Military Transport Aircraft Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Aircraft Type (Fixed Wings, Rotorcraft, and Other Aircraft Types), Payload (Below 50 Tons, 51 Tons to 100 Tons and 101 Tons and Above), System (Airframe, Landing Gear System and Other Systems ), Application and By Geography
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Military Transport Aircraft Market is accounted for $30.25 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $44.89 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Military transport aircraft are specially constructed freight transport aircraft & helicopters that demonstrate high payload capacity and are intended to efficiently move military equipment, personnel, and vehicles. Military transport aircraft have a sizable cargo hold that may hold a wide variety of goods. Additionally, there are many different kinds of helicopters that can transport armoured vehicles, small trucks, and military tanks from military bases to battle zones or other necessary locations without the need for much human labour.
According to the 2021 World Air Forces report released by Flight International in cooperation with The U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps collectively operate just over 13,000 military aircraft.
Market Dynamics:
Driver:
Rise in demand for rotorcraft airplanes
Military transport helicopters are employed for a variety of purposes, including the airlifting of personnel, cargo replenishment, combating fires, and medical evacuation. Many nations have concentrated on modernising their fleets of military transport rotorcraft, and some fleet modernization initiatives are currently underway. For instance, Singapore intends to replace the AS332 Super Pumas in its fleet. The first H-225M medium-lift transport helicopter was recently delivered to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Despite sharing a similar design and being based on the Super Puma, the H225M has new avionics, new engines, and an expanded main cabin that, according to the manufacturer, can accommodate up to 28 people in standard cabin seats or 14 in energy-absorbing wall-mounted seats. Similar efforts by other nations are anticipated to increase demand for military transport aircraft during the forecast period.
Restraint:
High maintenance & upgradation cost
Transport planes are enormous in size and need frequent maintenance, which is a more expensive process. Continuous component repair and maintenance is time-consuming and expensive, which ultimately serves as a barrier to the market's expansion. Additionally, numerous governments have signed contracts and agreements with transportation aircraft manufacturers like Airbus SE, Boeing, and Embraer SA to provide as well as maintain and upgrade their current fleet of defence aircraft on a regular basis. These operations require significant investment to be carried out, adding to the cost. Therefore, expensive maintenance and upgrade costs are a major market disincentive.
Opportunity:
Rapid technological advancements in air transportation services
A major element in the market's growth is the advancements in air travel brought on by the increased need for high-efficiency planes. Technology-advanced communication methods make it easier for professionals at air traffic control (ATC) towers to communicate real-time data of cargo and keep track of the aircraft. In order to ensure safer cargo transportation, transport planes are now integrated with necessary hardware and other safety & security systems. Governments from all over the world have also entered into contracts and agreements with a number of defence aircraft producers to supply new aircraft carriers as well as to give crucial after sales services to the existing fleet, which is causing the market to expand globally.
Threat:
Adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are employed for target acquisition, reconnaissance, and surveillance. They offer combat operations, delivery and transportation, and control of battle damage. The safety of the crew members is a crucial factor driving an increase in demand for UAVs. However, an increase in UAV usage will constrict the market's expansion.
Covid-19 Impact
The COVID-19 outbreak had a substantial impact on the aerospace sector, resulting in sharp drops in aviation sales, a shortage of raw materials, and delays in aircraft deliveries. Players in the aviation sector must deal with issues including the complete shutdown of production and government-approved shutdown procedures, which have had a disastrous impact on the market as a whole. Particularly in emerging nations, the number of domestic airlines has been increasing back to pre-epidemic levels. As the government starts to relax its control over the rest of the globe in order to restart enterprises, the situation is anticipated to get better.
The rotorcraft segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period
The rotorcraft segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth. Military transport helicopters are employed for a range of operations, including the airlifting of troops, cargo replenishment, combating fires, and medical evacuation. Many nations intend to modernise their fleet of military transport rotorcraft, and some have already started such initiatives. Singapore plans to replace its entire fleet of AS332 Super Puma aircraft. On that occasion, the Republic of Singapore Air Force received the first H-225M medium-lift transport helicopter (RSAF).
The engine segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period
The engine segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR growth during the forecast period, due to the increased research and development efforts by major companies, the engine segment is predicted to dominate the market. R&D efforts are being made by engine manufacturers to create hybrid engines. Hybrid propulsion solutions will become more popular as gasoline prices rise. For instance, The H225M, which is based on the Super Puma and resembles its predecessor in many ways, is equipped with new engines, new avionics, and an expanded main cabin that can reportedly accommodate up to 28 troops in regular cabin seats or 14 in energy-absorbing wall-mounted seats, according to the manufacturer. During the projected period, similar initiatives by other nations are anticipated to increase demand for military transport rotorcraft.
Region with highest share:
North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The United States, the country with the highest global defence spending, is the main market for transport aircraft in the area. The greatest fleet of helicopters and transport planes is located in the United States. In the upcoming years, the nation also intends to expand its fleet of transport planes.
Region with highest CAGR:
Asia Pacific is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to ongoing territorial disputes with its neighbours, Asia Pacific has been expanding the fleet of military aircraft in line with ambitions to bolster its airborne military capabilities. Additionally, the area has improved its ability to produce military aircraft domestically. The region's second fifth-generation fighter jet, the FC-31, is also anticipated to enter service during the projected period. The region's first fifth-generation fighter, the J-20, was recently revealed in a new twin-seater form. Additionally, the area is developing a new carrier-based fighter jet to take the place of its J-15 jets, which have seen numerous mishaps and mechanical issues.
Key players in the market
Some of the key players profiled in the Military Transport Aircraft Market include The Boeing Company, Saab AB, Airbus S.A.S., Dassault Aviation SA, Lockheed Martin Corporation, GE Aviation, Embraer S.A., Sukhoi Corporation, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bell Textron Inc, Korea Aerospace Industries and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
Key Developments:
In April 2019, The Boeing Company was awarded a contract worth USD 14.3 billion by the U.S. Department of Defence (DOD) for the support and upgrade of B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft in service with the U.S. Air Force. The flexible acquirement and sustainment contract is anticipated to improve survivability, lethality, supportability, and responsiveness of the B-1 and B-52 bombers. The program includes radar modernization, communication systems upgrades, and B-52 Software Block (BSB) upgrades for new weapon integration.
In October 2019, Lockheed Martin Corporation was granted a contract worth USD 35 billion by the U.S Department of Defence for the delivery of 478 F-35 aircraft. It is the largest contract to date for the fighter program. This contract will achieve an average 12.7% cost reduction across all three variants of F-35 aircraft. Lockheed Martin Corporation’s fifth-generation F-35 aircraft comes in three variants, the F-35A for the U.S. Air Force, F-35B for the U.S. Marine Corps, and F-35C for the U.S. Navy.
Aircraft Types Covered:
• Fixed Wings
• Rotorcraft
• Other Aircraft Types
Payloads Covered:
• Below 50 Tons
• 51 Tons to 100 Tons
• 101 Tons and Above
Systems Covered:
• Airframe
• Landing Gear System
• Avionics
• Engine
• Weapon System
• Other Systems
Applications Covered:
• Troop Airlifting
• Cargo Supply
• Airborne Early Warning & Control
• Combat
• Military Transport
• Reconnaissance & Surveillance
• Other Applications
Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements
Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.
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