Aircraft Computers Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Platform (Fixed-wing Aircraft, Rotary-wing Aircraft, UAV), By Type (Flight Controls, Engine controls, Flight Management Computers, Mission Computers, Utility Controls), By End User (OEM, Aftermarket), By Region, & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 7.78 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.81%
Fastest Growing Segment	Aftermarket
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 10.92 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Aircraft Computers Market will grow from USD 7.78 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.92 Billion by 2031 at a 5.81% CAGR. The Global Aircraft Computers Market comprises the domain of advanced onboard electronic systems responsible for processing flight data, controlling engine parameters, and managing navigation to ensure aerial safety and operational efficiency. The market is primarily propelled by the escalating production of commercial and military aircraft to meet rising global travel demand and the structural necessity of modernizing aging fleets with digital fly-by-wire interfaces. According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, in 2025, business jet shipments in the preceding year rose by 4.7 percent to reach 764 units, underscoring the strong manufacturing activity that directly fuels the procurement of these essential computing technologies.

Despite these favorable growth conditions, the market encounters a significant impediment regarding the rigorous certification processes mandated by aviation regulatory bodies. The substantial financial investment and extended duration required to validate new computing hardware against stringent safety standards can delay product deployment and strain the resources of manufacturers, thereby potentially impeding rapid market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating defense expenditures on advanced military aircraft programs significantly influence the demand for mission-critical onboard computing systems. Governments prioritize the procurement of modern fighters and unmanned systems equipped with avionics capable of processing complex sensor data and executing real-time tactical algorithms. This modernization requires high-performance processing units to handle encrypted communications, electronic warfare, and weapon targeting within integrated air defense networks. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, March 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request', the department allocated $61.2 billion for air power to continue developing, modernizing, and procuring aircraft, directly supporting the integration of advanced computing hardware in defense fleets.

Concurrently, the surge in air passenger traffic and fleet expansion in emerging economies necessitates the increased production of commercial airliners featuring digital flight decks. Airlines are aggressively expanding fleets to accommodate travel recovery, driving the installation of flight management systems and engine control computers that optimize routes and fuel usage. According to the International Air Transport Association, June 2024, in the 'Global Outlook for Air Transport', the industry expects to carry a record 4.96 billion passengers in 2024, a volume that mandates robust operational infrastructure. Consequently, OEMs are ramping up output to meet this backlog, as evidenced by major manufacturers increasing deliveries. According to Airbus, in January 2024, the company delivered 735 commercial aircraft throughout the previous year, highlighting the sustained need for avionics and embedded computing components.

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Key Market Challenges

The rigorous certification processes mandated by aviation regulatory bodies constitute a substantial barrier to the growth of the Global Aircraft Computers Market. Developing onboard electronic systems requires strict adherence to safety standards, necessitating exhaustive testing and validation cycles that consume significant financial resources and time. This regulatory complexity extends the product development lifecycle, often causing a lag between technological innovation and actual deployment. Manufacturers face the burden of sustaining high operational costs during these prolonged approval periods, which limits their capacity to rapidly introduce new computing solutions and deters smaller entities from entering the sector.

Consequently, these delays directly hinder the industry's ability to monetize the strong demand for new aircraft, as avionics are critical-path components for final delivery. The financial stakes tied to these potential bottlenecks are considerable. According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, in 2025, the total value of airplane deliveries for the preceding year amounted to $26.7 billion. This magnitude of capital throughput underscores how certification-related hold-ups can stall the realization of significant market revenue, effectively dampening the overall growth rate despite the availability of willing buyers.

Key Market Trends

The transition to a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) is fundamentally restructuring the Global Aircraft Computers Market by compelling manufacturers to abandon proprietary architectures in favor of standardized, interoperable hardware designs. This shift is particularly acute in the defense sector, where open standards like the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) allow for rapid technology insertion and reduced vendor lock-in, enabling armed forces to upgrade mission computing capabilities without replacing entire avionics suites. This demand for flexible, open-architecture solutions is driving significant financial gains for key component suppliers. According to Curtiss-Wright, May 2024, in the 'First Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company's Defense Electronics segment, a leader in MOSA-compliant open computing modules, reported sales of $212 million, representing a 31% increase driven by the ramp-up of tactical communications and electronic warfare programs.

