Aircraft Braking Systems - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The aircraft braking systems market size is expected to grow from USD 7.19 billion in 2025 to USD 7.47 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 9.13 billion by 2031 at 4.07% CAGR over 2026-2031. This report is Segmented by Product Type (Carbon Brakes, Steel Brakes, and Carbon-Ceramic Brakes), Actuation Method (Hydraulic, Electro-Hydraulic, and Fully-Electric), End User (Commercial Aviation, Military Aviation, and More), Component (Wheels, Brake Discs, Brake Housing, and More), and Geography (North America, Europe, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Aircraft Braking Systems Market Trends and Insights

Rising Production of Single-Aisle Aircraft

The aircraft braking systems market is responding directly to the narrowbody production cycle, as each additional single-aisle delivery increases both immediate brake demand and the future overhaul base. Boeing delivered 447 B737 MAX aircraft in 2025, up from 260 in 2024, and it targeted a production rate of 47 aircraft per month by summer 2026 with plans to move toward 53 by year's end against a backlog of more than 4,800 orders. Airbus delivered 607 A320-family aircraft in 2025 and continued to target 75 aircraft per month by 2027. Those schedules lift annual brake-set requirements faster than new qualified furnace and finishing capacity can be added, because carbon-brake production plants take years to commission and certify. The aircraft braking systems market, therefore, continues to favor incumbents that already have qualified production footprints, OEM approvals, and established airline support networks.

Mandatory Shift to Carbon Brakes for Fuel and Weight Savings

The aircraft braking systems market is gaining support from airline fleet policies that now treat brake weight, maintenance intervals, and emissions goals as linked decisions rather than separate procurement items. Carbon brakes remain attractive because they improve operating economics over time through lower weight and longer service life when compared with steel alternatives. Safran states that its SepCarb IV Long Life carbon brake for the A320neo reaches 2,500 landings between overhauls, reducing downtime and spare parts inventory for airlines running dense short-haul schedules. That performance supports retrofit demand on in-service narrowbody fleets and creates a demand stream that does not depend only on new aircraft deliveries. The aircraft braking systems market is therefore being strengthened by both factory-fit positions and aftermarket replacement programs that reward suppliers with broad OEM and MRO reach.

Price Volatility of Carbon-Composite Materials

The aircraft braking systems market remains exposed to raw-material cost swings because carbon-carbon brake production depends on specialized precursor and processing inputs that are difficult to replace quickly. Suppliers face the most pressure when fixed-price agreements with OEMs and airlines do not align with input costs. Capacity decisions are also affected because large new facilities require multi-year confidence in material economics before investment is approved. Safran’s planned fourth carbon-brake plant near Lyon carries an investment value of EUR 450 million (USD 523.90 million), underscoring how expensive it is to add qualified output in this segment. The aircraft braking systems market can therefore see short-term margin pressure and slower capacity additions when carbon-composite cost visibility remains weak.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Surge in eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility Programs
• Predictive-Maintenance Adoption for Landing Gear
• Lengthy Certification Cycles for New Brake Tech

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Carbon brakes held 52.62% of the aircraft braking systems market in 2025, maintaining their lead across product categories. Safran stated in 2025 that it equips over 70% of the global A320 family fleet, or around 5,100 aircraft, while Collins said its DURACARB technology is installed across more than 30,000 commercial and military aircraft. That installed base keeps replacement, overhaul, and support demand centered on carbon systems across large airline fleets. Steel brakes still retain a role in general aviation, regional turboprops, and selected military platforms where upfront acquisition cost remains a stronger buying factor than lifetime economics.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are the fastest-growing product category in the aircraft braking systems market because newer aircraft classes and selected defense applications value low mass and stable friction behavior. Wet-runway performance and thermal consistency continue to support interest in this material set, despite wide variations in mission intensity. The E-LISA program is also examining carbon-based brake materials for next-generation electrically actuated landing gear and braking systems, thereby keeping development aligned with broader electrification efforts. The aircraft braking systems market, therefore, remains anchored in conventional carbon products today, but the product roadmap is clearly widening as emerging platforms push different weight, packaging, and operating requirements.

