Aerospace and Defense Carbon Brakes Market

Market Insights

“The aerospace & defense carbon brakes market was valued at US$1.54 billion in 2024 and is likely to grow at a decent CAGR of 2.9% in the long run to reach US$2.06 billion in 2034.”

Introduction

Brakes are among the most critical components of an aircraft, ensuring safe landing and take-off operations under diverse environmental and operational conditions. During landing, aircraft brakes must withstand, absorb, and efficiently dissipate the immense kinetic energy generated by the decelerating airplane, bringing it to a complete and safe stop. As modern commercial and defense aircraft continue to grow, the demand for stronger, lighter, and more durable braking systems has intensified.

Carbon brakes have emerged as the preferred technology for meeting these evolving requirements. They offer superior performance characteristics, including high energy absorption capacity, thermal stability, reduced weight, and extended service life compared to conventional steel brakes. Moreover, carbon brakes help minimize operational and maintenance costs, an increasingly critical factor for both commercial airlines and defense organizations operating under constrained budgets.

The supply chain for the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market encompasses raw material suppliers, carbon brake manufacturers, aircraft OEMs, and end users such as airlines and defense forces. Key aircraft manufacturers include Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, ATR, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, while major airline operators such as Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines, Air China, and Singapore Airlines represent significant end users.

The market is highly consolidated, dominated by a few leading players such as Safran Landing Systems, Collins Aerospace (formerly UTC Aerospace Systems), Honeywell International Inc., and Meggitt PLC (part of Parker Hannifin Corp). These companies compete through continuous product innovation, strategic partnerships, regional expansion, and long-term contracts with OEMs and airlines to strengthen their market position.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions

The aerospace & defense carbon brakes market has undergone M&A and partnerships worldwide to expand capacities, diversify portfolios, expand market reach, and drive technological innovation:

In 2022, Parker Hannifin Corporation acquired Meggitt PLC, a UK-based aerospace & defense company. The acquisition expanded Parker’s capabilities in advanced carbon brake systems and strengthened its position in the aerospace market.

Segments' Analysis

By Application Type

“The commercial aircraft segment represents the largest share of the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market within the application category.”

The market is segmented into commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, general aviation, and military aircraft. The dominance of commercial aircraft is primarily driven by the continuous expansion of the global commercial fleet, rising air passenger traffic, and the growing preference for lightweight and fuel-efficient braking systems. Carbon brakes are widely adopted in commercial aircraft due to their superior strength-to-weight ratio, thermal efficiency, and lower maintenance requirements compared to steel brakes. Furthermore, the high operational frequency of commercial aircraft results in greater wear and tear, generating consistent demand for brake replacements in the aftermarket. As a result, the continuous fleet expansion and replacement cycles are expected to ensure sustained dominance of the commercial aircraft segment in the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market.

By End-Use Type

“Aftermarket currently dominates the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market, primarily due to the frequent need for brake replacements caused by high landing and takeoff cycles.”

Based on the end-use type, the market is segmented into OEM and aftermarket. Airlines and defense operators follow strict maintenance and overhaul schedules, which include periodic brake inspections, refurbishments, and replacements, ensuring a steady and recurring demand in the aftermarket. Additionally, carbon brake manufacturers generate significant revenue through long-term service agreements and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contracts. However, the OEM segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing production rates of commercial and regional aircraft, fleet modernization programs, and rising adoption of lightweight carbon braking systems in new-generation aircraft

By Fiber Precursor Type

“PAN-type fiber precursor is expected to hold a major market share of the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market during the forecast period.”

The market is segmented into PAN and pitch, based on fiber precursor type segmentation. The dominance of PAN-type fiber precursor is primarily attributed to their superior mechanical properties, including exceptional strength, stiffness, and thermal stability, which make them ideal for high-performance aerospace & defense applications such as carbon brakes. PAN-based fibers offer excellent oxidation resistance and consistent performance under extreme temperatures and pressures encountered during aircraft landing and braking operations. With the ongoing demand for lightweight materials that deliver enhanced durability and efficiency, PAN-based carbon fibers are expected to continue as the preferred choice for aircraft brake manufacturing, sustaining their dominance and growth in the market.

By Matrix Type

“Carbon matrix type is widely preferred in aircraft braking systems because of its ability to withstand extremely high temperatures.”

The market is segmented into carbon and carbon ceramics, based on matrix type segmentation. The ability of carbon matrix type to absorb and dissipate large amounts of kinetic energy ensures consistent braking performance and safety, even under the most demanding operational conditions, sustaining its dominance in the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market. Additionally, carbon matrix materials offer an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, contributing to overall aircraft weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency. Compared to carbon-ceramic materials, carbon matrix composites provide better wear resistance, longer service life, and easier refurbishment ability, making them more suitable for both commercial and military aircraft. These advantages collectively reinforce the dominance of carbon matrix materials in the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market.

By Manufacturing Type

“The CVD/CVI manufacturing process currently dominates the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market, driven by its superior reliability and efficiency under extreme operational conditions.”

The market is segmented into CVD/CVI and LPI, based on manufacturing type segmentation. The prominence of CVD/CVI manufacturing process is driven by the ability to produce high-density, high-strength carbon–carbon composites with exceptional thermal and mechanical performance. The process enables precise control over microstructure, resulting in enhanced oxidation resistance, durability, and consistent performance under extreme braking conditions. Unlike the LPI (Liquid Polymer Infiltration) process, which may lead to higher porosity and reduced material uniformity, CVD/CVI ensures better structural integrity and longer component lifespan, critical factors in aerospace applications where reliability and safety are paramount. The exceptional performance characteristics achieved through CVD/CVI make it the preferred manufacturing technique for premium-grade aircraft braking systems.

Regional Analysis

“Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the highest growth in the coming years, driven by increasing air passenger traffic and expanding commercial fleets.”

North America continues to dominate the market due to the strong presence of major aircraft OEMs and carbon brake manufacturers, including Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, and Parker Meggitt. The region’s well-established aerospace supply chain, high defense spending, and continuous technological advancements ensure its leadership position. Together, these factors position North America as the mature core of the market, while Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The growth in Asia-Pacific is supported by rising aircraft production in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The presence of rapidly growing low-cost carriers, coupled with ongoing airport infrastructure development and regional defense modernization programs, further fuels demand for advanced braking systems.

Key Players

The market is highly concentrated, with few players across the region. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors, including price, service offerings, and regional presence etc. The following are the key players in the aerospace & defense carbon brakes market. Some of the major players provide a complete range of services

Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)

• Safran
• Meggitt PLC (part of Parker Hannifin Corp)
• Collins Aerospace
• Honeywell International Inc.

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Please write to us at [email protected]

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

The aerospace & defense carbon brakes market is segmented into the following categories.

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by Application

• Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by End-Use

• OEM (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Aftermarket (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by Fiber Precursor

• PAN (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Pitch (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by Matrix

• Carbon (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Carbon Ceramics (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by Manufacturing Process

• CVD//CVI (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• LPI (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Aerospace & Defense Carbon Brakes Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Argentina, and Others)

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aerospace & defense carbon brakes market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period.

The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market.

The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruit available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.

More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.

We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

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