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The military drone market size is forecast to increase by USD 8.51 billion, at a CAGR of 12.21% between 2024 and 2028. The market growth analysis is fueled by recent advancements in military drone technology and the increasing prevalence of security threats worldwide. With the changing nature of advanced warfare, military drones have become indispensable tools for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions. Governments and defense agencies are heavily investing in military drone programs to enhance their capabilities and maintain strategic superiority in modern warfare scenarios. Our report examines historic data from 2018 - 2022, besides analyzing the current and forecasted market scenario.
Additionally, AeroVironment Inc. company offers military drone such as SWITCHBLADE 300. Also, BAE Systems Plc company offers military drone such as Taranis.
Market Forecast 2024-2028
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The market has witnessed remarkable evolution, epitomized by stalwarts like the MQ-1 Predator. Companies like Textron Systems and Syscom are at the forefront, crafting remotely piloted vehicles tailored for battlefield surveillance in asymmetric warfare scenarios. These drones are equipped with precision-guided munitions, boasting unparalleled endurance to monitor non-traditional adversaries. Amidst rising defense expenditure, domestic manufacturers are pivotal, ensuring safety and security against hacking attempts. From fixed-wing military drones to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, they serve diverse roles from surveying and mapping to combat operations and transportation, all bolstered by Artificial Intelligence advancements. Our researchers studied the market research and growth data for years, with 2023 as the base year and 2024 as the estimated year, and presented the key drivers, trends, and challenges for the market.
The market is seeing more and more advancements in this segment. The new additions will push the defense and security industry to buy new types of military drones according to their needs. As the number of advancements increases, so does the competition in the market, which leads to innovation and differentiation. With new advancements, manufacturers are also focusing on developing new products. Over the past two decades, the nature of warfare has changed significantly. New technologies and platforms tend towards strategic warfare. This evolving war scenario is driven primarily by large-scale technological conflict resolution. Countries are now focusing on autonomous combat platforms such as drones and unnamed underwater vehicles, which are widely used in war zones.
Additionally, drones are widely used for counter-terrorism, especially in the Middle East and South Asia. Drones have become extremely important in today's warfare because of their visual superiority, their ability to carry out preemptive strikes, and their ability to monitor specific locations while eliminating threats. Currently, they are in high demand in most developed and developing countries, and UAVs are used as an efficient application for various military missions. Hence, escalating security threats across the globe will increase the demand, driving market growth during the forecast period.
UAVs are increasingly being used as an important tool for national security measures. Additionally, these unmanned aerial vehicle platforms will be outfitted with the weaponry and command, control, communications, computing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems that support these operations through rapid technological breakthroughs in the military electronics industry. UCAVs can launch bombs, missile, and precision-guided missiles. As a result, countries are developing UCAVs with long-range strike capabilities more quickly. China is one of the pioneer countries in the development of UCAV. Amid growing territorial disputes between China and its neighbors, the country is investing in research and development to develop drones to carry out various military missions, including on enemy platforms and bases. As the need for autonomous platforms grows, countries are investing heavily in the development and procurement of UAVs, especially combat UAVs, due to their diverse roles. Such developments are likely to drive the growth of the global market during the forecast period.
Moreover, many countries are modernizing their defensive and offensive airborne forces by further strengthening existing and future UCAVs. Increasing the number of these assets will simultaneously enable advanced weapons integration, carry out effective military missions, and increase the country's dominance over the skies. Attack UAVs can launch small guided bombs that are much cheaper than large air-to-ground missiles. At the same time, some air-to-ground missiles lack range and lethal force. Small bombs integrated into UCAVs increase operational flexibility, allowing commanders to use them against soft targets such as enemy ground forces and unarmored military trucks. Recently, the priority has been to rapidly deploy laser-powered UCAVs to engage in asymmetric conflicts, allowing combat forces to take advantage of superior synergies between components to achieve operational efficiencies.
To keep up with UAV development, countries around the world are simultaneously developing defense systems and mechanisms against drones. Drones deployed by one country are always a threat to other countries. To build an effective defense system, countries are focusing on developing anti-drone technology. Boeing recently tested its 10kW anti-drone laser cannon that can shoot down drones. The company plans to increase laser power from 10 kW to 60 kW for military use. Newer innovations such as the latest lasers and lithium-ion battery technology aim to increase energy storage as power density increases. According to the New American Foundation, lithium-powered lasers can be used to deter small missiles and mortars and provide non-lethal warnings. Additionally, precision weapons with unlimited ammunition are being developed, such as high-energy lasers (HEL) that can be used against drones. Developing a strategic platform like UCAV can be difficult for other countries. Therefore, countries have developed anti-drone technology to a considerable extent for defense purposes. Such developments in anti-drone technology will hamper the growth of the global market during the forecast period.
