Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 17.31 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 32.95 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 13.74 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | North America |
| Largest Market | North America |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Analysis
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size is estimated at USD 17.31 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 32.95 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 13.74% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
UAVs have come into existence mainly to reach and traverse areas that are arduous for humans to maneuver. The UAV market was nascent for several years, and there was a lack of adoption in the commercial sector. Initially viewed as a military device, UAVs have established a significant presence in the commercial world over the past five years.
Over the years, with hundreds of exemptions from governing bodies like the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the demand for UAVs has emerged from various industries, like infrastructure, agriculture, transport, entertainment, security, insurance, and many more. Hence, enterprise UAVs are expected to grow more during the forecast period than consumer UAVs.
Advancements in UAV technologies have allowed manufacturers to produce various models in different sizes, weights, and shapes that can carry different sensor payloads, making them favorable across a broad application base. However, the lack of regulations and restrictions on flying UAVs beyond the visual line of sight in several countries worldwide has restrained the market's growth to its full potential. Other factors, such as security and safety concerns and scarcity of trained pilots, are also anticipated to challenge the development of the UAV market to a certain extent.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Trends
Small UAV Segment Held Highest Shares in the Market
Small UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles that can span up to 2 meters long. These UAVs typically feature either a rotary-wing or fixed-wing style. Because of their small size, most small UAVs are flown at altitudes near 125 meters at speeds less than 50 meters per second. As several countries focus on enhancing their military surveillance capability, huge investments are being made in developing small drones. Militaries across the world have been procuring nano drones for different military missions. Growing applications of small UAVs in aerial photography, 3D mapping, surveying, and oil and gas pipeline monitoring, among others, have been propelling the growth of the small UAV market. Thus, the growing demand for small drones for various defense and applications drives the segment's growth during the forecast period.
Also, the growing adoption of small UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and combat missions and rising spending on the defense sector drive the market growth during the forecast period. Increased start-ups and fundraising from governments and investors to design and develop small UAVs for various commercial and military applications have also boosted the market growth.
For instance, in October 2023, Teledyne FLIR LLC launched the latest edition of the Black Hornet nano-drone with upgraded sensors. The newly launched Black Hornet 4 is less than a foot long and weighs a fraction of a pound. It can fly for over 30 minutes and has a range of more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles). It has a sensitive daytime camera, a thermal imager that can capture videos and images, and a software-defined data system. Such developments will drive the segment growth in the coming years.
North America is Projected to Show Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
North America held the highest shares in the UAV market and continued its domination during the forecast period. The growth is due to growing demand for UAVs for commercial and military applications and rising spending on procurement of autonomous drones. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), almost 900,000 drones were registered in the US as of July 2023. Of the registered drones, 416,095 were for recreational purposes, and 369,528 were registered for commercial operations. Also, the FAA awarded 331,573 remote pilot certificates.
Additionally, the US DoD constantly seeks innovative and low-cost solutions to enhance its capabilities and counter threats from adversaries like Russia and China. For instance, in April 2023, the Pentagon announced a new program focused on building thousands of autonomous systems, including UAVs, as the US seeks to better counter China’s vast military buildup. In March 2023, the US Army awarded five companies future tactical UAV contracts. The companies selected were AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Textron Systems.
Also, the Canadian Defense Forces are investing in enhancing their defense capabilities and procuring UAVs. The MALE (medium-altitude low-endurance) UAV project of the Royal Canadian Air Force has entered the phase of operation analyses. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Project has been renamed. The national defense strategy released by Canada has led to the inclusion of RPAS into the modern military as a significant development for conducting military operations. Such programs will boost market growth across the region.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Industry Overview
The UAV market is semi-consolidated, with several local and global players holding significant shares. Some of the key players in the market are Northrop Grumman Corporation, THALES, Leonardo S.p.A., General Atomics, and BAYKAR TECH. The stringent safety and regulatory policies in the defense and homeland security segment are expected to restrict the entry of new players. However, the commercial and civil segment is expected to witness rapid growth due to the entry of many players, as economies of scale do not govern the segment.
Companies with superior technical capabilities are expected to contribute significantly toward technological advances in the propulsion systems and payload characteristics of UAVs, resulting in a shorter development cycle time and considerably augmenting the operational capabilities of mini-UAVs. Since a UAV platform's payload, endurance, and flight range are the primary concerns of OEMs and operators, the emergence of alternative fuel-powered UAVs is expected to cause significant changes in the competitive scenario. The use of composite-based materials for constructing critical components and parts of UAVs may increase the capabilities of the UAV platforms and fuel their widespread adoption across different industries.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Leaders
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Northrop Grumman Corporation
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THALES
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General Atomics
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BATKAR TECH
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Leonardo S.p.A.
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market News
- In September 2023, Delair SAS received a contract to supply 150 DT-46 drones to Ukraine as per the French Defense Ministry. The drone has a dual-sensor ISR payload combining EO/IR and LiDAR (Laser Detection and Ranging).
