Soft Body Armor Market Analysis | 2024-2031

Soft Body Armor Market Analysis | 2024-2031

Soft Body Armor Market Analysis | 2024-2031
Report code - SR2370 Published On : Apr,2025 No. of Pages: 145
Soft Body Armor Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Oppo See more...

Market Insights

The soft body armor market was estimated at USD 960.8 million in 2024 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% during 2024-2031 to reach USD 1,274.1 million in 2031.

Market Dynamics

Introduction

Soft body armor is protective gear designed to be lightweight, flexible, and comfortable while offering protection against certain threats, like handgun bullets and sharp objects. Unlike hard body armor, which uses rigid materials like ceramic plates to stop high-powered rifle rounds, soft body armor is typically made from strong, woven fabrics such as Kevlar, Twaron, or UHMWPE. It’s ideal for people who need protection but also want to stay mobile, like law enforcement officers and security personnel.

What makes soft body armor stand out is its comfort and flexibility. It can be worn under clothing without being bulky, making it easier for people to wear it throughout the day. While it’s great at stopping lower-caliber bullets and providing protection from blunt force trauma, it’s not designed to handle high-powered rifle rounds, which is where hard armor comes in. Soft body armor is perfect for situations where handgun threats are more common, offering a good balance of protection and comfort for everyday wear.

Recent Mergers & Acquisitions

Schultze SPAC's Proposed Merger with Point Blank Enterprises (2023): In 2023, Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), entered into discussions to merge with Point Blank Enterprises Inc., a manufacturer of body armor. This merger aimed to enhance Point Blank's capabilities and market reach in the body armor industry.

Segment Analysis

Segmentations

List of Sub-Segments

Segments with High Growth Opportunity

Product-Type Analysis

Ballistic-Resistant Armor, Stab-Resistant Armor, and Combined Resistant Armor

Ballistic-resistant armor is likely to be the dominant product type during the forecast period.

Material-Type Analysis

UHMWPE, Aramid, and Other Materials

UHMWPE is expected to be the most preferred material of the market over the forecasted years.

Level of Protection-Type Analysis

Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, SP1/KR1, SP2/KR2, SP3/KR3, Level IIA + SP/KR/SP-KR, Level II + SP/KR/SP-KR, and Level IIIA + SP/KR/SP-KR

Level IIIA is anticipated to witness the fastest growth by the level of protection type during the forecast period.

End-User-Type Analysis

Military, Homeland Security, and Commercial

Homeland security is likely to generate the largest market demand as well as to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.

Mode of Operation-Type Analysis

Covert Operation and Overt Operation

Covert operation is estimated to be the dominant category, and is expected to witness faster growth in the market in the years to come.

Regional Analysis

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World

North America is expected to be the dominant region during the forecast period.

By Product Type

“Ballistic-resistant armor is expected to remain the dominant product of the market during the forecast period.”

Based on product type, the soft body armor market is segmented into ballistic-resistant armor, stab-resistant armor, and combined resistant armor. Ballistic-resistant armor is likely to stay the top choice in the soft body armor market because there's always a need for strong protection against new and changing threats. With ongoing improvements in materials and how they are made, along with increasing security concerns in many industries, this type of armor remains in high demand.

By Material Type

“UHMWPE is expected to be the most preferred material of the market, over the forecasted years.”

Based on material type, the soft body armor market is segmented into UHMWPE, aramid, and other materials. UHMWPE is expected to stay a popular choice for soft body armor because it’s incredibly strong yet lightweight. Its ability to resist bullets and last a long time makes it great at absorbing and spreading out the energy from projectiles, all while being easy to wear and tough enough for long-term use.

By Level of Protection Type 

“Level IIIA is anticipated to witness the fastest growth by the level of protection type, during the forecast period.”

Based on the level of protection type the soft body armor market is segmented into Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, SP1/KR1, SP2/KR2, SP3/KR3, Level IIA + SP/KR/SP-KR, Level II + SP/KR/SP-KR, and Level  IIIA + SP/KR/SP-KR. Level IIIA soft body armor is expected to experience the fastest growth, as it provides strong protection against a wide range of threats, like powerful rifle rounds and common handgun bullets. These types of armor are becoming more important in both military and law enforcement situations.

By End-User Type

“Homeland security is likely to generate the largest demand as well as to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.”

