Beyond Dawlish

Global Fighter Aircraft Industry: Key Statistics and Insights in 2025-2033

Summary:

• The global fighter aircraft market size reached USD 62.8 Billion in 2024.
• The market is expected to reach USD 79.7 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 2.69% during 2025-2033.
• North America leads the market, accounting for the largest fighter aircraft market share.
• Conventional take-off and landing make up most of the market share in this segment because they tend to be more cost-effective when it comes to maintenance and operational support.
• Fixed-wing aircraft hold the largest market share in the fighter aircraft industry.
• The market has been divided into three segments: homeland security, defense, and others, based on the application.
• The growing trend towards unmanned systems is driving the fighter aircraft market.
• Growing military budgets are altering the fighter jet market.

Industry Trends and Drivers:

• Rising defense budgets:

As nations allocate more funds to their defense budgets, they can afford to purchase more advanced and expensive fighter aircraft. This leads to large-scale procurement programs aimed at upgrading or expanding air fleets. Countries like the US, China, and India are committing substantial defense budgets to modernize their air forces with cutting-edge fighter jets. Many countries are replacing aging aircraft fleets with new, technologically advanced fighters. With increased budgets, governments are more willing to invest in next-generation aircraft that feature stealth, enhanced weapon systems, and advanced avionics. This modernization is essential for maintaining air superiority. Higher defense budgets allow for increased investment in R&D, driving innovation in the fighter aircraft market. This includes the development of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), hypersonic weapons, and autonomous systems that enhance the capabilities of fighter jets.

• Shift towards unmanned systems:

The increasing preference for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military operations is driving the development of unmanned fighter jets. These aircraft offer advantages such as reduced risk to pilots, longer endurance, and the ability to perform high-risk missions like deep strikes and intelligence gathering. This is pushing countries to invest in unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), such as the US MQ-9 Reaper and Europe's "Neuron" project. The "loyal wingman" concept, where unmanned aircraft operate alongside manned fighter jets in a coordinated fashion, is gaining traction. These unmanned systems can enhance the capabilities of manned fighters by providing additional firepower, conducting reconnaissance, or acting as decoys. This trend is propelling manufacturers to integrate unmanned systems into future fighter programs, such as Boeing's Loyal Wingman and Russia's Grom UCAV.

• Technological advancements:

Innovations in stealth technology, such as radar-absorbing materials and airframe designs that reduce radar cross-sections, are revolutionizing modern fighter aircraft. Stealth features in aircraft like the F-35 and China's J-20 enable them to evade detection, making them crucial for gaining air superiority in contested environments. Fighter aircraft are now equipped with cutting-edge avionics, including advanced radar systems like AESA radars, infrared search and track (IRST) sensors, and electronic warfare (EW) systems. These systems improve target acquisition, tracking, and engagement in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, giving pilots a significant tactical edge.

Grab a sample PDF of this report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/fighter-aircraft-market/requestsample

Fighter Aircraft Market Report Segmentation:

Breakup By Aircraft Type:

• Fixed-Wing
• Rotorcraft

Fixed-wing accounts for the majority of the market share because their design allows for superior speed, range, and payload capacity compared to rotary-wing or other types of aircraft.

Breakup By Application:

• Homeland Security
• Defense
• Others

On the basis of the application, the market has been classified into homeland security, defense, and others.

Breakup By Region:

• North America (United States, Canada)
• Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)
• Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others)
• Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Others)
• Middle East and Africa

North America enjoys the leading position in the fighter aircraft market owing to substantial defense budgets, advanced aerospace technology, and strong defense industry infrastructure in the United States.

Top Fighter Aircraft Market Leaders:

The fighter aircraft market research report outlines a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape, offering in-depth profiles of major companies. Some of the key players in the market are:

• Airbus SE
• Aviation Industry Corporation of China Ltd.
• BAE Systems PLC
• Dassault Aviation S.A
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
• Korea Aerospace Industries
• Leonardo SpA
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Raytheon Technologies Corporation
• Saab AB
• acThe Boeing Company

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

About Us:

IMARC Group is a global management consulting firm that helps the world’s most ambitious changemakers to create a lasting impact. The company provide a comprehensive suite of market entry and expansion services. IMARC offerings include thorough market assessment, feasibility studies, company incorporation assistance, factory setup support, regulatory approvals and licensing navigation, branding, marketing and sales strategies, competitive landscape and benchmarking analyses, pricing and cost research, and procurement research.

Contact Us:

IMARC Group

134 N 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA

Email: sales@imarcgroup.com

Tel No:(D) 91 120 433 0800

United States: 1-631-791-1145