- In July 2023, DJI announced the launch of the DJI Air 3 drone. The Air 3 has an f/1.7 primary camera with a focal length of 24mm and an f/2.4 telephoto lens with a focal length of 70mm.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
- 4.1 Market Overview
- 4.2 Market Drivers
- 4.3 Market Restraints
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4.4 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
- 4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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5.1 By UAV Size
- 5.1.1 Small UAV
- 5.1.2 Medium UAV
- 5.1.3 Large UAV
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5.2 By Type
- 5.2.1 Fixed-wing (MALE, HALE, and TUAV)
- 5.2.2 VTOL (Single Rotor and Multi Rotor)
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5.3 By Range
- 5.3.1 Visual Range of Sight (VLOS)
- 5.3.2 Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
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5.4 By Application
- 5.4.1 Combat
- 5.4.2 Non-combat (Cargo Delivery, ISR, and Battle Damage Management)
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5.5 By Geography
- 5.5.1 North America
- 5.5.1.1 United States
- 5.5.1.2 Canada
- 5.5.2 Europe
- 5.5.2.1 United Kingdom
- 5.5.2.2 Germany
- 5.5.2.3 France
- 5.5.2.4 Ukraine
- 5.5.2.5 Rest of Europe
- 5.5.3 Asia-Pacific
- 5.5.3.1 China
- 5.5.3.2 India
- 5.5.3.3 Japan
- 5.5.3.4 South Korea
- 5.5.3.5 Malaysia
- 5.5.3.6 Philippines
- 5.5.3.7 Indonesia
- 5.5.3.8 Rest of Asia-Pacific
- 5.5.4 Latin America
- 5.5.4.1 Mexico
- 5.5.4.2 Brazil
- 5.5.4.3 Argentina
- 5.5.4.4 Colombia
- 5.5.4.5 Rest of Latin America
- 5.5.5 Middle East and Africa
- 5.5.5.1 Saudi Arabia
- 5.5.5.2 United Arab Emirates
- 5.5.5.3 Turkey
- 5.5.5.4 Israel
- 5.5.5.5 Egypt
- 5.5.5.6 Rest of Middle East and Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Vendor Market Share
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6.2 Company Profiles
- 6.2.1 SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd.
- 6.2.2 Parrot SAS
- 6.2.3 Delair SAS
- 6.2.4 AeroVironment, Inc.
- 6.2.5 Northrop Grumman Corporation
- 6.2.6 Elbit Systems Ltd.
- 6.2.7 General Atomics
- 6.2.8 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
- 6.2.9 THALES
- 6.2.10 The Boeing Company
- 6.2.11 Microdrones GmbH (mdGroup Germany GmbH)
- 6.2.12 BAYKAR TECH
- 6.2.13 Leonardo S.p.A
- 6.2.14 Textron Inc.
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Industry Segmentation
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are aircraft that do not have a human pilot on board. They are remotely controlled or can operate autonomously through pre-programmed flight plans or a combination of the two. UAVs are used in a wide range of military and civilian applications and come in various shapes and sizes.
The UAV market is segmented based on UAV size, type, range, application, and geography. By UAV size, the market is segmented into small, medium, and large. By type, the market is classified into fixed-wing and rotary-wing. By range, the market is divided into visual line of sight (VLOS) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). By application, the market is segmented into military, and civil & commercial. The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts for the UAV market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).
| By UAV Size | Small UAV | |
| Medium UAV | ||
| Large UAV | ||
| By Type | Fixed-wing (MALE, HALE, and TUAV) | |
| VTOL (Single Rotor and Multi Rotor) | ||
| By Range | Visual Range of Sight (VLOS) | |
| Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) | ||
| By Application | Combat | |
| Non-combat (Cargo Delivery, ISR, and Battle Damage Management) | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| By Geography | Europe | United Kingdom |
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Ukraine | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| By Geography | Asia-Pacific | China |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Malaysia | ||
| Philippines | ||
| Indonesia | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| By Geography | Latin America | Mexico |
| Brazil | ||
| Argentina | ||
| Colombia | ||
| Rest of Latin America | ||
| By Geography | Middle East and Africa | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Israel | ||
| Egypt | ||
| Rest of Middle East and Africa |
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market Research FAQs
How big is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market?
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size is expected to reach USD 17.31 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 13.74% to reach USD 32.95 billion by 2029.
What is the current Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size?
In 2024, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size is expected to reach USD 17.31 billion.
Who are the key players in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market?
Northrop Grumman Corporation, THALES, General Atomics, BATKAR TECH and Leonardo S.p.A. are the major companies operating in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market?
North America is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market?
In 2024, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market.
What years does this Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size was estimated at USD 14.93 billion. The report covers the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles analysis includes a market forecast outlook to for 2024 to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
