UAV (Drone) Market

Updated on : March 03, 2023

[394 Pages Report] The UAV (Drone) Market is projected to grow from USD 26.2 billion in 2022 to USD 38.3 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2022 to 2027. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are remotely piloted, optionally piloted, or fully autonomous aerial vehicles that play a significant role in the defense and commercial sectors. They are commonly termed drones and are mostly known for their wide usage in various military missions, such as border surveillance and combat operations. These vehicles are also used for mapping, surveying, and determining the weather conditions of a specific area.

The use of UAVs has been prevalent among defense forces worldwide for a long time. However, in recent times, several investments have been made by public and private sector organizations to develop new and sophisticated UAVs according to their requirements. The potential of UAVs to be used in several prospective applications in the civil and commercial sectors has led to advancements in them. The civil & commercial application segment of the UAV (Drone) industry is projected to grow significantly in the next 10 years

UAV (Drone) Market Forecast to 2027

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UAV (Drone) Market Dynamics:

Driver: Sensor and technology development

For sensor and technology development in UAV/drone-based remote sensing, the development and design of sensors and cameras are essential. The capability of sensors and cameras will extend the use of UAVs to handle various urban issues. As high-fidelity sensors continue to become smaller and more compact, drones are now capable of carrying more payload options than ever before. With all these various models, picking the right one for each unique industrial use can be overwhelming. Using UAVs as remote sensing platforms offers the unique ability for repeated deployment for the acquisition of high temporal resolution data at very high spatial resolution.

These sensor and technology development leads to the reduction in the price of drone components like ICs (controllers, GPS). The costs of drones are falling as the costs of various ICs (controllers, GPS), IoT sensors, MEMS sensors, and batteries are going down, whereas their performance is rising, like GPS accuracy. The drone's hardware is mostly made of fiber composites, whose cost is decreasing due to advancements in technology and investment in drone hardware worldwide. This leads to the wide-scale availability of drones not only for industry but also for hobbyists.

Restraint: Drone Safety & Security Issues

Drone use has been identified as a possible and vital risk to information security. Several drones have significant flaws in their designs and lack wireless security protection systems and footage encryption software. Some of the existing threats and vulnerabilities associated with drones are stated below:

• Susceptibility to technical issues: Technical malfunctions in drones include application errors such as connection failures between remote devices of users and drones, triggering them to either collapse or fly away. The battery life is another technical issue that results in a reduced flight time of drones. Especially in cold weather, the life span of batteries decreases, leading to a short flying time and the potential for malfunctioning.
• Prone to Wi-Fi jamming: Drones can also be stolen by sending de-authentication signals between access points and devices monitoring drones. This can be done by overcrowding the planned drone frequency with a single-board computer and jamming it using the Wi-Fi signals of hackers. Hackers install and organize a Raspberry Pi, a type of tiny single-board computer for this.

Opportunity: Simultaneous localization and mapping

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms are used to develop landmark-based, terrain-aided navigation systems with the capability for online map building. Such systems simultaneously use the generated map to bind errors in the inertial navigation system. SLAM techniques have been widely used for ground robot navigation, but only a few are based on vision sensors. Usually, these techniques are associated with GPS/INS sensors. Research by S. Lacroix et in 2002 presented a new concept of autonomous UAV navigation based on a SLAM algorithm and applied on a 6 DOF airborne platform that the group's work demonstrated the potential for applying SLAM-augmented, low-cost GPS/INS systems to UAVs in GPS-denied situations, such as urban canyons, indoors, or even underwater. Other Stanford researchers (K. Jonghyuk et al.) have developed passive GPS-free navigation for small UAVs operating in areas where GPS signals are jammed or obscured by natural or man-made features. The navigation method is based on only an IMU and a monocular camera, with SLAM providing the cornerstone of this work. SLAM algorithms will help drones become more robust and are a major opportunity for the Drone industry.

Challenge: Delivery authentication and cybersecurity concerns

A protocol for authentication of drone deliveries needs to be in place to ensure privacy and security. Proper guidelines have to be in place to ensure that the delivery reaches the correct recipient. Densely populated suburbs could require essential thumb/fingerprint authorization or digital signatures to receive packages.

The rising number of hacking incidents is also a matter of concern since they have limited security mechanisms. Companies in the drone industry provide analytics software-as-a-service to their clients, which requires cloud-based servers to process data. Since the data is transmitted and stored in an external cloud network, it is prone to hacking. Industries also need highly secured cloud servers for data security. Therefore, data security and data encryption concerns act as a challenge for the UAV (Drone) Market.

