Airborne SATCOM Market Report 2026

The airborne satcom market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.65 billion in 2025 to $7.22 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing adoption of satellite-based communication to overcome limitations of ground radar coverage, rising demand for reliable inflight connectivity across commercial and defense fleets, expansion of satellite broadcasting services supporting airborne operations, increased integration of satcom systems in long-haul aircraft for continuous data transmission, early advancements in antenna and transceiver technologies enhancing system performance.

The airborne satcom market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.66 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to accelerating deployment of high-throughput satellites to improve airborne communication capacity, rising demand for real-time data exchange to support advanced flight operations and situational awareness, increasing adoption of compact and low-latency satcom terminals for next-generation aircraft, expansion of satcom-enabled fleet management and predictive maintenance applications, growing investment in multi-orbit satcom architectures combining leo, meo, and geo capabilities. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of ai for satellite link optimization and signal processing, deployment of autonomous satcom systems for real-time data routing, use of cloud computing and big data analytics to enhance network reliability, development of multi-band satcom terminals for versatile connectivity, adoption of iot-enabled connected platforms for aircraft communications management.

The increasing demand for aircraft is expected to propel the growth of the airborne SATCOM market going forward. An aircraft is a vehicle designed specifically for travel or transport through the air, capable of achieving and sustaining flight using aerodynamic forces, typically utilizing wings for lift and one or more engines for propulsion. Airborne SATCOM enhances aircraft operations by improving safety and efficiency, providing better connectivity and passenger experiences, enabling real-time data transmission, optimizing communication, flight routes, fuel consumption, and maintenance. For example, in June 2023, the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), an Australia-based research agency, reported 50,318 RPT (Regular Public Transport) aircraft trips, reflecting a 1.7% increase from June 2022. Therefore, the rising demand for aircraft is driving the growth of the airborne SATCOM market.

Major companies operating in the airborne SATCOM market are focusing on developing innovative products, such as Dual LRU designs, which simplify installation by reducing the number of line-replaceable units. Dual LRU (Least Recently Used) Design is a cache management technique employing two LRU queues to optimize data access. For instance, in March 2024, Astronics Corporation, a US-based aerospace company, launched a SATCOM system designed to operate seamlessly on any geostationary (GEO) Ku-band satellite network. The system features a streamlined dual-unit design that reduces installation complexity and overall costs. It incorporates advanced modem technology for high data rates and reliable connectivity in demanding environments, while cost-efficient connectors and cabling lower lifecycle expenses. Its flexible installation options accommodate various orientations and external modems for enhanced security and adaptability.

In August 2024, Orbit Communication Systems Ltd., an Israel-based provider of airborne communication solutions, partnered with Viasat Inc. to deliver seamless, resilient, and high-speed airborne connectivity for military operations. The collaboration focuses on developing next-generation airborne SATCOM multi-purpose terminals that integrate Orbit’s systems with Viasat’s global Ka-band networks, ensuring robust, high-speed, and flexible communication for military and government airborne platforms worldwide. Viasat Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of airborne satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals.

Major companies operating in the airborne satcom market are Hughes Network Systems LLC, Iridium Communications Inc., Astronics Corporation, Norsat International Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Teledyne Defense Electronics, L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Aselsan AS, Cobham Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Viasat Inc., Gilat Satellite Networks, Thales Group, Inmarsat PLC, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Harris Corporation, Comtech Telecommunications Corp., Gogo Inc., Lufthansa Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Avionica Inc., Intelsat S.A., EchoStar Corporation, Technologies Corporation, DataPath Inc., KVH Industries Inc., Wavestream Corporation, SES S.A., Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the airborne SATCOM market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the airborne SATCOM market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the airborne satcom market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on satellite transceivers, modems, routers, and precision electronics have increased production costs for airborne SATCOM systems, affecting commercial, military, and business aviation platforms, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. These tariffs can slow adoption of SATCOM upgrades and new installations. On the positive side, tariffs incentivize domestic production, supply chain localization, and innovation in developing cost-optimized, reliable SATCOM solutions for global aircraft connectivity.

The airborne SATCOM market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides airborne SATCOM market statistics, including airborne SATCOM industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an airborne SATCOM market share, detailed airborne SATCOM market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the airborne SATCOM industry. This airborne SATCOM market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Airborne Satellite Communications (SATCOM) represents an integrated system designed to consistently and reliably transmit crucial real-time data throughout an aircraft's journey, supporting various airborne tasks. This technology facilitates communication between the aircraft and air traffic control, as well as the airline operations center, especially when beyond the coverage of traditional ground radar and very high frequency (VHF) stations.

The primary components of airborne SATCOM include SATCOM terminals, transceivers, airborne radio, modems and routers, SATCOM radomes, and other essential elements. SATCOM terminals serve as communication satellites enabling military units to coordinate and plan their activities in the field. This technology is applicable to a range of platforms, including fixed-wing aircraft, commercial aircraft, narrow-body aircraft (NBA), wide-body aircraft (WBA), regional transport aircraft (RTA), military aircraft, business aviation, general aviation, rotary wing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These platforms operate across various frequency bands such as VHF/UHF, L-band, S-band, C-band, X-band, Ku-band, Ka-band, EHF or SHF-band, multi-band, and Q-band. Installations encompass both new installations and upgrades, serving government and defense as well as commercial purposes.

The countries covered in the airborne satcom market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The airborne SATCOM market includes revenues earned by entities by telecommunications, broadcasting, and data communications services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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