New heights: Aerospace and defense market research

The aerospace and defense (A&D) market has recently reached several historic milestones. Demand for commercial air travel grew to a record 5.2 billion travelers in 2025. Total industry revenues are forecast to reach $1.165 trillion in 2026, while global backlog is expected to remain around $1 trillion as well.

In space, crewed exploration returned to the Moon for the first time in 50 years in April 2026, and orbital launches reached a record-breaking 324 in 2025. Indeed, the space economy is one of the fastest-growing businesses globally, expanding 60% in the past decade and is now valued at $626 billion. At the same time, the Department of Defense (DOD) is planning to invest $2.2 trillion to develop and acquire its most expensive weapon programs, according to the US Government Accountability Office.

Yet, despite the historic milestones and demand, disruption isn’t at bay. From fuel price increases driven by regional conflicts to manufacturing supply-chain delays, air travel is costing consumers more and reducing airline profitability, all as more and more flights take place in an increasingly aging global fleet of aircraft.

Against this backdrop, opportunities abound for firms with the right market intelligence. At SIS International, we have spent over 40 years advising Fortune 100 companies, including top A&D firms, with high-quality market research. Our proven approach combines rigorous desk research to map market conditions and interviews with key opinion leaders and government leaders to provide deeper insight into what the findings mean for your business.

Desk research and the ESA

Desk research, also known as secondary research, involves collecting and analyzing publicly available information to answer strategic business questions. Sources can include government data, industry publications, company reports, academic studies, and trade association statistics. Often underrated, desk research provides critical market intelligence, strategic risk analysis, and macro-trend mapping at a fraction of the time and cost of primary methods.

In A&D, desk research helps companies understand and assess market demand, map competitors, track procurement priorities, and identify regulatory changes. It establishes what is already known and highlights gaps that interviews or other primary research methods could address.

A solid example of the value of desk research in A&D comes from the European Space Agency (ESA). In 2026, the agency examined existing data from multiple organizations to better understand investment in Europe’s space economy. It found that investment fell from 8% in 2025 to €1.4 billion; however, further research would change the meaningfulness of that headline. In fact, the previous years’ total had been boosted by a large acquisition, and when acquisition deals were excluded, investment had actually increased 10% in 2025. Secondary research helps to prevent business leaders from making strategic missteps based on surface-level metrics.

Going deeper with industry expertise

Interviews with industry experts, key opinion leaders, and government leaders can give companies deeper insight than desk research alone. It is the next logical step in the market research process, as it helps fill in any gaps revealed through secondary research. Simply put, desk research data can tell you what is happening, but interviews with key decision-makers explain why, adding necessary context to important market trends and validating initial findings with real-world expertise.

Technical specialists, industry executives, and experienced buyers can explain emerging applications, operational requirements, and purchasing priorities. Government leaders and program officials offer perspectives on policy implementation, public investment, and procurement needs. Together, these conversations help companies assess whether a promising market is commercially and institutionally accessible.

India’s commercial space industry demonstrates the potential value of interviewing government leaders and industry experts. In a 2026 article, The Economist describes how the Indian government is expanding commercial opportunities by opening the space sector to private entrants. For companies considering market entry, interviews with government leaders can provide practical guidance on access, procurement priorities, and partnership requirements. Combining desk research with interviews of key opinion leaders and government leaders can help companies assess which opportunities fit their unique capabilities.

AI, Airbus, and Boeing

Like all industries, A&D is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) in many ways, and its impact is deep and growing. AI’s value to A&D lies in its ability to turn complex information into timely, usable insights. It’s already being used in areas such as autonomous aircraft navigation, predictive maintenance, and mission-critical data analysis.

As always, safety remains a critical priority, and building out AI’s capabilities is believed to enable significant safety improvements. Indeed, Airbus recently partnered with Palantir to build a cloud-based data platform that uses AI and machine learning (ML) to analyze vibration patterns, fluid leaks, and component stress. 140 airlines currently use the system and have achieved a 30% reduction in operational disruptions through AI-based predictive insights.

Airbus isn’t alone in embracing AI. Boeing recently prototyped onboard AI for space operations. When communications with satellites and uncrewed missions are unavailable, the prototype can analyze systems to identify and understand ongoing issues. The onboard AI can also take steps to remedy problems without waiting for ground connections to be reestablished.

Turn Aerospace opportunities into strategic growth

Growing demand in aerospace and defense is creating new opportunities amid a series of historic milestones. Yet, market size alone cannot tell business leaders where to invest, which customers are attractive for specific offerings, or how to navigate barriers to entry. Those decisions require a clear understanding of demand, competition, government priorities, and emerging technologies.

SIS International helps aerospace and defense organizations turn complex market information into practical strategic direction. Whether you are evaluating a new market, assessing customer needs, or exploring the commercial implications of AI, our team can conduct aerospace and defense market research to inform your most important decisions.

Contact SIS International to discuss your next aerospace and defense research project and build an informed foundation for your next growth decision.