Aircraft Autopilot System Market Report 2025

The aircraft autopilot system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $5.53 billion in 2024 to $5.98 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to enhanced aircraft performance, aerodynamic efficiency, weight reduction, safety and stability, streamlined aesthetics, market competitiveness.

The aircraft autopilot system market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.99 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to next-generation aircraft designs, sustainability and green aviation, regulatory requirements, global air traffic growth, adoption of advanced materials. Major trends in the forecast period include technological integration, integration of noise reduction technologies, customization for different aircraft types, retrofitting and aftermarket services, collaborations and partnerships.

The anticipated rise in air traffic is poised to act as a driving force for the aircraft autopilot system market. Air traffic specifically refers to the movement of aircraft in the sky or on airport surfaces, excluding loading ramps and parking zones. An autopilot serves as a system that navigates an aircraft's flight path without constant manual control by a human operator. It adjusts the aircraft's control surfaces to navigate through the heightened air traffic. With the escalating air traffic, there is a surging demand for advanced automation technology to aid pilots in managing increased workloads and ensuring safe and efficient flight operations. For instance, as of April 2023, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Cuba-based trade association of global airlines, reported a continuous growth in global air travel in February 2023, measuring a 55.5% increase in total traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers compared to February 2022. Moreover, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a US-based entity within the United States Department of Transportation, reported a 30% year-to-year increase as US airlines transported 194 million more passengers in 2022 compared to 2021. Consequently, the upsurge in air traffic is expected to drive the growth of the aircraft autopilot system market.

The rise in geopolitical tensions is projected to drive the growth of the aircraft autopilot system market in the coming years. Geopolitical tensions encompass political conflicts, rivalries, or disputes between nations or regions, often arising from issues related to territory, resources, power, or ideology. Autopilot systems are particularly vital for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are essential for reconnaissance and surveillance during periods of geopolitical conflict. For instance, a report from January 2024 by The White & Case LLP, a US-based international law firm, revealed that 45% of respondents identified geopolitics as the primary trend influencing activities in 2024. Among the key factors, 20% attributed it to geopolitical issues, while 11% pointed to resource nationalism, 7% to supply chain reconfiguration, and another 7% to policies regarding industrial and critical minerals. Therefore, the escalation of geopolitical tensions is propelling the growth of the aircraft autopilot system market.

Leading companies in the aircraft autopilot system market are making significant advancements in technology, such as autonomous flight systems, to improve operational efficiency, minimize human error, enhance safety features, and facilitate more complex flight maneuvers without direct pilot involvement. Autonomous flight technology allows aircraft to operate independently, leveraging sensors and AI for navigation and real-time adjustments without the need for human input. For example, in April 2024, Purdue University, a public research institution in the US, inaugurated the world’s first center focused on innovating autonomous aviation transportation through AI. The Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous, and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) is designed to meet the expected demand for nearly 1 million uncrewed aircraft in the U.S. by 2027. AIDA3 will employ AI and machine learning to improve the safety and efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for essential applications, such as emergency services and humanitarian aid, collaborating with Windracers to develop effective solutions for real-world challenges in autonomous aviation.

Major players in the aircraft autopilot system market are forging strategic partnerships to drive product innovation and fortify their market positions. Collaborative endeavors in this realm foster advancements in specialized autopilot systems, enriching safety, operational efficiency, and overall functionality within the aviation sector. A prime example occurred in November 2023 when Standard Aero Holdings Inc., a US-based aircraft maintenance and repair entity, and Thales Group, a French technology conglomerate, jointly unveiled the cutting-edge 4-Axis Autopilot System, StableLight. Derived from Thales' Compact Autopilot System, StableLight is tailored for light rotorcraft, enhancing flight control by delivering transparent stability augmentation, minimizing pilot workload, and augmenting mission capabilities. Its advanced features include stabilized climb flight attitude recovery, auto hover, and other sophisticated functionalities, proving particularly effective in challenging conditions such as Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC). This strategic partnership underscores a dedication to safety, innovation, and meeting the dynamic demands of the aviation industry, marking a significant milestone in advancing top-tier autopilot systems specifically designed for light rotorcraft.

In June 2024, Joby Aviation Inc., a US-based manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, acquired the autonomy division of Xwin for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is expected to streamline current contracts and pave the way for future collaborations, especially in defense applications where autonomous systems are becoming increasingly important for improving operational efficiency and safety. Xwin is a US company that develops the autonomous gate-to-gate flight software known as Superpilot.

Major companies operating in the aircraft autopilot system market include Honeywell International Inc., MicroPilot, Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Collins Aerospace- RXT corporation, Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., Garmin Ltd., Airware, Dynon Avionics, Trimble Inc., Esterline Technologies Corporation, General Electric Company, Avidyne Corporation, Trio Avionics, Safran Electronics & Defense, Genesys Aerosystems, Cloud Cap Technology, Century Flight Systems, L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., Meggitt plc, Moog Inc., NavtechGPS, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Precision Flight Controls Inc., Sagem Avionics Inc., Sandel Avionics Inc., S-TEC Corporation, Thales Group, Aspen Avionics Inc., Universal Avionics Systems Corporation, Chelton Limited.

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

An aircraft autopilot system is a device designed to guide an aircraft without direct input from the pilot. This system operates as software or a tool that manages the aircraft under specific conditions by utilizing the vehicle's hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic systems. Its functions include controlling the flight plan, stabilizing speed and altitude, and managing the aircraft's direction.

The main components of an aircraft autopilot system include a computer system, gyros, GPS, and actuators. The aircraft computer system encompasses computerized components and systems utilized in aircraft. The autopilot system relies on a computer system to regulate the aircraft. The computing element of an autopilot can be analog or digital, and its role is to interpret data from sensing elements, integrate commands, and process navigational input. Types of aircraft autopilot systems include fixed-wing and rotary-wing systems, incorporating components such as attitude and heading reference systems, flight director systems, flight control systems, avionics systems, and more. Aircraft autopilot systems find applications in commercial, military, and civil aircraft.

The aircraft autopilot system market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides aircraft autopilot system market statistics, including aircraft autopilot system industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a aircraft autopilot system market share, detailed aircraft autopilot system market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the aircraft autopilot system industry. This aircraft autopilot system 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 aircraft autopilot system market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as direction assistance, navigation management, track guidance services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The aircraft autopilot system market also includes sales of sensing unit, autopilot computer, autopilot servo, command unit which are used in providing aircraft autopilot system services. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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.

This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.