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Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Research Report Information By Type (Fixed-wing and VTOL), By Application (Combat and Non-Combat), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) –Market Forecast Till 2032.


ID: MRFR/A&D/14590-HCR | 128 Pages | Author: Sejal Akre| May 2024

Global Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Overview


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Size was valued at USD 12.8 Billion in 2022. The military unmanned aerial vehicle market industry is projected to grow from USD 13.79 Billion in 2023 to USD 25.163 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.80% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The need for better surveillance systems and rising military spending are major market drivers that have propelled the growth of the market for military unmanned aerial vehicle.


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market


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


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Trends


Rising Defense Forces Procurement and Military Expenditure will Boost the Market Growth


Growth in the market is anticipated as a result of significant investments made by several nations to bolster their armed forces. military spending reached USD 1,981 billion in 2020, up 2.6% from 2019 according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SPIRI). With budgets of USD 778 billion, USD 72.9 billion, USD 61.7 billion, USD 252 billion, and USD 59.2 billion, respectively, the top five nations with the largest defense budgets in 2020 were the United States, China, India, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Over the past few years, significant investments have been made by Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and India in the acquisition and modernization of the defense system. The need for military unmanned aerial vehicles will increase in the next years due to these considerations. For instance, India and the United States were scheduled to close a contract in November 2021 for the purchase of thirty multi-mission MQ-9B long-endurance predator drones. USD 3 billion was the contract value.  Additionally, market expansion is fueled by the military's increasing acquisition of next-generation drones.


Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming an integral part of armed forces across the world. The capacity of these UAVs to support tactical operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks in addition to combat missions is propelling their adoption rate. Significant advances in processing technology have been made possible by the growing need for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These breakthroughs have allowed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems to operate with much greater performance. A common system-level architecture has been brought about by the capability advancements, and this has assisted in lowering the cost and complexity associated with the production and use of military UAVs. Furthermore, because small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are so convenient in minimizing casualties and facilitating the completion of critical, high-profile missions, it is anticipated that UAVs will remain in use in a variety of military operations. The military uses large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like HALE and MALE primarily for combat missions, which call for long-range UAVs. However, drone swarm technology has recently been more well-liked in the military, and other nations are working on developing the technology. Multiple unmanned platforms working together to achieve a common goal are referred to as drone swarms, and they have the capacity to independently change their behavior based on mutual communication. The military is predicted to employ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) more frequently due to rising defense budget and technological breakthroughs. This would likely result in a steady expansion of the UAVs' operational capabilities, fueling the market growth. Thus, driving the military unmanned aerial vehicle market revenue.


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Segment Insights


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Type Insights


The military unmanned aerial vehicle market segmentation, based on type includes Fixed-wing and VTOL. The fixed-wing segment dominated the market. Fixed-wing drones use their wings during takeoff, exactly like airplanes do. Their wings provide the necessary vertical lift for flight, but forward propulsion requires motors. Fixed-wing UAVs are able to fly farther than rotary-wing drones. Where they differ most are in payloads, endurance ranges, and applications.


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Application Insights


The military unmanned aerial vehicle market segmentation, based on application, includes Combat and Non-Combat. The combat category generated the most income. Combat drones are no longer seen as an optional asset and have instead emerged as critical strategic enablers for the armed forces across numerous nations. The emergence of numerous domestic UCAV projects and the increasing efficiency of inexpensive armed drones in combat have led to a new phase in the unmanned combat aerial vehicle market armed drone capabilities are becoming standard.


Figure 1: Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market, by Application, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market, by Application, 2022 & 2032


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


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regional Insights


By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North American military unmanned aerial vehicle market area will dominate this market. Some of the factors driving the growth include the demand for more sophisticated ISR capabilities, more financing for military modernization projects, and an increase in the usage of unmanned aerial vehicle for homeland security and law enforcement. key advancements in drone technology resulted in innovations inside the US military, and key regional players' increasing spending encouraged market expansion.


