Hypersonic Rocket Engine Market Report 2026

The hypersonic rocket engine market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $7.59 billion in 2025 to $8.51 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to development of early high-speed and rocket propulsion technologies, research in solid-fuel and liquid-fuel rocket engines for hypersonic applications, government-funded military and space programs driving engine innovation, advancements in materials capable of withstanding extreme heat and pressure, experimental testing of turbo-ramjet and boost-glide propulsion systems.

The hypersonic rocket engine market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.42 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for hypersonic engines for next-generation missiles and defense systems, growth in space exploration and commercial high-speed transportation programs, advancements in hybrid and air-turbo rocket propulsion technologies, increasing investment in rotating detonation and combined cycle engines, integration of AI and simulation for engine design optimization and performance enhancement. Major trends in the forecast period include advanced thermal management systems, high-temperature composite materials adoption, boost-glide vehicle propulsion innovations, reusable hypersonic engine development, multi-mode propulsion system integration.

The rising interest in space tourism is expected to accelerate the growth of the hypersonic rocket engine market. Space tourism refers to the commercial activity of sending private individuals into space for recreational, leisure, or adventure purposes, as opposed to scientific or governmental missions. The demand for space tourism is growing as technological advancements reduce the costs and improve the safety of space travel. Innovations such as reusable rockets and advanced propulsion systems have made space travel more affordable and reliable for commercial use. Hypersonic rocket engines support space tourism by enabling faster and more efficient travel, significantly reducing journey times. These engines improve the feasibility of commercial space flights, making space tourism more accessible and convenient for private individuals. For example, in a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in July 2023, 55% of Americans believe that space tourism will become routine by 2073, with 35% personally interested in traveling to space. Therefore, the increasing interest in space tourism is driving the growth of the hypersonic rocket engine market.

Leading companies in the hypersonic rocket engine market are focusing on innovative projects, such as the development of hypersonic test launch platforms, to improve performance, enhance testing accuracy, and accelerate the advancement of next-generation propulsion technologies. A hypersonic test launch platform is a specialized vehicle or system used to assess the performance of hypersonic weapons or vehicles traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 under controlled conditions. For example, in December 2024, Rocket Lab USA Inc., a US-based space technology company, launched a suborbital hypersonic mission as part of the Department of Defense’s Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) initiative. The mission featured Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) vehicle, which is specifically designed for rapid, cost-effective hypersonic flight testing. This launch showcased advanced payload integration and shortened manufacturing timelines, emphasizing the company’s role in supporting national defense priorities and advancing the development of hypersonic technologies.

In June 2023, Anduril Industries Inc., a US-based defense company, acquired Adranos Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Anduril Industries to expand its capabilities in the hypersonic and missile propulsion sectors, accelerate innovation in solid rocket motor technology, and strengthen the United States' defense manufacturing capacity to meet rising national security demands. Adranos, Inc. is a US-based defense and aerospace company specializing in advanced propulsion systems, including hypersonic rocket engine technologies.

Major companies operating in the hypersonic rocket engine market are RTX Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Electric Aviation, BAE Systems, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), MBDA Holdings SAS (MBDA), SpaceX, Kratos Defense And Security Solutions, Ursa Major Technologies, Hermeus Corporation, Venus Aerospace, Reaction Engines, HyImpulse Technologies, Space Engine Systems (SES)

North America was the largest region in the hypersonic rocket engine market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the hypersonic rocket engine 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 aerospace components and high-performance materials have increased production costs in the hypersonic rocket engine market, particularly affecting ramjet and scramjet technology manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Import restrictions on advanced alloys, electronics, and composite materials have disrupted supply chains and delayed development programs in military and space sectors. However, tariffs are also driving domestic manufacturing investments, encouraging regional suppliers to scale capabilities and strengthening national security strategies for strategic hypersonic propulsion technologies.

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

A hypersonic rocket engine is a high-performance propulsion system designed to operate at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). It leverages advanced thermodynamics and materials that can endure extreme aerodynamic heating and pressure. Hypersonic rocket engines are essential for enabling ultra-high-speed travel, particularly in military, space exploration, and research applications. These engines play a key role in the development of next-generation missiles, space vehicles, and high-speed transportation systems operating in both atmospheric and space environments.

The primary types of hypersonic rocket engines include scramjets, ramjets, dual-mode propulsion, and others. A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is an air-breathing engine designed to function at hypersonic speeds by compressing incoming supersonic airflow for combustion without the need for rotating compressor components. These engines are used in various applications, including military defense, space exploration, and commercial ventures, with end users such as government agencies, commercial enterprises, and other sectors.

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

The hypersonic rocket engine market consists of sales of solid-fuel rocket engines, liquid-fuel rocket engines, hybrid rocket engines, turbo-ramjet combined cycle engines, boost-glide propulsion systems, air-turbo rocket engines and rotating detonation engines. 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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