Flight Simulator Market Sets for USD 8.07 Billion by 2034

Flight Simulator Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Demand and Forecast by 2034

According to forecasts, the global flight simulator market will grow from USD 5.16 billion in 2024 to USD 8.07 billion by 2034, with an expected CAGR of 4.58%. North America dominates the flight simulator market, driven by major industry players, while Europe is set for strong growth with rising military investments. Full flight simulators lead due to their combat training capabilities, and the commercial sector thrives on growing private jet demand.

Last Updated: 28 March 2025 Category: Multi-modal Transport Insight Code: 1673 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

Senior Research Analyst

Dr. Arjun Patel

Reviewed By

Aditi Shivarkar

The flight simulator market is expected to increase from USD 5.39 billion in 2025 to USD 8.07 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.58% throughout the forecast period from 2025 to 2034.

Flight Simulator Market Size 2023 - 2034

Introduction

The flight simulator market is a crucial branch of the aerospace and defense industry. This industry deals in development of machines used to train pilots for flying aircrafts. There are various types of machines developed in this industry consisting of full flight simulator and flight training devices. These machines are based on several platforms comprising of fixed wing simulator, rotary wing simulator, UAV simulator and others. It finds numerous applications in commercial sector and military purposes. The rising military expenditure in different parts of the world has driven the market growth. This market is expected to rise significantly with the growth of the airline sector across the world.

North America Military Expenditure in USD Billion (2022-23)

  • According to the SIPRI, the military expenditure of North America in 2022 was US$ 886.3 billion that increased to US$ 907.3 billion in 2023.

Highlights of the Flight Simulator Market

  • North America held the largest share of the flight simulator market due to the presence of flight simulator brands in this region.
  • Europe is expected to grow with a significant CAGR due to the growing investment in military sector in this region.
  • The full flight simulator segment held the largest share of the market due to its ability to train pilots for combat activities.
  • The commercial segment led the industry due to the rising demand for private jets in different parts of the world.

Key Metrics and Overview

Metric Details
Market Size in 2024 USD 5.16 Billion
Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 8.07 Billion
CAGR (2025 - 2034) 4.58%
Leading Region  North America
Market Segmentation  By Type, By Platform, By Application and By Region
Top Key Players L3Harris Technologies Inc. (U.S.), The Boeing Company (U.S.), CAE Inc. (Canada), FlightSafety International Inc. (U.S.), Thales Group (France), TRU Simulation + Training Inc. (U.S.)
Key Market Drivers
  • Rising military expenditure globally
  • Expansion of airline sector
  • Technological advancements in flight simulation (AR/VR)
  • Cost-effective pilot training solutions
  • Government of several countries are investing heavily for strengthening the military sector that contributes to the growth of the flight simulators industry. According to the SIPRI, the government expenditure in the European region was around    US$ 569.1 billion during 2023.
  • Several aviation companies are using advanced flight simulators for training pilots to lower training costs. For instance, in March 2024, Simaero announced to open a training center in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. This center is inaugurated for training commercial pilots across China.
  • Numerous market players are collaborating with each other for developing advanced machines for training pilots. For instance, in March 2025, Microsoft collaborated with Embraer. This collaboration is done for using Microsoft’s simulator devices to train pilots of Embraer.
  • The flight simulator brands are integrating AR and VR technology to enhance the training experience of pilots. For instance, in February 2024, Loft Dynamics launched a virtual reality (VR)-based flight simulation device. This device uses VR technology for training pilots across North America.

Industry Leader Announcement

In November 2024, Khushbeg Jattana, the General Manager for India made an announcement stating that, “India’s aviation sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by increased regional connectivity and record orders for single-aisle aircraft, like the Airbus A320 family.”

Geographical Insights

North America held the largest share of the flight simulator market. The rising investment in the aviation sector along with technological advancements in aerospace industry has boosted the market growth. Also, the increasing government expenditure to strengthen the military sector is crucial for the industrial expansion. Moreover, the presence of several aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Corporation, L3Harris Technologies and some others is driving the growth of the flight simulator market in this region.

Competitive Landscape

Flight Simulator Market Companies

The flight simulator market is a rapidly developing industry with the presence of several dominating players. Some of the prominent companies in this industry consists of L3Harris Technologies Inc. (U.S.), The Boeing Company (U.S.), CAE Inc. (Canada), FlightSafety International Inc. (U.S.), Thales Group (France), TRU Simulation + Training Inc. (U.S.) and some others. These companies are constantly engaged in developing simulation machines for training pilots and adopting numerous strategies to maintain their dominance in this industry.

CAE Revenue in USD Million (2023-24)

  • According to the annual report of CAE, the revenue of the company in 2023 was US$ 4010.6 million that increased to US$ 4282.80 million in 2024.

Market Segmentations

By Type

  • Full Flight Simulator
  • Flight Training Devices

By Platform

  • Fixed Wing Simulator
  • Rotary Wing Simulator
  • UAV Simulator

By Application

  • Commercial
  • Military

By Region

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East and Africa
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About The Author

Dr. Arjun Patel is a distinguished expert in the automotive industry, holding advanced degrees in Automotive Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. His expertise spans automotive market dynamics, technological advancements, and sustainable practices. Dr. Patel excels in conducting in depth research and analysis on market trends, consumer preferences, and the economic implications within the automotive sector. He is renowned for his insightful publications on topics such as electric vehicles, autonomous driving technologies, and the evolution of sustainable transportation solutions. Dr. Patels research contributions have significantly advanced understanding in the field, earning him recognition as a leading authority in automotive research and analysis.

FAQ's

The flight simulator market was valued at USD 5.39 billion in 2025.

North America dominated this industry.

The growing investment in airline sector along with declining number of pilots around the world has boosted the market growth.

Some of the prominent players of this industry consists of CAE Inc. (Canada), FlightSafety International Inc. (U.S.), L3Harris Technologies Inc. (U.S.), The Boeing Company (U.S.), Thales Group (France), TRU Simulation + Training Inc. (U.S.), Raytheon Technologies Corporation (U.S.), Indra Sistemas S.A. (Spain) and some others.

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