Further, along with all this, UAVs use advanced sensors and other supporting devices and require a high degree of technical expertise to operate. The rise of cyberattacks against intelligence and surveillance systems remains a major obstacle for global defense organizations. Military communications architectures require innovative security measures such as multi-factor authentication, biometrics, and strategic security planning and training. An estimated 400 million cyberattacks disrupt the US Department of Defense and government networks each year. This increased the chances of sensitive military data being lost or stolen, increasing the chances of UAV platforms malfunctioning. As such, the US Department of Defense plans to use advanced sensors and related systems to enhance the integrated network environment to ensure superior protection against cyberattacks.
The rotary blade segment will contribute a major share of the market, as this technology is important for military operations where drones can be used for a variety of tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat. Rotating blades are a key component. This technology allows drones to take off from the ground, hover in the air, and gain and lose altitude. Rotating blades are an integral part of a drone's maneuverability, allowing it to turn and operate effectively in tight spaces. This technology is important for military operations where drones can be used for a variety of tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat.
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The rotary blade segments showed a gradual increase in the market share with USD 5.54 billion in 2018. They are equipped with rotating blades and also have the advantage of versatility and adaptability. It can be used in various terrains such as urban areas, hills, and mountains. Rotating blade technology allows the drone to take off and land in tight locations, making it highly effective for specialized operations. The rotor blade configuration used is unique and designed to withstand high-load conditions. Rotating blades are an integral part of a drone's maneuverability, allowing it to turn and operate effectively in tight spaces. Such factors are anticipated to drive the growth of the rotating blade segment of the global market during the forecast period.
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APAC is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth by 2028. Technavio's analysts have provided extensive insight into the market forecasting, detailing the regional trends and drivers influencing the market's trajectory throughout the forecast period. North America will be the largest geographic segment in 2022 and will remain so throughout the forecast period. North America dominates the global market, with the United States leading the development of attack drones. The demand for the market has skyrocketed as countries seek to minimize military casualties in high-risk missions. The country also looks forward to developing low-cost UAVs that can be easily used for a variety of high-risk missions. US Air Force Composite Engineering Inc. amid growing demand for low-cost attack drones. The Unmanned Systems Division in Sacramento, California, USA, develops low-cost UAV technology capable of effectively conducting air strikes in remote areas where forward bases are difficult to reach.
Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.
We also have detailed analyses of the market’s competitive landscape and offer information on 20 market companies, including:
Airbus SE, Anduril Industries Inc., Animal Dynamics Ltd., Asteria Aerospace Ltd., EDGE Group PJSC, General Atomics, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Leonardo Spa, Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., RTX Corp., Red Cat Holdings Inc., Saab AB, Shield AI, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Textron Inc., Thales Group, and The Boeing Co.
Technavio market forecast the an in-depth analysis of the market and its players through combined qualitative and quantitative data. The analysis classifies companies into categories based on their business approaches, including pure-play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified. Companies are specially categorized into dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak, based on their quantitative data analysis.
The market research report provides comprehensive data (region wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in "USD Million" for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018 - 2022 for the following segments.
The market is a dynamic landscape shaped by defense and military sector priorities and state policies. From fixed-wing military drones to rotary wing and hybrid variants, it spans the air, land, and naval domains. Segmented into fixed-wing, optionally piloted, and fully autonomous categories, it caters to diverse monitoring needs of armed forces. Cutting-edge military drone technologies encompass target acquisition support and weapon payload integration, exemplified by innovations like the Iranian loitering munitions Shahed-136. This sector thrives on research & development driving advancements in sensor systems, avionics, and propulsion. Companies like Alpha Design play pivotal roles, especially in regions grappling with border disputes. Semi-autonomous drones offer Visual Line of Sight and Beyond Line of Sight capabilities, enhancing battle damage management. As defense budgets soar, the focus intensifies on enhancing military spending efficiency, bolstering defense forces with state-of-the-art remotely operated and autonomous drones.
Market Scope |
|
Report Coverage |
Details |
Page number |
183 |
Base year |
2023 |
Historic period |
2018-2022 |
Forecast period |
2024-2028 |
Growth momentum & CAGR |
Accelerate at a CAGR of 12.21% |
Market Growth 2024-2028 |
USD 8.51 billion |
Market structure |
Fragmented |
YoY growth 2023-2024(%) |
10.66 |
Regional analysis |
North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America |
Performing market contribution |
APAC at 35% |
Key countries |
US, China, UK, India, and Turkey |
Competitive landscape |
Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
Key companies profiled |
AeroVironment Inc., Airbus SE, Anduril Industries Inc., Animal Dynamics Ltd., Asteria Aerospace Ltd., BAE Systems Plc, EDGE Group PJSC, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Atomics, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Leonardo Spa, Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., RTX Corp., Red Cat Holdings Inc., Saab AB, Shield AI, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Textron Inc., Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. |
Market dynamics |
Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. |
Customization purview |
If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. |
We can help! Our analysts can customize this market research report to meet your requirements. Get in touch
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation by Type
7 Market Segmentation by Technology
8 Customer Landscape
9 Geographic Landscape
10 Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunity/Restraints
11 Competitive Landscape
12 Competitive Analysis
13 Appendix
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