Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Class, By Type, By Energy Source, By Mode of Operation, By Range, By MTOW, By End User Industry, By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Description

The Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market is projected to expand from USD 38.68 Billion in 2025 to USD 79.42 Billion by 2031, achieving a CAGR of 12.74%. UAVs are defined as aircraft operated without an onboard human pilot, controlled either through autonomous computer systems or by remote operators. The primary forces driving this market include increased defense budgets dedicated to surveillance and tactical missions, alongside the growing adoption of commercial drones for logistics and data collection in agriculture. These fundamental demand drivers are distinct from specific technological trends and underscore the necessity for secure and efficient aerial capabilities across diverse industries.

Market Overview
Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size 2025	USD 38.68 Billion
Market Size 2031	USD 79.42 Billion
CAGR 2026-2031	12.74%
Fastest Growing Segment	Defense & Security
Largest Market	North America

A significant obstacle impeding broader market growth is the complicated regulatory environment regarding the safe incorporation of unmanned systems into civil airspace. Rigorous certification requirements and strict airspace limitations frequently delay the deployment of autonomous flight operations, thereby restricting scalability. Data from the 'China Air Transport Association' in '2024' indicates that registered civilian drones in China neared two million by the end of August, demonstrating a massive volume of adoption even amidst these persistent global regulatory difficulties.

Market Driver

Increasing global defense budgets aimed at modernizing unmanned combat and surveillance capabilities serve as a leading engine for market growth. Nations are aggressively acquiring autonomous aerial systems to bolster tactical strengths while reducing human exposure to danger in conflict zones, a shift reflected in the procurement of loitering munitions and reconnaissance platforms. According to a Reuters report from December 2023 titled 'Ukraine plans to produce 1 million drones in 2024', officials in Kyiv set targets to manufacture one million FPV drones domestically in 2024 to sustain military efforts, highlighting how geopolitical friction directly stimulates industrial production and technology integration in the defense sector.

Concurrently, the swift growth of last-mile delivery networks and commercial logistics is transforming the civilian use of UAVs. Logistics companies and retailers are expanding their use of drones to cut operational costs and accelerate delivery speeds, especially in dense suburban areas. As noted in a January 2024 press release titled 'Walmart Expands Drone Delivery', Walmart Inc. announced plans to widen service to cover 1.8 million households in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Reinforcing this commercial scalability, Zipline reported in 2024 that it reached a significant milestone by completing one million commercial deliveries worldwide, proving that aerial logistics are evolving from experimental pilot programs into reliable, routine infrastructure.

Market Challenge

The intricate regulatory framework governing the safe assimilation of unmanned systems into civil airspace acts as a specific barrier to the growth of the Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market. Although manufacturers have engineered aircraft suitable for long-range, autonomous missions, strict airspace restrictions and arduous certification procedures hinder these assets from reaching their full commercial capacity. This regulatory friction creates a significant bottleneck, preventing businesses from scaling operations for high-value uses like infrastructure inspection and logistics, as securing the requisite flight permissions remains a slow and resource-heavy process.

The extent of this constraint is highlighted by the gap between the volume of capable technology available and the number of authorized advanced operations. According to data from the 'Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International' in '2024', the Federal Aviation Administration granted only 203 waivers for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This statistic reveals that despite the widespread existence of sophisticated platforms, only a small portion of operators are legally permitted to execute the complex flights needed for substantial revenue generation, directly delaying the market's path toward maturity and scalability.

Market Trends

The incorporation of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Navigation is radically changing the market's technological foundation, pushing the industry past simple remote-controlled functions. In contrast to traditional units capable only of GPS-reliant flight or requiring constant pilot guidance, next-generation UAVs employ onboard edge computing to process visual information in real-time, facilitating operations in cluttered or GNSS-denied environments. This transition is drawing considerable investment into software-defined hardware designed for dynamic decision-making, as evidenced by Skydio's November 2024 announcement, 'Skydio Raises $170 Million in Extension Round', where the firm secured funds specifically to boost manufacturing of AI-enabled autonomous drones for defense and enterprise use.

