Aircraft Carrier Catapult System Market Report 2025

The aircraft carrier catapult system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.88 billion in 2024 to $3.06 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. This expansion during the historic period has been fueled by the increasing need for faster aircraft launches, a growing demand for superior naval aviation capabilities, the rising strategic importance of carrier-based power projection, expanded naval defense budgets, and the surging interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The aircraft carrier catapult system market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.84 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The projected growth can be attributed to a rising dependence on aircraft carriers for swift crisis response, greater collaboration between aerospace and naval sectors, increased prioritization of versatile carrier capabilities, a growing demand for rapid deployment systems, and advancements in lightweight, modular catapult designs. Key trends expected during the forecast period include the evolution of hybrid catapult mechanisms, incorporation of real-time sensor technologies, integration with holistic carrier power management systems, and innovations in electromagnetic and thermal launch systems.

The rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to propel the growth of the aircraft carrier catapult system market going forward. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft systems that operate without a human pilot onboard and are controlled remotely or autonomously using software and sensors. The rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles is due to their enhanced capabilities for surveillance, precision, cost-effectiveness, and reduced risk to human operators. The aircraft carrier catapult system enables unmanned aerial vehicles to achieve rapid and precise launch from the limited deck space, enhancing their operational range and mission flexibility. For instance, in May 2024, according to the International Trade Administration, a US-based government agency, the Association of Unmanned Aviation (VUL) projects a 40% growth in the global fleet of commercially operated drones from 2022 to 2030. Therefore, the rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) drives the aircraft carrier catapult system market.

The increasing air traffic is expected to propel the growth of the aircraft carrier catapult system market going forward. Air traffic refers to the movement of aircraft in the airspace and at airports, including all flights controlled by air traffic management systems. The rising trend in air traffic is a result of improved infrastructure at airports, allowing for greater flight volume, quicker aircraft turnaround, and enhanced efficiency in passenger operations. The aircraft carrier catapult system supports this by ensuring efficient, safe, and timely launches from the confined space of naval carriers, making it a vital tool for operations in busy air environments. For instance, in November 2024, according to Eurostat, a Luxembourg-based government agency, in 2023, the number of passengers transported by air rose by 19.3% compared to 2022. Therefore, the increasing air traffic drives the aircraft carrier catapult system market.

Major companies in the aircraft carrier catapult system market are focusing on developing technologically advanced solutions such as drone catapult systems to enhance autonomous launch capabilities and operational efficiency. Drone catapult systems refer to ground-or ship-based launch mechanisms designed to rapidly and safely propel unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into flight without the need for a runway. For instance, in January 2025, General Atomics, a US-based defense and technology company, launched the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) to enable the launch of drones from a wide range of naval vessels, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, and expeditionary sea bases. These systems are compact, scalable, and tailored specifically for unmanned operations, allowing integration into vessels with limited deck space. This enables drone takeoff with a much shorter distance (about 22 meters or 72 feet) compared to traditional aircraft catapults, making it highly suitable for ships with smaller flight decks.

Major players in the aircraft carrier catapult system market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell Systems and Manufacturing Inc, BAE Systems, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Thales S.A., L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo S.p.A, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Fincantieri S.p.A, Elbit Systems, Babcock International Group, Naval Group S.A., General Atomics, Moog Inc, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, QinetiQ Group PLC, Hanjin Heavy Industries, Nevskoye Design Bureau.

North America was the largest region in the aircraft carrier catapult system market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the aircraft carrier catapult system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

An aircraft carrier catapult system is a mechanical apparatus used aboard aircraft carriers to assist in launching aircraft from the deck by swiftly accelerating them to the required takeoff speed. This mechanism allows fixed-wing aircraft to become airborne within the restricted runway length available on a carrier. It is a critical component for enabling effective and safe aircraft operations in maritime environments.

There are several primary types of aircraft carrier catapult systems, including amphibious assault ships, helicopter carriers, and fleet carriers. Amphibious assault ships are naval platforms designed to deploy and support ground troops by transporting personnel, vehicles, and aircraft for amphibious missions. These systems are powered using either conventional or nuclear energy. They accommodate a variety of aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The key end users of these systems include military forces and defense contractors.

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

The aircraft carrier catapult system market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as system integration, testing and calibration, training and simulation, logistics and spare parts support installation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The aircraft carrier catapult system market also includes sales of sensors, braking systems, energy storage units, electromagnetic coils power systems, and control units. 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 and 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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