Ballistic Composites are composite materials that are designed to be lightweight and strong enough to protect against ballistic impact. They are typically made by combining multiple layers of materials such as Kevlar, ceramics, plastics, and metals. These materials are designed to absorb and dissipate the energy of a projectile, reducing the risk of injury to the person wearing the composite material.

The global ballistic composites market size is expected to grow from USD 2.0 billion in 2022 to USD 3.1 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period. Increasing crime and terrorist activities are driving the demand for ballistic body and vehicle armor for use by political leaders, businesspeople, bureaucrats, high-profile athletes, entertainment celebrities, and others. As ballistic composite armor is lighter and meets the highest requirements of international standards for safety, there has been a surge in the demand for composite materials in personal protective clothing and transportation. Various companies are focusing on adding composite armor to vehicles designed for civilians, depending upon client needs and the desired protection level, composites can be added in doors, roofs, and floors as well as firewalls, pillars, posts, and other body panels.

This is attributed to the increasing demand for ballistic composites from the defense sector in the US and Canada. The US is the largest defense spender in the world and is investing heavily in modernizing its military infrastructure. This is expected to drive the demand for ballistic composites in the country. Additionally, Canada is also expected to increase its military spending over the forecast period, which will further drive the demand for ballistic composites in the region.

High ballistic resistance, lightweight, and durability have driven the market for ballistic composites in defense applications. On the other hand, the higher cost of ballistic composites compared to metals and alloys and the high requirement for customization for end-use applications are the major restraining factors in this market. However, several opportunities are identified in the ballistic fibers, which would help in the growth of the ballistic composites market. These opportunities include the development of low-cost and high-performance commercial ballistic fiber, for instance, M5. In order to achieve technical excellence, armor manufacturers are working with composites companies in the design stage of ballistic composites.

Companies operating in the ballistic composites market have strengthened their position in the global market by adopting expansions, partnerships, agreements, new product/technology launches, joint ventures, contracts, and mergers & acquisitions from 2018-2022. The major players active in the market are Honeywell International Inc (US), Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Netherlands), BAE Systems (UK), Royal Ten Cate (Netherlands), Morgan Advanced Materials (UK), DuPont de Nemours