The adoption of Autonomous Drone-in-a-Box (DiaB) Infrastructure marks a crucial shift from pilot-dependent workflows to fully remote, continuous aerial surveillance networks. This trend centers on deploying self-contained docking stations that automatically house, charge, and launch drones for frequent, repetitive inspections, thereby eliminating the need for on-site staff. Regulators are starting to confirm the safety of these uncrewed systems for scalable use, setting the stage for broader adoption. For instance, according to a September 2024 press release titled 'Percepto Secures FAA Type Certificate', Percepto obtained a milestone certification validating the reliability and design of its automated solution, which simplifies the approval process for operators performing remote flights.

Key Market Players

Northrop Grumman Corporation
SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
The Boeing Company
Lockheed Martin Corporation
AeroVironment, Inc.
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
Thales S.A.
Parrot S.A.
Textron Inc

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Class

Small UAV
Tactical UAV
and Special Purpose UAV

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Type

Fixed-wing UAVs
Fixed-wing VTOL UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Energy Source

Lithium-Ion Battery
Hybrid Cell
and Fuel Cell

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Mode of Operation

Remotely Piloted
Optionally Piloted
Fully Autonomous

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Range

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
BLOS

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By MTOW

<25 Kilograms
25-170 Kilograms
>170 Kilograms

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By End User Industry

Defense & Security
Agriculture
Logistics & Transportation
Construction & Mining

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market, By Region

North America
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
Europe
- France
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Germany
- Spain
Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- Australia
- South Korea
South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Colombia
Middle East & Africa
- South Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

1. Product Overview

1.1. Market Definition
1.2. Scope of the Market
- 1.2.1. Markets Covered
- 1.2.2. Years Considered for Study
- 1.2.3. Key Market Segmentations

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Objective of the Study
2.2. Baseline Methodology
2.3. Key Industry Partners
2.4. Major Association and Secondary Sources
2.5. Forecasting Methodology
2.6. Data Triangulation & Validation
2.7. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Overview of the Market
3.2. Overview of Key Market Segmentations
3.3. Overview of Key Market Players
3.4. Overview of Key Regions/Countries
3.5. Overview of Market Drivers, Challenges, Trends

4. Voice of Customer

5. Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 5.1.1. By Value
5.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 5.2.1. By Class (Small UAV, Tactical UAV, and Special Purpose UAV)
- 5.2.2. By Type (Fixed-wing UAVs, Fixed-wing VTOL UAVs)
- 5.2.3. By Energy Source (Lithium-Ion Battery, Hybrid Cell, and Fuel Cell)
- 5.2.4. By Mode of Operation (Remotely Piloted, Optionally Piloted, Fully Autonomous)
- 5.2.5. By Range (Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), BLOS)
- 5.2.6. By MTOW (<25 Kilograms, 25-170 Kilograms, >170 Kilograms)
- 5.2.7. By End User Industry (Defense & Security, Agriculture, Logistics & Transportation, Construction & Mining)
- 5.2.8. By Region
- 5.2.9. By Company (2025)
5.3. Market Map

6. North America Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 6.1.1. By Value
6.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 6.2.1. By Class
- 6.2.2. By Type
- 6.2.3. By Energy Source
- 6.2.4. By Mode of Operation
- 6.2.5. By Range
- 6.2.6. By MTOW
- 6.2.7. By End User Industry
- 6.2.8. By Country
6.3. North America: Country Analysis
- 6.3.1. United States Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 6.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.1.2.1. By Class
    - 6.3.1.2.2. By Type
    - 6.3.1.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 6.3.1.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 6.3.1.2.5. By Range
    - 6.3.1.2.6. By MTOW
    - 6.3.1.2.7. By End User Industry
- 6.3.2. Canada Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 6.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.2.2.1. By Class
    - 6.3.2.2.2. By Type
    - 6.3.2.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 6.3.2.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 6.3.2.2.5. By Range
    - 6.3.2.2.6. By MTOW
    - 6.3.2.2.7. By End User Industry
- 6.3.3. Mexico Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 6.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 6.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 6.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 6.3.3.2.1. By Class
    - 6.3.3.2.2. By Type
    - 6.3.3.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 6.3.3.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 6.3.3.2.5. By Range
    - 6.3.3.2.6. By MTOW
    - 6.3.3.2.7. By End User Industry

