Military aircraft manufacturing market seen reaching $492.5B by 2030

The military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing market is projected to rise from $311.84 billion in 2025 to $492.51 billion by 2030, driven by defense modernization, fighter jet demand and unmanned systems. North America led the market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow fastest through the forecast period.

Why it matters: - The military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing market sits at the center of defense modernization, with spending tied directly to national security, fleet renewal and next-generation airpower. - The forecast points to sustained demand for advanced aircraft, unmanned systems and avionics as governments respond to geopolitical tensions. - The report also signals where future manufacturing capacity, procurement and regional investment are likely to concentrate.

What happened: - The Business Research Company said the military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing market is expected to grow from $311.84 billion in 2025 to $341.94 billion in 2026. - The firm projects the market will reach $492.51 billion by 2030, equal to a 9.6% compound annual growth rate. - The report was released Oct. 21, 2026, and covers military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing trends across major global regions. - The company published a free sample report and a full report.

The details: - The report says the market has been expanding on the back of higher defense budgets, more military aircraft purchases, replacement of aging fleets, broader national aerospace industries and geopolitical uncertainty. - The forecast period is driven by defense modernization, demand for next-generation fighter jets, greater procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles, rising investment in advanced military avionics and growth in domestic aerospace manufacturing. - Key trends include wider adoption of advanced military aircraft, development of new fighter models, expanded use of unmanned systems, more aircraft modernization programs and deeper integration of avionics and electronic warfare technologies. - The industry covers design, engineering, production, assembly and testing of aerospace systems and defense aviation technologies. - The sector supports national security by delivering specialized platforms that must meet strict performance, safety and regulatory requirements. - In March 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Offices of the Under Secretaries of Defense announced a $13.5 billion budget for cybersecurity and acquisition in fiscal 2024. - That budget aligns with the 2022 National Defense Strategy and supports the Digital Modernization Strategy and the Department of Defense Cyber Strategy. - North America held the largest market share in 2025. - Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. - The report also includes Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

Between the lines: - The growth outlook suggests defense procurement is shifting from broad modernization to more specific investments in air dominance, autonomous systems and digital warfare capability. - The emphasis on domestic manufacturing points to a bigger industrial-policy element, not just a buying cycle for finished aircraft. - Regional strength in North America and faster growth in Asia-Pacific imply the market is becoming more geographically split between mature defense budgets and rapidly expanding ones.

What's next: - The report expects continued expansion through 2030 as governments accelerate modernization programs and pursue newer aircraft and unmanned platforms. - Future competition will likely center on avionics, electronic warfare integration and production capacity for advanced platforms. - The company says its 2026 market reports now include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics, key technologies and future trend analysis, plus updated graphics and tables. - The company also provided contact details for its expert team and listed LinkedIn, Facebook and X social links in the release.

The bottom line: - Military aircraft and aerospace manufacturing is on track for strong, sustained growth as defense spending, modernization and unmanned systems reshape the market.