MILITARY TRAINING AIRCRAFT MARKET SIZE & SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2030)

The global military training aircraft market size was valued at USD 4,800 million in 2021 and is anticipated to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% from 2022 to 2030. With the rise of unrest in the Middle East and the U.S. increasing its defense capabilities, the military training aircraft market is expected to increase dramatically. Several nations are planning to replace their aging fighter and training aircraft with modernized models. China and India are poised to drive growth in this sector. Increasing defense budgets and modernization plans is driving the market growth in several regions.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market: Regional Insights

The global military training aircraft market is regionally segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa.

North America among regions is expected to hold a major share in the global military training aircraft market during the forecast period. This is attributed to increasing military training aircraft related developments, introduction of novel combat aircraft configuration, availability of large aircraft fleet and high demand for newer trainer jets in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. For instance, as per the Coherent Market Insights data, the U.S. Air Force possesses an active training aircraft fleet of 1,488 aircraft, the U.S. Navy 965 aircraft, U.S. Army 110 aircraft and the U.S. Marine Corps has 107 aircrafts.

Furthermore, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the global military training aircraft market over the forecast period. This is due to employment of new curriculums encouraging pilots to act on their own in countries such as China, and employment of new programs for improving pilot training systems of the Air Forces in the countries like Japan and India across this region.

Figure 1. Global Military Training Aircraft Market Share (%), by Region, 2021

Global Military Training Aircraft Market Drivers:

Growing demand for pilot training resulting from increasing procurement of newer generation aircraft is expected to propel growth of the global military training aircraft market during the forecast period. The global militaries are focused on procurement of new generation aircrafts due to their plants of operating a smaller yet capable aircraft fleet. Due to this, many military aircraft are procured to replace older airframes. In June 2021, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) asked the U.S. government for retirement of 201 aircraft in fiscal year 2022, for reinvesting savings from maintaining and not operating these aircraft into R&D.

Furthermore, rise in development of newer generation trainer aircraft is also expected to augment growth of the global military training aircraft market over the forecast period. Many countries are using trainer aircrafts that were procured years ago. Recently many of these older training aircrafts are facing accidents all over the world, due to which militaries are procuring newer generation training aircrafts. Thus, to cater the increasing demand for replacing older fighter trainers with new data-centric aircrafts, the development of newer generation training aircraft is growing across the globe, which is driving the market growth.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market Opportunities:

The emergence of advanced simulators is expected to offer various growth opportunities in the global military training aircraft market during the forecast period. This advent of advanced simulators is influencing militaries towards reducing the requirement of flying hours on the training aircraft. The aircraft OEMs are focusing on collaborating with simulator providers for designing and development of systems to improve the pilot competitiveness with the use of virtual training techniques.  Thus, emerging advanced simulators is likely to provide market players in the global military training aircraft market with several growth opportunities in the future.

Moreover, growing demand for cost reduction is also expected to create growth opportunities for market players in the global military training aircraft market over the forecast period. With increasing demand for cost reduction, trainer aircraft in the future are likely to incorporate systems for reduction of the operational and procurement costs. Moreover, the demand for supersonic trainer jet is also increasing due to rise in focus on training fighter pilots in aircraft performing like a fighter. The adoption of these aircrafts is projected to grow in the coming years, which is likely to drive the market growth.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market Trends:

Growing emphasis on emission reduction through electrification gaining traction in the global military training aircraft market. Trainer aircraft in the military aircraft industry will be the first ones to be electrified with the use of electric propulsion technologies, as their requirements of weight, size, power and cost can be catered easily in the smaller training aircraft as compared to other aircraft in the military. For instance, in October 2021, during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2021, the Korean Aerospace Industries revealed a concept model of a basic trainer aircraft that is electrically powered. Thus, this trend is likely to continue in the market during the forecast period.

Furthermore, growing shift towards development of light weight training aircraft from heavier training aircraft is another growing trend in the global military training aircraft market. Many companies are focusing on development of light weight training aircrafts having advanced features and capabilities that can offer cost effective training solutions to the militaries across the world. Thus, this growing trend of shift towards lighter training aircrafts is likely to boost growth of the global military training aircraft market over the forecast period.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market Restraints:

Rise in development cost of military trainer aircraft is expected to hamper growth of the global military training aircraft market over the forecast period. The development process of military training aircrafts is long and complicated, similar to the development of a real fighter aircraft. The investment required in terms of money and time has been a challenge for the military training aircraft market, due to which OEMs are developing trainer aircraft from old existing trainer aircraft structure by upgrading these aircraft with novel technologies and airframe. This technique cuts the cost of building the aircraft however, prevents new OEMs from entering at competitive levels in the market.

Increasing emphasis on simulation based training is also expected to obstruct growth of the global military training aircraft market during the forecast period. The simulation-based military training is becoming popular among defense organization. This system offers benefits of increasing operational efficiency and reduction of cost. Due to growing need for pilots being updated with major technological development in equipment and being able to operate in dynamic and complex environments, demand for simulators is increasing. However, this further affects the demand for training aircrafts, which is retraining growth of the global military training aircraft market.

Figure 2. Global Military Training Aircraft Market Share (%), By Aircraft Type, 2021

Global Military Training Aircraft Market Segmentation:

The global military training aircraft market report is segmented into Aircraft Type and Geography.

Based on Aircraft Type, the market is segmented into Fixed-wings Aircrafts and Helicopters. Out of which, Fixed-wing Aircraft segment is expected to dominate the global market over the forecast period and this is attributed to the rise in adoption of military training aircraft by high-income economies such as the U.K. and the U.S., and rising developments and growing training programs of fixed-wings aircrafts around the world.

Helicopters segment is also expected to witness significant growth in the near future and this is owing to the increasing launch of various new helicopter models by major companies leading to demand for new training helicopters. For instance, in August 2019, Airbus Helicopters delivered the 200^th UH-72A Lakota for training operations with U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence in Fort Rucker, Alabama. The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army and other military units around the world operate the twin engine of the UH-72A, named EC145.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market: Key Developments

In November 2020, HAL started the spin flight test of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) in Bengaluru, India. This aircraft is likely to replace the aging fleet of Kiran aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

In February 2021, Boeing started the production of the T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer at its St. Louis, Missouri production facility. The aircraft was developed under the partnership between Boeing and Saab, and it will be delivering 351 aircraft to the U.S. Air Force under a US$ 9.2 billion contract made in September 2018.

Global Military Training Aircraft Market: Key Companies Insights

The global military training aircraft market is highly competitive. This is attributed to continuous launch of new technologies due to ongoing R &D and efforts by value chain participants. Moreover, key players are adopting various business growth strategies in order to expand their presence on regional as well as global basis.

Some of the key players in the global military training aircraft market are Rostec, Hindustan, Aeronautics Ltd, Diamond Aircraft Industries, Embraer SA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, BAE Systems PLC, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Textron Inc., Leonardo SpA, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Calidus LLC.

*Definition:

Military Training Aircraft are designed to train pilots and military personnel. These aircraft are also used to monitor borders. Trainer aircraft are used to provide flight training. These aircraft are specially designed for flight training purposes. The mission of these aircraft is to provide safe and efficient training to new pilots.