Aerospace and Defense Propulsion System Market Analysis

Type (Air-Breathing and Non-Air-Breathing)

The air-breathing segment is anticipated to hold aerospace and defense propulsion system market share of more than 80.2% by 2037. The market growth is attributed to the efficiency performance and adaptability of air-breathing propulsion types to various applications. Air-breathing engines, such as jet engines, ramjets, scramjets, and combined-cycle propulsion systems, rely on atmospheric oxygen for combustion, eliminating the need to carry oxidizers onboard.  This design reduces overall weight and improves fuel efficiency, making these systems ideal for various applications.

Fighter jets and other defense platforms rely on air-breathing engines for high thrust-to-weight ratios and adaptability to supersonic or hypersonic speeds. A hot test of a ramjet engine conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 2022 revealed that the scramjet engine outperforms the ramjet engine as it runs well at hypersonic speeds and allows for supersonic combustion. Air-breathing provides a technological foundation for low-cost space transportation technology. This technology represents a crucial step toward the development of reusable launch vehicles. The propellant mass of the launch vehicle accounts for 86% of its total mass and 70% of the fuel is oxidizer. Since these engines use atmospheric oxygen, which is available up to 50 kilometers above the earth's surface, they can save about 70% of the propellant carried in the vehicles.

Application [Missiles, Aircraft, Spacecraft, and Unnamed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)]

In aerospace and defense propulsion system market, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) segment is poised to capture revenue share of around 19.4% by the end of 2037. The market growth is attributed to the increasing use of UAVs in military and commercial applications. UAVs are extensively used for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and combat missions. The demand for propulsion systems tailored to specific mission profiles, such as long endurance, high payload capacity, and stealth, is boosting market growth.

UAVs are increasingly adopted in the commercial sector for tasks like infrastructure inspection, agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring. These applications demand cost-effective and efficient propulsion solutions that can enhance operational range and reliability.

Our in-depth analysis of the aerospace and defense propulsion system market includes the following segments: