In this article we discuss the top 5 aircraft manufacturers in the world. If you want to read our detailed analysis of the aircraft industry, go directly to the Top Aircraft Manufacturers in the World.
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5. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)
Revenue: $36.7 billion (2020)
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a US based multinational aerospace and defense technology corporation. The company employs 90,000 people and is one of the most established defense companies in the United States. Northrop Grumman has a customer base in 25 nations (allied countries). It ranked at number 96 on the Fortune 500 list for America’s largest corporations. Northrop Grumman is the manufacturer of X-47B, the only unmanned autonomous drone deployable from an aircraft carrier.
Apart from that, it developed the world’s only known stealth bomber for the US Government, known as the B2 spirit and is currently developing B21 raider, a next generation long range stealth bomber that would replace the aging B2 spirit. Other military aircraft in its portfolio include, E-8 joint STARS, RQ-4 Global Hawk for the US Air Force. For the US Navy on the other hand, it manufactures and supplies aircraft like C-2 Greyhound and E-2 Hawkeye. Also, the company produces components for other US military’s aircraft such as the F18 Hornet.
4. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)
Revenue: $58.16 billion (2020)
Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is an American multinational corporation that specializes in designing, developing, manufacturing both civilian and military fixed wing as well as rotary wing aircraft, rockets, satellites and missiles. The company has a global customer base across many nations and sells to both civilian (commercial and general) and military sectors. The company boasts 143,000 employees. It was the 2nd largest aerospace manufacturer based on 2018 revenue but as of 2020, the company has lost two spots. Most of it is attributed to the pandemic and two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max which cost hundreds of lives.
The company also lost its 2019 40th position and was pushed back to 121th position on the Fortune 500 list in 2020. However, Boeing is still a big deal and a very distinguished aerospace manufacturer. The company’s crown jewel, the original Boeing 737, is the most famous commercial aircraft in the world and by 2018, 10,000 of its units had been sold, a world record.
3. Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE: RTX)
Revenue: $58.6 billion (2020)
Raytheon Technologies Corp (NYSE: RTX) is an international defense and aerospace manufacturer. It’s headquarters are located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The corporation was formed after a merger between Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation. The company boasts 181,000 employees. Raytheon Technologies designs and produces components for the aerospace and defense industry. These include aircraft engines, avionics, and aerostructures as far as their aircraft manufacturing capabilities go.
The company, like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, is a major military contractor and most of its revenue comes from US Government contracts. It’s primary customer is the US Department of defense. Other customers from the US government include NASA, Department of State and Department of Energy.
2. Airbus SE (EPA: AIR.PA)
Revenue: $60 billion (2020)
Airbus SE (EPA:AIR) is a trans-European multinational aerospace corporation. It is the 2nd largest aircraft manufacturer in the world by revenue according to 2020 figures. The company had 131,300 employees by the end of 2020. Airbus designs, develops, manufactures and sells both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft for both civilian and military sectors. The company had sold 8,000 units of its most famous aircraft, known as the Airbus A320 by 2018, making it the 2nd best selling commercial aircraft in the world. It was also the first aircraft with a digital fly-by-wire system.
Among Airbus’s commercial customers, airlines like Delta Airlines, Jetblue Airways, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines and IndiGo with IndiGo having the highest number of historic aircraft orders amounting to a total of 830. Airbus had a total commercial aircraft orders of 20,341 by the end of April 2021. In January 1999 Airbus formed a separate company called the Airbus Military SAS, The company was launched to begin development and manufacture of a turboprop-powered tactical transport airplane, the A400M.
The A400M is being developed by various NATO members Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Turkey, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The production began to equip other NATO members to have an tactical airlift alternative to foreign aeroplanes like the American C-130 Hercules.
1. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT)
Revenue: $65.4 billion (2020)
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is an American company that designs, tests, manufactures and sells aerospace and advanced defense technology. It is the largest aerospace manufacturer by revenue as of 2020 beating both Boeing and Airbus to the number 1 spot.
Lockheed Martin approximately has 110,000 employees. The company’s headquarters are located in North Bethesda, Maryland. The aerospace company’s primary customer is the US Government, specially the Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Lockheed Martin has some impressive aircraft inventions to its portfolio. The company developed the highest flying and one of the fastest manned aircraft in the history of aviation, named as the SR71 Blackbird. It had a top speed and altitude of Mach 3.3 and 85,000 feet respectively. It was designed to be out of range of enemy radars and fighter jets. Operational costs and the advent of satellite reconnaissance later led to the retirement of the aircraft.
The defense contractor is also the first aircraft manufacturer to develop the first true stealth aircraft, F117, also called the nighthawk, starting a new chapter in the next generation military tactical aircraft. Lockheed Martin is also the manufacturer of F22 Raptor, the most advanced stealth air-superiority fighter only in service with the United States Air Force with its design details highly classified. The jewel in the company’s crown is the F35 joint strike program, widely touted as the most expensive weapon system in military history, with the fleet’s operational and maintenance costs being more than $1 trillion. The F35’s varying versions are used by 3 US military branches, namely, the United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps and United States Navy. The aircraft also has 14 international buyers.
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