Artillery Systems Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Howitzer, Mortar, Anti-Air Artillery, Rocket Artillery, and Other), By Range (Short Range, Medium Range, and Long Range), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 10.78 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.28%
Fastest Growing Segment	Anti-Air Artillery
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 16.43 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Artillery Systems Market will grow from USD 10.78 Billion in 2025 to USD 16.43 Billion by 2031 at a 7.28% CAGR. The Global Artillery Systems Market encompasses a broad category of heavy military weaponry designed to deliver indirect fire over significant distances, primarily consisting of towed and self-propelled howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and mortars, alongside their associated ammunition and target acquisition technologies. The market is currently experiencing robust expansion driven by the urgent replenishment of national stockpiles depleted by prolonged high-intensity conflicts and the simultaneous modernization of legacy arsenals by nations responding to rising geopolitical instability. According to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), in 2025, the European defense sector recorded a turnover increase of 13.8% to €183.4 billion for the preceding year, a surge largely attributed to accelerated procurement initiatives for heavy armament and munitions to strengthen regional security.

Despite this positive momentum, the market faces a significant challenge in the form of industrial supply chain constraints that threaten to impede delivery schedules. Manufacturers are struggling to expand production capacity rapidly enough to meet the abrupt spike in government orders, exacerbated by shortages in skilled labor and the scarcity of critical raw materials required for shell casings and propellants. This bottleneck creates a substantial backlog, limiting the ability of defense contractors to fulfill immediate operational requirements and potentially delaying the deployment of updated artillery capabilities to end-users.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts are driving the global artillery landscape, necessitating the rapid replenishment of munitions and the expansion of firing platforms. High-intensity attrition warfare compels nations to transition toward sustained industrial-scale manufacturing of 155mm projectiles and associated delivery systems. According to the U.S. Army, February 2024, in the 'Army to ramp up artillery shell production' announcement, the branch established a strategic objective to increase domestic production capacity to 100,000 shells per month by 2025 to meet operational requirements. This driver ensures that procurement focuses on volume, pushing manufacturers to reactivate dormant facilities and streamline supply chains for heavy ordnance.

This industrial mobilization is financially enabled by a surge in global defense expenditure and budget allocations, which allows governments to formalize long-term modernization contracts. States are committing record capital to strengthen ground combat capabilities and secure ammunition reserves against future volatility. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023' Fact Sheet, total global military spending reached an historic peak of $2443 billion. This fiscal prioritization translates into substantial order intakes for prime contractors. For instance, according to Rheinmetall AG, March 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the company reported a record-breaking order backlog of €38.3 billion, reflecting the intense demand for military vehicles and weapon systems.

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Key Market Challenges

Industrial supply chain constraints stand as a critical barrier impeding the tangible growth of the Global Artillery Systems Market. While geopolitical instability has generated a surge in procurement orders, the industrial base is struggling to convert this demand into delivered capability due to severe bottlenecks in manufacturing. The scarcity of essential raw materials, particularly high-grade steel for howitzer barrels and chemical precursors for propellant charges, creates a hard production ceiling. This physical limitation restricts the volume of heavy weaponry and ammunition that can be finalized, forcing manufacturers to extend lead times and delay revenue recognition.

These logistical hurdles are exacerbated by a deficit in the skilled workforce required to operate complex defense production lines, making rapid scaling of operations nearly impossible. Consequently, the market faces a growing backlog where the potential for expansion is stifled by the inability to execute contracts within required timeframes. According to the National Defense Industrial Association, in 2024, 38% of private sector respondents in the defense industrial base identified capacity constraints as a primary supply chain vulnerability. This structural fragility directly hampers the market’s momentum, causing a significant disconnect between the urgent strategic requirements of nations and the actual delivery of artillery systems.

Key Market Trends

The Adoption of Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzers is transforming the market as armed forces prioritize strategic mobility and reduced lifecycle costs over traditional tracked platforms. This shift allows military units to execute rapid "shoot-and-scoot" maneuvers, significantly enhancing survivability against counter-battery fire while minimizing the logistical footprint required for deployment. The transition is evident in the industrial ramp-up of flagship systems like the CAESAR, which offers superior operational flexibility compared to heavier legacy alternatives. According to Army Recognition, April 2025, in the 'Artillery Production: KNDS France Triples CAESAr Output' article, the manufacturer successfully increased its manufacturing capacity to reach a target of eight CAESAR systems per month in 2025 to meet surging international operational demands.

