Report Highlights

U.S. Role in the Global Arresting Systems Supply Chain

The United States is both the largest producer and the largest consumer of aircraft arresting systems globally, anchored by Department of Defense demand for carrier and expeditionary airfield gear. Domestic integrators assemble engagement cables, tape assemblies, and hydraulic arresting engines for Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps installations. Domestic output is estimated at roughly USD 240 million, and exports account for about 22 percent, flowing mainly to NATO allies and Gulf partners through Foreign Military Sales.

Import dependency sits in subsystems rather than finished assemblies. Energy absorbers and specialized cable arrive principally from Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with inbound flows from these three countries estimated at USD 45 million in 2024 under HS 8803 parts classifications. Strategic vulnerability concentrates in these inbound lanes, because joint-use airports cannot operate without a certified engagement system.

Growth Drivers for U.S. Arresting Systems Trade and Production

Naval modernization is the first driver. Advanced Arresting Gear developed by General Atomics for Ford-class carriers requires new integration hardware and sustained domestic production, lifting demand for precision components and test equipment. Each carrier program generates multi-year procurement tails that favor domestic manufacturers with qualified supply chains.

Civil runway safety spending forms the second driver, supported by Airport Improvement Program grants that increasingly fund EMAS installations at commercial fields. Third, Foreign Military Sales to Japan, South Korea, and Poland are expanding export volumes, creating import substitution opportunities for U.S. integrators replacing European subassemblies with domestically produced parts.

Supply Chain Risks and Trade Barriers

Steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 raise input costs for cable drums, frames, and structural housings. Because defense contracts often carry fixed prices, integrators absorb these increases, compressing margins on programs with multi-year delivery schedules. Specialty metals restrictions under DFARS further narrow the pool of qualified material suppliers.

Logistics exposure adds a second layer of risk. Energy absorbers are heavy, certified components requiring controlled handling, and single-source supply means a single port delay can stall installation schedules. Euro-denominated purchase contracts also expose U.S. buyers to currency swings that alter landed costs on European subassemblies.

Trade and Investment Opportunities in the United States

Import substitution for energy absorbers represents the clearest opportunity. Domestic hydraulic manufacturers with aerospace certification can capture a portion of the USD 45 million inbound flow, particularly if they establish production in existing industrial corridors in the Southeast and Midwest. European firms seeking tariff-neutral access may also pursue joint ventures or greenfield U.S. plants.

Export expansion offers a second route. Allied air forces modernizing expeditionary runways in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific will require certified arresting gear, and U.S. suppliers can bid through Foreign Military Sales channels. Pairing exports with long-term sustainment contracts builds recurring revenue and secures port and logistics capacity for spares movement.

Market at a Glance

Leading Market Participants

• Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
• BAE Systems
• General Atomics
• Tecnobit
• Safran
• Honeywell Aerospace
• Textron Systems
• Leonardo DRS
• Parker Hannifin
• Lockheed Martin

Regulatory and Trade Policy Environment

FAA Advisory Circular 150/5220-9 governs aircraft arresting systems at joint-use airports, setting engineering, testing, and certification standards that domestic and imported components must meet. Defense programs follow military specifications and DFARS clauses, while exports of arresting gear fall under International Traffic in Arms Regulations, requiring licensing for each foreign sale. Buy American provisions attached to federal airport grants favor domestic content.

Tariff exposure is governed by Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum, alongside reciprocal tariff arrangements negotiated with the European Union and United Kingdom under 2025 trade frameworks. Investment policy generally welcomes foreign manufacturing, but the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reviews acquisitions of defense-critical suppliers, which can delay or condition European ownership of arresting gear businesses.

U.S. Arresting Systems Supply Chain Outlook to 2032

Domestic energy absorber production is expected to expand as integrators qualify second-source suppliers and localize hydraulic subassemblies. Composite engagement materials and digital load-monitoring sensors will shift value toward electronics and software, raising the share of high-value content produced within the United States. Trade flows with Spain and Germany will decline as these substitutions mature.

Comparative advantage will increasingly rest on certification capability rather than raw manufacturing cost. The Ford-class carrier program and EMAS deployments at civil airports will anchor domestic demand through 2032, and suppliers that hold FAA and DoD qualifications will capture export growth from allied expeditionary airfield programs.