Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Aircraft Type (Combat Aircraft, Non-Combat Aircraft, Special Mission Aircraft, Tanker and Transport Aircraft, Others), By Component (Antenna Transponder Receiver, Transmitter, Display & Processors), By Application (SATCOM, VHF and UHF, HF and MF), By Region, Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market will grow from USD 6.80 Billion in 2024 to USD 10.45 Billion by 2030 at a 7.42% CAGR. Military aircraft communication avionics refer to the electronic systems and equipment integrated into military aircraft that enable secure, reliable voice and data exchange between aircraft, ground assets, and other platforms, crucial for operational effectiveness and real-time situational awareness. The market's growth is primarily driven by increasing global defense budgets, the imperative to modernize existing aircraft fleets, and escalating geopolitical tensions necessitating enhanced command and control capabilities and seamless interoperability for multi-domain operations. According to the European Defence Agency, EU defence investment, which encompasses equipment procurement and research and development, exceeded €100 billion in 2024, representing 31 percent of total defence spending.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion stems from the complex regulatory frameworks and lengthy certification processes inherent to new avionics systems. These stringent requirements often prolong development cycles and increase associated costs, potentially slowing the adoption of advanced communication technologies. Furthermore, persistent global supply chain disruptions for critical electronic components can constrain production capabilities and impact delivery timelines.

Key Market Drivers

The Global Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market is significantly influenced by escalating global defense budgets and persistent geopolitical tensions. Increased defense spending worldwide directly translates into greater procurement and upgrade opportunities for advanced communication avionics, as nations prioritize enhancing military capabilities in response to evolving threat landscapes. This financial commitment ensures the development and deployment of robust, secure, and resilient communication systems essential for effective command and control in complex operational environments. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 2025, Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2024, global military expenditure rose by 9.4% in 2024 to $2.7 trillion, marking the steepest yearly increase since the Cold War. This substantial rise in defense allocations provides the necessary capital for investing in next-generation communication platforms.

A second critical driver is the ongoing modernization of existing military aircraft fleets. Many air forces globally operate aging platforms that require comprehensive upgrades to maintain operational relevance and integrate with modern network-centric warfare capabilities. These modernization efforts frequently include replacing outdated communication avionics with advanced systems offering enhanced data rates, improved security features, and greater resistance to electronic interference. For instance, the Block 4 upgrade for F-35 fighter jets includes substantial enhancements to electronic warfare systems, integral for secure communication and situational awareness. According to BAE Systems, April 2023, BAE Systems to manufacture advanced Block 4 F-35 electronic warfare systems to defeat evolving threats, the company received $491 million in contracts to produce state-of-the-art Block 4 electronic warfare systems for future F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. Demonstrating ongoing investment, according to BAE Systems, in April 2024, it received a contract worth nearly USD 459 million from the U.S. Department of Defense for its AN/ARC-231/A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Suite.

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Key Market Challenges

The complex regulatory frameworks and lengthy certification processes inherent to new avionics systems represent a significant challenge for the "Global Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market". These stringent requirements directly impede market expansion by substantially prolonging development cycles and increasing associated costs, which in turn slows the adoption of advanced communication technologies. This regulatory burden affects critical product lifecycles, from initial design through testing and eventual operational deployment.

The cumulative growth of these rigorous requirements creates significant burdens for contractors, driving up expenses and delaying the delivery of essential materiel and services to the warfighter. This directly limits the pace at which innovation can be integrated into military fleets, impacting modernization efforts and overall operational effectiveness. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, U.S. aerospace and defense exports reached a total value of $138.7 billion from 2023 to 2024, illustrating the immense scale of the market grappling with these compliance complexities. These prolonged timelines and elevated compliance expenditures ultimately translate into slower market growth for military aircraft communication avionics, as fewer advanced systems attain operational readiness in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Key Market Trends

The increased integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in military aircraft communication systems represents a significant trend. This technological evolution enhances real-time decision-making capabilities, optimizes signal processing efficiency, and facilitates autonomous operations, particularly in environments where traditional communication links are challenged. Substantial investments in research and development are accelerating the deployment of these intelligent capabilities across defense applications. For example, in November 2025, ePlaneAI reported on the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which is developing the Fury drone utilizing AI-driven systems for semi-autonomous flight operations, highlighting a critical advancement in military aviation communication. This integration is crucial for processing vast amounts of sensor data, enabling predictive maintenance, and establishing more resilient and adaptable communication networks.

