The aerial refueling market is projected to grow from US$ 640.75 million in 2022 to US$ 960.94 million by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during this period.

The aerial refueling system is essential for executing mid-air refueling operations for various types of aircraft. These operations primarily support military combat jets, surveillance planes, helicopters, and military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs. The increasing acquisition of diverse military aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs is driving the demand for aerial refueling systems, including probes and drogues that are installed on these aircraft to facilitate refueling.

Below is a list of tanker aircraft models currently in operation across various countries:

Tanker Model	Refueling System Type	Current Status	Operator Country
Airbus A310 MRTT	Probe System	Operational	Canada/France/Germany
Airbus A330 MRTT	Probe System	Production/Operational	United Kingdom
Airbus A330 MRTT	Boom System	Production/Operational	Australia/Saudi Arabia/Spain/UAE/Singapore
Airbus A400M Atlas	Probe System	Operational	Spain/Germany/France
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus	Boom System	Production/Operational	United States
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet	Probe System	Production/Operational	United States
Dassault-Breguet Super ?tendard	Probe System	Production/Operational	France
Dassault Rafale	Probe System	Production/Operational	France
Embraer KC-390	Probe System	Production/Operational	Brazil
Lockheed HC-130 Hercules & KC-130 Hercules	Probe System	Production/Operational	Canada/Indonesia/United Kingdom/United States

In addition, several aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing and Airbus, are actively engaged in advancing their capabilities to develop new projects, which is anticipated to create additional opportunities for stakeholders in the aerial refueling market during the forecast period. For example, Boeing is in the process of developing its first unmanned refueling tanker, the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray UAV, which is expected to be operational by late 2024 with the US military. Numerous governments have already signed contracts to procure the Stingray UAV, and once it is commercialized, deliveries will commence to various customers. The increasing integration of unmanned systems within military operations is a significant trend globally, which is likely to open new avenues for vendors in the aerial refueling sector in the years ahead.

The global aerial refueling market is categorized based on several factors, including component, aircraft type, system type, end use, and geographical region. In terms of components, the market is divided into refueling pods, probes, drogues, hoses, booms, and other related items. When considering aircraft types, the market encompasses tanker and combat aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. The system type classification includes probe and drogue systems as well as boom and receptacle systems. The end-use segment is divided into original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket services. Geographically, the market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM).

Key players in the aerial refueling market include Cobham Plc, Safran, Eaton, GE Aviation, Marshall Aerospace & Defense Group, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd, and ARESIA, among others, who are profiled in this market analysis.

The overall size of the aerial refueling market has been determined through a combination of primary and secondary research methods. Extensive secondary research has been conducted using both internal and external sources to gather qualitative and quantitative data regarding the market size. This approach also aids in providing a comprehensive overview and forecast of the market across all segments. Additionally, numerous primary interviews have been carried out with industry stakeholders to validate the findings and gain deeper analytical insights. This process includes discussions with industry experts such as vice presidents, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, as well as external consultants like valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the aerial refueling domain.