Aerospace Sensors Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2023-2028

Market Highlights

The aircraft sensors market was estimated at USD 1.1 billion in 2022 and is likely to grow at a promising CAGR of 10.5% during 2023-2028 to reach USD 2.2 billion in 2028.

What are aircraft sensors?

Aircraft sensors provide critical information to pilots for aircraft safety. In an aircraft cabin, 100 to 300 sensors are employed, with roughly 11 major types of sensors present to detect and measure various outputs from aircraft systems and any fault/damage as soon as feasible for safety and smooth operations. With the world's fastest-growing contemporary aircraft, there is an unceasing demand for robust and reliable aircraft sensors.

Some common types of sensors found on aircraft include - Pressure Sensors, Temperature Sensors, Position Sensors, Force/Torque Sensors, Inertial Sensors, etc.

Market Drivers

The demand for sensors in the aircraft industry is highly subject to the production of aircraft. The industry had been witnessing excellent growth till 2018. After 2018, the industry faced several setbacks one after another, and is still under the water and making efforts to bring back its growth trajectory.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the aircraft sensors market, causing a decline of over 45% in 2020. Despite hopes for a market recovery in 2021, demand continued to decline by 7%. This has had a major impact on industry stakeholders. The industry registered a steep recovery from 2022 onwards, especially on both fronts: OE as well as aftermarket.

Factors that are likely to help industry stakeholders rejuvenate the sensors market are:

• Increasing production rates of key aircraft programs
• Expected market entry of COMAC C919, Irkut MC-21, and Boeing B777x
• Rising aircraft fleet size
• Growing acceptance of sensors, in unmanned aerial vehicles
• Improved sensors in aviation to monitor different physical quantities
• Advancement in sensors with wireless smart sensors and smart skin technologies to detect damage in an aircraft, etc
• Overall, the aircraft sensors market is driven by a combination of technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and the need for improved operational efficiency and safety in the aviation industry

Key Players

The market is populated with the presence of several local, regional, and global players. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc.

The following are the key players in the aircraft sensors market

• TE Connectivity
• Thales Group
• Honeywell International Inc
• Safran S.A
• Meggitt PLC
• Curtiss-Wrights Corporation
• Ametek Inc
• Transdigm Group, Inc. (Auxitrol Weston)
• Woodward Inc
• Sensata Technologies Inc

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:

• In 2021, FLYHT Aerospace Solutions acquired the water vapor sensing system product line from SpectraSensors, a subsidiary of Endress+Hauser
• In 2020, TE Connectivity completed the first public acquisition of First Sensor AG. It currently owns 71.87% shares of First Sensor AG
• Safran S.A. acquired Zodiac Aerospace in the year 2018

North America is estimated to dominate the market, owing to the presence of numerous tier players, OEMs, and aircraft sensor manufacturers in the region.

By Aircraft Type

The market is segmented into commercial aircraft, general aviation, regional aircraft, military aircraft, helicopter, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Commercial aircraft is expected to remain the dominant aircraft type in the market during the forecast period owing to a relatively large number of sensors used for different applications in commercial aircraft. An expected increase in air passenger traffic coupled with an expected ramp-up in production rates of key aircraft programs and upcoming aircraft programs are likely to create huge growth opportunities in the commercial aircraft sensors market in the foreseen years.

By Sensor Type

The market is segmented into pressure sensor, temperature sensor, position sensor, force/torque sensor, inertial sensor, and others. The pressure sensor is expected to remain the dominant as well as the fastest-growing sensor type in the market during the forecast period, owing to their high usage in flight control systems, engine, cabin, and landing gear, wheels, & brakes applications, etc.

By Application Type

The market is segmented into the engine, landing gear, wheels & brakes, flight control systems, cabin, cargo & ECS, and others. The engine is expected to remain the dominant application type in the market during the forecast period. The engine is the most critical section of an aircraft and contains several sensitive areas where high fluctuation in temperature and pressure exists.

Regional Insights

North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft sensors during the forecast period, due to the presence of a large number of raw material suppliers, tier players, OEMs, and sensor manufacturers, making the region a growth engine of the aircraft industry.

Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth in the market over the next five years with the increasing focus of industry stakeholders to expand in emerging economies such as India and China. The region is expected to occupy ~38% share of the world's aircraft fleet in the next twenty years.

Market Segmentation

This report studies the market covering a period of 12 years of trend and forecast. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The market is segmented into the following categories.

By Aircraft Type

• Commercial Aircraft

General Aviation
Regional Aircraft
Military Aircraft
Helicopter
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

By Sensor Type

• Pressure Sensor

Temperature Sensor
Position Sensor
Inertial Sensor
Force/Torque Sensor
Others

By Application Type

• Engine

Landing Gear, Wheels & Brakes
Flight Control Systems
Cabin, Cargo & ECS
Others

By End-User Type

• OE

Aftermarket

By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe)
Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Others)