Military Drone Market by Type (Fixed Wing, Hybrid, Rotary Wing), Propulsion (Battery, Fuel), Operation Mode, Speed, Launching Mode, Platform, Application - Global Forecast 2024-2030

Military Drone Market by Type (Fixed Wing, Hybrid, Rotary Wing), Propulsion (Battery, Fuel), Operation Mode, Speed, Launching Mode, Platform, Application - Global Forecast 2024-2030

The Military Drone Market size was estimated at USD 14.35 billion in 2023 and expected to reach USD 15.34 billion in 2024, at a CAGR 7.34% to reach USD 23.57 billion by 2030.

Military drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) conduct defense missions of intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat while being remotely controlled by drone pilots. These drones have long-range flights, improved endurance, and higher flight altitudes than conventional drones. Military drones are equipped with a more powerful engine, camera gear, and targeting system, which makes them an ideal choice for border patrolling across land and marine environments. Over the years, governments have significantly invested in deploying drones for surveillance and conducting R&D to develop advanced UAV versions. However, the non-availability of sustainable fuel to power drones and their immense safety issues have been major factors affecting the market development. With the emergence of advanced versions of UAVs focused on AI, ML, and big data and the improved capabilities of cargo delivery, the adoption of drones is set to rise across the military sector. Autonomous flights, highly-detailed 3D mapping, geotagging, and thermal detection are also the main focus areas of drone developers for improving aerial monitoring and data gathering of military drones.

Regional Insights

The military drone market is highly evolving across the Americas and EMEA region owing to the rising need for advanced surveillance systems in military operations and increasing government expenditure for strengthening the defense sector. The ongoing research and development (R&D) activities by BAE Systems plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Saab Group, and Thales Group, among others, have improved the availability and deployment of military drones in the EMEA region. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war further increased the usage of various types of drones for communication, navigation, and surveillance due to rising geopolitical tensions. In addition, the major investments by the Asian economies, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia, towards border security and surveillance have significantly increased the demand for military drones in past years.

Market Insights

Market Dynamics

The market dynamics represent an ever-changing landscape of the Military Drone Market by providing actionable insights into factors, including supply and demand levels. Accounting for these factors helps design strategies, make investments, and formulate developments to capitalize on future opportunities. In addition, these factors assist in avoiding potential pitfalls related to political, geographical, technical, social, and economic conditions, highlighting consumer behaviors and influencing manufacturing costs and purchasing decisions.

Market Drivers

Increasing government funding for military drones advancement
Growing use of UAVs for marine border patrolling
Rising focus on advanced C4ISR capabilities

Market Restraints

Lack of sustainable power sources to improve drone endurance

Market Opportunities

Technological advancements in drone payloads
Use of UAVs for cargo delivery in military operations

Market Challenges

Issues with safety and security of UAVs

Market Segmentation Analysis

Type: Fixed-wing drones are preferred when endurance and distance in border surveillance or mapping vast territories
Application: Military drones are are widely used for diverse range of surveillance and targeted mission application

Market Disruption Analysis

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
Value Chain & Critical Path Analysis
Pricing Analysis
Technology Analysis
Patent Analysis
Trade Analysis
Regulatory Framework Analysis

FPNV Positioning Matrix

The FPNV positioning matrix is essential in evaluating the market positioning of the vendors in the Military Drone Market. This matrix offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining critical metrics related to business strategy and product satisfaction. This in-depth assessment empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success, namely Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).

Market Share Analysis

The market share analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth assessment of the current state of vendors in the Military Drone Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions, companies are offered a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. These contributions include overall revenue, customer base, and other vital metrics. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With these illustrative details, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Recent Developments

Northrop Grumman secures USD 543m contract for MQ-4C Triton production

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation secured a USD 543 million contract enhancement for the advancement in production and supply of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This modification involves the construction of three MQ-4C Triton drones dedicated to the U.S. Navy and one for the Australian government, in addition to setting up a primary operating base for the Navy’s use. Furthermore, the contract covers a breadth of support services, encompassing technical guidance and pertinent administrative documentation regarding the drones.

Shield AI unveils V-Bat Teams drone swarm tech, with eye to Replicator

India's defense ministry has granted approval for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B armed drones from the United States. The clearance for procuring the drones was provided during a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC). These drones boast an impressive endurance of over 27 hours and have the capability to operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. The estimated value of the deal exceeds USD 3 billion.

Textron to Extend Support for US Army Shadow Drone Fleet

The US Army has exercised a USD 76.1 million option to extend support for its Shadow tactical aerial drones through 2023. Textron Systems has been awarded the contract to provide maintenance, logistics, and field services for the fleet. The work is carried out at Textron Systems' facility in Hunt Valley, Maryland. This effort is part of the transition to the Shadow systems' Block III configuration. The upgrade includes enhancements to the engine, power, mission processing computer, sensor payload, and communications.

Strategy Analysis & Recommendation

The strategic analysis is essential for organizations seeking a solid foothold in the global marketplace. Companies are better positioned to make informed decisions that align with their long-term aspirations by thoroughly evaluating their current standing in the Military Drone Market. This critical assessment involves a thorough analysis of the organization’s resources, capabilities, and overall performance to identify its core strengths and areas for improvement.

Key Company Profiles

The report delves into recent significant developments in the Military Drone Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include Aerovironment, Inc., Airbus SE, Anduril Industries, Inc., Asteria Aerospace Limited, BAE Systems plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Atomics, Griffon Aerospace, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Leidos, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Robotican Corporation, RTX Corporation, Saab AB, Safran Group, Shield AI, Skydio, Inc., Teal Drones, Inc. by Red Cat Holdings, Teledyne FLIR LLC, Textron Systems, Thales Group, and The Boeing Company.

Market Segmentation & Coverage

This research report categorizes the Military Drone Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Type
Fixed Wing
Hybrid
Rotary Wing
Propulsion
Battery
Fuel
Operation Mode
Fully Autonomous
Optionally Piloted
Remotely Piloted
Speed
Subsonic
51-300 Km/hr
Less than 50 Km/hr
More than 300 Km/hr
Supersonic
Launching Mode
Automatic Take-off & Landing
Catapult Launcher
Hand Launched
Vertical Take-off
Platform
Small
Micro
Mini
Nano
Strategic
High Altitude Long Endurance
Medium Altitude Long Endurance
Tactical
Close Range
Long Range
Medium Range
Short Range
Application
Delivery
Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles
Lethal
Stealth
Target
Region
Americas
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
Mexico
United States
California
Florida
Illinois
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Texas
Asia-Pacific
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Denmark
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
Israel
Italy
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Poland
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom

Please Note: PDF & Excel + Online Access - 1 Year