commercial, and recreational applications, including surveillance, delivery, and aerial photography. The demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is rising due to their ability to perform a wide range of tasks more efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively than traditional methods. The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the defense industry has driven a greater reliance on advanced composites, as these materials reduce overall weight while maintaining structural strength and durability. For instance, in June 2025, according to a report published by the Ministry of Defense, a UK-based government department, the UK will supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine, a tenfold increase from the 10,000 drones delivered in 2024. Therefore, the increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is driving the composites in the defense industry.

Key Players In The Global Composites In The Defense Market

Major companies operating in the composites in the defense market are Airbus SE, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Safran S.A., Thales Group, Toray Industries Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Leonardo S.p.A., Teijin Limited, Elbit Systems Ltd., Spirit AeroSystems, Hexcel Corporation, SGL Carbon SE, Magellan Aerospace, Gurit Holding AG, Patria Group, Plasan Sasa Ltd., CPI Aerostructures.

Global Composites In The Defense Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the composites in defense market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as customizable composite ballistic protection, to enhance mission-specific defense capabilities. Customizable composite ballistic protection refers to adaptable armor systems made from advanced fiber-resin composites that offer tailored protection levels while reducing weight and improving mobility. For instance, in November 2023, Integris Composites, a US-based protective materials company, launched customizable composite ballistic shields and vests. These products feature scalable protection configurations, lightweight multi-hit capability, and an ergonomic design for optimal coverage and user comfort. They are engineered for military and law enforcement operations requiring rapid adaptation to changing threat levels. The customizable composite ballistic shields and vests offer enhanced survivability and mobility without compromising protection.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Composites In The Defense Market? Volaris Group Acquires Displaynote Technologies Ltd. To Propel Global Expansion Of Connected Meeting Room Solutions

In November 2024, SK Capital, a US-based private investment firm, acquired North America Composites and the Fuel Containment Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation for an undisclosed amount. Following the acquisition, the business was renamed Axillon Aerospace and has become a leading provider of engineered carbon fiber composite components and fuel containment solutions for the defense and commercial aerospace markets. Parker Hannifin Corporation is a US-based manufacturer of motion and control technology systems.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest region in the composites in the defense market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Composites In The Defense Market?

The composites in the defense market consist of sales of missile casings, drone airframes, radar enclosures, ballistic panels, and stealth technology components. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Composites In The Defense Market Report 2026?

The composites in the defense market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the composites in the defense industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.