PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1810074
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1810074
Concealed Weapons Detection (CWD) involves the use of sensors, imaging technologies, or analytical techniques to non-invasively identify hidden firearms, knives, explosives, or other hazardous items. Its purpose is to enhance security and prevent threats in public areas such as airports, schools, stadiums, and transit hubs.
The primary types of concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems include hand-held and walk-through models. Hand-held devices are portable tools designed for rapid scanning and identification of concealed weapons during security checks. These systems can be deployed as fixed installations, portable units, or mobile platforms, often integrated into existing security setups. Technologies employed include metal detectors, X-ray imaging, microwave and terahertz scanning, and video analytics. They find application in transportation centers, government and public buildings, hotels, event venues, corporate offices, and more, serving end users such as government agencies, law enforcement, transportation authorities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and private security companies.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.
The concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems market statistics, including the concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems market share, detailed concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems industry. This concealed weapons detection (CWD) systems market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The concealed weapons detection (CWD) market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.90 billion in 2024 to $2.09 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth during the historic period was driven by heightened concerns about public safety, a rise in mass shooting incidents, increased adoption of detection systems in transportation hubs, the expansion of security infrastructure within government buildings, and growing investments in the military and defense sectors.
The concealed weapons detection (CWD) market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.02 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The primary factors driving growth in the forecast period include increasing demand for non-invasive screening technologies, heightened focus on smart city security, broader surveillance deployment in commercial environments, a rising need for crowd monitoring solutions, and greater adoption of AI-powered detection systems. Key trends during this period encompass advances in sensor fusion technology, innovations in AI integration, progress in real-time threat analysis, ongoing R&D in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) imaging, and improvements in touchless screening methods.
The increasing incidents of terrorism and violence are expected to drive the growth of the concealed weapons detection (CWD) market. These incidents involve deliberate unlawful aggression or threats aimed at creating fear, causing harm, or achieving political, ideological, or religious goals. Political instability contributes to the rise in terrorism and violence by weakening government control, fostering lawlessness, and enabling extremist groups to recruit, operate, and expand their influence. Concealed weapons detection helps prevent such acts by allowing early identification of hidden weapons in public spaces, improving threat mitigation, response times, and civilian protection. For example, in March 2025, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent non-profit think tank based in Australia, reported that global terrorism deaths remained steady in 2024, while antisemitic incidents in the United States increased by 200% compared to the previous year. This rise in terrorism and violence is therefore driving demand for concealed weapons detection systems.
Key companies in the concealed weapons detection market are focusing on portable security screening devices to enhance threat detection, reduce screening time, and offer a more seamless, non-intrusive experience in public and high-security settings. Physical security screening employs advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensors, and automation to increase the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of threat detection while minimizing disruptions to individuals. For instance, in June 2022, Motorola Solutions Inc., a US-based technology, communications, and security company, launched a concealed weapon detection system that uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to identify hidden threats like firearms and metallic weapons while ignoring harmless objects. This system can discreetly and accurately screen up to 3,600 people per hour without requiring them to empty their pockets or undergo pat-downs, greatly improving speed and convenience.
In August 2023, SoundThinking Inc., a US-based security company, acquired SafePointe LLC for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition enables SoundThinking to expand its public safety technology portfolio by integrating SafePointe's intelligent concealed weapons detection systems. The integration aims to provide more secure, low-profile, and frictionless screening in busy environments such as schools, hospitals, and public venues to proactively address rising threats and improve situational awareness. SafePointe LLC is a US-based company specializing in artificial intelligence-based concealed weapons detection systems designed for high-throughput facilities.
Major players in the concealed weapons detection (CWD) market are Leidos Inc., Guangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., Motorola Solutions Inc., Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, QinetiQ Group plc, Smiths Detection Inc., Nuctech Company Limited, Astrophysics Inc., CEIA USA Ltd., Kromek Group plc, Autoclear LLC, Thruvision Group plc, IPVideo Corporation, Athena Security Solutions Private Limited, CEIA S.p.A., Patriot One Technologies Inc., The Tutelare Corporation, TeraSense Group Inc., Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd., and Garrett Metal Detectors Inc.
North America was the largest region in the concealed weapons detection (CWD) market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in concealed weapons detection (CWD) report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the concealed weapons detection (CWD) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The concealed weapons detection (CWD) market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as system installation and integration, real-time threat alert and notification services, routine maintenance and system upgrades, and training and operational support for security staff. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The concealed weapons detection (CWD) market also includes sales of millimeter wave scanners, infrared thermal cameras, electromagnetic field sensors, and touchscreen control panels and operator consoles. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values and are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Concealed Weapons Detection (CWD) Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on concealed weapons detection (cwd) market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for concealed weapons detection (cwd) ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The concealed weapons detection (cwd) market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.