Riot Control Equipment Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Personal Protective Equipment, Offensive Equipment), By End User (Law Enforcement, Special Forces), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 11.14 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.94%
Fastest Growing Segment	Personal Protective Equipment
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 14.88 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Riot Control Equipment Market will grow from USD 11.14 Billion in 2025 to USD 14.88 Billion by 2031 at a 4.94% CAGR. Riot control equipment is defined as a comprehensive category of less-lethal weaponry, personal protective systems, and tactical vehicles utilized by law enforcement agencies to maintain public order and disperse civil disturbances. The market is primarily supported by drivers such as escalating global political instability and rapid urbanization which necessitate robust internal security capabilities distinct from technological trends like automation. According to the Security Industry Association (SIA), in 2025, 80% of industry respondents described business conditions as good or excellent, reflecting strong confidence in the sector due to sustained demand for security solutions.

A significant challenge impeding the expansion of the riot control equipment market involves stringent regulatory environments and export control policies driven by human rights concerns. Governments frequently impose bans or rigorous limitations on the deployment of chemical irritants and kinetic projectiles which can severely restrict trade opportunities and delay procurement contracts in sensitive international regions.

Key Market Drivers

Rising global incidence of civil unrest and political instability serves as a primary catalyst for the procurement of riot control systems. As protests and public disturbances become more frequent and intense, governments are compelled to upgrade their inventory of less-lethal weapons, protective gear, and tactical vehicles to ensure law enforcement can effectively manage volatile situations without resorting to lethal force. This trend is quantified by rising conflict metrics which directly correlate with increased security budget allocations. According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, June 2024, in the 'Global Peace Index 2024', the number of active conflicts globally rose to 56, the highest level recorded since the Second World War. This deterioration in global peacefulness underscores the urgent operational requirement for agencies to maintain readiness against escalating civil disorder.

Increasing government expenditure on homeland security and public safety further accelerates market growth by facilitating the replacement of obsolete equipment with advanced solutions. Administrations are prioritizing funding for police and paramilitary units to acquire modern acoustic devices, kinetic impact projectiles, and conducted energy weapons that offer greater precision and reduced risk of permanent injury. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023', global military spending grew by 6.8% in real terms to reach $2443 billion, reflecting a broader commitment to strengthening defense and internal security postures. Additionally, the shift toward modernized less-lethal technology is evident in corporate performance; according to Axon Enterprise, in 2024, revenue for their Taser segment increased by 36% year-over-year in the third quarter, highlighting the substantial financial investment agencies are directing toward updated tactical capabilities.

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Key Market Challenges

Stringent regulatory environments and export control policies exert a substantial restraining influence on the global riot control equipment market. Manufacturers of less-lethal weaponry and crowd management systems operate under intense scrutiny regarding human rights compliance, which often results in prolonged licensing processes or outright denial of transfer authorizations. These regulatory hurdles disrupt supply chains and prevent companies from fulfilling contracts in volatile regions where demand is often highest. When governments impose embargoes on items such as kinetic projectiles or chemical irritants, vendors lose access to established revenue streams and face increased operational costs associated with compliance.

The industry's heavy reliance on international trade amplifies the severity of these restrictions, as a contraction in export accessibility directly correlates with reduced market turnover. The sheer scale of the sector's dependence on foreign markets is evident in recent trade figures, highlighting the financial risk posed by border restrictions. According to the ADS Group, in 2024, the security and resilience sector delivered £11.7 billion in export value. This substantial figure underscores how rigorous export control policies can jeopardize billions in potential revenue, serving as a direct bottleneck to market expansion when political climates shift toward restriction.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for crowd surveillance is emerging as a critical trend, allowing agencies to maintain public order while minimizing direct physical contact. By deploying autonomous drones, law enforcement can gain real-time aerial perspectives of civil disturbances and, in advanced configurations, disperse crowd-control agents remotely to de-escalate volatile situations. This shift toward "Drone as First Responder" models reduces the risk of officer injury and ensures continuous monitoring of large-scale events. According to DRONELIFE, December 2025, in the article 'Skydio Reaches Deployment in More Than 1,000 Public Safety Agencies as DFR Adoption Accelerates in the U.S.', manufacturer Skydio has successfully deployed its autonomous drone platforms to over 1,000 public safety agencies, highlighting the rapid sector-wide acceptance of aerial robotics for frontline operations.

