Defense Drone Market Report 2026

The defense drone market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $12.75 billion in 2025 to $13.73 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising military adoption of uavs for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, advancements in imaging cameras and sensor payloads improving intelligence capabilities, increased deployment of drones for border security and tactical planning, development of reliable rf communications and control stations enabling long-range operations, growth in procurement of propulsion systems and altimeters enhancing drone performance.

The defense drone market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $17.74 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expanding use of autonomous and semi-autonomous drones in complex defense missions, rising investment in advanced sensor fusion and real-time data analytics for uav platforms, development of next-generation propulsion technologies improving endurance and payload capacity, increasing integration of offensive weaponry into defense drones, growth in global defense budgets supporting large-scale drone fleet expansion. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of stealth-optimized drone designs, rising demand for long-endurance uav platforms, expansion of multi-mission payload integration, growth in battlefield communications and data-link enhancements, advancements in ruggedized sensor and imaging technologies.

The rising defense expenditure is expected to drive the growth of the defense drone market in the coming years. Defense expenditure comprises all current and capital spending on armed forces, including peacekeeping troops under defense ministries and other government bodies associated with defense initiatives, as well as paramilitary forces and military operations. Defense drones are extensively utilized in military activities because of their operational flexibility, reduced need for crew involvement, and comparatively lower production and maintenance costs. For example, in April 2025, according to a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based independent international organization focused on research into conflict, armaments, and disarmament, global defense spending rose by 9.4% in 2024, reaching $2.71 trillion. Therefore, the increase in defense expenditure is driving the demand for the defense drone market.

Major companies operating in the defense drone market are concentrating on the development of advanced technologies, such as AI-enabled amphibious unmanned systems, to enhance intelligence collection, broaden mission flexibility, and improve real-time situational awareness. AI-enabled amphibious drones are unmanned platforms designed to function both on the water’s surface and underwater, leveraging artificial intelligence to autonomously inspect, monitor, and analyze complex environments for defense and strategic purposes. For example, in December 2023, AquaAirX, an India-based drone manufacturing company, introduced the country’s first AI-enabled amphibious drone for underwater visual inspection in naval, oil, and gas operations. Developed by a startup incubated at NMIT and NSRCEL, the system is anticipated to support a wide range of defense and commercial applications. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is advancing the development of an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) intended for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine warfare missions, further strengthening technological progress in the defense drone market.

In September 2023, Anduril Industries, a US-based defense company that specializes in autonomous systems, acquired Blue Force Technologies, for an undisclosed amount. Anduril's acquisition of Blue Force Technologies accelerates its expansion into autonomous systems for national security. The integration of Anduril's AI software, Lattice, into Blue Force's Fury autonomous air vehicle aligns with Anduril's strategy to enhance its suite of autonomous solutions for national security customers. blue force technologies is a US-based aerospace design and manufacturing company.

Major companies operating in the defense drone market are Raytheon Company, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus SE, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems Plc., Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Elbit System Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Teledyne FLIR LLC, Saab Group, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., QinetiQ Group plc, FLIR Systems, Inc., Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., Textron Systems, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., Insitu Inc., AeroVironment Inc.

North America was the largest region in the defense drone market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global defense drone market analysis during the forecast period. The regions covered in the defense drone market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are influencing the defense drone market by increasing the cost of importing critical components such as sensors, propulsion units, and communication modules, which disrupts supply chains and procurement cycles. High-range and large-payload drone categories are experiencing the greatest impact, especially in regions dependent on cross-border technology imports such as Asia-Pacific and Europe. While tariffs cause price escalation and slower deployment, they also encourage domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance, creating positive long-term opportunities for local suppliers.

The defense drone market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides defense drone market statistics, including defense drone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a defense drone market share, detailed defense drone market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the defense drone industry. This defense drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Defense drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, carry sensors, electronics, and weaponry for observation and tactical planning in defense scenarios.

Defense drones encompass various products, including fixed-wing systems, multirotor systems, and other specialized types. Fixed-wing systems, known as airplanes or planes, utilize wings to generate lift through forward airspeed, allowing sustained flight. These drones come in various ranges categorized as short, medium, and high-range models, each equipped with different payloads such as small, medium, and large drones. These defense drones serve multiple purposes including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISRT), as well as engagement in combat operations and various other applications within defense and security domains.

The countries covered in the defense drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The defense drone market consists of sales of defense drones with components such as sensors, RF communications, antennas, control stations, imaging cameras, propulsion systems, altimeters and controllers. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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