Hydraulic systems accounted for 72.69% of actuation revenue in 2025, reflecting the installed-base reality of the global fleet. The aircraft braking systems market, therefore, continues to rely on hydraulic support across current fleets even as new program architecture moves in a different direction. Fully-electric braking systems are projected to grow at an 8.29% CAGR between 2026 and 2031, the fastest pace among actuation methods in the aircraft braking systems market. Parker Aerospace states that its Ebrake system on the A220 can decelerate an aircraft weighing more than 60 tons at speeds above 200 mph within 3,280 feet while handling temperatures up to 2,000°C.

Electro-hydraulic systems sit in the middle of that transition because they allow OEMs to lower hydraulic dependence without requiring a complete redesign of aircraft systems, making them a practical option for programs that want some electrification benefits but still prefer familiar backup logic and maintenance practices. Liebherr Aerospace’s role in the Clean Sky 2 More Electric Wing project shows that high-power motor controllers and thermal management modules remain active areas of development for electric landing gear systems. The aircraft braking systems market is therefore likely to move through layered and hybrid architectures before fully-electric layouts become dominant across a wider range of aircraft classes.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Product Type
  • Carbon Brakes
  • Steel Brakes
  • Carbon-Ceramic Brakes
• By Actuation Method
  • Hydraulic
  • Electro-Hydraulic
  • Fully-Electric
• By End User
  • Commercial Aviation
  • Military Aviation
  • General Aviation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
  • eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility
• By Component
  • Wheels
  • Brake Discs
  • Brake Housing
  • Valves
  • Actuators
  • Accumulators
  • Electronics
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Germany
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Middle East
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Rest of Middle East
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Rest of Africa

Geography Analysis

North America accounted for 36.89% of the aircraft braking systems market share in 2025, making it the leading regional contributor. That position rests on the concentration of major OEM delivery programs, a large defense procurement base, and a dense MRO network serving the world's largest commercial fleet. Boeing delivered 447 B737 MAX aircraft in 2025 and aimed to reach a rate of 53 aircraft per month by the end of 2026, keeping brake-set demand concentrated in the regional supply chain. Safran's Walton, Kentucky, site produces more than 9,500 wheel and brake sets per year, while Collins expanded carbon-brake capacity in Spokane to support both commercial and military demand. The aircraft braking systems market in North America also benefits from advanced eVTOL certification activity, as Joby and Archer remain closely tied to FAA-led approval pathways.

Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at a 5.84% CAGR through 2031, making it the fastest-growing regional segment in the aircraft braking systems market. Higher aircraft utilization in that environment raises brake wear and accelerates overhaul demand even before new deliveries are counted. China is also expanding local capability through C919 brake-disc localization and through AVIC Xi'an Aviation Braking's maintenance cooperation across Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier platforms, which adds a competitive manufacturing dimension to regional demand.

Europe held a significant share in 2025, supported by Airbus's delivery activity and Safran's French manufacturing base in aircraft braking systems. Brazil recorded 10.8% domestic RPK growth in March 2026, suggesting incremental narrowbody demand in South America, even though the region still relies heavily on imported brake components. Africa posted 20.6% RPK growth in March 2026 and remains small in fleet size, but rising intra-continental traffic still supports a longer-term MRO opportunity. The Middle East saw a 58.6% drop in RPK in March 2026 due to airspace disruptions. Yet, Saudi Arabia's aviation expansion and Riyadh Air's planned B787-9 fleet with Safran electric carbon brakes preserve medium-term demand.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Safran SA
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX Corporation)
• Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Crane Aerospace & Electronics (Crane Co.)
• BERINGER AERO
• Grove Aircraft Landing Gear Systems Inc.
• Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited
• Matco Aircraft Landing Systems
• Aero Brake & Spares, Inc.
• Jay-Em Aerospace, Inc.
• JAMCO Corporation
• Alaska Gear Company
• Tactair

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support