Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

The aircraft manufacturing sector is beginning to recover after manufacturers reported some of the lowest volumes of aircraft orders in more than a decade during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the industry faces new and continuing challenges, including skills shortages, rising costs, and developing technologies to mitigate aviation’s impact on climate change. Meanwhile, defense manufacturing has remained on an upward trend. The sectors most likely to emerge as drivers of global growth for the defense industry include intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technologies, as well as the cybersecurity sector and the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The key contractors of military aircraft include Europe’s Airbus, as well as U.S.-based Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

Leading aircraft manufacturers
Airbus and Boeing
Size of the civil aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul market
71.1bn USD
Airbus Division's global revenue
52bn EUR

Market size

Size of the global aircraft fleet

Number of gross orders for Airbus and Boeing aircraft between 2006 and 2021

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Further details: Visit original statistic Number of gross orders for Airbus and Boeing aircraft between 2006 and 2021

Airbus and Boeing dominate the world’s airliner fleet. The two aircraft manufacturers produce highly successful jet models, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing’s 737 aircraft. The Boeing 737 was often named as one of the best-selling jets worldwide before coming under scrutiny for misleading the authorities during the approval process of the 737 MAX aircraft, which led to two aircraft crashes. Bombardier, Embraer, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries compete for the remaining market.

Airbus and Boeing
Honeywell
Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Market segments

Global defense spending

Global military spending from 2001 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Global military spending from 2001 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

The U.S. holds the largest share of worldwide military outlays, accounting for around 40 percent of global defense spending. Conflicting interests between countries stress the development of more military technology innovations. For instance, drones have become an indispensable weapon and are in great demand in many parts of the world.

Defense spending and arms trade
Lockheed Martin
Defense industry in South Korea

Industry trends

The new Space Race

Percentage distribution of the cumulative equity investment in space companies worldwide from 2013 to 2022, by country

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Further details: Visit original statistic Percentage distribution of the cumulative equity investment in space companies worldwide from 2013 to 2022, by country

Private companies have long been involved in the space industry, but recent years have seen a marked shift in dominance from governmental space agencies to the private sector. Some of the most prominent companies in the industry, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Relativity Space, are attracting large amounts of funding to develop technologies that allow private space exploration. Reusable launch vehicles and rockets are a key focus for the industry to bring down costs and increase competitivenes

Space Startups
NASA

Industry leaders

The leading aerospace and defense companies in the world

Leading aerospace and defense manufacturers worldwide in 2022, based on revenue (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Leading aerospace and defense manufacturers worldwide in 2022, based on revenue (in billion U.S. dollars)

Boeing, Airbus, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics are ranked among the leading aerospace and defense technology companies worldwide. The two largest jet manufacturers, Airbus and Illinois-headquartered Boeing, form a de facto duopoly in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Aside from commercial aircraft, both companies also produce military aircraft, rockets, satellites, communications equipment, and missiles.

Airbus and Boeing
Raytheon Technologies Corporation
Northrop Grumman

Regional overview

Countries with the highest aerospace exports

Leading countries with the highest aerospace exports in 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Leading countries with the highest aerospace exports in 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

The United States, France, and Germany are ranked among the most important markets for aerospace products. The U.S. market contributed some 89 billion U.S. dollars in aerospace exports in 2021, making it the leading country in terms of sales value. The country is also home to some of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world, such as Boeing and Raytheon.

Commercial satellites
Space industry in South Korea
Defense manufacturing in India

State of the industry

  • Defense manufacturing in India
  • Space industry in South Korea
  • Defense industry in South Korea
  • Northrop Grumman Corp.
  • Defense industry in Japan
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • Honeywell
  • Airbus and Boeing
  • Aircraft MRO market worldwide

Industry scope

The aerospace manufacturing and defense industry comprises the manufacturing of aircraft, space vehicles, engines and parts, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. Aerospace manufacturing can be segmented into defense and commercial aerospace manufacturing. Within this sector, Statista presents the most relevant and up-to-date facts relating to the manufacture of aerial vehicles and the defense industry. Data on a global, regional, and country scale is available, integrated with information on the largest players and rankings.

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