Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Size and Growth

The global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market size was estimated at USD 31.66 billion in 2023 and is expected to hit over USD 169.7 billion by 2033 with a registered CAGR of 18.2% over the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Size in the U.S. 2024 to 2033

The U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market size was estimated at USD 8.20 billion in 2023 and is predicted to be worth around USD 46.71 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 18.92% from 2024 to 2033.

North America dominated the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market in 2020. Due to rising demand for military and commercial applications in nations like the Canada and the U.S., the market for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones in North America is likely to rise.

Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to develop at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The increase in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production towards the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones is expected to be a major driving factor for the Asia-Pacific region market over the forecast period.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Size in Asia Pacific 2023 to 2033

The Asia Pacific unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market size was calculated at USD 7.60 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand around USD 43.27 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 18.92% from 2024 to 2033.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Growth Factors

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone is a plane that flies without a human pilot, passengers, or crew. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a part of unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which also includes a ground-based controller and a communications system with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones can be controlled remotely by a human operator, as in a remotely pilot aircraft (RPA), or with varying degrees of autonomy, such as autopilot help, up to fully autonomous aircraft with no human interaction.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are increasingly being used to collect data. During this process, confidential information about a private property or conduct may be gathered. As a result, safety and security concerns, as well as social issues such as privacy concerns, are limiting the market for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones.

The primary factors driving the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market’s growth are rapid technological developments in drones and an increase in demand for drone-generated data in commercial applications. The market for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones is also growing due to an increase in venture capital funding.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which are also used in wars. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are commonly used for monitoring farmlands to enable farmers to respond rapidly to problems such as pests and drought, which is driving the growth of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market during the forecast period.

Due to changes in government laws and an increase in the number of exceptions allowed to companies for commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones, this market is expected to grow significantly during the projected period. The surveying, inspection, media and entertainment, military and homeland security, precision agriculture, and other commercial sectors all contribute to the market for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Scope

Type Insights

The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) had the highest revenue share in 2023. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses rotors to take off, hover, and land vertically, similar to a helicopter. All multi-copter drones, as well as some hybrid fixed wings drones, fall under this category.

The medium altitude long endurance (MALE) segment is fastest growing segment of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market in 2020. A medium altitude long endurance (MALE) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that flies for extended periods of time. The unmanned combat aerial vehicle and unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicle are both included in this list.

Payload Insights

The up to 150 kg segment dominated the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market in 2023. This type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are adaptable and can perform a wide range of operations, including search rescue, ground force support, irregular traffic surveillance, and intelligence missions. 

The up to 600 kg segment, on the other hand, is predicted to develop at a rapid rate over the projection period. Nowadays, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are being manufactured mostly with the payload of 600 kg.

Component Insights

In 2023, the camera segment dominated the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones employ investigation, continuous video monitoring, border security, remote surveillance, rescue and law enforcement, and vital infrastructure protection.

The sensor segment, on the other hand, is predicted to develop at the quickest rate in the future years. The inertial measurement units (IMUs) are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sensors that combine data from several sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to generate readings that may be used to compare the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones’ velocity and orientation.

Application Insights

The media and entertainment segment dominated the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market in 2023. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones have a number of advantages over traditional means of image capture, including lower costs and better film and photo quality. This is the primary factor driving the growth of the segment over the projection period.

The precision agriculture segment, on the other hand, is predicted to develop at a rapid rate over the projection period. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones are used in precision agriculture for a variety of tasks, including field and soil analysis, pesticide, and planting. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones can be used with a variety of imaging technologies, such as multispectral, hyperspectral, and thermal, to offer farmers with temporal and site-specific information about fungal infections and crop health.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Recent Developments

• At the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise in August 2017, the company showed off its advanced mission management and control system (ANTX). This system allows several unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and unmanned surface vehicles to work together to gather, analyze, and synthesize data from a variety of sensors.
• The company launched a new factory in North Dakota, the U.S., in April 2017. The principal tasks carried out at this new facility include research and development, mission analysis, operator, as well as aircraft maintenance.

The major stakeholders in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market, as well as their offers and distribution channels, were identified across geographies, and their regional presence was understood through in-depth discussions. Additionally, the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drones market size is calculated using the average revenue by the key market players, segregated by regions.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones Market Companies

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
• Israel Aerospace Industries
• ALCORE Technologies
• BAE Systems
• Nimbus
• VTOL Technologies
• Xiaomi
• ING Robotic Aviation
• PrecisionHawk
• Lockheed Martin

Segments Covered in the Report

By Type

• Fixed Wing Drone
• Rotary Blade Drone
• Hybrid Drone

 By Load Capacity

• <2KG
• 2–5 KG
• >5 KG

 By Duration

• <30 Minutes
• >30 Minutes

 By Range

• Short (<25 Kilometers)
• Long (>25 Kilometers)

By Application

• Aerial Photography
• Agriculture
• Emergency and Disaster Management
• Inspection & Monitoring
• Remote Sensing & Mapping
• Wildlife Research & Preservation

By Geography

• North America
• U.S.
• Canada
• Europe
• U.K.
• Germany
• France
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)
• GCC
• North Africa
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa