In recent years, The development of intelligent manufacturing equipment represented by industrial robots has been paid great attention by foreign aviation manufacturing industry. This paper analyzes the necessity of expanding the application of robots in the field of aviation manufacturing. The main development modes of expanding robot application by leading foreign aviation manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus are described, The latest application status and key applications direction of robot in aviation manufacturing field are analyzed from spraying, welding, assembling, composite component forming and machining. On this basis, the development trend of robot technology is analyzed. Fully understand and master the main development strategies of leading foreign aviation manufacturers to promote the application of industrial robots, current application status and future development direction, which plays an important role in promoting the development of robot technology in China’s aviation field.