7. Europe Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 7.1.1. By Value
7.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 7.2.1. By Class
- 7.2.2. By Type
- 7.2.3. By Energy Source
- 7.2.4. By Mode of Operation
- 7.2.5. By Range
- 7.2.6. By MTOW
- 7.2.7. By End User Industry
- 7.2.8. By Country
7.3. Europe: Country Analysis
- 7.3.1. Germany Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 7.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.1.2.1. By Class
    - 7.3.1.2.2. By Type
    - 7.3.1.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 7.3.1.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 7.3.1.2.5. By Range
    - 7.3.1.2.6. By MTOW
    - 7.3.1.2.7. By End User Industry
- 7.3.2. France Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 7.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.2.2.1. By Class
    - 7.3.2.2.2. By Type
    - 7.3.2.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 7.3.2.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 7.3.2.2.5. By Range
    - 7.3.2.2.6. By MTOW
    - 7.3.2.2.7. By End User Industry
- 7.3.3. United Kingdom Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 7.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.3.2.1. By Class
    - 7.3.3.2.2. By Type
    - 7.3.3.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 7.3.3.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 7.3.3.2.5. By Range
    - 7.3.3.2.6. By MTOW
    - 7.3.3.2.7. By End User Industry
- 7.3.4. Italy Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 7.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.4.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.4.2.1. By Class
    - 7.3.4.2.2. By Type
    - 7.3.4.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 7.3.4.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 7.3.4.2.5. By Range
    - 7.3.4.2.6. By MTOW
    - 7.3.4.2.7. By End User Industry
- 7.3.5. Spain Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 7.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 7.3.5.1.1. By Value
  - 7.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 7.3.5.2.1. By Class
    - 7.3.5.2.2. By Type
    - 7.3.5.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 7.3.5.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 7.3.5.2.5. By Range
    - 7.3.5.2.6. By MTOW
    - 7.3.5.2.7. By End User Industry

8. Asia Pacific Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 8.1.1. By Value
8.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 8.2.1. By Class
- 8.2.2. By Type
- 8.2.3. By Energy Source
- 8.2.4. By Mode of Operation
- 8.2.5. By Range
- 8.2.6. By MTOW
- 8.2.7. By End User Industry
- 8.2.8. By Country
8.3. Asia Pacific: Country Analysis
- 8.3.1. China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 8.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.1.2.1. By Class
    - 8.3.1.2.2. By Type
    - 8.3.1.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 8.3.1.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 8.3.1.2.5. By Range
    - 8.3.1.2.6. By MTOW
    - 8.3.1.2.7. By End User Industry
- 8.3.2. India Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 8.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.2.2.1. By Class
    - 8.3.2.2.2. By Type
    - 8.3.2.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 8.3.2.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 8.3.2.2.5. By Range
    - 8.3.2.2.6. By MTOW
    - 8.3.2.2.7. By End User Industry
- 8.3.3. Japan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 8.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.3.2.1. By Class
    - 8.3.3.2.2. By Type
    - 8.3.3.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 8.3.3.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 8.3.3.2.5. By Range
    - 8.3.3.2.6. By MTOW
    - 8.3.3.2.7. By End User Industry
- 8.3.4. South Korea Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 8.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.4.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.4.2.1. By Class
    - 8.3.4.2.2. By Type
    - 8.3.4.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 8.3.4.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 8.3.4.2.5. By Range
    - 8.3.4.2.6. By MTOW
    - 8.3.4.2.7. By End User Industry
- 8.3.5. Australia Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 8.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 8.3.5.1.1. By Value
  - 8.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 8.3.5.2.1. By Class
    - 8.3.5.2.2. By Type
    - 8.3.5.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 8.3.5.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 8.3.5.2.5. By Range
    - 8.3.5.2.6. By MTOW
    - 8.3.5.2.7. By End User Industry

