Global Military Drones Market - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2031

Análisis y perspectivas del mercado de drones militares

El mercado de drones militares está experimentando un rápido crecimiento, impulsado por los avances en inteligencia artificial, tecnología furtiva y sistemas autónomos. Innovaciones como la tecnología de enjambre, capacidades de vigilancia mejoradas y una mejor entrega de carga útil están revolucionando las estrategias de defensa. Los desarrollos clave incluyen tiempos de vuelo más prolongados, una mejor integración con los sistemas terrestres y el uso de materiales de vanguardia para lograr durabilidad y eficiencia.

El tamaño del mercado mundial de drones militares se valoró en USD 13,64 mil millones en 2023, y se proyecta que alcance los USD 39,72 mil millones para 2031, con una CAGR del 14,3% durante el período de pronóstico de 2024 a 2031. Además de los conocimientos del mercado, como el valor de mercado, la tasa de crecimiento, los segmentos del mercado, la cobertura geográfica, los actores del mercado y el escenario del mercado, el informe de mercado curado por el equipo de investigación de mercado de Data Bridge incluye un análisis experto en profundidad, análisis de importación / exportación, análisis de precios, análisis de consumo de producción y análisis pestle.

Alcance del informe y segmentación del mercado

Definición de mercado

Los drones militares, también conocidos como vehículos aéreos no tripulados (UAV), son aeronaves que operan sin un piloto humano a bordo. Están equipados con diversas capacidades de vigilancia, reconocimiento y combate, y suelen utilizarse para recopilar información, adquirir objetivos y realizar ataques aéreos. Estos drones varían en tamaño, desde pequeños modelos lanzados a mano hasta vehículos grandes, de gran altitud y gran autonomía, que ofrecen una mayor flexibilidad operativa y un menor riesgo para el personal humano.

Dinámica del mercado de drones militares

Conductores

• Demanda creciente de servicios de inteligencia, vigilancia y reconocimiento (ISR)

Los drones militares ofrecen capacidades de recopilación de inteligencia, vigilancia y reconocimiento en tiempo real en diversos entornos, lo que los convierte en activos esenciales para las operaciones militares modernas. Por ejemplo, en zonas de conflicto, drones como el MQ-9 Reaper brindan inteligencia, vigilancia y reconocimiento en tiempo real, lo que permite a las fuerzas militares monitorear las actividades enemigas, rastrear movimientos y recopilar información crucial sin arriesgar las vidas de las tropas terrestres. Esta capacidad mejora el conocimiento de la situación y ayuda en la toma de decisiones estratégicas durante operaciones militares complejas.

• Aumento de las operaciones antiterroristas

La atención mundial a las operaciones antiterroristas ha dado lugar a una mayor demanda de drones equipados con capacidades de ataque de precisión para atacar amenazas terroristas en zonas remotas o inaccesibles. Por ejemplo, en la lucha contra las organizaciones terroristas, los drones equipados con sistemas avanzados de selección de objetivos han sido fundamentales para realizar ataques quirúrgicos contra objetivos de alto valor, desbaratar redes terroristas y minimizar los daños colaterales, garantizando al mismo tiempo la seguridad de las fuerzas terrestres.

Oportunidades

• Aumento de las soluciones comerciales listas para usar (COTS)

The widespread availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) drones and components expedites the acquisition and implementation of military drone systems, slashing development timelines and costs for defense entities. For instance, utilizing commercially available drones such as the DJI Phantom series enables rapid deployment of reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities, allowing military forces to swiftly adapt to evolving operational needs while leveraging the advanced features and reliability of these off-the-shelf solutions. 

• Advancements in Technology

Rapid advancements in drone technology are revolutionizing military applications. Enhanced autonomy allows drones to execute complex missions independently, reducing the need for constant human supervision. Improved endurance enables drones to operate for extended periods, facilitating prolonged surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Increased payload capacity enables the integration of advanced sensors and weaponry, enhancing their versatility. Stealth features such as low observability and radar evasion enhance survivability. For instance, the development of the MQ-9 Reaper showcases these advancements, offering long-endurance missions with precision strike capabilities.

