2026 Global: Air-To-Air Refueling Market-Competitive Review (2032) report
Description
The 2026 Global: Air-To-Air Refueling Market-Competitive Review (2031) report features the global market size and projected growth/decline data for the period 2021 through 2032. The report primarily provides an examination of the business strategies for the ten largest global companies in the market and how their strategies differ.
Perry/Hope Partners' reports provide the most accurate industry forecasts based on our proprietary economic models. Our forecasts project the product market size nationally and by regions for 2021 to 2032 using regression analysis in our modeling. and Perry/Hope is the only market research publisher that utilizes both longitudinal (historical) and vertical (from market section to market division to market class) analysis, since we study every manufactured product in the countries we analyze. The report also provides written analysis on the market definition, market segments, and SWOT analysis (market strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats).
The market study aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market. Topics analyzed within the report include a detailed breakdown of the global markets for air-to-air refueling market by geography and historical trend. The scope of the report extends to sizing of the air-to-air refueling market market and global market trends with market data for 2024 as the base year, 2025 and 2026 as the estimate years with projection of CAGR from 2027 to 2032.
The report also features a list of the top ten largest global players in the market. A review of each company includes 1) an estimate of the market share, 2) a listing of the products and/or services in the market, and 3) the features of these products and/or services in the market. The report has a chapter on Comparative Business Strategies for the largest four players. An example of the Comparative Business Strategies analysis would be -- How does Netflix's business strategy to expand its market share in the global online streaming compare to Amazon Prime's business strategy through its video products and services?
The ten market players in this report and a brief synopsis of their participation in the market are:
Cobham plc, Eaton Corporation, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Leonardo S.p.A., and GE Aviation are widely recognized as ten major companies active in the air-to-air refueling market. Cobham and Eaton are leading suppliers of probe-and-drogue systems, hose drum units, and associated fluid-control components; Eaton completed a strategic acquisition of Cobham’s refueling business, consolidating expertise in hoses, valves, probes and modular refueling kits that serve both retrofit and new-build requirements. Airbus and Boeing dominate OEM tanker platforms: Airbus supplies the A330 MRTT family and Boeing supplies the KC-46 Pegasus, each integrating boom and pod options and fielding automated refueling technologies—Airbus demonstrated a fully automatic boom refueling capability while Boeing’s KC-46 program has accumulated significant operational hours and offload experience supporting allied forces. GE Aviation, Parker Hannifin and Safran are important component and subsystem suppliers—providing pumps, actuators, valves and fuel-system electronics that improve reliability, reduce weight and enable compatibility with sustainable aviation fuels.
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman contribute through platform integration, advanced boom systems, and work on autonomous and unmanned refueling concepts that expand operational reach for both manned and unmanned fleets. Lockheed Martin’s systems expertise focuses on integration across transport and tactical platforms and open-system digital architectures to ease upgrades and interoperability. Northrop Grumman emphasizes unmanned tanker development and sensor/avionics integration to support future autonomous refueling missions, while Raytheon Technologies brings modular refueling and data/diagnostics capabilities that enhance predictive maintenance and mission readiness. Israel Aerospace Industries provides turnkey tanker conversions, refueling pods and retrofits for international customers, leveraging experience in both airborne systems and missionized aircraft conversions to serve regional air forces. Leonardo offers lightweight, modular refueling pods and multirole tanker solutions tailored to European and coalition requirements, combining pod design with avionics and integration services.
Commercial and niche operators such as Omega Air, Metrea and specialized integrators also shape the market by offering contracted air-to-air refueling services and expanding non-sovereign options for training and augmentation of national fleets, but the ten firms above form the backbone of product and platform supply chains. Market research and industry reports consistently highlight consolidation around these leaders: Boeing and Airbus dominate large-platform tanker deliveries while component and subsystem markets remain more fragmented yet increasingly integrated through acquisitions (notably Eaton’s purchase of Cobham Mission Systems) and partnerships that accelerate development of automation, digital twins, and sustainable-fuel compatibility. Geographically, North American and European primes retain the largest program footprints and defense contracts, while suppliers in Israel and Italy are key for regional retrofit and pod markets, and emerging commercial refueling providers are expanding global access to contracted refueling services for both military and civil operators.
Perry/Hope Partners' reports provide the most accurate industry forecasts based on our proprietary economic models. Our forecasts project the product market size nationally and by regions for 2021 to 2032 using regression analysis in our modeling. and Perry/Hope is the only market research publisher that utilizes both longitudinal (historical) and vertical (from market section to market division to market class) analysis, since we study every manufactured product in the countries we analyze. The report also provides written analysis on the market definition, market segments, and SWOT analysis (market strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats).