Concurrently, the integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous flight algorithms is expanding the operational envelope of aircraft computers beyond simple data processing to complex decision-making. Avionics developers are actively embedding machine learning capabilities into flight decks to enable single-pilot operations and automated mission execution, thereby addressing pilot shortages and enhancing safety in contested environments. This technological leap is attracting substantial government investment aimed at operationalizing autonomy in military fleets, creating a lucrative niche for high-performance onboard computing platforms. According to Aviation Week, October 2024, in the article 'Honeywell To Integrate Merlin's Autonomy With Anthem Flight Deck', autonomy developer Merlin Labs secured a $105 million contract from the U.S. Special Operations Command to adapt its AI-driven pilot software for special missions aircraft, underscoring the growing valuation of software-defined autonomous capabilities.

Segmental Insights

The Aftermarket segment represents the fastest-growing area within the Global Aircraft Computers Market, driven by the critical need to upgrade aging aircraft fleets. Operators are prioritizing the retrofitting of existing airframes with updated flight management and mission computers to resolve component obsolescence and improve fuel efficiency. Furthermore, evolving airworthiness directives and safety regulations enforced by institutions such as the Federal Aviation Administration necessitate the installation of compliant avionics systems. This approach enables airlines to maintain operational standards and extend fleet lifecycles without incurring the high costs associated with purchasing new aircraft.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global aircraft computers market, driven by the presence of major original equipment manufacturers and a well-established aerospace infrastructure. The region experiences consistent demand for avionics systems due to significant defense expenditure by the United States for military fleet modernization. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration mandates rigorous safety and operational standards, compelling operators to upgrade flight management and mission computers to ensure compliance. This regulatory environment, combined with the continuous production and delivery of commercial aircraft, ensures sustained market expansion and reinforces North America’s status as the leading regional market.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, AMETEK Abaco Systems announced the launch of the MAGIC2, a next-generation high-performance modular mission computer designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern airborne defense operations. This ruggedized computing platform was engineered to deliver enhanced processing capabilities, supporting advanced applications such as artificial intelligence and deep learning directly on aircraft. The system featured a modular open systems approach, allowing for easier upgrades and interoperability with existing defense architectures. This product introduction underscored the company's commitment to providing scalable, safety-critical computing solutions that address the evolving technological needs of the global military aviation sector.
• In September 2025, Mercury Systems secured a $12.3 million development contract from a major defense prime contractor to engineer an advanced avionics subsystem for a new United States military aircraft fleet. The agreement involved the design and production of a Communication Management Unit control head, a critical computing interface responsible for consolidating and managing multiple cockpit communication systems. Utilizing its high-performance processing platform, the company aimed to enhance the pilot-machine interface and facilitate faster decision-making during missions. This award demonstrated the continued demand for sophisticated, purpose-built computing hardware capable of handling complex data streams in a defense environment.
• In January 2025, Honeywell and NXP Semiconductors expanded their strategic alliance to advance next-generation avionics and computing architectures for commercial aviation. The collaboration focused on integrating NXP’s high-performance processing technology with the Honeywell Anthem avionics suite to support AI-driven applications and future autonomous flight capabilities. By combining their industrial and semiconductor expertise, the companies aimed to optimize cockpit systems, improve operational efficiency, and streamline the certification process for advanced flight deck technologies. This partnership highlighted the growing importance of powerful, specialized computing processors in enabling the next era of connected and automated aircraft operations.
• In November 2024, Collins Aerospace was awarded a $19 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to upgrade the avionics systems of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter fleet. The project involved integrating the Common Avionics Architecture System, a digital open-systems flight deck solution that incorporates advanced flight and mission computers to manage navigation, communication, and situational awareness data. This technology update was designed to ensure interoperability between U.K. and U.S. forces while reducing pilot workload through enhanced digital map displays and system automation. The initiative reflected the sector's drive toward modernizing legacy aircraft with state-of-the-art computing power.

Key Market Players

• BAE Systems plc
• Cobham Limited
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Esterline Technologies Corporation
• Saab AB
• Rockwell Collins, Inc.
• United Technologies Corporation
• Thales Group
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Safran S.A

By Platform	By Type	By End User	By Region
Fixed-wing Aircraft Rotary-wing Aircraft UAV	Flight Controls Engine controls Flight Management Computers Mission Computers Utility Controls	OEM Aftermarket	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Aircraft Computers Market , By Platform:

• Fixed-wing Aircraft
• Rotary-wing Aircraft
• UAV

• Aircraft Computers Market , By Type:

• Flight Controls
• Engine controls
• Flight Management Computers
• Mission Computers
• Utility Controls

• Aircraft Computers Market , By End User:

• OEM
• Aftermarket

• Aircraft Computers Market , By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE