Aircraft Altimeters Market Report 2026

The aircraft altimeters market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.24 billion in 2025 to $1.35 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to widespread adoption of pressure-sensing altimeters in commercial and military aircraft, development of altitude transducers for precise measurement, integration of altimeters into flight display units, rising demand for altimeter test sets for calibration and maintenance, implementation of altitude alerting systems to enhance flight safety.

The aircraft altimeters market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.86 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of advanced digital and integrated altimeter systems, expansion of altimeter applications in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones, focus on improving accuracy under variable atmospheric conditions, integration with automated flight control and navigation systems, increasing procurement for next-generation aircraft and retrofitting older fleets with modern altimeter technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of digital altimeters, demand for advanced alerting systems, miniaturized uav altimeters, improved atmospheric compensation technologies, multi-sensor altitude measurement.

The growth of air travel is expected to drive the expansion of the aircraft altimeter market. Air travel involves transporting passengers or cargo by aircraft through the atmosphere from one location to another. This growth is fueled by rising global economic activity, which increases disposable incomes and allows more people to travel for business and leisure. As air travel rises, the demand for advanced and reliable aircraft altimeters also increases, as precise altitude measurement is essential for safe navigation and compliance with stringent aviation regulations. For example, in December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that U.S. airlines carried 83.3 million passengers - 72.1 million domestic and 11.2 million international - representing a 5.9% increase compared to December 2023. Consequently, the rise in air travel is expected to support the growth of the aircraft altimeter market.

Major companies operating in the aircraft altimeters market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as radar altimeter systems, to deliver accurate altitude data. Radar altimeter systems are electronic devices that measure an aircraft's height above the terrain directly beneath it by transmitting radio waves and analyzing the reflected signals. For instance, in October 2024, Honeywell International Inc., a US-based company that specializes in aerospace, building automation, and industrial automation, was awarded a $103 million contract by the U.S. Army for its next-generation APN-209 radar altimeter system. This new system is designed to replace the legacy APN-209 units that have been in service since 1975, offering enhanced reliability and improved performance in challenging environmental conditions. The APN-209 is available with flexible integration options, either as a standalone transceiver or with an integrated altitude indicator, allowing it to fit various aircraft configurations.

In October 2024, FreeFlight Systems, a US-based company that specializes in next-generation avionics and radar altimeter technology, partnered with Air Dallas Instruments to boost 5G altimeter retrofits for King Air aircraft. With this partnership, Air Dallas became an authorized installation and service provider for FreeFlight’s 5G-tolerant radar altimeters, including the RA-5500 series. The collaboration is aimed at enhancing altimeter retrofit solutions for King Air aircraft, ensuring greater safety and adherence to evolving airspace regulations. Air Dallas Instruments is a US-based firm that focuses on the testing, repair, and overhaul of aviation instruments, including altimeters.

Major companies operating in the aircraft altimeters market are Honeywell Aerospace, GE Aerospace, Safran Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Garmin Ltd., Mid-Continent Instruments & Avionics Inc., Genesys Aerosystems, Avidyne Corporation, Aspen Avionics Inc., FreeFlight Systems Inc., Dynon Avionics Inc., Sandel Avionics Inc., THOMEN AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT AG, Raytheon Technologies Corp., Becker Avionics GmbH, uAvionix Corporation, LX navigation d.o.o., Mikrotechna Praha a.s., TruTrak Ltd., Falcon Gauge, Sandia Aerospace, Cobham Aerospace Communications.

North America was the largest region in the aircraft altimeters market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the aircraft altimeters 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 are increasing costs for imported sensors, semiconductor components, and electronic modules required for radar, digital, and GPS-based altimeters. This impact is especially significant across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where avionics manufacturers depend on global sourcing of precision electronics. Higher costs and longer lead times can delay upgrades and fleet modernization, although tariffs also promote domestic component manufacturing and strengthen regional supply chain resilience.

The aircraft altimeters market research report is one of a series of new publications that offers aircraft altimeters market statistics, including global market size, regional distributions, competitor market shares, comprehensive segmentation, market opportunities and trends, and other vital data necessary to succeed in the aircraft altimeters sector. The report provides a complete view of the current and future industry outlook through detailed analysis.

Aircraft altimeters are vital instruments used to determine the altitude of an aircraft above a fixed reference point, typically sea level. They operate by detecting atmospheric pressure, which drops as altitude increases, and translating this data into an altitude reading visible to pilots. While generally set to standard atmospheric conditions, they can be adjusted according to local pressure settings for better accuracy.

There are several main types of aircraft altimeters, including barometric, radar, laser, and global positioning system altimeters, as well as analog and digital models. Barometric altimeters work by measuring variations in atmospheric pressure to calculate altitude. Aircraft that utilize these altimeters include fixed-wing planes, rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Their applications span civil aviation, military aviation, general aviation, commercial aviation, and business aviation. End-users include original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket sector.

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

The aircraft altimeters market consists of sales of altimeter test sets, altitude transducers, integrated flight display units, and altitude alerting systems. 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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