Attack Helicopter Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Maximum Takeoff Weight (Below 8 Metric Tons, Above 8 Metric Tons), By Type (Single-engine, Twin-engine), By Platform (Army, Navy, Air Force), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 59.81 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.11%
Fastest Growing Segment	Above 8 Metric Tons
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 90.31 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Attack Helicopter Market will grow from USD 59.81 Billion in 2025 to USD 90.31 Billion by 2031 at a 7.11% CAGR. An attack helicopter is a specialized military rotary-wing aircraft designed principally to engage ground targets such as infantry, armored vehicles, and fortifications using onboard weaponry like autocannons, rockets, and guided missiles. The global market for these assets is primarily propelled by escalating geopolitical tensions that necessitate robust close air support capabilities and the urgent need for national defense forces to modernize aging fleets with advanced combat platforms.

Despite this growth potential, the market faces a significant challenge in the form of exorbitant development and acquisition costs which can strain the budgets of emerging economies and limit procurement volumes. This financial pressure contrasts with the broader sector expansion as evidenced by recent industrial data. According to the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in 2024, defense sector turnover increased by 13.8 percent to reach 183.4 billion euros due to heightened global security requirements and budget allocations.

Key Market Drivers

Rising global defense budgets and military spending constitute a primary catalyst for the attack helicopter market. As nations perceive heightened security threats, governments allocate substantial funds to strengthen their aerial combat capabilities, prioritizing platforms that offer superior firepower and survivability. This fiscal expansion directly facilitates the procurement of modern rotary-wing assets despite their high unit costs. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2024, in the 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023' Fact Sheet, total global military expenditure reached $2443 billion in 2023, representing an increase of 6.8 percent in real terms from the previous year. Such financial growth enables defense departments to initiate long-term acquisition programs for attack helicopters to maintain air superiority in potential conflict zones.

The modernization and replacement of aging fleet inventories further drives market momentum as armed forces retire obsolete airframes to integrate newer technology. Military organizations are transitioning away from legacy platforms to models equipped with digital connectivity, improved sensors, and precision-guided munitions capabilities. A notable instance of this trend is the replacement of Soviet-era equipment in Eastern Europe. According to The Boeing Company, August 2024, in the 'Poland Signs LOA for 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Helicopters' release, the Polish government finalized an agreement to acquire 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to replace its aging Mi-24 fleet. This modernization effort is mirrored globally, supported by sustained funding streams for established platforms. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, in 2024, the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request included $659.9 million for the AH-64E Apache remanufacture and new build program.

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Key Market Challenges

The global attack helicopter market is severely constrained by the prohibitive costs associated with the development and acquisition of these advanced aerial combat systems. Modern attack helicopters require the integration of intricate avionics, stealth technologies, and precision weapon systems, all of which drive up manufacturing expenses significantly. These financial demands place a substantial burden on national defense budgets, particularly for emerging economies that must balance military modernization with other domestic priorities. Consequently, many nations are forced to reduce procurement volumes or delay fleet updates, directly impeding the market's expansion.

This economic strain is further exacerbated by inflationary pressures that erode the purchasing power of defense allocations. According to the Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS), in 2025, the aerospace and defense industry faced a cumulative inflation of nearly 18 percent over the preceding five years. This sharp rise in costs diminishes the real value of defense spending, making it increasingly difficult for governments to afford high-capital assets like attack helicopters. As a result, the high unit price and sustainment costs remain a primary obstacle to broader market adoption.

Key Market Trends

The deployment of Air-Launched Effects (ALE) and loitering munitions is significantly transforming the Global Attack Helicopter Market, shifting the operational paradigm from standalone gunships to networked manned-unmanned teams. Military forces are increasingly prioritizing the integration of small, autonomous drones capable of launching directly from rotorcraft to extend sensor ranges and engage threats in contested airspace without risking the aircrew. This tactical evolution is driving substantial capital reallocation within defense portfolios, moving funds from traditional platform development toward advanced unmanned adjuncts. According to Defense News, March 2024, in the 'US Army faces flat FY25 budget as personnel costs rise' article, the U.S. Army plans to redirect $4.5 billion from the canceled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program to fund priorities including future unmanned aerial systems, launched effects, and loitering munitions.

