Aviation Actuator System Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Electric, Electrohydraulic, Others), By Aircraft Type (Narrow Body Aircraft, Wide Body Aircraft & Others), By Application (Flight Control, Landing Gear, Auxiliary Control), By End User (Commercial Aviation and Defense), By Region and Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 18.67 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.91%
Fastest Growing Segment	Wide Body Aircraft
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 31.16 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Aviation Actuator System Market will grow from USD 18.67 Billion in 2025 to USD 31.16 Billion by 2031 at a 8.91% CAGR. The Global Aviation Actuator System Market involves the engineering and manufacturing of critical components responsible for controlling flight surfaces, landing gears, and auxiliary mechanisms by converting energy into precise motion. The primary driver supporting market growth is the robust recovery in global air travel, which necessitates substantial fleet expansion and the modernization of existing aircraft with fuel-efficient technologies. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, total full-year traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers rose 10.4% compared to 2023. This surge in passenger demand directly accelerates the procurement of new commercial aircraft and subsequently bolsters the requirement for reliable actuation systems.

Despite these positive growth indicators, the market faces a significant challenge regarding supply chain volatility and the scarcity of raw materials required for high-precision manufacturing. Manufacturers often encounter difficulties in sourcing aerospace-grade alloys and specialized electronic components, which can lead to production delays and increased operational costs. These supply bottlenecks may hinder the ability of actuator suppliers to meet the aggressive delivery schedules mandated by major aircraft original equipment manufacturers, potentially impeding the overall expansion of the sector in the immediate future.

Key Market Drivers

The surge in military aviation modernization and defense spending acts as a primary catalyst for the aviation actuator market. escalating geopolitical tensions are compelling nations to aggressively upgrade air defense capabilities, directly fueling the procurement of next-generation fighter jets, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and precision-guided munitions. These advanced platforms require high-performance, ruggedized actuation systems for precise flight control, landing gear deployment, and weapon release mechanisms under extreme conditions. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), April 2025, global military expenditure reached a historic high of $2.72 trillion in 2024, a financial surge that underpins the sustained demand for specialized aerospace components and retrofitting services.

Concurrently, the emergence of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL platforms is creating a new, high-growth vertical for actuation technologies. These electric aircraft necessitate the adoption of lightweight electromechanical actuators (EMAs) to manage distributed electric propulsion and tilt-rotor functions, replacing heavier hydraulic counterparts to maximize range and efficiency. While the traditional commercial sector remains robust—demonstrated by Airbus delivering 766 commercial aircraft in 2024 according to its January 2025 press release—the UAM sector is rapidly transitioning from prototyping to scaled manufacturing. Highlighting this industrial ramp-up, according to Joby Aviation, December 2025, the company has committed investments to double its manufacturing capacity to support a production output of four aircraft per month by 2027.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

Supply chain volatility and the scarcity of raw materials currently act as a substantial impediment to the growth of the Global Aviation Actuator System Market. Actuators rely heavily on specific aerospace-grade alloys and complex electronic sub-components to ensure precise flight control and safety. When manufacturers cannot secure these essential inputs, production cycles extend significantly, forcing companies to absorb higher operational costs while failing to meet the rigid delivery timelines required by aircraft original equipment manufacturers. This bottleneck restricts the industry's ability to convert the current high demand into realized revenue.

The impact of these shortages is evident in the reduced output of finished commercial aircraft, which directly correlates to a stagnation in actuator installations. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the total number of aircraft deliveries was limited to 1,254 units, representing a 30% decline from the volume originally predicted for the year due to persistent supply chain constraints. This reduction in aircraft completions forces actuator suppliers to delay revenue recognition and limits the overall financial expansion of the sector.

Key Market Trends

The transition toward More Electric Aircraft (MEA) architectures is fundamentally reshaping actuator design by replacing centralized hydraulic loops with distributed power-by-wire systems. This shift is primarily aimed at commercial aviation to eliminate heavy hydraulic infrastructure, thereby reducing aircraft weight and optimizing fuel consumption. By utilizing electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHA) and electro-mechanical actuators (EMA) for flight control surfaces, manufacturers can decouple engine power generation from actuation loads, leading to significant efficiency gains. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, December 2025, in the 'Analysing the impact of operational efficiencies on aviation' report, the adoption of such ground-based and in-flight operational efficiency measures, including advanced electric systems, could allow short-haul flights to achieve fuel savings of up to 25% under the most ambitious scenarios.

