Search And Rescue Aircraft Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 22.56 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 26.65 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 3.40% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players.webp)
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
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Search And Rescue Aircraft Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Search And Rescue Aircraft Market size is estimated at USD 22.56 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 26.65 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.40% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on all aviation sectors globally for a short period. During the pandemic, the majority of nonessential industries, as well as people's traffic in social places, were significantly reduced. Rescue cases during the pandemic were substantially fewer. The search and rescue industry also faced setbacks due to the pandemic.
With the help of these aircraft, the time taken to complete the rescue activity has been reduced. The increasing number of accidents at various remote trekking sites has driven the need for search and rescue aircraft to successfully extract people from danger.
Global Search And Rescue Aircraft Market Trends and Insights
Rotary Wing Segment Is Expected To Lead The Market During The Forecast Period.
Rotary wing aircraft can land vertically anywhere which is why Rotary wing aircraft are very useful for Rescue purposes. With global temperatures rising, the world is expected to witness an increasing occurrence of wildfires in the next twenty years, generating a more important requirement for search and rescue and aerial firefighting activities. Thus, end-users like service-providing companies are expected to spend increasingly more money on rescue aircraft, especially rotary-wing aircraft. Also, climate change has influenced the prevalence of natural disasters over the years. The frequency and intensity of natural disasters are also increasing each year, which might increase the need for search and rescue helicopters in the future.
On the other hand, as roads become more congested, the need for quicker aerial transport is expected to increase, increasing the spending on Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), particularly in developing countries in the years to come. After the advent of the pandemic, investment in the healthcare domain has grown during the COVID-19 situation, which has also increased the usage and demand for Air Ambulance Services for emergency medical services. Helicopters can cater to these requirements as they can be operated without a paved runway and can take off and land at the nearest incident location, thereby reducing the response and travel times. These factors are driving the demand for rotary-wing aircraft for the applications mentioned above.
Asia Pacific is Expected to Lead the Market During the Forecast Period
In terms of geography, Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest pace as the major countries in the region are increasing their investment in internal security and service. As this sector is developing at a high rate in all economies in the region as there is vast potential for growth in the market studied.
The Population and density of the Asian country are large compared to other countries, In an emergency, aircraft rescue is always a good and feasible way to company an emergency operation. Most Asian countries are procuring rescue aircraft, For instance, in March 2022, the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday approved the procurement of 15 indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for Rs 3,887 crore. The defense ministry said 10 helicopters will be for the Indian Air Force and five will be for the Indian Army. These helicopters are also being used in search and rescue activity which comes under NDRF (National Disaster Response Force).
In May 2022, South Korea signed a contract worth 170 billion won (USD 132.8 million) with United States aerospace firm, Bell Textron Asia to purchase some 40 trainer helicopters by 2025. These helicopters will be used to train and operate them for various requirements increasing the effectiveness of the crew and first responding agency.
Considering the procurement plans in the Asia region, it is expected that the market will grow at a faster pace in the coming year.
Competitive Landscape
The Search and Rescue Aircraft Market is moderately fragmented. Bell Textron, Everett Aviation Ltd, Elbit Systems, Babcock International, PHI Aviation LLC, Bristow Group Inc, Etc are the prominent players operating in the market.
Companies like Textron are focusing on expanding their geographical presence with mergers and acquisitions with other companies and hence will gain a competitive advantage. For instance,
- In April 2022, Textron Inc. announced that it has closed its acquisition of PIPISTREL d.o.o., PIPISTREL VERTICAL SOLUTIONS d.o.o., and PIPISTREL ITALIA S.R.L., known collectively as Pipistrel, an award-winning pioneer and global leader in electrically powered aircraft.
- In September 2022, Bell Textron Inc., a company, announced a signed purchase agreement for two SUBARU Bell 412EPX helicopters to the Republic of Croatia's Ministry of Interior.
Search And Rescue Aircraft Industry Leaders
-
babcock international
-
Bristow Group Inc
-
Elbit Systems
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Bell Textron
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PHI Aviation LLC
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- September 2022: The Georgian interior ministry, with additional budget funding, purchased three helicopters for search and rescue operations, and 30 fire engines.
- July 2022: The MCA, an executive agency of the Department for Transport UK, signed a GBP 1.6 billion contract with United Kingdom company Bristow Helicopters Ltd following an extensive 18-month procurement process.
Global Search And Rescue Aircraft Market Report Scope
The Search and Rescue Aircraft Market is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue encompasses many specialty subfields, typically determined by the type of terrain over which the search is conducted.
The search and rescue aircraft market is segmented by type, application, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into fixed-wing and rotary-wing. By application, the market is segmented into offshore rescue and onshore rescue. By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world. For each segment, market sizing and forecasting have been conducted based on value (in USD billion).
| Fixed Wing |
| Rotary Wing |
| Offshore Rescue |
| Onshore Rescue |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| Rest of North America | |
| Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | |
| France | |
| Russia | |
| Spain | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia Pacific | India |
| China | |
| Japan | |
| Rest of Asia Pacific | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Middle East and Africa | United Arab Emirates |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| Rest of Middle East and Africa |
| By Type | Fixed Wing | |
| Rotary Wing | ||
| By Application | Offshore Rescue | |
| Onshore Rescue | ||
| Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Rest of North America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Russia | ||
| Spain | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia Pacific | India | |
| China | ||
| Japan | ||
| Rest of Asia Pacific | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Middle East and Africa | United Arab Emirates | |
| Saudi Arabia | ||
| Rest of Middle East and Africa | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current Search and Rescue Aircraft Market size?
The Search and Rescue Aircraft Market is projected to register a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period (2025-2030)
Who are the key players in Search and Rescue Aircraft Market?
Babcock international, Bristow Group Inc, Elbit Systems, Bell Textron and PHI Aviation LLC are the major companies operating in the Search and Rescue Aircraft Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Search and Rescue Aircraft Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Search and Rescue Aircraft Market?
In 2025, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Search and Rescue Aircraft Market.
What years does this Search and Rescue Aircraft Market cover?
The report covers the Search and Rescue Aircraft Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Search and Rescue Aircraft Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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