9. Middle East & Africa Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 9.1.1. By Value
9.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 9.2.1. By Class
- 9.2.2. By Type
- 9.2.3. By Energy Source
- 9.2.4. By Mode of Operation
- 9.2.5. By Range
- 9.2.6. By MTOW
- 9.2.7. By End User Industry
- 9.2.8. By Country
9.3. Middle East & Africa: Country Analysis
- 9.3.1. Saudi Arabia Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 9.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.1.2.1. By Class
    - 9.3.1.2.2. By Type
    - 9.3.1.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 9.3.1.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 9.3.1.2.5. By Range
    - 9.3.1.2.6. By MTOW
    - 9.3.1.2.7. By End User Industry
- 9.3.2. UAE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 9.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.2.2.1. By Class
    - 9.3.2.2.2. By Type
    - 9.3.2.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 9.3.2.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 9.3.2.2.5. By Range
    - 9.3.2.2.6. By MTOW
    - 9.3.2.2.7. By End User Industry
- 9.3.3. South Africa Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 9.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 9.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 9.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 9.3.3.2.1. By Class
    - 9.3.3.2.2. By Type
    - 9.3.3.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 9.3.3.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 9.3.3.2.5. By Range
    - 9.3.3.2.6. By MTOW
    - 9.3.3.2.7. By End User Industry

10. South America Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast
- 10.1.1. By Value
10.2. Market Share & Forecast
- 10.2.1. By Class
- 10.2.2. By Type
- 10.2.3. By Energy Source
- 10.2.4. By Mode of Operation
- 10.2.5. By Range
- 10.2.6. By MTOW
- 10.2.7. By End User Industry
- 10.2.8. By Country
10.3. South America: Country Analysis
- 10.3.1. Brazil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 10.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.1.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.1.2.1. By Class
    - 10.3.1.2.2. By Type
    - 10.3.1.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 10.3.1.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 10.3.1.2.5. By Range
    - 10.3.1.2.6. By MTOW
    - 10.3.1.2.7. By End User Industry
- 10.3.2. Colombia Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 10.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.2.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.2.2.1. By Class
    - 10.3.2.2.2. By Type
    - 10.3.2.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 10.3.2.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 10.3.2.2.5. By Range
    - 10.3.2.2.6. By MTOW
    - 10.3.2.2.7. By End User Industry
- 10.3.3. Argentina Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Outlook
  - 10.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
    - 10.3.3.1.1. By Value
  - 10.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast
    - 10.3.3.2.1. By Class
    - 10.3.3.2.2. By Type
    - 10.3.3.2.3. By Energy Source
    - 10.3.3.2.4. By Mode of Operation
    - 10.3.3.2.5. By Range
    - 10.3.3.2.6. By MTOW
    - 10.3.3.2.7. By End User Industry

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers
11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

12.1. Merger & Acquisition (If Any)
12.2. Product Launches (If Any)
12.3. Recent Developments

13. Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market: SWOT Analysis

14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

14.1. Competition in the Industry
14.2. Potential of New Entrants
14.3. Power of Suppliers
14.4. Power of Customers
14.5. Threat of Substitute Products

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1. Northrop Grumman Corporation
- 15.1.1. Business Overview
- 15.1.2. Products & Services
- 15.1.3. Recent Developments
- 15.1.4. Key Personnel
- 15.1.5. SWOT Analysis
15.2. SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.
15.3. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
15.4. The Boeing Company
15.5. Lockheed Martin Corporation
15.6. AeroVironment, Inc.
15.7. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
15.8. Thales S.A.
15.9. Parrot S.A.
15.10. Textron Inc