The emergence of secure airborne networking solutions constitutes another pivotal trend, driven by the imperative for robust and resilient communication infrastructure. These initiatives focus on establishing interconnected, protected networks across diverse airborne platforms, facilitating seamless and confidential data exchange essential for multi-domain operations. This trend emphasizes comprehensive security architectures designed to counter evolving cyber threats and maintain uninterrupted command and control. Illustrating this commitment, Airbus, in November 2025, confirmed that its EUropean Cyber and INFormation warfare toolbox (EUCINF) project, coordinated with 22 companies, secured funding from the European Union under the European Defence Fund (EDF) to develop next-generation capabilities for defending information space. This collaborative effort is essential for ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and availability in complex electronic warfare environments.

Segmental Insights

The Combat Aircraft segment is experiencing rapid growth within the Global Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market due to evolving geopolitical landscapes and increasing defense expenditures worldwide, which fuel extensive fleet modernization programs and the procurement of advanced aircraft. This expansion is fundamentally driven by the imperative for secure and resilient communication networks to support enhanced situational awareness, seamless interoperability, and effective network-centric operations in contemporary warfare. The continuous integration of advanced data link technologies and superior connectivity with command and control systems is essential for maintaining operational advantage, thereby significantly contributing to this segment's accelerated growth.

Regional Insights

North America leads the global Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market, primarily driven by substantial defense expenditures within the region, particularly from the United States. This dominance stems from a consistent commitment to technological advancements in defense, fostered by a robust industrial ecosystem comprising major defense contractors and research institutions. The continuous investment by the U.S. Department of Defense in modernizing its air fleet, alongside extensive upgrade programs for existing military aircraft, necessitates the deployment of state-of-the-art communication avionics. The region's active involvement in global security operations further underpins the imperative for sophisticated and reliable communication systems, solidifying its preeminent market position.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, Thales secured a new contract with Airbus Defence & Space to provide its safety satellite communication (satcom) system for the A400M military transport aircraft. This agreement reinforces Thales's commitment to delivering high-performance connectivity solutions essential for ensuring mission success and operational efficiency. The contract also marks a further step in the integration of Cobham Aerospace Communications, which Thales acquired in April 2024, a company specializing in secure communication systems for cockpits. The Thales AVIATOR 700S cockpit satcom system provides Viasat’s SB-S services and Inmarsat for military aviation, supplying critical flight data and expanding secure connectivity.

• In March 2025, Collins Aerospace was awarded an $80 million contract to upgrade the avionics system of U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters. This modernization effort, under the H-60M MOSA Avionics Architecture Solution program, aims to enhance cockpit capabilities and improve interoperability across various battlefields. The core technology for this upgrade is the company's Mosarc product family, which incorporates a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture. This design facilitates the swift integration of new technologies, ensuring real-time updates and the rapid deployment of mission-critical communication capabilities, vital for joint and coalition operations.

• In November 2024, Collins Aerospace secured a US$19 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to equip the UK Royal Air Force's new H-47 Chinook helicopters with its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS). This advanced avionics management suite aims to align the UK's Chinook fleet with U.S. Chinooks, incorporating modern digital cockpit displays and applications to improve interoperability. The CAAS system, utilizing a Flight2 Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture, integrates various communications, navigation, and mission sensor subsystems. This contract is intended to enhance the operational effectiveness and safety of the heavy-lift aircraft in complex environments.

• In September 2024, L3Harris Technologies announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the US Air Force's Global Lightning program. This program is a key initiative focused on integrating hybrid satellite communication capabilities across multiple platforms for American military operations. Known as the "Defense Experiment Using Commercial Space Internet" (DEUCSI), it seeks to strengthen Hybrid Satellite Communications (SATCOM). The company received an initial $81 million contract for the "Call 3" phase, which includes developing terrestrial and airborne terminals. This work is vital for connecting traditional military and commercial waveforms to diverse SATCOM constellations, with flight tests planned for late 2025.

Key Market Players

• Collins Aerospace
• Honeywell
• Thales
• L3Harris
• BAE Systems
• Curtiss-Wright
• General Dynamics
• Viasat
• Cobham
• Ultra Electronics

Report Scope:

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

• Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market, By Aircraft Type:

o   Combat Aircraft

o   Non-combat Aircraft

o   Special Mission Aircraft

o   Tanker and Transport Aircraft

o   Others

• Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market, By Component:

o   Antenna Transponder Receiver

o   Transmitter

o   Display & Processors

• Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market, By Application:

o   SATCOM

o   VHF and UHF

o   HF and MF

• Military Aircraft Communication Avionics 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 Military Aircraft Communication Avionics Market.

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Company Information

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

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