Military Helmet Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Material (Original Aramid Fiber Kevlar, Advanced Aramid Fiber, UHMWPE Fiber), By Type (Lightweight Helmet, Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, Enhanced Combat Helmet), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.73 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.05%
Fastest Growing Segment	UHMWPE Fiber
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 4.59 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Military Helmet Market will grow from USD 2.73 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.59 Billion by 2031 at a 9.05% CAGR. The Global Military Helmet Market encompasses the engineering and manufacturing of protective headgear designed to shield combat personnel from ballistic impacts, shrapnel, and blunt trauma. The primary drivers fueling market expansion include escalating geopolitical tensions that necessitate increased defense expenditure and the widespread implementation of soldier modernization programs aimed at enhancing survivability. Governments are actively replacing legacy equipment with modular platforms capable of integrating communication devices and night vision peripherals to maintain operational superiority in volatile environments.

One significant challenge hindering broader market adoption is the high production cost associated with advanced lightweight materials, which can strain procurement budgets in developing nations. Despite this fiscal constraint, the industry continues to benefit from a robust general increase in defense investments. According to the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in 2024, the defence sector generated a turnover of €183.4 billion, marking a substantial 13.8% increase largely driven by the urgent demand for military preparedness and equipment upgrades.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating geopolitical tensions and asymmetric security threats serve as the foremost catalyst for the Global Military Helmet Market, fundamentally reshaping procurement priorities. Nations are rapidly increasing defense appropriations to counter volatile security environments and equip personnel against evolving ballistic risks. This threat landscape compels governments to prioritize immediate procurement of advanced protective gear, shifting focus from stockpile maintenance to active combat readiness. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), April 2025, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2024' Fact Sheet, world military expenditure reached $2718 billion in 2024, an increase of 9.4 per cent in real terms. This historic financial surge directly supports the acquisition of ballistic helmets capable of withstanding high-velocity projectiles and shrapnel in high-intensity conflict zones.

The implementation of Next-Generation Soldier Modernization Programs further propels market growth by necessitating the development of modular, multi-functional headgear. Innovative helmet architectures are now required to serve as central hubs for night vision, communications, and augmented reality data, moving beyond simple ballistic shells. According to Proactive Investors, January 2025, in the 'Avon Tech wins US Army helmet contract' article, Avon Technologies PLC received an order worth approximately $18 million specifically for the US Army's Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG IHPS). These programs operate on massive scales; according to Army Recognition, February 2025, in the 'Germany and Rheinmetall Agree on Gigantic Contract for Future Soldier System' report, Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH secured a framework contract valued at €3.1 billion to modernize the "Infantry Soldier of the Future" system, underscoring the vast capital committed to integrated soldier survivability platforms.

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Key Market Challenges

The high production cost associated with advanced lightweight materials constitutes a significant barrier to the expansion of the Global Military Helmet Market. Modern protective headgear increasingly relies on high-performance composite materials and ballistic fibers to reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. However, the complex manufacturing processes required to fabricate these materials result in elevated unit prices. This pricing structure places a substantial strain on procurement budgets, particularly for nations with emerging economies or those attempting to outfit large standing armies. Consequently, despite the operational necessity for improved protection, defense departments are often forced to reduce the scale of acquisition or extend the service life of obsolete equipment, directly limiting the volume of new market orders.

The constraint imposed by these costs limits the market's ability to fully capitalize on rising defense allocations. While overall budgets are increasing, the high per-unit cost of next-generation helmets means that funding increases do not translate linearly into unit volume growth. According to the European Defence Agency, in 2024, defence equipment procurement expenditures across Member States reached a record €88 billion. Although this figure indicates a robust financial commitment to modernization, the capital-intensive nature of advanced personal protective equipment absorbs a disproportionate share of these funds. This financial dynamic creates a bottleneck where the capacity to procure adequate quantities of modern helmets lags behind the available technology, thereby slowing broad market adoption and penetration rates.

Key Market Trends

The transition to ultra-lightweight polyethylene composites represents a fundamental technological shift in the Global Military Helmet Market, moving beyond legacy aramid solutions to address soldier fatigue and mobility. Manufacturers are increasingly utilizing Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) to achieve significant weight reductions while meeting stringent ballistic standards for protection against high-velocity threats. This material evolution allows defense agencies to field headgear that reduces the physical burden on combat personnel during extended operations without compromising structural integrity. According to Gentex Corporation, November 2025, in the 'Gentex Corporation Secures Third Year Option on its Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II Contract Worth $38.4 Million' press release, the company received a contract modification valued at $38.4 million to continue supplying these advanced lightweight systems, validating the sector's rapid migration toward next-generation composite materials.

