Airborne SATCOM Market Report 2025

The airborne satcom market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.12 billion in 2024 to $6.69 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to surge in commercial air travel, government investments in defense, globalization of military operations, emergency response and disaster management, increased data transfer requirements, integration with avionics systems.

The airborne satcom market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.24 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to commercial space industry growth, satellite constellation expansion, connectivity demand in business aviation, urban air mobility (UAM) expansion, cybersecurity concerns, demand for real-time data in precision agriculture. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of advanced technologies, emergence of next-generation SATCOM systems, increasing use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), partnerships and collaborations.

The anticipated surge in air passenger traffic is set to act as a driving force for the growth of the airborne SATCOM market. Air passenger traffic signifies the cumulative count of passengers utilizing air transport services. Within this domain, airborne SATCOM plays a pivotal role by utilizing satellite-based air traffic services datalink through SATCOM to facilitate air passenger traffic. For instance, as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) report in June 2022, the revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) reflecting the overall demand for air travel exhibited a 78.7% growth from April 2021 to April 2022. This growth surpassed the 76% increase noted in March 2022. Consequently, the burgeoning air passenger traffic acts as a catalyst for driving the expansion of the airborne SATCOM market.

The escalating demand for aircraft is projected to propel the growth trajectory of the airborne SATCOM market. Aircraft, specifically designed vehicles for air travel employing aerodynamic forces for flight, significantly benefit from airborne SATCOM systems. These systems contribute to improved safety, operational efficiency for airlines, enhanced connectivity, and elevated passenger experiences. They enable real-time data transmission, streamline communication, optimize routes, fuel consumption, and aid in maintenance. For instance, data shared by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) in June 2023 revealed 50,318 Regular Public Transport (RPT) aircraft trips, marking a 1.7% increase from June 2022. Hence, the escalating demand for aircraft significantly drives the expansion of the airborne SATCOM market.

Major players in the airborne SATCOM market are concentrating on innovative solutions, such as the Dual LRU Design, which simplifies installation by minimizing the number of line-replaceable units. This design employs a cache management technique that utilizes two LRU (Least Recently Used) queues to optimize data access. For example, in March 2024, Astronics Corporation, a U.S.-based aerospace firm, introduced a new SATCOM system designed for aircraft to operate effectively on any geostationary (GEO) Ku-band satellite network. The system features a streamlined dual-unit design that reduces installation complexity and overall costs. It incorporates advanced modem technology to ensure high data rates and reliable connectivity in challenging environments. Additionally, cost-effective connectors and cabling help lower lifecycle expenses, while its flexible installation options allow for various orientations and external modems, enhancing security adaptability.

Key players within the airborne SATCOM market are directing their efforts towards pioneering product innovations, notably high-speed SATCOM solutions, as a strategic avenue to drive market revenues. High-speed airborne SATCOM, encompassing advanced data transmission and reception systems onboard aircraft, ensures swift and seamless communication via satellite networks. For example, Inmarsat PLC, a US-based telecommunications company, collaborated with Honeywell International Inc., a US-based technology entity, to introduce Swiftjet in May 2022. Swiftjet, an L-band satcom system, represents a breakthrough in satellite communication technology, providing high-speed and dependable data connectivity for diverse applications, particularly in aviation. Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 2.6 Mbps, SwiftJet ensures comprehensive global coverage throughout all flight phases, including takeoff and landing. Leveraging cutting-edge hardware from Honeywell and Inmarsat's ELERA satellite network, SwiftJet offers cockpit and safety services while being adaptable to a wide spectrum of aircraft.

In January 2022, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., an Israel-based provider specializing in satellite networking technology, solutions, and services, forged a partnership with Intelsat, a US-based integrated satellite and terrestrial networks company, for an undisclosed investment. This strategic collaboration is poised to empower both entities to deliver fixed and mobile services catering to maritime and land mobility. Additionally, it is expected to streamline service delivery, ultimately enhancing the user experience for airline passengers. Intelsat, recognized for its expertise in designing and developing airborne SATCOM solutions, anticipates significant progress through this partnership with Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.

Major companies operating in the airborne satcom market are Hughes Network Systems LLC, Iridium Communications Inc., Astronics Corporation, Norsat International Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Teledyne Defense Electronics, L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Aselsan AS, Cobham Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Viasat Inc., Gilat Satellite Networks, Thales Group, Inmarsat PLC, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Harris Corporation, Comtech Telecommunications Corp., Gogo Inc., Lufthansa Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Avionica Inc., Intelsat S.A., EchoStar Corporation, Technologies Corporation, DataPath Inc., KVH Industries Inc., Wavestream Corporation, SES S.A., Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the airborne SATCOM market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the airborne SATCOM market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the airborne satcom market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the airborne satcom market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Airborne Satellite Communications (SATCOM) represents an integrated system designed to consistently and reliably transmit crucial real-time data throughout an aircraft's journey, supporting various airborne tasks. This technology facilitates communication between the aircraft and air traffic control, as well as the airline operations center, especially when beyond the coverage of traditional ground radar and very high frequency (VHF) stations.

The primary components of airborne SATCOM include SATCOM terminals, transceivers, airborne radio, modems and routers, SATCOM radomes, and other essential elements. SATCOM terminals serve as communication satellites enabling military units to coordinate and plan their activities in the field. This technology is applicable to a range of platforms, including fixed-wing aircraft, commercial aircraft, narrow-body aircraft (NBA), wide-body aircraft (WBA), regional transport aircraft (RTA), military aircraft, business aviation, general aviation, rotary wing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These platforms operate across various frequency bands such as VHF/UHF, L-band, S-band, C-band, X-band, Ku-band, Ka-band, EHF or SHF-band, multi-band, and Q-band. Installations encompass both new installations and upgrades, serving government and defense as well as commercial purposes.

The airborne SATCOM market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides airborne SATCOM market statistics, including airborne SATCOM industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an airborne SATCOM market share, detailed airborne SATCOM market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the airborne SATCOM industry. This airborne SATCOM market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The airborne SATCOM market includes revenues earned by entities by telecommunications, broadcasting, and data communications services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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