Shoulder-Fired Weapons Market: MANPADS, Recoilless Rifles & Anti-Armor Systems
Shoulder-fired weapons combine air defense (MANPADS) and anti-armor (recoilless rifles, light ATGMs) into the cheapest credible defensive layer. Demand is surging from NATO east-flank states and non-aligned buyers alike.
Key Programs & Weapon Systems
- FIM-92 Stinger (RTX)
- Piorun MANPADS (PGZ / Mesko)
- Mistral 3 (MBDA)
- RBS 70 NG & Bolide (Saab)
- NLAW Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (Saab)
- Carl-Gustaf M4 Recoilless Rifle (Saab)
- Panzerfaust 3 (Dynamit Nobel)
Prime Contractors & Suppliers
Stinger MANPADS and seekers
NYSE: RTXNLAW, Carl-Gustaf and RBS 70 systems
STO: SAAB-B.STMistral MANPADS family
Starstreak HVM and light air defense
EPA: HO.PAJavelin shoulder-launched ATGM
NYSE: LMTThe QS Terminal — All-in-One Global Defense & Equity Intelligence Hub
Tracking shoulder-fired weapons market and sovereign procurement tenders, multi-year order backlogs, defense prime revenue conversion, and the live European defense equities index across NATO and allied markets.
Specialized Coverage Desks & Trade Portals
6 Indexed DesksHartpunkt
German-Language Defense Industry & Bundeswehr Procurement Portal
Soldat & Technik
Tactical Equipment, Soldier Systems, Munitions & Infantry Technologies
Defence24
Central & Eastern Europe’s Premier Defense Industry & Armed Forces Portal
MBDA Missile Systems Press
Integrated Defense Missiles, Air Defense Systems & Hypersonic Interceptors
European Security & Defence (ESD)
International Defense & Security Journal Published by Mittler Report
MILMAG (Military Magazine)
Central & Eastern European Defense Industry, Small Arms & Armament Review
Frequently Asked Questions & Market Dynamics
Q:What is a MANPADS system?
A man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) is a shoulder-launched infrared or beam-riding missile for engaging low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones; Stinger, Piorun, Mistral and RBS 70 are the leading Western examples.
Q:Which manufacturers lead the shoulder-fired weapons market?
RTX (Stinger), Saab (NLAW, Carl-Gustaf, RBS 70), MBDA (Mistral), Thales (Starstreak) and Lockheed Martin (Javelin) dominate Western production, with Polish PGZ scaling Piorun and ammunition output.
Regional Market Coverage
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