Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Aircraft Type (Commercial Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, General Aircraft, and Military Aircraft), By End Use (OEM, Aftermarket), By Region, Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market, valued at USD 2.15 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 6.29% to reach USD 3.10 Billion by 2030. Aerospace and defense wheels are essential components of aircraft landing gear systems, providing critical support and absorbing impact loads during taxiing, takeoff, and landing operations. The market's expansion is fundamentally driven by increasing global air passenger traffic, which necessitates greater commercial aircraft deliveries and fleet expansions. According to the International Air Transport Association, the number of air passengers is projected to reach 4.7 billion in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Further market impetus stems from ongoing military modernization programs and rising defense expenditures worldwide.

However, a significant challenge impeding market growth is the persistent disruption within global supply chains. These disruptions often lead to delays in the procurement of essential raw materials and specialized components, thereby affecting production schedules and increasing operational costs across the manufacturing sector.

Key Market Drivers

The Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market is significantly influenced by the increased deliveries of new commercial aircraft. As air passenger traffic continues to surge globally, airlines expand their fleets and adopt more wide-body aircraft to meet demand, directly driving the need for new wheels during initial aircraft assembly. These deliveries represent fundamental demand for original equipment manufacturer components, which include the complex wheel and braking systems essential for safe operations. According to Airbus, in January 2025, the company delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers in 2024, marking a 4 percent increase over the 735 aircraft delivered in 2023. Each new aircraft requires multiple sets of wheels, creating consistent demand for manufacturers.

Another pivotal factor is the rising global defense budgets and ongoing military modernization initiatives. Nations worldwide are increasing defense spending to upgrade existing fleets and acquire new generation military aircraft, which necessitates the procurement of advanced wheels designed for demanding operational environments. This push for modernization encompasses platforms across fighter, transport, and reconnaissance categories. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI, in April 2025, global military expenditure reached a historic $2.72 trillion in 2024, representing a 9.4% increase compared to 2023. The sustained investment across both commercial and defense sectors reinforces a robust market outlook. Overall, the aerospace and defense industry continues to demonstrate substantial economic activity; according to the Aerospace Industries Association AIA, in its 2025 Facts & Figures report, the US aerospace and defense industry generated $995 billion in combined sales in 2024, marking a 4.2 percent increase from the previous year.

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Key Market Challenges

A significant challenge impeding the growth of the Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market is the persistent disruption within global supply chains. These disruptions directly impact the ability of manufacturers to procure essential raw materials, such as specialized aluminum alloys and high-performance composites, alongside critical components required for aerospace and defense wheel production. This leads to extended lead times for manufacturing processes and increased operational costs for suppliers.

According to a 2024 survey conducted by leading European aerospace industry associations ADS, BDLI, and GIFAS, 66% of aerospace manufacturers reported experiencing ongoing supply chain disruptions, citing increased lead times and limited material availability for both raw materials and semi-finished goods. Such prolonged procurement cycles for materials and sub-assemblies consequently slow down the production and delivery of finished aerospace and defense wheels. This creates bottlenecks in the broader aircraft manufacturing and maintenance sectors, ultimately hindering market expansion by limiting the timely supply of these essential landing gear components to meet rising demand from both commercial and military clients.

Key Market Trends

The integration of additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, into wheel production is a pivotal trend, offering advancements in design flexibility, weight reduction, and production efficiency for aerospace and defense components. This technology enables intricate internal geometries and consolidated parts, leading to lighter, stronger wheels with optimized performance. On-demand manufacturing further streamlines supply chains and shortens lead times for specialized wheel systems. Collins Aerospace, a key industry player, inaugurated a US$14 million expansion of its additive manufacturing center in West Des Moines, Iowa, in July 2023, enhancing its capacity for complex aerospace part production and indicating broader application across landing gear components. This investment highlights the strategic shift towards innovative production methodologies.