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


Figure 2: MILITARY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)


MILITARY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022


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


Europe military unmanned aerial vehicle market accounts for the second-largest market share as a result of increased awareness of the need to strengthen military forces, such as the air force and navy. To strengthen their ISR capabilities, European countries like the UK, Germany, and France will soon be competing for small, tactical military unmanned aerial vehicles. Further, the German military unmanned aerial vehicle market held the largest market share, and the UK military unmanned aerial vehicle market was the fastest growing market in the European region


The Asia-Pacific Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032 because military drones are being acquired by most of the governments in the region quite quickly. Due to the protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the military forces in the area have made the acquisition of military unmanned aerial vehicles a top priority, which will support the regional market's growth during the anticipated term. Moreover, China’s military unmanned aerial vehicle market held the largest market share, and the Indian military unmanned aerial vehicle market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Key Market Players & Competitive Insights


Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development in order to expand their product lines, which will help the military unmanned aerial vehicle 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. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, military unmanned aerial vehicle industry must offer cost-effective items.


Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the military unmanned aerial vehicle industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the military unmanned aerial vehicle industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the military unmanned aerial vehicle market are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations includes China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Aeronautics Ltd, General Atomics, BAYKAR, Safran SA, Leonardo SpA, Textron Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems Ltd, AeroVironment Inc., The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Saab AB.


Aerospace and defense technologies are supplied to the military and commercial industries by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI). Radar systems, hydraulic systems, business jets, fighting aircraft, helicopters, and their components are all designed, developed, produced, and supplied by the corporation. Space components, communication, research, ground control, observation, and satellite launchers are all produced by the company. It also provides marine radars, C4I systems, naval weapons systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and anti-ballistic defense systems. Defense suppression systems, autonomous and robotic systems, precision weaponry, and ground surveillance radars are all provided by IAI.


Elbit Systems Ltd. (Elbit Systems) is a company that designs and develops systems and equipment for the aerospace industry as well as C4ISR (command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) and computers. The company provides cutting-edge electro-optics and countermeasures systems, military aircraft, airborne and helicopter systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) and unmanned surface boats, aerostructures and systems, helmet-mounted systems, and land and naval systems. Elbit Systems creates new technologies and modernizes military equipment for the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation industries.


Key Companies in the military unmanned aerial vehicle market include



  • China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

  • Aeronautics Ltd

  • General Atomics

  • BAYKAR

  • Safran SA

  • Leonardo SpA

  • Textron Inc.

  • Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)

  • Elbit Systems Ltd

  • AeroVironment Inc.

  • The Boeing Company

  • Lockheed Martin Corporation

  • Northrop Grumman Corporation

  • Saab AB


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Developments


For Instance, March 2022 The Army has awarded ideaForge, an Indian drone maker, a repeat contract to deliver 200 Switch small Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and its accessories.


For Instance, March 2022 As part of a AUD 650 million (USD 475 million) contract, Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) has chosen Boeing's Insitu Pacific Pty Ltd to provide 24 of its Integrator unmanned aerial systems (UASs) to the Australian Army. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) may use these drones to gather intelligence, conduct reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, and find targets for missile systems.


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Segmentation


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Type Outlook



  • Fixed-wing

  • VTOL


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Application Outlook



  • Combat

  • Non-Combat


Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 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



Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Report Scope
Report Attribute/Metric Details
Market Size 2022 USD 12.8 Billion
Market Size 2023 USD 13.79 Billion
Market Size 2032 USD 25.163 Billion
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 7.80% (2023-2032)
Base Year 2022
Market Forecast Period 2023-2032
Historical Data 2018- 2022
Market Forecast Units Value (USD Billion)
Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends
Segments Covered Type, Application, and Region
Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World
Countries Covered The US, Canada, German, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil
Key Companies Profiled China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Aeronautics Ltd, General Atomics, BAYKAR, Safran SA, Leonardo SpA, Textron Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems Ltd, AeroVironment Inc., The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Saab AB
Key Market Opportunities Increasing federal funding for military unmanned aerial vehicles
Key Market Dynamics Increasing geopolitical tensions and conflicts worldwide Rising integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :

The military unmanned aerial vehicle market size was valued at USD 12.8 Billion in 2022.

The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.80% during the forecast period, 2023-2032.

North America had the largest share in the market

The key players in the market are China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Aeronautics Ltd, General Atomics, BAYKAR, Safran SA, Leonardo SpA, Textron Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems Ltd, AeroVironment Inc., The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Saab AB.

The fixed-wing category dominated the market in 2022.

The combat category had the largest share in the market.

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