Aerospace & Defense

Creating and accelerating critical advantages through cutting-edge strategy and operations

 

The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry is facing numerous challenges linked to an unforeseen pandemic, rapidly evolving technologies, and vulnerable supply chains. We help our clients push the boundaries in air and space and safeguard livelihoods through capabilities, technologies, and talent.

Our approach combines a deep understanding of industry dynamics with advanced analytics and an unparalleled network of experts. We work with clients to build internal capabilities, adopt digital and analytics tools, and transform work processes to improve their business in substantial, sustainable ways.

FEATURED EVENTS

McKinsey at the Farnborough International Airshow

Farnborough International Airshow

McKinsey is proud to partner with Farnborough International at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow to bring industry experts together addressing topics related to aviation, space, and defence.
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Munich

McKinsey at the Munich Security Conference

McKinsey serves as an institutional partner and one of several contributors to the Munich Security Conference, and provides data and production support to the annual Munich Security Report.
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McKinsey at the Paris Air Show

McKinsey is proud to attend the Paris Air Show and bring together experts from across aerospace, aviation, space and defense.
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How We Help Clients

Aftermarket & Services
Helping clients capture the aftermarket potential—the largest source of untapped value in aerospace and defense—by assessing the installed base opportunity, improving pricing, and optimizing operations.
Digital & Analytics
Helping clients tackle digital challenges and build sustainable, scalable solutions tailored to the A&D industry.
M&A
Working in partnership with aerospace and defense clients to develop unique strategies for evaluating potential targets, capturing value, and navigating the complex integration process.
Marketing & Sales
Helping A&D companies develop effective strategies for winning contracts with critical customers, contributing to stronger growth.
Next-Generation Productivity
Helping clients build the tech-enabled capabilities required to identify and capture a step change in profitability.
Strategy & Corporate Finance
Helping aerospace and defense companies achieve their strategic goals in a complex, competitive, and evolving landscape.
Talent & Capability Building
Helping A&D organizations create the right culture for their people, design the right structure, and attract and retain the right talent.
Transformation
Changing trajectories through holistic interventions in performance, capabilities, and health.

 

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Sectors we serve

Commercial aerospace
Our expertise spans all major aircraft equipment categories, including engines, aerostructures, avionics, landing gears, and interiors. We also work in partnership with McKinsey’s Center for Future Mobility to develop perspectives on trends shaping aviation, such as advanced air mobility solutions and future sustainable propulsion technologies.
Defense
Our clients are active across the spectrum of defense domains. Through our work, we have built expertise related to all major categories of platforms and associated equipment, including military aerospace, land systems, naval systems, space-based systems, as well as sensors and electronics. We also work with defense ministries, national security, and public-safety organizations to address their most pressing challenges.
Business and general aviation
We help companies in the business and general aviation market strive for operational improvement. We also provide assistance on key business challenges, such as accessing new customer segments, innovating business models, transforming product development, and improving customer support services.
McKinsey Maritime
This page describes McKinsey’s capabilities in helping shipyards and maritime industry clients unlock operational performance, attract and develop a skilled labor force, create supply chain resiliency, and implement digital capabilities
Space
Over many years we have built strong relationships with companies across the space value chain, including launch providers, satellite builders, equipment providers, services companies, investors, and public sector institutions.
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
McKinsey’s capabilities in helping airlines and independent service providers optimize their aircraft MRO operations, OEMs and their suppliers develop and implement aftermarket services strategies, and private equity and investor groups evaluate M&A opportunities in the MRO sector.
Security and cybersecurity
We help incumbents and new entrants in the physical security and cybersecurity markets craft strategies to succeed. As the aerospace and defense industry relies on more connectivity technologies today, McKinsey Digital helps clients find solutions to secure and protect the industry’s technology backbone, mission-critical to the development, manufacture, operation, and maintenance of aerospace and defense equipment.

Our People

Hugues Lavandier
Senior PartnerParis
Advises energy, mining, and OEM companies on growth and portfolio strategies and evaluates corporate-finance opportunities; supports investors and private-equity groups in the commodities and industrials sector
Varun Marya
Senior Partner, and Global Leader, Advanced IndustriesBay Area
Global leader of McKinsey's Advanced Industries practice, advises companies on strategic questions and challenges related to technology and innovation in complex and highly technical industries such as automotive, industrials, semiconductor, and aerospace and defense.
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Featured Blog

Future Air Mobility blog

Future Air Mobility blog

Perspectives and analyses on urban air mobility, drones, electric aviation, and more

Featured capability

Radar

Radar combines budgetary, market, and competitive data with powerful visualization and analytical tools to help your organization analyze the market effectively and make timely strategic decisions.
Radar

Featured Publication

Perspectives on advanced air mobility
Collection

Perspectives on advanced air mobility

Navigating the emerging passenger urban and regional air-mobility industry

Featured Insights

Illuminated cityscape with man looking at Earth expo
Article

Space: The missing element of your strategy

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The space sector is at an inflection point similar to what commercial air travel experienced after World War II and the internet saw in the 1990s. Is your company ready to capture the opportunity?
A model of a jet engine inside a factory
Article
Navigating the gray-to-green transition in aerospace and defense
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The aerospace and defense industry is transitioning from an older to younger workforce, but it faces intense competition for talent. It needs a radical response.
Airplane
Article
Planning for uncertainty in commercial aerospace
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Commercial aviation faces its most uncertain future in decades. COVID-depressed demand is now resurging, but there are many uncertainties and challenges for operators and manufacturers to manage.
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RELATED PRACTICES

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