Based on the end user type, the soft body armor market is segmented into military, homeland security, and commercial. Homeland security is expected to push a big increase in demand in the soft body armor market because of growing concerns about global safety, more terrorism, and mass shooting events. There is also a stronger need to provide better protection for law enforcement and military personnel.

By Mode of Operation Type

“Covert operation is estimated to be the dominant category, and is expected to witness faster growth in the market in the years to come.”

Based on the mode of operation type the soft body armor market is segmented into covert and overt. Covert armor is the leading choice in the soft body armor market because it offers a perfect balance of protection, comfort, and discretion. It's designed to be worn under clothing, so it is nearly invisible, which makes it ideal for people who need protection without drawing attention to themselves. Law enforcement officers, security personnel, and even civilians can wear covert armor without anyone noticing, making it a great option for those who want to stay low-key while staying safe.

Regional Analysis

“North America is expected to have the dominant market for soft body armor during the forecast period.”

North America is expected to grow the fastest in the soft body armor market for several important reasons. First, there’s an ongoing need for stronger protection due to rising concerns about terrorism, mass shootings, and an increase in violent crime. These security threats have pushed governments, law enforcement agencies, and military forces to prioritize personal safety and invest in better protective gear.

In addition, the region's military and law enforcement agencies consistently upgrade their equipment, which drives demand for soft body armor. The North American market also benefits from significant technological advancements, with new materials and design innovations making soft body armor more effective and lighter, which further boosts its appeal.

Key Players

The market is fragmented, with over 80 players. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors, including price, service offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the soft body armor market. Some of the major players provide a complete range of services.

Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)

  • Point Blank Enterprises
  • Cadre Holdings
  • Craig International Ballistics Pty. Ltd
  • XTek
  • US Armor Corporation
  • Mars Armor
  • TYR Tactical
  • Beijing Tongyizhong New Material Technology Corporation

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Please write to us at [email protected]

Research Methodology

  • This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s soft body armor market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. 
  • The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.
  • The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruit available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
  • This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. 
  • More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. 
  • We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

  • Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
  • Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
  • Market trend and forecast analysis.
  • Market segment trend and forecast.
  • Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
  • COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
  • Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
  • Emerging trends. 
  • Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
  • Key success factors.

Market Segmentation

This report studies the market, covering 12 years of trend and forecast. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The global soft body armor market is segmented into the following categories.  

By Product Type

  • Ballistic-Resistant Armor 
  • Stab-Resistant Armor 
  • Combined-Resistant Armor 

By Material Type

  • UHMWPE 
  • Aramid 
  • Other Materials 

By Level of Protection Type

  • Level IIA 
  • Level II 
  • Level IIIA 
  • SP1/KR1 
  • SP2/KR2 
  • SP3/KR3 
  • Level IIA + SP/KR/SP-KR 
  • Level II + SP/KR/SP-KR 
  • Level IIIA + SP/KR/SP-KR 

By End-User Type

  • Military 
  • Homeland Security 
  • Commercial 

By Mode of Operation Type

  • Covert Operation 
  • Overt Operation 

By Region

  • North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
  • Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and Rest of Europe)
  • Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
  • Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Others)

Customization Option

Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

  • Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to 3 players)
  • SWOT analysis of key players (up to 3 players)

Competitive Benchmarking

  • Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances.

Custom Research: 

Stratview Research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry to [email protected].

A Bird's Eye View of the Market

The soft body armor market is all about creating and selling protective gear that helps keep people safe from threats like handgun bullets, sharp objects, and some blunt force injuries. Unlike hard armor, which can be heavy and rigid, soft body armor is made from strong, lightweight materials like Kevlar, Twaron, and UHMWPE, which are woven into layers to absorb and spread out the energy from impacts.

The forecasted value of the soft body armor market is US$ 1,274.1 million by 2031.

The soft body armor market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.2 % by 2031.

North America has a dominant share in the soft body armor market as it has a well-established manufacturing base and strong supply chains that allow for the quick development and production of these technologies. This combination of high demand, continuous innovation, and strong local manufacturing capabilities.

Point Blank Enterprises, Cadre Holdings, Craig International Ballistics Pty. Ltd., XTek, US Armor Corporation, Mars Armor, TYR Tactical, and Beijing Tongyizhong New Material Technology Corporation are the leading players in the soft body armor market. These companies focus on developing durable soft body armor products.