Global Aircraft Struts and Rods Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2024-2029

Struts and rods are essential components used in aircraft to provide structural support, stability, and functionality. They play crucial roles in maintaining the integrity of the aircraft's structure, distributing loads, and enabling various systems to operate effectively. Both struts and rods are critical for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of an aircraft. Shock absorbing and load bearing are the key aspects of an aircraft strut, whereas rods are typically used to hold open and control various doors/opening of aircraft, such as access panel doors, thrust reverser doors, engine fan cowl doors, radomes, flight control, and APU doors. Aerodynamics, structural integrity, flight safety, and other functional parameters are some of the major factors that need to be considered when designing rods and struts for aircraft.

The aircraft industry was significantly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Aircraft struts and rods, a sizeable market, witnessed a colossal decline of more than 30% in 2020 amid the pandemic, quite aligned with the decline in aircraft production. The industry was expecting a gradual recovery in the year 2021 with the ramp-up in consumer confidence; however, due to unprecedented changes, the industry got encircled with several challenges, such as financial crises and supply-chain disruptions. This, along with the temporary suspension of B787 aircraft deliveries, has thwarted market hope for the commencement of recovery in 2021. However, the market bounced back to its path of recovery from 2022 onward. The year 2023 has been another year of recovery for the commercial aircraft industry, owing to the increase in the number of orders of both, Airbus and Boeing, for each of their aircraft programs.

An increase in production rates of the key aircraft programs, increasing demand for aircraft cabin upgrades, and advancements in the aircraft industry, such as the integration of several aircraft components, technological advancements, and increasing penetration of composite content in the aircraft; are some of the key driving factors for the aircraft struts and rods market in the coming years. Apart from the organic growth of the aircraft industry, the constant focus of the strut and rod manufacturers on optimizing weight, cost, durability, reliability, and performance ratios, is fueling extraordinary growth in the market. Overall, it is anticipated that the market for aircraft struts and rods to grow at a healthy CAGR of 6.3% over the long term, reaching US$ 2.3 billion in 2029.

Over the years, the aircraft struts and rods market has been witnessing gradual consolidation with several bigger aerospace companies and various smaller companies. For instance, Precision Castparts Corp. acquired SKF Aerospace St-Vallier Rods Division (Kalistrut Aerospace) in 2013 and SPS Technologies (Avibank) in 2003. TransDigm Group, Inc. acquired Aviation Technologies Inc. (Avtech Tyee), McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc. (Hartwell), and MarathonNorco. However, it has been found that there have been distinct market leaders in different categories (landing gear strut, engine strut, floor beam strut, control rods, etc.) of the market.

Some Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions: Out of some JVs and acquisitions, the most noticeable one is, in August 2021, Groupe Latécoère, one of the leading players in aerostructures and interconnection systems, acquired Belgium-based Technical Airborne Components (TAC) from Searchlight Capital Partners. The investment firm acquired TAC from TransDigm Group, Inc. TAC is one of the leading European designers and manufacturers of rods and struts for the aerospace industry.

Based on the aircraft type, the aircraft struts and rods market is segmented into narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, regional aircraft, military aircraft, general aviation, helicopter, and UAVs. Narrow-body and wide-body aircraft are likely to continue as the primary demand generators of struts and rods. Huge growth is anticipated to be supported by the projected plans of the OEMs to increase production rates of key aircraft programs like the B737, A320 family, B787, and A350XWB; new players entering the market, like COMAC; upcoming variants of the currently best-selling aircraft program the B777X; and rising demand for lightweight, cost-effective, and durable struts and rods.

Based on the product type, the market is segmented into struts and rods. Strut is expected to remain the most preferred product in the market during the forecast period, owing to its wider applications and high cost. Struts are primarily used to distribute loads between two locations and also act as shock absorbers for landing gear applications.

Based on the mechanism type, the market is segmented into telescopic struts and rods, fixed struts and rods, and folding struts and rods. It is anticipated that the telescopic mechanism will continue to dominate the market during the forecast period as it can extend with ease and control. Major applications include landing gear, cargo access, engine nacelles, maintenance doors, and access panels.

Based on the application type, the market is segmented into landing gear, fuselage, nacelle/engine, and others. The landing gear is anticipated to remain the dominant application in the market during the forecast period. The weight of the entire aircraft can only be supported by the landing gear of the aircraft during take-off, landing, and when the aircraft remains stationary on the ground; struts are made to handle substantial weights and transmit the loads efficiently, ensuring the structural integrity of the aircraft. Also, struts are equipped with shock-absorbing mechanisms to cushion the impact of landing on the ground.

Based on the end-user type, the market is segmented into OE and aftermarket. OE is expected to remain the dominant end-user type in the market during the forecast period, owing to the expected increase in production rates of key aircraft programs led by an expected recovery in air passenger traffic, and the longer life span of struts and rods.

Based on the material type, the market is segmented into metal struts and rods and composite struts and rods. Metallic struts and rods are projected to maintain their dominance in the market during the forecast period, whereas composite struts and rods are likely to experience the fastest growth during the same period. Composite provides significant weight savings over metal equivalents, typically around 30%-70%. Composite struts offer around a 60% increase in weight-bearing capacity compared to metal struts.

In terms of regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft struts and rods during the forecast period, mainly driven by the USA, the manufacturing hub of the aircraft industry. The region is home to global aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus. In the next five years, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest pace, led by the rising demand for commercial aircraft from emerging economies like China and India. Furthermore, the establishment of assembly plants by Airbus and Boeing in the region is boosting regional demand. The increasing development of indigenous aircraft is another factor boosting demand for struts and rods in the region.

Key Players

The market is moderately populated, with the presence of some local, regional, and global players. Major aircraft tier players are integrated and manufacture systems as well as their struts and rods in-house. Also, there is a fair presence of independent companies in the market. The following are the key players in the aircraft struts and rods market:

• Safran S.A.
• Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
• Liebherr
• Heroux-Devtek Inc.
• Precision Castparts Corp.
• Groupe Latécoère
• TransDigm Group
• Collins Aerospace
• Triumph Group, Inc.
• Albany International

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft struts and rods market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with the analyst's internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. The analyst conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis
• Market trend and forecast analysis
• Market segment trend and forecast
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Product portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities
• Emerging trends
• Strategic growth opportunities for existing and new players
• Key success factors

The Aircraft Struts and Rods Market is segmented into the following categories:

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by Aircraft Type

• Narrow-Body Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Wide-Body Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Helicopter (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• UAV (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by Application Type

• Landing Gear (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Fuselage (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Nacelle/Engine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by Product Type

• Struts (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by Material Type

• Metal Struts and Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Composite Struts and Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by End-User Type

• OE (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aftermarket (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, by Mechanism Type

• Telescopic Struts and Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Fixed Struts and Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Folding Struts and Rods (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Struts and Rods Market, 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: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)