Based on Platform, the defense & government segment registered the largest share in 2022

Based on platform, the Drone market has been classified into civil & commercial and defense & government. Defense & Government held the largest share of market in 2022 owing to high price of military drones. Defense & Government segment is further classified into small , tactical and strategic. High-altitude long-endurance (HALE) and medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs fall under the category of strategic drones. At high altitudes, these UAVs tend to be heavy and hence, require long endurance and increased range. The two famous versions of the HALE UAV are the Global Hawk offered by Northrop Grumman (US) and Sentinel manufactured by Lockheed Martin (US).

Based on application, the military segment held the leading share of market in 2022.

Based on application, the Drone market is segmented into military, commercial, government & law enforcement, and consumer. The military segment held the leading share of the UAV (Drone) market in 2022 owing to high price of the military UAVs. The military UAVs are further segmented into ISR, combat operations, and delivery. The delivery sub-segment of the military UAVs is anticipated to record the highest growth during the forecast period as drones are being utilized for delivery of medical aids, food supplies, and ammunition on battlefields. Military drones are being sought across the globe for the direct delivery of emergency supplies to battlefields. Delivery drones are used by military forces to supply ammunition and food. For instance, through its website, the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons of the US Marine Corps has requested information from UAV manufacturers regarding unmanned vehicles with a weight of not more than 1.320 pounds that can operate in harsh environmental conditions for delivering emergency supplies in battlefields.

By Type, fixed-wing segment witness strong growth in market during the forecast period

By Type, the Drone market has been classified into fixed-wing and rotary-wing. The fixed-wing segment is further divided into CTOL and VTOL. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAVs are used in a broad range of commercial and military aerial applications. The capability of these UAVs to vertically take off and land, devoid of the requirement of launchers or runways, permits them to be operated in any location or surroundings. The fixed-wing design of these UAVs offers improved endurance. VTOL fixed-wing UAVs can travel long distances at high speed, thereby offering more extensive coverage than multirotor UAVs. These UAVs are used in various applications such as farming, surveying, and mapping, along with infrastructure inspections, surveillance activities, etc. In January 2022, German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter and Spright, a subsidiary of leading American air medical service provider Air Methods, announced an agreement worth more than USD 16 million.

The North America region held the major share of the UAV (Drone) Market in 2022

The growth of the UAV (Drone) market in North America can be attributed to the increasing adoption of drones for commercial and defense applications. In recent years, drone manufacturers have been focusing on the development of UAVs that are cost-effective, efficient, lightweight, and capable of carrying large payloads over long distances. Such drones are ideal for commercial applications such as last-mile delivery of products, medicines, and postal packages.

Canada is focused on developing its armed forces and, specifically, its air force by increasing its fleet of combat aircraft and tankers. The existing defense policy of the country is strong, with a long-term (20 years) funding commitment that will allow the Canadian Armed Force to enhance its capabilities. This will further increase the demand for UAVs in the country. In May 2021, the Canadian military confirmed that it was issuing formal bids for the purchase of armed drones worth USD 5 billion. For this, the force had already established a central hub in Ottawa, and the procured drones were expected to be operated from this hub. This central hub is expected to have 300 members, including pilots and technicians.

Based on Industry, Logistics & Transportation segment accounted for highest CAGR

By industry, the UAV (Drone) market has been segmented into defense & security, logistics & transportation, agriculture, energy & power, construction & mining, media & entertainment, insurance, wildlife & forestry,  academics & research. Logistics & Transportation segment is estimated to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period with the significant growth of the global e-commerce sector, postal companies are opting for new methods to modify their traditional delivery business models. With several countries focusing on the use of UAVs for postal deliveries, the Drone market will witness growth. The US Postal Service is exploring the possibility of introducing UAVs into its vehicle fleets to advance mail delivery operations and support its collection of geospatial, sensor, image, and other data. Companies such as DJI (China) are actively developing solutions for UAV-based package delivery. Amazon (US) has already developed these services. Lower cost, density of urban environments, and the rising demand for reduced delivery times are contributing to the growth of this segment

Based on Point of Sale,  the OEM  segment accounted for highest CAGR

By Point of Sale, the UAV (Drone) market has been segmented into Original Equipment Mnaufacturers(OEMs)  and After market. The OEM segment is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increased demand for next - generation unmanned aircraft is one of the significant factors driving the growth of this segment globally. In addition, increased automation of drones, continuous technological advancements in UAV technologies, and rapid expansion of the aerospace & defense industry are also expected to influence the growth of the Drone market during the forecast period.