Simultaneously, the implementation of body-worn cameras and video security ecosystems is transforming evidence management during public disorder incidents. This trend prioritizes cloud-connected devices that utilize AI-driven analytics to process video feeds instantly, streamlining judicial reviews and enhancing transparency in high-stress environments. These systems replace legacy offline recording methods with digital solutions that offer immediate data accessibility for command centers. According to Motorola Solutions, October 2025, in the 'Third-Quarter 2025 Financial Results', revenue for the Software and Services segment grew 11% year-over-year, a performance directly attributed to the robust expansion of video security and command center technologies utilized by public safety clients to modernize their tactical capabilities.

Segmental Insights

The Personal Protective Equipment segment is recognized as the fastest growing category within the Global Riot Control Equipment Market, propelled by a heightened emphasis on officer safety during civil disturbances. Law enforcement agencies globally are prioritizing the procurement of defensive gear, including advanced body armor and helmets, to minimize injury risks during crowd management operations. This demand is reinforced by stringent testing protocols from institutions such as the National Institute of Justice, which necessitate frequent inventory modernization to comply with updated safety standards. Accordingly, the market is shifting toward protective solutions that safeguard personnel while upholding public order.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the Global Riot Control Equipment Market, driven by significant government investments in law enforcement infrastructure and public order capabilities. The region benefits from a robust manufacturing base and the widespread integration of less-lethal technologies by security agencies. Additionally, procurement is heavily influenced by rigorous safety and performance guidelines established by the National Institute of Justice, which mandates high-quality standards for protective gear and kinetic impact weapons. This focus on regulatory compliance and officer safety ensures consistent demand for durable control solutions throughout the region.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025, Byrna Technologies officially launched the Byrna Compact Launcher, a new concealable less-lethal device designed for personal defense and law enforcement applications. This product was engineered to be significantly smaller than previous models while maintaining the same kinetic energy output, utilizing a proprietary .61 caliber projectile. The launcher featured a hydraulic pull-pierce technology that allowed the CO2 cartridge to remain unpunctured until the trigger was pulled, ensuring long-term readiness. This launch represented a strategic expansion of the company’s portfolio, targeting security professionals and users requiring discreet yet effective options for managing threats without resorting to lethal force.
• In May 2024, EDGE Group, a defense and advanced technology conglomerate based in the United Arab Emirates, acquired a 51% controlling stake in Condor Non-Lethal Technologies, a Brazilian manufacturer of riot control equipment. This strategic acquisition was aimed at expanding the global market share of both entities in the non-lethal sector, particularly within the United States and other key international regions. The partnership facilitated the joint development of sophisticated crowd control solutions, including tear gas drones and body-worn cameras, while allowing the Brazilian subsidiary to leverage the acquirer's resources to scale production and innovate new technologies for public safety and defense.
• In February 2024, AARDVARK Tactical announced a strategic partnership with Combined Systems, Inc. to manage the sale and distribution of the latter's less-lethal munitions and launchers. This collaboration marked a significant shift in the distribution landscape, as the distributor moved away from a long-standing exclusive relationship with another manufacturer to align with Combined Systems, Inc. The agreement authorized the distributor to supply the Combined Tactical Systems line of riot control agents, impact munitions, and flash-bangs, as well as Penn Arms launchers, to law enforcement and corrections agencies, thereby enhancing the availability of these critical crowd management tools.
• In January 2024, Sabre Security Equipment Corporation introduced a new less-lethal delivery system during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The company unveiled a launcher designed to operate like an AR-platform rifle, capable of firing 0.68 caliber projectiles such as chemical irritants or kinetic rounds with high precision. This innovation provided law enforcement officers with a familiar form factor to ensure accurate deployment of crowd control agents from a safe distance. The launcher featured a high-capacity hopper and a drop-offset stock compatible with gas masks, addressing specific operational needs for riot control units tasked with managing civil unrest and maintaining public order.

Key Market Players

• CBW Agencia
• Desert Wolf
• Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• PACEM Defense
• Genasys Inc.
• Safariland LLC
• NonLethal Technologies Inc
• Blackhawk
• Etienne Lacroix Group
• Lamperd Less Lethal

By Product Type	By End User	By Region
Personal Protective Equipment Offensive Equipment	Law Enforcement Special Forces	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Riot Control Equipment Market , By Product Type:

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Offensive Equipment

• Riot Control Equipment Market , By End User:

• Law Enforcement
• Special Forces

• Riot Control Equipment 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