Asia Pacific Military Drones Market Forecast to 2028 -Regional Analysis

The Asia Pacific military drones market is expected to grow from US$ 3,314.63 million in 2023 to US$ 5,360.15 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2023 to 2028.

Use of Drones in Military Cargo Operations Fuels Asia Pacific Military Drones Market

A cargo air vehicle (CAV), used to carry different materials, is one of the latest drone technologies. Transportation of goods through drones has proven benefits compared to traditional ways of transportation, such as helicopters and airplanes. Cargo drones are cheaper and more versatile than the abovementioned air carriers, and they require less maintenance. They have elevated carrying power and need no direct human involvement. Cargo drones are used to carry lifesaving supplies at dangerous locations reducing risk to human life. Owing to such benefits, governments have started considering the procurement of such drones in several operations. In December 2022, the Indian Ministry of Defense issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the list of potential vendors to procure 570 Logistic Drones (LD) for the Indian Army (IA). The vendors will be finalized on the two versions of drones based on altitude standards - up to 12,000 feet and above 12,000 feet.
Many market players are engaged in providing drones that can lift heavy payloads and ease delivery services. For instance, Mistral Solutions Pvt. Ltd. designed its Mistral Xherpa heavy payload drone to withstand extreme environments at higher altitudes, and they can easily transport food, medical kits, and other necessities. These heavy payload drones can be used for military purposes as they can operate at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 feet. These drones offer high efficiency at high altitudes and can operate in windy environments to transport essential goods, which helps save time and poses low a risk to human lives. Thus, with the increasing demand for drones for cargo operations, the availability of such drones is on the rise in the military cargo market, which indicates significant opportunities for the market players.

Asia Pacific Military Drones Market Overview

Based on country, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. One of the major reasons behind the growth of military drones market in the Asia Pacific region is the presence of two of the top three largest military spending countries i.e. China and India in the region. Further, the demand for strengthening the military forces of respective countries is another major factor supporting the growth of military drones market in the country. Furthermore, the cross-border conflicts across some of the countries such as India-Pakistan, China-India, and China-Taiwan also generates the demand for military drone products for border ISR and warfare activities in the region. For this, majority of the countries in the Asia Pacific region have been collaboratively working with various drone manufacturers for the development of reliable drone solutions for their respective drone requirements. For instance,

• In March 2023, Taiwan's military research body launched nine locally manufactured drones in Taichung, including suicide drones, designed and developed similar to the US-made AeroVironment Switchblade 300. These drones are developed by teaming up with Taiwanese companies to strengthen the national military. In addition, the Taiwanese military announced a partnership with local manufacturers to produce 3,000 drones by 2024.
• In January 2021, China's WJ-700 drone completed its maiden flight successfully. This is a long-endurance, high-altitude, and high-speed armed reconnaissance drone that unveils a new drone combat pattern. This drone has a large payload and can deliver large military supplies. This drone is focused on fulfilling domestic and international needs in the next 5-10 years.
• In February 2023, the Indian Army dropped the request for proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 850 nano drones for surveillance for a special mission and stated it as "emergency procurement" in the proposal.

Asia Pacific Military Drones Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

Asia Pacific Military Drones Market Segmentation

The Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into type, application, range, technology, and country.
Based on type, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, and group 5. The group 5 segment held the largest share of the Asia Pacific military drones market in 2023.
Based on application, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into ISR, warfare, and others. The ISR segment held the largest share of the Asia Pacific military drones market in 2023.
Based on range, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into short range, medium range, and long range. The medium range segment held the largest share of the Asia Pacific military drones market in 2023.
Based on technology, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into fixed wing and rotary wing. The fixed wing segment held the larger share of the Asia Pacific military drones market in 2023.
Based on country, the Asia Pacific military drones market is segmented into Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. The China dominated the share of the Asia Pacific military drones market in 2023.
Lockheed Martin Corp; Northrop Grumman Corp; Thales SA; Boeing Co; Elbit Systems Ltd; General Atomics; Textron Systems Corp; BAE Systems Plc; AeroVironment Inc; and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. are the leading companies operating in the Asia Pacific military drones market.