The market study aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market. Topics analyzed within the report include a detailed breakdown of the global markets for air-to-air refueling market by geography and historical trend. The scope of the report extends to sizing of the air-to-air refueling market market and global market trends with market data for 2024 as the base year, 2025 and 2026 as the estimate years with projection of CAGR from 2027 to 2032.
The report also features a list of the top ten largest global players in the market. A review of each company includes 1) an estimate of the market share, 2) a listing of the products and/or services in the market, and 3) the features of these products and/or services in the market. The report has a chapter on Comparative Business Strategies for the largest four players. An example of the Comparative Business Strategies analysis would be -- How does Netflix's business strategy to expand its market share in the global online streaming compare to Amazon Prime's business strategy through its video products and services?
The ten market players in this report and a brief synopsis of their participation in the market are:
Cobham plc, Eaton Corporation, Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Leonardo S.p.A., and GE Aviation are widely recognized as ten major companies active in the air-to-air refueling market. Cobham and Eaton are leading suppliers of probe-and-drogue systems, hose drum units, and associated fluid-control components; Eaton completed a strategic acquisition of Cobham’s refueling business, consolidating expertise in hoses, valves, probes and modular refueling kits that serve both retrofit and new-build requirements. Airbus and Boeing dominate OEM tanker platforms: Airbus supplies the A330 MRTT family and Boeing supplies the KC-46 Pegasus, each integrating boom and pod options and fielding automated refueling technologies—Airbus demonstrated a fully automatic boom refueling capability while Boeing’s KC-46 program has accumulated significant operational hours and offload experience supporting allied forces. GE Aviation, Parker Hannifin and Safran are important component and subsystem suppliers—providing pumps, actuators, valves and fuel-system electronics that improve reliability, reduce weight and enable compatibility with sustainable aviation fuels.
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman contribute through platform integration, advanced boom systems, and work on autonomous and unmanned refueling concepts that expand operational reach for both manned and unmanned fleets. Lockheed Martin’s systems expertise focuses on integration across transport and tactical platforms and open-system digital architectures to ease upgrades and interoperability. Northrop Grumman emphasizes unmanned tanker development and sensor/avionics integration to support future autonomous refueling missions, while Raytheon Technologies brings modular refueling and data/diagnostics capabilities that enhance predictive maintenance and mission readiness. Israel Aerospace Industries provides turnkey tanker conversions, refueling pods and retrofits for international customers, leveraging experience in both airborne systems and missionized aircraft conversions to serve regional air forces. Leonardo offers lightweight, modular refueling pods and multirole tanker solutions tailored to European and coalition requirements, combining pod design with avionics and integration services.
Commercial and niche operators such as Omega Air, Metrea and specialized integrators also shape the market by offering contracted air-to-air refueling services and expanding non-sovereign options for training and augmentation of national fleets, but the ten firms above form the backbone of product and platform supply chains. Market research and industry reports consistently highlight consolidation around these leaders: Boeing and Airbus dominate large-platform tanker deliveries while component and subsystem markets remain more fragmented yet increasingly integrated through acquisitions (notably Eaton’s purchase of Cobham Mission Systems) and partnerships that accelerate development of automation, digital twins, and sustainable-fuel compatibility. Geographically, North American and European primes retain the largest program footprints and defense contracts, while suppliers in Israel and Italy are key for regional retrofit and pod markets, and emerging commercial refueling providers are expanding global access to contracted refueling services for both military and civil operators.
Table of Contents
32 Pages
- 1.0 Scope of Report and Methodology
- 2.0 Market SWOT Analysis and Players
- 2.1 Market Definition
- 2.2 Market Segments
- 2.3 Market Strengths
- 2.4 Market Weaknesses
- 2.5 Market Threats
- 2.6 Market Opportunities
- 2.7 Major Players
- 3.0 Competitive Analysis
- 3.1 Market Player 1
- 3.2 Market Player 2
- 3.3 Market Player 3
- 3.4 Market Player 4
- 3.5 Market Player 5
- 3.6 Market Player 6
- 3.7 Market Player 7
- 3.8 Market Player 8
- 3.9 Market Player 9
- 3.10 Market Player 10
- 4.0 Comparative Business Strategies
- 4.1 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 1 and 2
- 4.2 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 1 and 3
- 4.3 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 1 and 4
- 4.4 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 2 and 3
- 4.5 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 2 and 4
- 4.6 Comparative Business Strategies of Player 3 and 4
- 5.0 Appendix
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