The emergence of hybrid electric and electric aircraft profoundly impacts aerospace and defense wheel requirements, necessitating specialized designs. These novel platforms, from urban air mobility solutions to regional transporters, present distinct operational profiles, weight distributions, and thermal considerations. Electric propulsion systems directly influence material selection and structural integrity for their wheels. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported in February 2025 that general aviation airplane shipments increased by 4.2% to 1,772 units in 2024, with electric and low-emission piston aircraft contributing to this market segment. This increasing presence of electric platforms, exemplified by Safran's December 2024 successful first flight of the INTEGRAL E all-electric training aircraft, drives demand for purpose-built and adaptable wheel solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Commercial Aircraft segment stands out as the fastest-growing area within the Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market. This robust expansion is primarily driven by the escalating worldwide air passenger traffic, which directly necessitates continuous fleet growth and increased deliveries of new commercial aircraft. Additionally, the need for modernizing existing aircraft fleets and replacing worn components further propels demand for advanced wheels. Manufacturers are also responding to the industry's focus on enhanced operational efficiency and safety by developing innovative, lightweight, and durable wheel technologies, thereby accelerating growth in this segment.

Regional Insights

North America is a pivotal region in the Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market, demonstrating strong leadership due to its established industrial base and significant investments. This dominance is primarily driven by the presence of major commercial aircraft original equipment manufacturers like Boeing, alongside a robust aftermarket for aerospace components. Additionally, substantial defense spending by the US Department of Defense fuels demand for advanced aerospace and defense systems. The region benefits from stringent regulatory frameworks, including Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) from the U. S. Department of State, which uphold rigorous quality and safety standards within the manufacturing sector. These factors collectively contribute to North America's prominent market position.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, Safran Landing Systems inaugurated new industrial facilities at its Molsheim site in France, enhancing production and maintenance capacities for landing and braking systems. Among the additions were new surface treatment lines, including a Sulfuric Acid Anodizing line, which processes wheels, hydraulic rings, and other new aluminum components for wheel and brake assemblies. This strategic investment modernizes the site's capabilities, utilizing digital technologies for real-time production data monitoring to ensure optimal quality and meet growing demands in both commercial aviation and defense sectors.

• In March 2025, Safran Landing Systems advanced its electric-taxiing system for future narrowbody aircraft. The ongoing refinement of this eTaxi system, which integrates electric motors with the main landing gear wheels, aims to reduce block fuel burn by up to four percent. This technology is being developed for direct integration into new aircraft, offering a removable and optional unit. The company is progressing this system through technology readiness levels, emphasizing a cleaner interface and minimal added weight compared to retrofit solutions, contributing to environmental efficiencies at airports.

• In July 2024, Safran Landing Systems secured and renewed several significant agreements for its wheels and carbon brakes within the global aerospace market. China Postal Airlines signed a long-term agreement to equip its Boeing 737 freighter fleet with Safran's durable and lightweight carbon brakes. Additionally, Spirit Airlines renewed its long-term partnership with Safran for its A320 fleet support. GOL also reinforced its relationship, signing a new agreement for its 737NG/MAX fleet, which included an upgrade to Safran's carbon brake configuration.

• In April 2024, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) highlighted a successful application of additive manufacturing within its defense operations. A key achievement involved repairing tire rim assemblies for F/A-18 Hornets, addressing a persistent issue where hard landings on carrier decks could deform landing gear wheel hubs. By utilizing additive manufacturing techniques, NAVAIR demonstrated an enhanced capability to repair these critical wheel components, thereby reducing the need to discard them. This breakthrough provided a more efficient solution for returning grounded aircraft to service and improving fleet readiness.

Key Market Players

• UTC
• Safran
• Magellan
• GKN
• CIRCOR
• Heroux-Devtek
• Parker Hannifin
• Eaton
• Woodward
• Triumph

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market, By Aircraft Type:

o   Commercial Aircraft

o   Regional Aircraft

o   General Aircraft

o   Military Aircraft

• Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market, By End Use:

o   OEM

o   Aftermarket

• Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Aerospace and Defense Wheel Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

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

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