Based on System,the Platform  segment accounted for highest CAGR during the forecast period

Based on System, the UAV (Drone) market has been segmented into platforms, payloads, data links, ground control stations, and launch & recovery systems. The Platform segment accounted for the largest market share during the forecast period growing from USD 12.07 Billion in  2022 to USD 17.89 Billion in 2027. The platform segment was further segmented in to into airframes, avionics, propulsion systems, and software. An airframe is the outer body of a UAV, and the type of material used to prepare it determines the weight of the overall UAV. Avionics are the electronic systems installed in UAVs to regulate their operations and safety. Propulsion systems determine the type of engine and fuel the UAV uses. For small drones, batteries are preferred as they reduce the overall weight, whereas, for military UAVs, where high endurance and flight time are the priority, internal combustion engines are preferred. Software is an integral part of UAVs as it helps the user to understand the functionalities of UAVs and makes them easy to operate.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to Grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period

The growth of the UAV (Drone) market in Asia Pacific can be attributed to the rise in military spending (defense and homeland security) of the countries in the region to enhance their defense capabilities. Moreover, political tensions in countries of Asia Pacific have led to the deployment of drones to ensure the security of their borders. This serves to be one of the most significant factors driving the growth of the Drone market in the region.

The prevailing trends of automation in India, Australia, and China and the ongoing globalization are also fueling the growth of the Drone market in Asia Pacific. UAVs are being increasingly used in the real estate, pollution monitoring, and agriculture sectors to carry out inspections in China and Japan. The demand for UAVs in China is increasing for military and commercial applications. Manufacturers in the country have been focusing on the development of high-performance drones that can work in different temperatures. In addition, China has secured the second position in the list of top 10 countries with the highest defense budgets. In 2021, China invested USD 293.0 billion in the defense sector.

UAV (Drone) Market by Region

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The break-up of the profiles of primary participants in the small drone market is as follows:

• By Company Type: Tier 1–32%; Tier 2–40%; and Tier 3–28%
• By Designation: CLevel Executives–35%; Directors–25%;and Others–40%
• By Region: North America–39.19%; Europe–21.06%; AsiaPacific–28.25%;Middle East–10%; Latin America–6.0%; and Africa–6.9%

Top UAV Companies - Key Market Players

The UAV Companies are dominated by a few globally established players such as DJI (China),  Northrop Grumman Corporation (US) Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), Israel Aerospace Industry Ltd. (Israel), General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI). These players have adopted various growth strategies such as contracts, joint ventures, partnerships & agreements, acquisitions, and new product launches to further expand their presence in the Drone market.

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Scope of the Report

UAV (Drone) Market Highlights

This research report categorizes the UAV (Drone) market based on platform, type, application, mode of operation, power source, and region

Recent Developments

• In June 2022, DJI launched DJI RS 3 and DJI RS 3 Pro, which incorporate a range of new features. A redesigned axes-locking system means that the process is now automated. By turning on the gimbal, the automated axis locks release and unfold the gimbal, allowing the operator to get started in seconds.
• In March 2022, DJI launched DJI RS 3 and DJI RS 3 Pro, which incorporate a range of new features to get filmmakers up and running as quickly as possible. A redesigned axes-locking system means that the process is now automated. By simply turning on the gimbal, the automated axis locks release and unfold the gimbal, allowing the operator to get started in seconds.
• In May 2022, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems launched Gambit a Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) designed through digital engineering to speed its time to market and lower acquisition costs. Gambit is part of a broader Family of Systems strategy that began with Predator and Reaper and continues in support of USAF's future force design concepts.
•  In December 2021, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced launch of Mojave a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL). The Mojave completed its first test flight in the summer of 2021 and was formally unveiled by GA on 9 December 2021. It is being developed to fulfill the role of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle that can operate from more rugged terrain with a combat loadout while also offering the option to be outfitted with various electronic systems to assist ground troops.
• In June 2021, EHang Holdings Limited conducted a test flight of its first passenger-grade autonomous aircraft for permission to fly in open airspace in Japan. It acquired a preliminary flight grant from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) with a local partner.

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