Drone Simulator Market Research Report Information by Component (Software and Hardware), by Device Type (Fixed and Portable), by Drone Type (Fixed-Wing and Multi-Rotor), by Technology (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality), by End-User (Commercial and Military), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America) - Forecast till 2032

Drone Simulator Market Overview

Drone Simulators Market Size Is Anticipated To Reach USD 143.5 Billion By 2030 And  Grow At A CAGR Of 15% By 2024–2032.

Drone simulators are designed to create an imitation of the operation of a real-world system or process associated with drone flight training. It is a program that allows drone pilots to practice on a computer without the risk and expense of damaging a real model. Technological advancements in drone payload system and the growing capabilities of drone technology would require highly advanced simulation systems. Significant investments have been made in the development of artificial intelligence, which would lead to the rapid growth of the market during the forecast period. 

However, a significant restraint for the growth of the drone simulator market is the complexity in manufacturing and maintenance costs of drone simulator systems. Of late, drones have been widely used in the aviation, construction, mining, oil & gas, telecom, and logistics sectors. The use of drones is driven by their benefits over their conventional manual inspection counterparts. With rapid advances in technology, drones can detect edge erosion and blade defects of a wind turbine and can inspect the turbine blade lightning receptors, towers, and nacelles. Also, drones can detect leaks, corrosion, and other problems in oil & gas rigs and pipelines. 

The increased need for drones for commercial and military applications will offer new growth opportunities to the market players. The factors responsible for market growth are increasing R&D activities in the field of military simulation, increasing defense expenditure in emerging economies, and the growing demand for trained pilots. Several contracts have been signed to bolster the growth of the market. For example, in 2011, Aeronautics signed a contract with CAE Inc., to provide simulation for unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Moreover, the affordability of drone simulators has resulted in the growth of the Drone Simulator Market. For instance, in 2015, CAE and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. signed a contract with the Italian air force to develop a Predator unmanned aerial system simulator. Similarly, in 2005, L3 Link Training & Simulator signed a contract with the US air force to develop a Predator mission aircrew training system (PMATS) for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Drone simulation is a crucial training and testing tool because it offers a safe and affordable setting for operators to polish their abilities and for developers to improve algorithms without taking any risks in the real world. It ensures efficiency and safety while accelerating drone innovation.

Segmentation of the Global Drone Simulator Market

The drone simulator market has been segmented on the basis of component, device type, system, drone type, end-user, and region. By component, the software segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018. Based on end-user, the military segment is estimated to witness the highest demand during the forecast period owing to the affordability of drone simulators for the training of military pilots and operators.

On the basis of device type, the augmented reality segment is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing adoption of augmented reality drone simulators in military applications in recent years.  Based on the region, the market has been classified as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. In 2018, North America was the largest regional market due to the high adoption rate of drone simulators in the US and Canada. The European market is expected to be the second-largest during the forecast period due to the rising use of drone simulators for gaming applications.

 Intended Audience

• Drone manufacturers


• UAV service providers


• Aviation authorities


• Component providers


• Regulatory bodies


• Government authorities


• Research institutes

Drone Simulator Market Key Players 

The key players in the global drone simulator market are Aegis Technologies (US), CAE Inc. (Canada), General Atomics (US), Havelsan AS (Turkey), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (Israel), L3 Link Training & Simulation (UK), Leonardo SpA (Italy), Sikan Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH (Germany), Simlat Uas Simulation (Israel), Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (Singapore), and Zen Technologies Limited (India). 

Research Methodology 

The market values and forecasts are derived using MRFR research methodology, which includes secondary research, primary interviews, data triangulation, and validation from an in-house data repository and statistical modeling tools. 

Secondary Research

In this process, data is collected from various secondary sources, including annual reports, SEC filings, journals, government associations, aerospace & defense magazines, white papers, corporate presentations, company websites, and paid databases. 

Primary Research In this process, both the demand- and supply-side parties are interviewed to extract facts and insights into the Drone Simulator Market forecast, production, trends, and projected market growth. Industry stakeholders such as CEOs, VPs, directors, and marketing executives across the value chain are approached to obtain key information. 

Key Insights

• Market Sizing, Forecast, and Analysis: Detailed coverage of the market segment and sub-segments


• Regional/Country Trends and Forecast: Detailed analysis of the market in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America, along with key countries in each region


• Drone Simulator Market Dynamics Intelligence: Market drivers, opportunities, trends, restraints, Porter’s five forces, supply chain, and value chain analysis


• Technology Trends, Regulatory Landscape, and Patent Analysis Outlook


• Competitive Intelligence: Market share analysis, financial analysis, product benchmarking, and strategic developments including joint ventures, product launches, and mergers & acquisitions


• Regional attractiveness and related growth opportunities

Report Customization MRFR offers report customization to valued customers. Below are the options available for customization:

• Company Profiles

In-depth profiling of additional market players (3 to 4 companies)

• Country-Level Analysis

Detailed analysis of a country-level market and related segments as per the report scope