Instrument Landing System and Visual Landing Aids Market Report 2026

The instrument landing system and visual landing aids market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.39 billion in 2025 to $2.52 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing adoption of instrument landing systems to enhance precision landing in adverse weather conditions, rising deployment of visual landing aids improving runway approach visibility and safety, growth in global airport modernization projects boosting demand for advanced landing guidance equipment, expansion of military aviation operations increasing use of shipboard landing aids and hover position indicators, technological advancements improving reliability and accuracy of ils and visual landing systems.

The instrument landing system and visual landing aids market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.13 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for autoland capabilities enhancing fully automated landing operations, rising investment in next-generation navigation and landing technologies improving decision-making for pilots, expansion of airport infrastructure in emerging regions driving new installations of landing systems, increasing focus on operational safety standards supporting upgrades of legacy ils equipment, development of integrated digital landing solutions enhancing situational awareness for both civil and military aviation. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced autoland capabilities, weather-resilient landing solutions, advanced flight deck signaling, precision approach path monitoring, airport operational efficiency improvement.

The increasing air traffic is expected to propel the growth of the instrument landing system (ILS) and virtual landing aids (VLA) market going forward. Air traffic refers to the number of aircraft operating in a specific area or along designated routes. ILS and VLA are essential systems that assist pilots during the landing process, especially under low-visibility conditions. For example, in December 2025, according to Eurostat, a Luxembourg-based government agency, the number of air passengers in the EU in 2023 increased by 19.3% compared to 2022, reaching a total of 973 million travelers. Among EU airports, Paris Charles de Gaulle handled the highest number of passengers (67 million), followed by Amsterdam Schiphol with 62 million. Therefore, the rise in air traffic is driving the growth of the instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market.

Major companies in the instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market are concentrating on precision radio navigation systems to enhance aviation safety and improve landing accuracy in challenging weather conditions. These systems provide precise guidance to aircraft during landing, ensuring safe and efficient landings even in low visibility or adverse weather. For example, in April 2024, Port Blair Airport, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, launched an instrument landing system (ILS), a type of precision radio navigation system. The ILS improves safety by offering accurate lateral and vertical guidance, thereby reducing the risk of accidents during low-visibility approaches. This capability is crucial for maintaining safe operations in adverse weather conditions. Airports equipped with ILS can continue operations even in poor weather, boosting their capacity to manage air traffic and ensuring that flights adhere to schedules.

In July 2025, Safran S.A., a France-based aerospace company, acquired Collins Aerospace’s flight control and actuation business from RTX Corporation for $1.8 billion. Through this acquisition, Safran aims to reinforce its position as a global leader in mission-critical flight control and actuation systems, enhancing its capabilities for next-generation aircraft platforms. Collins Aerospace is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in landing systems and visual landing aids.

Major companies operating in the instrument landing system and visual landing aids market are Astronics Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Lufthansa Systems, NEC Corporation, Eaton, Thales Group, Collins Aerospace, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Groupe ADP, Vaisala Oyj, Universal Avionics Systems Corporation, SAAB Sensis, Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited, Indra Navia AS, Carmanah Technologies Corp., OCEM Airfield Technology., Aeronav Group, Navtech Radar, ATG Airports Ltd., Airport Lighting Company, Flight Light Inc., Systems Interface Ltd., Airfield Lighting Systems, Airsafe Airport Equipment Co. Ltd., EFLA Oy, Airport Lighting Specialists Pty. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the instrument landing system and visual landing aids 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 have impacted the instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market by increasing costs for imported components such as LEDs, lasers, and avionics equipment, leading to delays in project deployment and higher system prices. The most affected segments include type and technology components, with Asia-Pacific regions, particularly China and Taiwan, being major hubs affected due to component sourcing. Positive impacts include encouragement for local manufacturing and innovation in cost-efficient, domestic precision landing solutions.

The instrument landing system and visual landing aids market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides instrument landing system and visual landing aids market statistics, including instrument landing system and visual landing aids industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an instrument landing system and visual landing aids market share, detailed instrument landing system and visual landing aids market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the instrument landing system and visual landing aids industry. This instrument landing system and visual landing aids 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.

The precision landing aids known as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and virtual landing aids offer both vertical and horizontal guidance to pilots during the landing process. They provide indications for approach and landing, enabling shipboard takeoff, landing, and situational awareness for sailors on deck. These systems transmit precise signals for angle and descent guidance to aircraft, assisting them in landing on runways under various weather conditions.

The primary categories of instrument landing systems and visual landing aids encompass Instrument Landing System CAT I, Instrument Landing System CAT II, and Instrument Landing System CAT III. Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT I is a specific subset of the overall ILS system, delivering aircraft guidance during the entire approach and landing phases. Visual landing aids comprise runway lighting, taxiway lighting, and approach lighting, employing various technologies such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and incandescent lamps. These aids are utilized at diverse airports, including international, medium, and small airports.

The countries covered in the instrument landing system and visual landing aids market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing accurate navigation, safe operations in bad weather, decision-making assistance, and Autoland capabilities. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The instrument landing system and virtual landing aids market also includes sales of flight deck status and signaling systems, hover position indicators, and precision approach path indicators. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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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