Aerospace And Defense Material Market Global Report 2026

The aerospace and defense material market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $42.27 billion in 2025 to $45.25 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth during the historic period was driven by increasing commercial aircraft production, rising global defense expenditure, growing demand for lightweight structural materials, expansion of aerospace manufacturing capabilities, and increasing investments in military modernization programs.

The aerospace and defense material market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $58.49 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. Growth during the forecast period is driven by increasing demand for next-generation aircraft platforms, growing investments in space exploration programs, rising adoption of advanced composite materials, expanding production of unmanned aerial vehicles, and increasing demand for high-performance thermal protection materials. Major trends during the forecast period include rising adoption of lightweight composite materials in aerospace structures, increasing demand for high-temperature-resistant materials in defense applications, growing use of advanced corrosion-resistant coatings for military platforms, expansion of ceramic matrix composites in aerospace propulsion systems, and rising preference for high-strength alloys in aircraft manufacturing.

The increasing military modernization programs are expected to propel the growth of the aerospace and defense material market going forward. Military modernization programs are comprehensive initiatives undertaken by armed forces to upgrade and strengthen their defense capabilities through advanced weapons systems and technologies. The rise in military modernization programs is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and security threats to national sovereignty and regional stability, prompting countries to enhance their defense capabilities, deter potential adversaries, and protect their strategic interests. Increasing military modernization programs are boosting demand for advanced aerospace and defense materials by accelerating the development and procurement of next-generation aircraft, missiles, unmanned systems, and defense platforms that require lightweight, high-strength, and high-performance materials. For instance, in March 2023, according to the European Security and Defense College, a Belgium-based autonomous institution, by 2030, the ongoing US Army modernization program is expected to field 35 new future force systems, serving as the foundation for more than 500 development, acquisition, or upgrade initiatives currently underway. Therefore, the increasing military modernization programs are driving the growth of the aerospace and defense material market.

Major companies operating in the aerospace and defense material market are concentrating on developing innovative solutions, such as flight-ready high-performance 3D printing materials, to improve component durability, reduce weight, and accelerate the production of mission-critical aerospace and defense parts. Flight-ready high-performance 3D printing materials are advanced polymer-based materials specifically designed for additive manufacturing applications requiring outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical strength, providing a lightweight and flexible alternative to conventional aerospace materials while enabling the rapid production of certified end-use components. For instance, in May 2025, Stratasys Ltd., an Israel-based provider of polymer 3D printing solutions, partnered with Northrop Grumman Corporation, a US-based aerospace and defense technology company; The Boeing Company, a US-based aerospace, defense, and commercial aircraft manufacturer; RTX Corporation, a US-based defense technology company; Blue Origin LLC, a US-based aerospace manufacturing company; and the United States Air Force, a US-based military service, to introduce AIS Antero 800NA and AIS Antero 840CN03, two newly qualified high-performance materials validated for use with the F900 industrial 3D printer. Designed for high-stress applications, including spacecraft interiors and avionics housings, these materials provide exceptional temperature and chemical resistance, lightweight properties, and NCAMP-equivalent performance data to ensure manufacturing consistency across production sites.

In August 2023, Apollo Global Management Inc., a US-based asset management firm, acquired Arconic Corporation for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Apollo Global Management Inc. aims to strengthen its position in the aluminum fabrication sector by utilizing Arconic Corporation’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and metallurgical expertise while investing in technology upgrades and capacity expansion to support long-term growth across the aerospace, transportation, and industrial sectors. Arconic Corporation is a US-based company that supplies aerospace and defense materials, including high-performance aluminum sheet, plate, and extrusions for aircraft fuselages, wings, and defense applications.

Major companies operating in the aerospace and defense material market are 3M Company, Alleima AB, AMG Critical Materials N.V., ATI Inc., Carpenter Technology Corporation, Constellium SE, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Hexcel Corporation, Howmet Aerospace Inc., Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Kobe Steel Ltd., Materion Corporation, Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Rogers Corporation, SGL Carbon SE, Syensqo SA, Teijin Limited, Toray Industries Inc., Victrex plc.

North America was the dominating region in the aerospace and defense material market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the rapidly growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the aerospace and defense material market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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

The aerospace and defense material market consist of sales of armor materials and ballistic protection systems, thermal protection and insulation materials, stealth and radar-absorbing materials, high-temperature engine and turbine materials, and structural honeycomb and core materials. 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.

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