Concurrently, the integration of smart actuators with health monitoring capabilities is transforming maintenance strategies from reactive to predictive paradigms. These advanced units feature embedded sensors that continuously transmit performance data, such as vibration and temperature, to centralized health management systems, enabling operators to predict component failures before they disrupt schedules. This capability is critical for airlines seeking to minimize aircraft-on-ground (AOG) time and control spiraling maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) expenses. Highlighting the rapid industry uptake of these connected technologies, according to RTX, November 2025, in the 'Qatar Airways taps RTX's Collins Aerospace to optimize 787 fleet' press release, the company's Ascentia analytics solution now supports nearly 40% of the Boeing 787 aircraft in operation today, underscoring the vital role of data-driven actuation in modern fleet management.

Segmental Insights

The Wide Body Aircraft segment is currently identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Aviation Actuator System Market. This accelerated expansion is primarily driven by the robust resurgence of long-haul international travel, which has compelled airlines to prioritize the modernization of their heavy-lift fleets. Next-generation wide-body platforms are increasingly adopting More Electric Aircraft (MEA) architectures to optimize fuel efficiency, necessitating the integration of advanced electromechanical actuators. Furthermore, compliance with rigorous environmental and safety mandates from regulatory institutions such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to incentivize the replacement of aging vessels with these newer, high-efficiency aircraft.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global aviation actuator system market, driven primarily by the high concentration of major aircraft manufacturers and defense contractors within the United States. This leadership is supported by substantial procurement activities and modernization programs initiated by the Department of Defense, which sustains demand for military aviation components. Furthermore, the Federal Aviation Administration enforces rigorous safety regulations that necessitate the integration of reliable and compliant actuation technologies across commercial fleets. The robust local supply chain and continuous focus on fleet expansion ensure that the region remains the central hub for market development.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, Safran completed the acquisition of the flight control and actuation business of Collins Aerospace, a transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion. This major consolidation event integrates Collins Aerospace’s extensive hydraulic and mechanical actuation capabilities with Safran’s existing portfolio of electromechanical and electronic systems. The acquisition, which encompasses facilities across Europe and Asia, positions Safran as a global leader in the aviation actuator system market. The expanded business is expected to strengthen Safran's ability to deliver comprehensive, integrated actuation solutions for future aircraft programs, supporting the industry's transition toward more electric and intelligent flight control architectures.
• In June 2025, Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it had been selected to supply its compact nano motion controller technology to Airbus UpNext for the eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator. This project involves the integration of Curtiss-Wright’s high-density servo controllers into a custom electro-mechanical actuation system, which will manage the active surfaces of an experimental wing designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. The collaboration aims to validate advanced actuation concepts that can significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions. This development demonstrates the critical role of precision actuation control systems in enabling next-generation aircraft performance and decarbonization strategies.
• In July 2024, Honeywell announced a strategic collaboration with Electra.aero to provide flight control computers and electromechanical actuation systems for a new hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing aircraft. This agreement involves the deployment of Honeywell’s lightweight actuation technologies, which utilize electric power instead of traditional hydraulics to drive flight control surfaces. The adoption of these electromechanical systems is intended to reduce aircraft weight and improve efficiency, enabling the aircraft to operate from ultra-short runways. This partnership highlights the increasing shift toward electric actuation solutions in the development of sustainable regional air mobility platforms.
• In June 2024, Liebherr-Aerospace was selected by Airbus to develop and supply the next generation of integrated flight control computers for the A320 commercial aircraft family. These advanced systems, which will be developed and manufactured at Liebherr's facilities in Germany, serve as the critical control interface for the aircraft's actuation mechanisms. The new flight control computers are designed with a modular architecture to support future functional upgrades and enhance the overall safety and reliability of the fleet. This collaboration reinforces Liebherr’s position as a key supplier of integrated flight control solutions in the global aviation market.

Key Market Players

• Honeywell International Inc.
• Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Moog Inc.
• Safran SA
• RTX Corporation
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Eaton Corporation plc
• Liebherr Group
• AMETEK Inc.
• Woodward, Inc.

By Product	By Aircraft Type	By Application	By End User	By Region
Electric Electrohydraulic Others	Narrow Body Aircraft Wide Body Aircraft & Others	Flight Control Landing Gear Auxiliary Control	Commercial Aviation and Defense	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Aviation Actuator System Market, By Product:

• Electric
• Electrohydraulic
• Others

• Aviation Actuator System Market, By Aircraft Type:

• Narrow Body Aircraft
• Wide Body Aircraft & Others

• Aviation Actuator System Market, By Application:

• Flight Control
• Landing Gear
• Auxiliary Control

• Aviation Actuator System Market, By End User:

• Commercial Aviation and Defense

• Aviation Actuator System 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