Simultaneously, the Integration of Precision-Guided Munitions is reshaping procurement strategies by enabling artillery units to achieve mission objectives with significantly reduced ammunition expenditure. By utilizing smart fuse technologies and guidance kits, defense forces can convert standard projectiles into highly accurate weapons, thereby decreasing the logistical burden of transporting mass quantities of unguided shells and mitigating collateral damage in complex environments. This focus on accuracy over volume is driving specific contracting activity for guidance technologies. According to Defence Blog, March 2025, in the 'Pentagon awards $40.5M contract for precision artillery kits' article, Northrop Grumman secured a $40.5 million contract modification to continue the production of Precision Guidance Kits (PGK) that transform conventional 155mm rounds into GPS-guided munitions.

Segmental Insights

The Anti-Air Artillery segment is recognized as the fastest growing category within the Global Artillery Systems Market due to the rising prevalence of unmanned aerial vehicles. This expansion is driven by the urgent requirement to counter diverse aerial threats ranging from drones to tactical missiles. Procurement initiatives by organizations such as the United States Department of Defense reflect a strategic shift toward strengthening short-range air defense capabilities. Consequently, nations are prioritizing systems that provide reliable protection for ground forces and infrastructure, thereby sustaining the strong upward trajectory of this market segment.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global artillery systems market, driven largely by significant defense expenditure in the United States. The United States Department of Defense actively prioritizes the modernization of ground forces, resulting in consistent contracts for the procurement and upgrade of howitzers and rocket systems. Additionally, the presence of major defense manufacturers facilitates the rapid development and delivery of these units. Current geopolitical factors have also necessitated the replenishment of military stockpiles, further sustaining the high demand for artillery solutions within the region.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, BAE Systems announced plans to establish a new artillery manufacturing facility in Sheffield, United Kingdom, specifically to restart the production of the M777 lightweight towed howitzer. This strategic expansion is designed to support the sustained artillery requirements of the Ukrainian armed forces and to replenish the inventories of other international operators. The new facility will focus on the assembly and integration of the 155mm weapon system, leveraging its unique titanium construction to deliver a highly mobile and air-transportable artillery solution for global customers.
• In October 2024, Hanwha Aerospace showcased the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, an advanced variant of its widely used K9 Thunder system, at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting. The upgraded platform features a fully automated turret and improved shell-handling mechanism, which allows for a significantly increased rate of fire and a reduced crew requirement compared to earlier models. By displaying this modernized system, the company aimed to demonstrate its readiness to meet the United States Army’s modernization needs for self-propelled artillery with a mature, operationally proven solution.
• In May 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall announced that the company would deliver prototypes of a new artillery shell capable of reaching ranges of up to 100 kilometers to Ukraine later in the year. This development highlights a significant breakthrough in ballistics research, as the new projectile utilizes advanced propulsion technology to far exceed the standard range of conventional 155mm ammunition. The initiative underscores the company’s focus on extending the operational reach of tube artillery systems to meet the evolving demands of modern high-intensity warfare and provide superior counter-battery capabilities.
• In April 2024, KNDS was selected to supply the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) for the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform program, following a collaborative agreement between the United Kingdom and Germany. The selection initiates a joint assessment and development phase where KNDS will work with both nations to optimize the artillery system, which features an automated gun module mounted on a Boxer armored vehicle chassis. This cooperation aims to standardize artillery capabilities among NATO allies, enhancing interoperability and economic efficiency through a shared manufacturing and procurement framework.

Key Market Players

• BAE Systems plc
• Hanwha Corporation
• Elbit Systems Ltd.
• Rostec State Corporation
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Denel SOC Ltd
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd
• General Dynamics Corporation
• Rheinmetall AG

By Type	By Range	By Region
Howitzer Mortar Anti-Air Artillery Rocket Artillery Other	Short Range Medium Range Long Range	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Artillery Systems Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Artillery Systems Market, By Type:

• Howitzer
• Mortar
• Anti-Air Artillery
• Rocket Artillery
• Other

• Artillery Systems Market, By Range:

• Short Range
• Medium Range
• Long Range

• Artillery Systems Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE