Exponential growth of the special mission aircraft market is anticipated in 2022-2027

The increasing demand for small air-launched satellites and the growing need for air-to-air refueling are driving the industry. The aircraft and special mission aircraft market is forecast to grow from US$15.9 billion in 2022 to US$19.9 billion in 2027, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 4.6%. These vehicles – manned or not – used for strategic or tactical purposes for drug interdiction, the location of illegal immigrants, the documentation of fishing infractions and the detection of pollution of oceans and rivers.

Manufacturers in the sector are focusing on innovative special mission equipment and components due to the growing demand for technologically advanced aircraft for military and commercial applications worldwide.

Sustaining and financing innovations and managing fluctuations in aircraft build rates are expected to result in dynamic growth of the special mission aircraft market over the long term, particularly for the more fragmented parts of the chain. supply and the capital-intensive aerostructures segments.

Because right now?

The need for stealthy monitoring during military operations drives demand for the segment.

Indeed, the ability of special mission aircraft to operate silently and surreptitiously allows them to be used for surveillance, detection, classification and identification, for example, of a maritime target without the target’s inhabitants noticing the presence of the aircraft.

As reported by Reuters, during February 2022, in the midst of the war between Russia and Ukraine, a remotely piloted US military vehicle called the RQ-4 Global Hawk had circled the country for several hours at a time.

Indeed, the high-altitude, long-distance flights of drones have coincided with a military build-up by Russia along the Ukrainian border and with diplomatic efforts between the leaders of the United States, Europe and Russia to prevent war. For this reason, it is stipulated that the increase in transport operations in the armed forces will further boost demand for the segment.

Its application in military transport

Special mission aircraft are also used to transport military supplies and personnel or are deployed for humanitarian aid operations. Apart from the US, European countries such as France, Germany and Russia are also among the largest investors in this type of vehicle.

Key market players

The special mission aircraft market is dominated by a few established global players such as The Boeing Company (USA), Lockheed Martin (USA), Dassault Aviation SA (France), Textron Aviation (USA .) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (USA), among others.

The aircraft and special mission aircraft market is projected to grow from US$15.9 billion in 2022 to US$19.9 billion in 2027

North America is likely to emerge as the largest market for special mission aircraft. Consider that in November 2019, NATO and Boeing agreed to a $1 billion contract to modernize the Alliance’s fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft, ensuring they continue to support missions through 2035.

Although other players should also be considered. In September 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) signed an estimated US$2,838 million deal with Airbus Defense and Space SA Spain, for 56 C-295MW transport aircraft to replace the Avro-748s that were acquired in the 1960s for the Indian Air Force.

perspectives

The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles in military operations is estimated to drive the special mission aircraft market from 2020 to 2025. Likewise, the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance segments are projected to be the market leaders.

China is also forecast to have the highest CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) during the mentioned period.

The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier visited Singapore

Drivers of market dynamics

Among the causes of the growth that this sector is expected to experience are the increasing need for air-to-air refueling to support overseas deployment, increased defense spending by more developed countries,
increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles in military operations and increasing demand for emergency medical service (EMS) helicopters.

These opportunities are accompanied by growing demand for small air-launched satellites and advances in sensor technology, which together drive demand for unmanned aerial vehicles.

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The challenges

As restrictions of this growth are considered as negative aspects:

1. The long period of certification of products by aviation authorities;
2. The strict standards for the manufacture of aircraft components for special missions.

For its part, technically, the requirement for continuous and uninterrupted power supply in unmanned aerial vehicles remains the great challenge to product development. In addition, the economic restrictions faced by manufacturers due to COVID-19 must be taken into account.