Restraints/Challenges

• Dependency on Satellite Connectivity

The military drones market faces challenges due to heavy reliance on satellite connectivity for navigation and control. Vulnerability to disruptions such as jamming, cyber-attacks, and adverse weather conditions jeopardizes operational effectiveness, posing significant risks to mission success. This dependency undermines the market's resilience and raises concerns about the reliability of drone systems in critical scenarios.

• Airspace Integration

Integrating military drones into airspace management systems presents significant obstacles, necessitating coordination with civilian aviation authorities. Technical hurdles, including the development of collision avoidance systems, impede safe operation alongside manned aircraft. This complexity stifles market growth as manufacturers struggle to address regulatory requirements and ensure the safety of drone deployments in shared airspace.

This  market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Recent Development

• In March 2023, Northrop Grumman Corporation, in collaboration with Shield AI, was selected by the U.S. Army for the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) competition, Increment 2. This opportunity positions them as potential replacements for the RQ-7B Shadow tactical UAS, showcasing their cutting-edge technology and expertise in unmanned aerial systems
• In February 2023, Boeing announced that its MQ-28 drone could be a valuable addition to the U.S. Air Force's arsenal, marking a significant stride for the aerospace giant. This development opens new avenues for growth and collaboration in the defense sector, showcasing Boeing's commitment to innovation and its ability to adapt to evolving military requirements
• In March 2022, Gambit, an Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP), was designed through digital engineering to accelerate time to market and reduce acquisition costs. The jet-powered platform is built for air supremacy and leverages advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, aiming to revolutionize future defense capabilities
• In December 2021, Mojave, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities, was introduced. Based on the avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range, it features a Gray Eagle airframe, enlarged wings with high-lift devices, and a Rolls-Royce 450-hp turboprop engine

Military Drones Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of platform, speed, service type, propulsion type, launching mode, range, application, operation mode, endurance, and MTOW. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

Platform

• Strategic
• Tactical
• Small

 Speed

• Subsonic
• Supersonic

 Service Type

• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Wing
• Hybrid/Transitional

 Propulsion Type

• Hybrid Fuel Cell
• Battery Powered
• Others

 Launching Mode

• Catapult Launcher
• Automatic Take-Off and Landing
• Hand Launched
• Vertical Take-Off

 Range

• Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS)
• Extended Visual Line Of Sight (EVLOS)
• Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS)

 Application

• Reconnaissance
• Surveillance and Target Acquisition (ISRT)
• Intelligence
• Combat Operations
• Delivery and Transportation
• Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs)
• Battle Damage Management

 Operation Mode

• Remotely Piloted
• Optionally Piloted
• Fully Autonomous

 Endurance

• >6 Hours
• 2–6 Hours
• <1–2 Hours

 MTOW

• >150 Kilograms
• 25–150 Kilograms
• <25 Kilograms

Military Drones Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The market is analysed and market size insights and trends are provided, platform, speed, service type, propulsion type, launching mode, range, application, operation mode, endurance, and MTOW as referenced above.

The countries covered in the market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America is expected to grow significantly in the military drones market, with the U.S. leading due to its advanced technological infrastructure, a strong network of drone manufacturers, and supportive regulatory frameworks, establishing itself as a dominant force in the global arena.

Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the military drones market, with China leading due to rising demand for UAVs in combat missions. Advanced technology and increased defense spending fuel this growth, positioning China as a key player in the region's military drone sector.

Europe is expected to show lucrative growth in the military drones market, with the U.K. leading due to its robust presence in commercial and defense drone sectors. Extensive research and development activities further position Europe at the forefront of drone innovation and adoption.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points like down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.   

Competitive Landscape and Military Drones Market Share Analysis

The market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to market.

Some of the major players operating in the market are:

• Safran Group (France)
• General Atomics (U.S.)
• IAI  (Israel)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation. (U.S.)
• AeroVironment, Inc. (U.S.)
• Textron Inc. (U.S.)
• Teledyne FLIR LLC (U.S.)
• Northrop Grumman (U.S.)
• BAE Systems (U.K.)
• AERONAUTICS (Israel)
• Boeing (U.S.)
• Thales (France)
• Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy)
• Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel)
• SAAB (Sweden)

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