Concurrent with this unmanned integration is the accelerated development of high-speed next-generation rotorcraft designed to overcome the velocity and range limitations of legacy fleets. To maintain relevance in near-peer conflicts, defense departments are investing heavily in tiltrotor and compound helicopter architectures that offer deep-strike capabilities far exceeding current technological standards. This pursuit of enhanced performance is evidenced by sustained funding for advanced development programs despite broader fiscal constraints. According to the U.S. Army, March 2024, in the 'FY2025 President's Budget Highlights', the service requested $1.26 billion for Aviation Advanced Development to continue the prototyping and manufacturing of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), underscoring the strategic commitment to fielding next-generation vertical lift technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Above 8 Metric Tons segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category in the Global Attack Helicopter Market, driven by a surge in demand for high-endurance platforms with enhanced combat survivability. Defense agencies prioritize these heavier rotorcraft for their ability to carry extensive weapon payloads and integrated sensor suites required for multi-domain operations. This weight class supports critical armor and redundant propulsion systems, ensuring operational resilience in contested airspaces. Consequently, major military modernization programs are increasingly focusing on these robust airframes to deliver substantial firepower and extended range capabilities essential for contemporary tactical missions.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global attack helicopter market, driven primarily by substantial defense appropriations within the United States. The United States Department of Defense actively funds extensive fleet modernization programs and the procurement of next-generation rotorcraft to maintain operational readiness. Additionally, the region benefits from the presence of established original equipment manufacturers that support continuous technological integration and production capabilities. This strong domestic demand, combined with strategic foreign military sales to allied nations, ensures a sustained competitive advantage and reinforces North America’s leadership in the sector.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Korea Aerospace Industries delivered the first two units of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) to the Republic of Korea Army during a ceremony at its headquarters in Sacheon. These helicopters, named "Miron," marked the commencement of a strategic deployment plan intended to replace the military's legacy fleet of MD500 and AH-1S Cobra aircraft by 2031. The newly delivered platforms are equipped with a state-of-the-art 4-axis automatic flight control system and are armed with the domestically developed Cheongeom air-to-ground missile, significantly enhancing the army's precision strike and reconnaissance capabilities.
• In September 2024, the AW249 Fenice attack helicopter, developed by Leonardo, participated in its first major operational exercise, "Stella Alpina 2024," held in the Italian Dolomites. During the event, the pre-production aircraft operated within a tactical bubble to demonstrate its advanced multi-domain capabilities, including interoperability with remotely piloted systems and resilience against cyber and electromagnetic threats. This participation represented a critical phase in the development program aimed at replacing the Italian Army's aging A129 Mangusta fleet, validating the platform's performance in high-altitude environments and its integration into digitized combat networks.
• In August 2024, the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed a definitive Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States government to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters manufactured by Boeing. The Foreign Military Sales agreement, valued at approximately $10 billion, marked a major expansion of Poland's defensive capabilities and established the nation as the largest operator of the Apache platform outside the United States. As part of the acquisition, a detailed offset agreement was finalized to ensure that the Polish defense industry would provide long-term maintenance and operational support for the fleet, fostering significant industrial collaboration.
• In June 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defence issued a formal Request for Proposal to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of 156 Prachand Light Combat Helicopters. The project, estimated to be worth over 450 billion rupees, aims to equip the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force with a domestically manufactured platform capable of operating in high-altitude terrain. The Prachand is designed to meet the specific requirements of the armed forces for operations in the Himalayan frontier, featuring the ability to take off and land at altitudes of 5,000 meters while carrying a significant weapons payload.

Key Market Players

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
• Changhe aircraft industries corporation
• Denel Aeronautics
• Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• Airbus SE
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• The Boeing Company
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

By Maximum Takeoff Weight	By Type	By Platform	By Region
Below 8 Metric Tons Above 8 Metric Tons	Single-engine Twin-engine	Army Navy Air Force	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Attack Helicopter Market, By Maximum Takeoff Weight:

• Below 8 Metric Tons
• Above 8 Metric Tons

• Attack Helicopter Market, By Type:

• Single-engine
• Twin-engine

• Attack Helicopter Market, By Platform:

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force

• Attack Helicopter 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