Rocket Inertial Measurement Units Market Report 2025

The rocket inertial measurement units market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.02 billion in 2024 to $2.17 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for real-time navigation systems, expanded deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles, heightened focus on autonomous flight control systems, growing interest in deep space missions, and a rising volume of small satellite launches.

The rocket inertial measurement units market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.86 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth during the forecast period can be attributed to rising investments in space exploration, increasing demand for precision-guided munitions, wider adoption of reusable launch vehicles, growing launches of commercial satellites, and expanding defense budgets among major countries. Key trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in high-precision gyroscopes and accelerometers, progress in AI-assisted inertial navigation and guidance systems, innovations in fiber-optic and ring laser gyroscope technology, development of fault-tolerant IMU systems to ensure mission-critical reliability, and improvements in thermal management and shielding for IMU components.

The growth of the rocket inertial measurement units market is expected to be driven by increasing investments in space exploration. These investments refer to funds provided by both public and private entities to develop technologies, infrastructure, and missions focused on exploring and utilizing outer space. The rise in investments is fueled by the expanding commercial potential of space-based industries, including satellite services, space tourism, and resource mining. This growing investment boosts demand for rocket inertial measurement units (IMUs) by increasing the need for precise navigation and guidance systems in advanced launch vehicles. For example, in April 2024, the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based non-profit organization, projected that the space economy would grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, representing an average annual growth rate of 9%. Thus, rising investments in space exploration are propelling the rocket inertial measurement units market forward.

Key players in the rocket inertial measurement units market are focused on developing innovative navigation and guidance systems to improve flight accuracy, enhance missile targeting, and ensure precision in long-range missions. Navigation and guidance systems consist of integrated technologies that determine a rocket’s position and trajectory, guiding it precisely to its target or destination. For instance, in April 2025, Thales Group, a France-based aerospace company, unveiled a next-generation Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) designed to provide resilient navigation in GPS-denied environments affected by jamming or spoofing. This advanced IMU incorporates Thales’s state-of-the-art sensors, including a three-axis Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) and three digital MEMS accelerometers, packaged in a compact, lightweight unit. The use of MEMS technology supports scalable serial production, allowing for rapid increases in manufacturing capacity.

In October 2022, Groupe Gorge, a France-based company, acquired iXblue for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is aimed at establishing Groupe Gorge as a global leader in advanced navigation, robotics, and photonics technologies by combining the expertise of iXblue and ECA Group. iXblue is a France-based technology firm specializing in high-precision fiber-optic gyroscope-based inertial measurement units used in rockets for accurate navigation, guidance, and control.

Major players in the rocket inertial measurement units market are Airbus SE, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., GE Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Safran S.A., Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Analog Devices, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, Moog Inc., Kearfott Corporation, KVH Industries Inc., EMCORE Corporation, Advanced Navigation, SBG Systems, IMAR Navigation GmbH, VectorNav Technologies, Gladiator Technologies, Japan Aviation Electronics Industries, and Inertial Labs Inc.

North America was the largest region in the rocket inertial measurement units market in 2024. The regions covered in rocket inertial measurement units report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the rocket inertial measurement units 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.

Rocket inertial measurement units (IMUs) are advanced sensor systems designed to measure a rocket’s linear acceleration and angular velocity through the use of accelerometers and gyroscopes. These units deliver real-time information about the rocket’s orientation and movement, enabling accurate navigation and control. Since IMUs function independently of external signals, they are vital for missions operating in GPS-denied or space environments. Their precision and reliability are crucial for maintaining stable flight paths, guidance, and targeting.

The primary component types of rocket inertial measurement units include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and others. Accelerometers detect linear acceleration along one or multiple axes. These IMUs are employed across a variety of platforms, such as spacecraft, missiles, launch vehicles, and more. Their key applications involve navigation, control, and stabilization, and they are used by end-users in the defense, space, and commercial sectors.

The rocket inertial measurement units market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides rocket inertial measurement units market statistics, including the rocket inertial measurement units industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with the rocket inertial measurement units market share, detailed rocket inertial measurement units market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the rocket inertial measurement units market. This rocket inertial measurement units 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 rocket inertial measurement units market consists of sales of products including fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) IMUs, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) IMUs, and ring laser gyroscope (RLG) IMUs. 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 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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