Concurrently, there is a decisive shift toward system-level integrated headgear solutions, where helmets are procured as complete ecosystems rather than standalone protective shells. This trend prioritizes the seamless unification of power management, data distribution, and mandible protection into a single architecture, eliminating the integration challenges of disparate accessories. By procuring fully integrated systems, armed forces ensure compatibility between night vision mounts, communication headsets, and respiratory protection, thereby streamlining logistics and enhancing operational readiness. According to Naval Technology, August 2025, in the 'Galvion secures $131m US MCS contract for IHS' article, Galvion secured a contract worth approximately $131 million to provide such Integrated Helmet Systems (IHS) to the U.S. Marine Corps, underscoring the market's move toward holistic, multi-capability headborne platforms.

Segmental Insights

The Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber segment is currently recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Military Helmet Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the material's favorable strength-to-weight ratio, which allows for the production of significantly lighter helmets without compromising ballistic protection. Defense organizations, such as the U.S. Army, prioritize these lightweight solutions to minimize soldier fatigue and prevent neck injuries during prolonged operations. Consequently, manufacturers are increasing the adoption of this material to meet the rigorous protective standards and mobility requirements demanded by modern military procurement programs.

Regional Insights

North America maintains the leading position in the Global Military Helmet Market, driven by substantial defense expenditures and strategic modernization mandates from the U.S. Department of Defense. The region prioritizes the procurement of modular head protection systems to ensure personnel safety during combat operations. This dominance is further supported by a robust domestic manufacturing sector that delivers compliant ballistic solutions. Continuous investment in initiatives like the Integrated Head Protection System facilitates the rapid deployment of upgraded gear, thereby securing North America's primary status in the global industry.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, Anduril Industries and Meta entered into a strategic partnership to jointly develop the EagleEye augmented reality helmet for military applications. This collaboration aimed to integrate commercial-grade augmented reality technologies with advanced defense software to enhance situational awareness and decision-making on the battlefield. The project focused on creating a headborne system that combined high-performance optics, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing capabilities to provide soldiers with real-time data processing. The initiative was designed to address the limitations of previous visual augmentation systems by leveraging Meta’s expertise in immersive technology and Anduril’s lattice command and control platform.
• In May 2025, Gentex Corporation launched the next-generation Ops-Core FAST SF Headborne System during a defense industry exhibition. This new product release introduced a helmet platform that achieved a weight reduction of ten to fifteen percent while maintaining the rigorous ballistic performance standards of its predecessor. The system featured the Universal LockDown Liner System, designed to optimize airflow, comfort, and stability for operators wearing heavy visual augmentation devices. The launch also included a versatile retention design that allowed for greater user flexibility, addressing critical operational needs for elite defense forces and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
• In April 2024, Galvion announced a strategic expansion of its manufacturing capabilities through a production partnership with NP Aerospace in the United Kingdom. This collaboration was established to meet the rapidly growing demand for ballistic helmets from the UK Ministry of Defence and other NATO allies. The partnership facilitated the steady production and supply of the Cobra Plus helmet system for the UK VIRTUS program and the Batlskin Caiman system for international customers. This operational development was highlighted as the company surpassed a major milestone in orders for its head systems, driven by framework contracts and the need for localized production hubs in Europe.
• In February 2024, the U.S. Army began fielding the Next-Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG-IHPS) to its combat units, representing a significant breakthrough in soldier protective equipment. Manufactured by Gentex Corporation and Avon Protection, this new helmet system was engineered to provide superior ballistic and fragmentation protection while achieving a forty percent weight reduction compared to previous standard-issue models. The deployment marked the first instance of a standard combat helmet capable of defeating small arms threats without requiring additional add-on armor. The design also incorporated a boltless retention system and a night vision bracket that maintained the structural integrity of the helmet shell.

Key Market Players

• DuPont de Nemours, Inc
• 3M Company
• ARMORSOURCE, LLC
• MKU Limited
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Revision Inc
• Point Blank Enterprises, Inc
• Gentex Corporation
• BAE Systems plc
• Indian Armour Systems Pvt. Ltd

By Material	By Type	By Region
Original Aramid Fiber Kevlar Advanced Aramid Fiber UHMWPE Fiber	Lightweight Helmet Modular Integrated Communications Helmet Enhanced Combat Helmet	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Military Helmet Market, By Material:

• Original Aramid Fiber Kevlar
• Advanced Aramid Fiber
• UHMWPE Fiber

• Military Helmet Market, By Type:

• Lightweight Helmet
• Modular Integrated Communications Helmet
• Enhanced Combat Helmet

• Military Helmet 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