Rocket Airborne Launch Market Report 2025

The rocket airborne launch market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.51 billion in 2024 to $3.85 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. Growth in the historic period was driven by increased military investments in airborne platforms, growing demand for satellite deployment in defense missions, expanded research into air-launch-to-orbit systems, rising government funding for aerospace innovation, and the broader use of suborbital flight tests.

The rocket airborne launch market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.47 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. Growth in the forecast period is expected to be driven by rising interest in cost-effective small satellite launches, increasing demand from the commercial space sector, growing collaborations between defense and private aerospace companies, higher demand for lightweight propulsion systems, and an expanding need for rapid-response launch capabilities. Key trends anticipated include advancements in reusable air-launch systems, enhanced miniaturized payload integration, development of rapid deployment methods, innovations in hybrid propulsion technologies, and progress in AI-powered flight control systems.

The growing number of satellite launches is expected to drive the expansion of the rocket airborne launch market in the future. Satellite launches involve deploying artificial satellites into space for purposes such as communication, earth observation, and navigation. This increase is primarily fueled by the rising demand for internet connectivity, which necessitates launching large constellations of small satellites. Rocket airborne launch systems facilitate satellite deployment by launching payloads from high-altitude aircraft, which reduces fuel consumption and offers greater flexibility in placing satellites into orbit. For example, in January 2024, the Space Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, reported that over 2,800 satellites were launched into orbit, representing a 23% rise compared to 2022. Hence, the growing number of satellite launches is propelling the rocket airborne launch market.

Rising investments in the aerospace and defense sectors are expected to support the growth of the rocket airborne launch market moving forward. These investments involve the allocation of funds by governments and private organizations to develop and improve aerospace and military technologies. Heightened global security concerns have led to increased funding for advanced launch technologies and strategic defense capabilities. Such investments boost the rocket airborne launch market by advancing aircraft technology, compact satellite development, and launch systems, driving innovation, enhancing mission success, and expanding both military and commercial launch operations. For instance, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that global military expenditure reached $2.443 trillion in 2023, a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022. Therefore, rising aerospace and defense investments are fueling the growth of the rocket airborne launch market.

Increasing geopolitical tensions are expected to drive growth in the rocket airborne launch market in the coming years. These tensions arise from conflicts or intensified competition between countries or regions based on political, economic, or military interests. The escalation is linked to competition over strategic resources such as energy, minerals, and technology, which are crucial for economic and military power. Rocket airborne launch systems support strategic preparedness during geopolitical tensions by allowing fast and flexible deployment of defense and surveillance satellites. Their mobility ensures dependable access to space, even in conflict zones or areas without ground infrastructure. For example, in December 2024, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based research organization, recorded over 165,273 political violence incidents worldwide between July 2023 and June 2024, a 15% increase from the previous year. Thus, rising geopolitical tensions are contributing to the expansion of the rocket airborne launch market.

Major players in the rocket airborne launch market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Airbus, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman Corporation, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Thales Group, Leonardo, MBDA, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Firefly Aerospace, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Virgin Orbit, Stratolaunch, PLD Space, Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies, The Indian Space Research Organization, Zero 2 Infinity.

North America was the largest region in the rocket airborne launch 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 rocket airborne launch 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 airborne launch is a method where rockets are launched from aircraft in flight instead of traditional ground launch sites. This approach provides increased flexibility in launch locations, quicker response times, and reduces dependency on fixed infrastructure. It is especially suited for deploying small satellites and supporting missions requiring rapid deployment, while also improving reliability by reducing weather-related delays.

The main rocket airborne launch platforms include aircraft, balloons, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Aircraft-based launches involve releasing rockets from planes at high altitudes, allowing fast, flexible, and cost-efficient deployment of small satellites into low Earth orbit. Payloads can include satellites, cargo, and other types, serving a variety of users such as commercial enterprises, military, government agencies, and research organizations.

The rocket airborne launch market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides rocket airborne launch market statistics, including the rocket airborne launch industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the rocket airborne launch market share, detailed rocket airborne launch market segments, market trends, opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the rocket airborne launch industry. This rocket airborne launch 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 airborne launch market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as satellite deployment, responsive and on-demand launch services, and testing and demonstration flights. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The rocket airborne launch market also includes sales of aero-structural support systems, avionics and interface units, and launch platform integration hardware. 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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