Aircraft Actuator Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Motion (Linear, Rotary), By Actuator Type (Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Electric, Electromechanical, Electrohydrostatic), By Platform (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing), By Installation (Power Generation & Distribution System, Flight Control System, Fuel Management System, Landing Gear & Braking System, Passenger Comfort, Others), By End-User (OEM, Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

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Aircraft Actuator Market Growth Factors

Rise in Demand for Autonomous Aircraft in Aircraft Operations Supports Market Growth

Autonomous aircraft have the potential to provide increased fuel savings, deliver a solution to pilot shortages, and reduce the operating costs of airlines. In June 2018, Airbus launched Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off & Landing (ATTOL) project to understand the impact of autonomy on aircraft. Additionally, in January 2020, Airbus completed the first fully automatic vision-based take-off using an airbus family test aircraft at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. The demand for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is rising owing to increase in the use of UAVs for commercial and military applications. The use of UAVs in the military aviation sector for life-threatening missions, modern warfare techniques, and patrolling of marine borders is fueling the growth of the market for UAV. For instance,

• In 2023, the U.S. Air Force had awarded five companies a contract to design and build collaborative autonomous combat aircraft. These five companies include Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Anduril, and General Atomics.

Increased Demand for Commercial Aircraft to Boost Market Growth

The rising demand for air travel and aircraft deliveries has increased the demand for commercial aircraft. The growing number of aircraft deliveries in emerging economies, such as China and India, in Asia Pacific is anticipated to be a major factor driving the aircraft actuator market growth. As stated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air traffic is anticipated to double by 2037; this will create the need for approximately more than 37,000 new passengers and freight aircraft. Airlines around the world are now placing bulk orders for both narrow body and wide body aircrafts to grow their fleet size with increased travel destination and routes. For instance,

• In 2023, at the Dubai Air Show, Emirates announced an order of 95 wide-body aircraft, including the additional Boeing 777-9, 777-8, and 787. The orders were worth USD 52 billion. In addition, low-cost carrier FlyDubai also placed confirmed orders of USD 11 billion for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the first wide-body aircraft in FlyDubai’s fleet.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Stringent Government Regulations are Restraining the Growth of the Market

OEMs have to follow strict certifications and guidelines and are named as Airworthiness Directives (AD) related to design, safety, and leakage concerns regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ADs are legally mandatory regulations issued by the FAA to correct an unsafe condition in a product. For instance, the FAA issued an AD in 2009 for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes that required repetitive ultrasonic inspections and one-time visual examination of the main landing gear actuators for cracks or leaking with the replacement of the aircraft actuator if cracks or leaking are found.  Such circumstances could lead to an inability to extend or lock down in the landing gear, which could also result in a gear collapse or gear up landing. The time-consuming lengthy process of passing the certification is thereby restraining the market growth.

Aircraft Actuator Market Segmentation Analysis

By Motion Analysis

Linear Segment to Gain Momentum during the Forecast Period Owing to Controllability and Accuracy

By motion, the market is segmented into linear and rotary. The linear segment was estimated to be the largest segment in the market, owing to its accuracy and controllability. The linear segment is also predicted to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.

The rise in demand for electro-mechanical linear actuators, such as ball screw actuators in the aircraft is predicted to accelerate the growth of the market. The rotary segment is expected to play a vital role in the growth of the market. The rise in the adoption of servo motors in the flight control system is predicted to fuel the growth of the market. 

By Actuator Type Analysis

Growth in Demand for Electromechanical Actuators to Propel the Market Growth

By actuator type, the market is divided into hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, electromechanical, and electrohydrostatic. The hydraulic segment is expected to be the dominating segment. Hydraulic actuators are getting more popular as they have benefits such as integrated redundancy in case of failure, overload protection, and free-floating control surface, which is widely used in conventional aircraft, which is fueling the growth of the market.

Electromechanical Actuators (EMA) include a combination of electrical & mechanical. The EMA segment is expected to witness significant growth in the market during the forecast period due to its accuracy and efficiency. EMAs are mostly used in aircraft seat actuation systems. The electric segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period owing to the rising trend of more electric aircraft to save procurement cost and fuel consumption.

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By Platform Analysis

Fixed-Wing Expected to Dominate the Largest Share of the Market Due to Increased Aircraft Deliveries

By platform, the market is segmented by fixed-wing and rotary-wing. In 2022, the fixed-wing segment was estimated to be the largest segment of the market due to increased demand for aircraft across several sectors such as commercial, military, and general aviation.

The fixed-wing segment is further divided into commercial aircraft, business aircraft, military aircraft, and general aviation aircraft. The surge in air transport and growing aircraft fleet are some of the key factors strengthening the growth of this segment. For instance,

• In November 2023, the SunExpress, a Turkey-based low-cost carrier announced that it had placed a firm order for 45 narrow-body 737 MAX jets at the Dubai Air Show. The jets are anticipated to be delivered between 2029 and 2035.

The rotary wing segment is classified into military helicopter and commercial helicopter. The segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period owing to the rising demand for helicopters for several military applications such as surveillance, emergency services, and special combat operations. Moreover, the growing demand for E-VTOLs and hybrid electric aircraft is expected to boost the segment’s growth. For instance,

• In July 2023, the U.S. Air Force signed a new USD 142 million contract with Archer Aviation Inc. Archer Aviation Inc. develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. The contract includes the delivery of up to six of Archer’s Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force.

