Air Traffic Control (ATC) Equipment Market Report 2025

The air traffic control (ATC) equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $9.23 billion in 2024 to $10.01 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rise in global air passenger traffic, increased demand for commercial aircraft, expanding airport infrastructure in emerging economies, growing globalization of business travel, and rise in defense sector investments.

The air traffic control (ATC) equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.7 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. This projected growth will be driven by a rising focus on efficient and environmentally sustainable airspace utilization, increasing demand for uninterrupted international flight connectivity, a surge in urban air mobility and drone activity, recovery in the global tourism sector following the pandemic, and heightened geopolitical risks prompting modernization of surveillance technologies. Some of the leading trends include the use of AI for predictive traffic control, implementation of machine learning in conflict alert systems, increased adoption of cloud-based ATC infrastructure, advancements in cyber-secured communication networks, and greater automation in managing flight sequences and traffic flow.

The rising tourism and business travel are expected to propel the growth in the air traffic control (ATC) equipment market going forward. Tourism and business travel encompass the movement of individuals for leisure, recreational, or professional purposes, involving both domestic and international journeys facilitated by various modes of transportation, accommodations, and supporting services. The rising tourism and business travel is primarily due to increasing economic integration, as stronger trade relationships, cross-border investments, and global business partnerships drive the need for frequent international travel for both leisure and professional purposes. Air traffic control (ATC) equipment supports tourism and business travel by ensuring safe, efficient, and timely flight operations, which enhances passenger confidence and facilitates the smooth movement of travelers across global destinations. For instance, in January 2025, UN tourism, a Spain-based government agency, reported that in 2024, 1.4 billion tourists travelled internationally, marking a 99% recovery to pre-pandemic levels and an 11% increase from 2023. Therefore, the rising tourism and business travel are driving the air traffic control (ATC) equipment market.

Leading players in the air traffic control (ATC) equipment market are emphasizing the incorporation of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to boost safety, enhance traffic flow, and minimize operational hold-ups. AI, which enables machines to emulate human-like decision-making and problem-solving, is transforming air traffic control by processing vast volumes of real-time flight data to forecast traffic movements, identify possible airspace conflicts, and assist controllers in executing quicker and more informed decisions. For example, in May 2025, NoamAI.com, a U.S.-based aviation AI infrastructure developer, introduced the AI Air Traffic Controller system. This platform merges real-time radar inputs and voice data to heighten operational situational awareness and decrease response times for controllers. It is intended to aid human operators in handling complex and high-traffic airspace conditions more effectively, thereby boosting airspace throughput and ensuring safe coordination between both traditional and advanced aircraft systems.

In April 2024, Thales S.A., a France-based aerospace company, acquired Cobham Aerospace Communications for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Thales S.A. aims to strengthen its avionics portfolio by adding a global leading position in safety cockpit communications and complementing its existing avionics offerings. Cobham Aerospace SAS is a France-based aerospace and defense company that provides air traffic control (ATC) equipment.

Major players in the air traffic control (atc) equipment market are RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Indra Sistemas, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Cobham Limited, Frequentis AG, Telephonics Corporation, Aquila Air Traffic Management Services, Intelcan Technosystems Inc., Aeronav Inc., Becker Avionics GmbH, ADB Safegate, Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation (ANPC), Searidge Technologies, PJSC ALMAZ R&P Corp.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the air traffic control (ATC) equipment market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in air traffic control (ATC) equipment report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the air traffic control (ATC) equipment 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.

Air traffic control (ATC) equipment encompasses a wide range of electronic systems, communication tools, surveillance mechanisms, and navigation aids that are essential for ensuring the safe, organized, and efficient oversight of aircraft activity in controlled airspace and airport grounds. Aviation authorities use this equipment to track, coordinate, and manage air traffic in order to prevent mid-air collisions and to optimize flight operations.

The primary categories of air traffic control (ATC) equipment include communication systems, navigation tools, and surveillance technologies. Communication equipment specifically enables reliable, secure, and real-time transmission of voice and data between pilots and air traffic controllers, which is vital for coordinated and safe aircraft movement. These systems operate using various technologies such as conventional systems, NextGen technology, 4D trajectory-based operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions, and automation and digital transformation tools. These are employed across several aircraft types, including commercial, private, and military aircraft.

The air traffic control (ATC) equipment market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides air traffic control (ATC) equipment market statistics, including air traffic control (ATC) equipment industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an air traffic control (ATC) equipment market share, detailed air traffic control (ATC) equipment market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the air traffic control (ATC) equipment industry. This air traffic control (ATC) equipment 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 air traffic control (ATC) equipment market consists of sales of air traffic management systems, surface movement radar systems, airport surveillance radar, advanced surface movement guidance and control systems (A-SMGCS), remote tower systems, and radar data processing 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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