Aviation Actuator System Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Aviation Actuator System Market is projected to expand from USD 18.67 Billion in 2025 to USD 31.16 Billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate of 8.91%. This industry focuses on the engineering and production of essential components that convert energy into controlled motion to operate flight surfaces, landing gears, and auxiliary mechanisms. A primary factor fueling this market expansion is the strong resurgence in global air travel, which requires significant fleet growth and the updating of current aircraft with fuel-saving technologies. According to the International Air Transport Association, total revenue passenger kilometers for the full year of 2024 increased by 10.4% compared to 2023, a surge in demand that is accelerating the procurement of new commercial jets and increasing the need for dependable actuation systems.

Despite these favorable growth prospects, the market contends with significant obstacles related to supply chain instability and a shortage of raw materials needed for precision manufacturing. Manufacturers frequently struggle to obtain aerospace-grade alloys and specialized electronic parts, resulting in production delays and higher operating expenses. These supply chain bottlenecks threaten the ability of actuator suppliers to adhere to the aggressive delivery schedules mandated by major aircraft original equipment manufacturers, potentially hindering the sector's overall expansion in the near term.

Market Drivers

Rising geopolitical instability and a subsequent increase in defense budgets serve as a major catalyst for the aviation actuator market, driving the modernization of military fleets. Nations are actively enhancing their air defense capabilities, leading to the increased procurement of next-generation fighter aircraft, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and precision-guided weaponry. These sophisticated platforms demand high-performance, ruggedized actuation systems to ensure precise flight control and weapon deployment in harsh environments. As reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in April 2025, global military spending hit a record peak of $2.72 trillion in 2024, providing strong financial backing for the sustained demand for specialized aerospace components and retrofitting services.

Simultaneously, the rise of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles opens a lucrative new vertical for actuation technologies. To optimize range and efficiency, these electric aircraft require lightweight electromechanical actuators (EMAs) to control distributed electric propulsion and tilt-rotor mechanisms, replacing heavier hydraulic counterparts. While the traditional commercial sector remains healthy - evidenced by Airbus delivering 766 commercial aircraft in 2024 per their January 2025 release - the UAM market is swiftly moving from prototypes to mass production. For instance, Joby Aviation announced in December 2025 that it has committed investments to double its manufacturing capacity to achieve a production rate of four aircraft per month by 2027.

Market Challenges

Supply chain volatility and the scarcity of critical raw materials currently pose a substantial barrier to the growth of the Global Aviation Actuator System Market. Actuators rely heavily on specific aerospace-grade alloys and complex electronic sub-components to ensure precise flight control and safety. When manufacturers are unable to secure these essential inputs, production cycles extend significantly, forcing companies to absorb higher operational costs while failing to meet the rigid delivery timelines required by aircraft original equipment manufacturers. This bottleneck limits the industry's ability to convert the current high demand into realized revenue.

The consequences of these shortages are clearly visible in the reduced output of finished commercial aircraft, which directly results in fewer actuator installations. According to the International Air Transport Association, total aircraft deliveries in 2024 were restricted to 1,254 units, marking a 30% decline from the volume originally predicted for the year due to persistent supply chain constraints. This reduction in completed aircraft forces actuator suppliers to delay revenue recognition and constrains the overall financial expansion of the sector.

Market Trends

The industry is witnessing a fundamental shift toward More Electric Aircraft (MEA) architectures, which is reshaping actuator design by substituting centralized hydraulic systems with distributed power-by-wire solutions. This transition is primarily focused on commercial aviation to remove heavy hydraulic infrastructure, thereby lowering aircraft weight and optimizing fuel consumption. By deploying electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHA) and electro-mechanical actuators (EMA) for flight control surfaces, manufacturers can separate engine power generation from actuation loads to enhance efficiency. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's December 2025 report on operational efficiencies, adopting such advanced electric systems could enable short-haul flights to achieve fuel savings of up to 25% under the most ambitious scenarios.

In parallel, the integration of smart actuators equipped with health monitoring capabilities is shifting maintenance strategies from reactive to predictive models. These sophisticated units contain embedded sensors that continuously transmit performance data, such as vibration and temperature, to central health management systems, allowing operators to predict component failures before they disrupt schedules. This capability is critical for airlines aiming to minimize aircraft-on-ground (AOG) time and control spiraling maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) expenses. Illustrating the rapid adoption of these connected technologies, RTX stated in a November 2025 press release that its Ascentia analytics solution now supports nearly 40% of the operating Boeing 787 fleet, underscoring the vital role of data-driven actuation in modern fleet management.

Key Players Profiled in the Aviation Actuator System Market

• Honeywell International Inc.
• Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Moog Inc.
• Safran SA
• RTX Corporation
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Eaton Corporation PLC
• Liebherr Group
• AMETEK Inc.
• Woodward, Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Aviation Actuator System Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Aviation Actuator System Market, by Product:

• Electric
• Electrohydraulic
• Others

Aviation Actuator System Market, by Aircraft Type:

• Narrow Body Aircraft
• Wide Body Aircraft & Others

Aviation Actuator System Market, by Application:

• Flight Control
• Landing Gear
• Auxiliary Control

Aviation Actuator System Market, by End User:

• Commercial Aviation
• Defense

Aviation Actuator System Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Aviation Actuator System Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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