Helicopter Engines Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2029)

The Helicopter Engines Market size is estimated at USD 25.27 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 30.98 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.16% during the forecast period (2025-2029).

Key Highlights

• The comprehensive portfolio of applications renders them essential for the military and commercial end-users, thereby driving the demand and subsequent procurement of helicopters from both the military and commercial aviation sectors. Moreover, defense modernization programs also drive the R&D for advanced helicopters and compatible engines.
• Nevertheless, the helicopter engine market is marred by associated high acquisition costs and technical complexities such as maintenance and regulatory challenges related to noise pollution and safety. The emerging emission norms for the aviation sector are anticipated to result in profound changes in the design and architecture of current-generation helicopter engines in the future as the engine OEMs focus on the development of high-performance engines with minimal carbon emissions.

Helicopter Engines Market Trends

Military Helicopters to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

• By application, the military helicopter engines segment holds the maximum revenue share, followed by commercial helicopter engines. The advantages offered by the helicopters in the military, like quick response in transporting personnel and cargo for frontline support, their vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities (which eliminates the requirement of long runways), and the ability to be deployed in almost any open area in cases of emergency assistance, increase their utilitarian value in the military.
• Thus, the usage of helicopters is more in the military compared to commercial applications. Hence, the market for military helicopter engines is expected to increase. The military helicopter engines segment is also expected to continue its dominance in the market during the forecast period.
• For instance, in May 2023, GE Aviation and NAVAIR were awarded a contract worth USD 683.7 million for three additional batches of T408 engines that will power the Sikorsky CH-53K King StallionTM, which serves as the primary heavy-lift helicopter for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The final assembly of these engines is planned at the GE Aerospace Lynn, Massachusetts, facility, and delivery is anticipated to occur between 2024 and 2027.

North America to Dominate Market Share During the Forecast Period

• North America is anticipated to dominate the market share due to the presence of robust aviation R&D and manufacturing infrastructure in the region. The market also benefits from the presence of aviation incumbents in the region and the demand for helicopters from the end-users based in both the US and Canada. Currently, the US operates the largest helicopter fleet in the world, with more than 9,000 commercial helicopters in the country alone.
• The aftermarket and maintenance services, along with the need to replace parts of the engines for these helicopters, are anticipated to drive the market for helicopter engines in the future. Moreover, the steady increase in the defense budget of the US and the initiation of new helicopter R&D programs such as the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program are also driving the growth of the helicopter engine market in the region.

Helicopter Engines Industry Overview

The helicopter engines market is semi-consolidated and marked by the presence of prominent players including Safran, Pratt & Whitney (RTX Corporation), General Electric Company, Rolls-Royce plc, and Honeywell International Inc. Efforts are being made by the existing players to increase the efficiency and time between overhauls of the engines, which may help them grab new contracts with the helicopter OEMs.

In the military sector, many local manufacturers are trying to produce new-generation indigenous turboshaft engines for their military helicopters. For example, Turkey and India are developing their indigenous helicopter engines. As the relatively new players are capturing the market share, established players, to maintain their market dominance, need to expand in the untapped markets and increase their product innovation through significant R&D investments.

For instance, in March 2021, Honeywell was awarded a four-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract worth USD 476 million to Honeywell for new production and spare T55-GA-714A engines that power the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

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