Autopilot Systems Market Expected to Reach $10.6 Billion by 2033

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Autopilot Systems Market," The autopilot systems market size was valued at $5.8 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $10.6 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2024 to 2033.

An aircraft autopilot system is a flight control system designed to assist pilots in operating an aircraft by automatically maintaining specific flight parameters such as heading, altitude, and speed. It functions by continuously adjusting functions, such as ailerons, elevators, and rudders, based on input from onboard sensors and pre-set flight instructions. In commercial and military aviation, autopilot systems are crucial for long-haul flights, reducing pilot fatigue and improving efficiency.

The global autopilot systems market share is segmented into aircraft type, application, end user and region. On the basis of aircraft type, the global market is analyzed into rotary wing aircraft, and fixed wing aircraft. Based on application, the market is segmented into navigation & flight control, automatic takeoff & landing, altitude & heading control, collision avoidance systems, and others. On the basis of end user, the global market is segregated into commercial, military and civil. Region wise, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

The autopilot systems market trends are growth owing to growth in air travel, rise in orders of new aircraft from developing countries and increase in advancement in the electric and hybrid aircrafts. Moreover, modernization of military aircrafts and increase in sales of personal aircrafts are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, high development cost and stringent regulatory compliance limit the growth of the autopilot systems market growth.

The growth in air travel and fleet modernization program in the major countries around the world has resulted in increased demand for new aircrafts. The demand for new aircrafts is particularly driven by economic growth, expanding middle-class populations, and a growing focus on improving regional and international connectivity among countries. Similarly, the government in the countries are also focusing on developing new airports, which can handle more number of flights. The rising demand for new aircrafts, coupled with growing pressure on airline operators reduce operational costs which are influencing the growth of autopilots system market across the world.

As of December 9, 2024, Air India announced its agreement with Airbus SE for the orders of 10 A350 widebody, and 90 A320 narrowbody aircraft to be added to its fleet. Also, in 2023, Air India announced the order of 470 new aircraft, out of which 250 were with Airbus SE. The latest order will increase the total number of aircraft that Air India ordered from Airbus SE in 2023 from 250 aircraft to 350. Air India has also announced that it has done an agreement with Airbus SE for services and component to support the maintenance requirements of its growing A350 fleet. The surge in air travel and increase in order for new aircrafts are anticipated to drive the market for autopilot system during the forecast period.

However, autopilot system are equipped with a combination of hardware, software, and artificial intelligence to ensure precise navigation and control. However, developing autopilot system requires substantial amount of cost for research and development, certification and regulatory compliance. Moreover, hardware and software complexity, and cybersecurity measures requirements for autopilot system incur additional cost.

Modern autopilots system rely on high-tech sensors, flight control computers, and software algorithms. The cost of developing these components are high due to the need for precision engineering and reliability. Advanced sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, and GPS receivers must also be manufactured to withstand extreme flight conditions, further adding to the expense. Moreover, the software that controls these systems requires extensive coding, and testing to ensure error-free and safe operation, further increasing to its costs. The cost of development will continue to be a major factor which will hamper the growth of the market for coming 10-12 years.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

• By aircraft  type, the fixed wing aircraft segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the autopilot systems market report.
• By application, the navigation and flight control segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the autopilot system market in the near future.
• By end user, the commercial segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the autopilot systems industry in the near future.