Military Drone Market Trends

Military Drone Market Overview

Military Drone Market Size was valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2022. The Military Drone market industry is projected to grow from USD 5.07 Billion in 2023 to USD 10.43 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.77% during the forecast period (2024 - 2030). Recent years have proven that the technological advancement and trend toward a new generation of tactical drones will likely continue and will accelerate growth in the coming years. To succeed in critical military missions, real-time information can be the most powerful weapon soldiers, commanders and troops have in protecting themselves. These are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Military Drone Market Trends

• The growing obese population is driving the market growth

Increasing government funding for military drones to improve the efficiency of military operations is driving the demand for military drone production. For example, in May 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense allocated $7.5 billion in the fiscal year 2021 for a range of robotics platforms and related technologies, according to an article published by the U.S.-based government and defense industry trade association, the Defense Industries Association. For unmanned systems acquisitions, the Navy and Air Force each received about $1.1 billion; the Army received $885 million; the Marine Corps $70 million and SOCOM $90 million. Hence, increasing government spending on drones is driving the military drone market.

Production and delivery are two factors that may limit the development of the military drone market in 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the supply chains of various industries, including the automotive, electronics, food, pharmaceutical, and defense industries. Many manufacturing plants are operating at minimum capacity or have ceased operations entirely. COVID-19 has disrupted defense supply chains, according to an April 7, 2020, Air Force technical publication. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, major companies have stopped production and assembly activities. As a result, production and disruptions are worsening the distribution and supply of military drones, which is expected to decrease military drone sales in 2020.

Due to its cost-effectiveness and high firepower, drone swarm technology is gaining popularity in the military drone market. A drone swarm is a large group of small drones that coordinate with each other to perform operations such as scouting enemy territory, search and rescue, and attacking hostile targets. Drone swarm technology involves the production of several small, inexpensive drones rather than one large, expensive drone, thus providing efficiencies in cost and time for military drone manufacturers and end users. Using advanced swarm technology, militaries and armed forces can conduct deadly drone strikes simultaneously in multiple locations. For example, Microsystems has developed a swarming drone system called WOLF-PAK, which enables small drones to fly in swarms and break them out of the swarm if necessary. In February 2022, Halcon, a subsidiary of the UAE-based supplier of military weapons and related technology to the EDGE Group, unveiled the Hunter 2-S, a tube-style drone swarming system. The Hunter 2-S is the drone of the Hunter 2 series. These drones are expected to communicate with each other to track targets, maintain position and engage appropriate targets. Drones can communicate through a main channel using a specific algorithm that sends a message to all drones and assigns each drone a specific task to fly to a target. Thus, driving the Military Drone market revenue.

Military Drone Market Segment Insights

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  Military Drone Market Payload Type Insights

  
  

The Military Drone market segmentation, based on type includes Sensors, Cameras, Navigation Systems, and Others. Sensors are the leading drone payload type segment, as these find widespread use in multiple military applications.

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  Military Drone Market Drone Type Insights

  
  

Based on drone type, the Military Drone market segmentation includes MALE, HALE, UCAV, SUAV and TUAV. High-altitude long-endurance or HALE drone types enjoy massive demand as these are considered lower prices and more technically feasible alternatives to other types.

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  Military Drone Market Application Insights

  
  

Based on Application, the Military Drone market segmentation includes search & rescue, spying, combat and border security. Out of these, border security could witness the fastest growth in the coming years owing to the soaring demand for drones in tasks involving preventive action and emergency cases.

Figure 1:  Military Drone Market, by Application, 2022 & 2030 (USD billion)

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Military Drone Market Regional Insights

By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. North America is the leading market due to the high adoption rate of military drones due to growing safety and security concerns and the lack of trained pilots. The U.S. military drone market share is rapidly increasing, given frequent technological innovations allowing manufacturers to develop various models in various weights, shapes, and sizes.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, German, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2:  MILITARY DRONE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Europe's Military Drone market accounts for the second-largest market share. The size of the autonomous underwater drones market for military use in the Region is large. Rising military spending because of countries trying to strengthen their borders with their adversaries is also likely to boost growth in the coming years. Apart from this, various Region vendors focus on rigorous R&D activities in Lid to diversify their product range and expand their business through private partnerships and government contracts. Further, the German Military Drone market held the largest market share, and the U.K. Military Drone market was the fastest-growing market in the European Region

The Asia-Pacific Military Drone Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030, owing to increasing R&D activities and increased procurement in the region's countries. The increase in procurement of UAVs for primary tactical applications has increased the demand from various countries involved in developing these UAVs. Naval forces are increasingly focusing on effective border patrol and maritime patrol, which has increased the demand for tactical drones used in these applications. In June 2022, the Taiwan military purchased 50 short-range tactical drones to enhance the reconnaissance capabilities of the joint battalion. Moreover, China’s Military Drone market held the largest market share, and the Indian Military Drone market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Military Drone Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development to expand their product lines, which will help the Military Drone market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. The Military Drone industry must offer cost-effective items to expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Military Drone industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Military Drone industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the Military Drone market, including American Dynamics (U.S.), General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (U.S.), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd(Israel), Lockheed Martin (U.S.), AeroVironment Inc (U.S.), AAI Corporation – Textron Systems (U.S.), Aeryon Labs Inc (Canada), Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.), BAE Systems (U.K.), Boeing (U.S.), and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides rental and product support services. Boeing is one of the world's largest aerospace manufacturers, the world's third-largest defense contractor based on 2020 revenue, and the largest U.S. exporter by dollar value. Boeing stock is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Boeing Company is incorporated in Delaware. In March 2022, Boeing's Insitu Pacific Pty Ltd was selected by the Australian Department of Defense (DoD) to supply 24 integrated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Australian Army as part of an AU$650 million (US$475 million) deal. These drones can provide intelligence, perform reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and acquire targets for Australian Defense Force (ADF) weapons systems.

Headquartered in Maryland, USA, Lockheed Martin is a multinational security and aerospace company focusing on aerospace products such as aircraft, satellites, outer space launchers and defense systems, and other high-tech equipment and services. The company's main business activities include research, manufacturing, integration, design, development and maintenance of cutting-edge technological systems, products and services.

Key Companies in the Military Drone market include.

• American Dynamics (U.S.)


• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (U.S.)


• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (Israel)


• Lockheed Martin (U.S.)


• AeroVironment Inc (U.S.)


• AAI Corporation – Textron Systems (U.S.)


• Aeryon Labs Inc (Canada)


• Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.)


• BAE Systems (U.K.)


• Boeing (U.S.)

Military Drone Industry Developments

• For Instance,October 2022  The U.K. Ministry of Defense announced receiving the first Protector RG Mk1 remote-controlled aircraft system from General Atomics. The tactical drones will be used to train RAF personnel and will be placed on the U.K. military register.

• For Instance, March 2022  Gambit is an Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) designed through digital engineering to speed up time to market and reduce the cost of acquisition. The jet-powered platform is built for air supremacy and will utilize advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

• For Instance, December 2021  Mojave is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL). The Mojave took a Gray Eagle airframe and added enlarged wings with high-lift devices and a Rolls-Royce 450-hp turboprop engine. The UAS is based on the avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range.

Military Drone Market Segmentation

Military Drone Market Payload Type Outlook

• Sensors


• Camera


• Navigation Systems


• Others

Military Drone Market Drone Type Outlook

• MALE


• HALE


• TUAV


• UCAV


• SUAV

Military Drone Market Application Outlook

• Spying


• Search & Rescue


• Border Security


• Combat

Military Drone Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America