Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market

Global Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market Size (2022 to 2027)

The global market for medium and heavy-lift helicopters was worth USD 18.4 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach a valuation of USD 23.6 billion by the end of 2027, expanding at an annual growth rate of 5.1% between 2022 and 2027.

By conventional use worldwide, helicopters can be categorized by weight, such as light lift, medium-lift, and heavy-lift—medium and heavy-lift helicopters. Medium lift and heavy-lift helicopters are generally considered from about 14000 pounds to 45,000 pounds, and heavy-lift helicopters refer to helicopters above 50,000 pounds. Medium and Heavy lift helicopters have single or twin engines. The medium and Heavy lift helicopters are widely used in commercial, civil, and military applications. Medium lift and heavy-lift helicopters are used in various applications like transportation, medical and rescue services, oil and gas offshore operations, tourism, law enforcement, transport cargo, troops other materials required in often unreachable locations.

Countries invest in procuring and developing medium and heavy-lift helicopters to increase their fleet. North America is the largest market for medium and heavy-lift helicopters due to its spending on modernizing many an aging fleet. Additionally, the presence of significant helicopter manufacturers like Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (U.S.), Boeing (U.S.), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), among others, drives the growth of this market.

Asia-Pacific is predicted to increase with the highest CAGR in the forecast period due to the increasing demand for medium and heavy-lift helicopters in the military sector.

Impact of COVID-19 on the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market: 

The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted the Global Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market. The major players like Airbus Helicopters SAS (France), Bell Helicopters (U.S.), The Boeing Company (U.S.), Leonardo S.p.An (Italy) have spread their business across various North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. COVID-19 has significantly impacted their businesses as well. COVID-19 has affected global helicopter production and services by 7-10%. Due to the rapid spread of the pandemic in Europe, the U.S. and the Asia Pacific region had led to a significant decline in demand for the helicopters globally and a correspondence reduction in revenue for various helicopters suppliers and service providers across all markets due to late delivery, disrupted supply chains, manufacturing shutdown and low staff at manufacturing and limited availability of equipment. However, with the recovering economy and other industrial activities since 2021, it is estimated that the demand for medium and heavy-lift helicopters will increase soon. 

MARKET DRIVERS:

Growing demand for medium and heavy-lift helicopters in the Military and commercial sector, with their increasing use in various applications like transportation, medical and emergency rescue tourism, law enforcement, and offshore helicopter services, is majorly propelling the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market.

The increasing use of medium-lift helicopters in various commercial, civil and military applications due to its multi-mission capabilities that are suitable for lifting operations in the rigid environment, including helicopter logging, ski-lift installations, power line construction, and logistics support on construction sites, etc. and the heavy-lift helicopters for search and rescue operations, transport cargo, troops other materials required in often unreachable terrains. Owing to these reasons, the demand for these helicopters is increasing in different countries, propelling the growth of the global medium market soon. Furthermore, in the Military, the need for medium-lift multi-role helicopters is rising from almost every region worldwide, driving the growth of the Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market.

The increasing development of new generation helicopters by significant players with modern technological support will further boost the growth of the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market, especially in the military sector, as several countries are looking to replace their aging fleet of medium and heavy-lift helicopters. In addition, the U.S. in the North American region is spending to replace their aging helicopter (including medium and heavy lifts).

The increasing investment by several countries to develop and procure medium and heavy-lift helicopters for civil and military purposes are signing contract agreements for helicopter procurement, driving the market growth between 2022 and 2027.

MARKET RESTRAINTS:

The aerospace industry is highly regulated, primarily owing to the risk associated with flight operations restricting the market growth of medium and heavy-lift helicopters. Countries worldwide have regulatory bodies governing the safety level associated with helicopter operations. In addition, a huge number of bilateral, lateral, and international regulations and standards bind the actions of the manufacturers of helicopters and their components.  

REPORT COVERAGE:

This research report on the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market has been segmented and sub-segmented into the following categories.

Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market - By Type:

• Medium Lift 
• Heavy Lift

Medium-lift helicopters dominate the market as the demand for medium-lift helicopters increases in the civil, military, and commercial sectors. They are generally incorporated with multi-mission capabilities that make them suitable for lifting operations in inflexible environments. Therefore, the demand for the medium-lift multi-role and utility helicopters in the military sector drives the growth of the Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market between 2022 and 2027.

Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market - By Point of Sale:

• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
• After Market

The OEM segment is expected to boost the market growth due to increasing procurement demand for helicopters from developing countries has increased the order pre-book of military helicopters. This demand has led to increased helicopter deliveries, further driving the OEM Market during this period.

Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market - By Number of Engines:

• Single Engine
• Twin Engine

Single-engine aircraft dominates the market as it is much safer than Twin Engine and has low maintenance costs.

Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market - By Application:

• Commercial
• Military

Medium lift helicopter dominates the market as the demand for medium-lift helicopters increases due to their increasing application in different applications like tourism, medical, emergency rescue services, law enforcement, transportation, and offshore helicopter services. On the other hand, the military segment will drive the growth of the Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market as several countries are looking forward to replacing their aging fleet of medium and heavy-lift helicopters with new generation helicopters.

Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters Market - By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa 

Geographically, North America held the largest share of the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market in 2021 due to large numbers of commercial and military helicopters. In North America, the U.S. is expected to become the largest market for medium and heavy-lift helicopters, mainly due to many mature helicopters. In addition, there is a lucrative market for helicopter OEMs in the North American region as the government invests in enhancing the quality and effectiveness of helicopters and their systems. The United States has also dedicated significant military spending to attack helicopters to strengthen its fleet capabilities. Additionally, the growing oil and gas offshore activities in this region increase the demand for utility helicopters (medium lift), which boosts the growth of the medium and heavy-lift helicopter market in the forecast period between 2022 and 2027.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow with the highest CAGR forecast period between 2022 and 2027. As a result, countries like China, India, etc., have started signing agreements and contracts with developers and manufacturers of these medium and heavy-lift helicopters to procure helicopters for Military and civil use. For instance, China has the largest helicopter fleet in this region and signed an agreement with Rostec States Corporation in March 2029 to jointly develop heavy-lift helicopters for the Military of both countries. Similarly, deliveries of Chinook heavy-lift helicopter for the Indian Military is ongoing, following the country’s contract with Boeing and the U.S. government in 2018 for 15 Chinook helicopter. 

Europe is expected to become a healthy market for medium and heavy-lift helicopters, especially in the military sector, due to increased defense spending by major countries like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia. Additionally, increasing military tension in Eastern Europe and the presence of major aircraft manufacturers are fuelling the growth of this market. In 2020, France confirmed its procurement plan for CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter to its Air force. Similarly, Germany plans to acquire more than 60 Airbus heavy-lift helicopters from 2021 for its army, navy, and air force for better utility and training purposes. Such procurement plans will boost the Medium and Heavy Lift Market's growth between 2022 and 2027.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS:

Airbus SE, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Textron Inc., Leonardo SpA, Russian Helicopters JSC, Aviation Corporation of China, Sky Aviation, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, and Erikson Inc. are some of the prominent companies in the global medium and heavy-lift helicopters market. Boeing had the largest share of the world’s Medium and Heavy-Lift Helicopters in sales revenue in 2021.

RECENT MARKET HAPPENINGS:

• In November 2021, Boeing U.S ordered six MH-47G twin rotary-wing heavy-lift helicopters for U.S. special operations.MH-47G is the most advanced heavy-lift helicopter operated by the 16oth special operations aviation regiment.
• In February 2021, Hindustan Aerospace limited (Bangaluru India) had unveiled publicly for the first time their conceptualized and benchmark twin-engine, 13 tonnes, multi-role, multi-mission medium-lift helicopter.