By Installation Analysis

Passenger Comfort System Predicted to be the Fastest-Growing Segment Due to Increased Adoption

By installation, the market is segmented into flight control system, fuel management system, power generation & transmission system, landing gear & braking system, passenger comfort, and others. In 2023, the passenger comfort segment was the largest segment of the market, followed by the flight control system segment.

The rise in the adoption of EMAs and EHAs in surface control systems will fuel the growth of the market, owing to the advantage of lightweight aircraft and increased reliability & efficiency. The passenger comfort segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. Increased demand for comfort, safety, and luxury associated with air travel has increased the demand for passenger comfort.

By End-User Analysis

OEM Segment is Predicted to Hold the Largest Share of the Market

Based on end-user, the market is divided into Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket. The OEM segment is predicted to dominate the largest share of the market due to increased aircraft deliveries in developing economies such as China and India.

The aftermarket segment is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate owing to the increasing number of retiring aircraft and refurbishment of old aircraft.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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North America is estimated to dominate the aircraft actuator market share, accounting for 42.3% of the market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The market in North America is expected to grow during the forecast period owing to the rise in implementation of modernized safety policies by major airlines in the U.S., such as United Airlines, Inc., Delta Airlines, Inc., and American Airlines, Inc. The aircraft actuator manufacturers in developed countries such as the U.S. are investing in R&D of more electric aircraft, and lightweight systems in actuators are expected to fuel the growth of the market.

Europe is expected to witness substantial growth in the market during the forecast period, owing to the increased demand for upgrading of actuator technologies for improved reliability and efficiency of the aircraft.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. The rise in aircraft deliveries in countries such as India and China is encouraging the growth of the market for aircraft actuators.

List of Key Companies in Aircraft Actuator Market

Key Players are Focused on Providing a Variety of Services to Survive in the Market

This market is consolidated, with numerous global and a handful regional players in this industry. It is observed that international and regional players have a variety in product portfolio with a very high focus on providing the best possible aircraft actuators for superior quality. The top players in the aviation industry are Rockwell Collins, Honeywell International Inc., and other listed companies in the ranking analysis. The global presence of Honeywell International Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.), the Boeing Company (U.S.), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.) is anticipated to lead the market.

The market consists of other prominent players that include Collins Aerospace, Honeywell International Inc., Panasonic Corporation, and others focus on acquisitions, collaborations, and new product launches to sustain their market position.

List of Key Companies Profiled:

• Eaton Corporation Inc. (U.S.)


• Parker Hannifin Corporation (U.S.)


• Moog Inc. (U.S.)


• Rockwell Collins (U.S.)


• Sitec Aerospace GmbH (Germany)


• TAMAGAWA SEIKI Co. Ltd. (Japan)


• Woodward Inc. (U.S.)


• Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.)


• Saab AB (Sweden)


• Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.)


• The Boeing Company (U.S.)


• Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2022 – Curtiss Wright, a U.S.-based aviation company, manufacturer, and service provider, delivered upgrades to JBD- Jet Blast Deflector and Barricade Stanchion Actuators used as aircraft launch and recovery equipment in Gerald R. Ford. The upgrade was made under deployment preparations for the carrier after a successful shock trial.


• January 2022 – Moog Inc., a U.S. based aviation component manufacturer, has unveiled to provide electromechanical actuators for motion control launch in DARPA Gremlins unmanned aircraft. The actuators will provide wing deployments, tail fin gremlins’ motion control and fins motion control for recovery element.


• July 2022 – The France based aviation components manufacturer Safran launched an electric nose landing gear actuator at the Farnborough International Airshow. The actuator is a pioneer in extension and reaction actuators and electric nose wheel steering for narrow body, wide body on the next generation.


• July 2022- Collins Aerospace, a U.S. based aircraft actuator manufacturer unveiled their first ever prototype for hybrid air vehicles airlander 10 aircraft, equipped with 500KW electric motor. The new actuator is made under the family of electric motors that are up or down scalable and offer a cross domain application.  


• April 2022- A U.S. based independent aerospace service provider, Fokker Services launched a nose-to-tail program for 737NG Boeing aircraft maintenance. The MRO consists of critical parts such as engine accessories, hydraulic actuators, cockpit controls, and instruments.


• July 2023- Safran announced that it had agreed to purchase a Collins Aerospace business segment that offers aircraft actuation and flight control products in a USD 1.8 billion cash deal. The acquired business is anticipated to generate USD 1.5 billion sales in 2024, and has over 3,700 employees working at eight different facilities across Europe and Asia.


• August 2023- Moog announced that it had been awarded a contract by Bell Textron to supply flight control system components for the U.S. Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), the Bell V-280 Valor. The company would provide major flight control surfaces including ruddervator and flaperon actuators, swashplate actuators, and pylon conversion actuators.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Aircraft Actuator Market

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The report provides detailed information on the market and focuses on leading companies, product types, and leading product applications. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the above factors, it contains several factors that have contributed to the sizing of the global market in recent years.

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