Small Drones Market Forecasted to Reach $10.4 Billion by 2030: Civil & Commercial and Defense Sectors Drive Growth

Dublin, Feb. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Small Drones Market by Platform (Civil & Commercial and Defense & Government), Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, and Hybrid), Application, Mode of Operation, Power Source (Fully Powered, Battery Powered) & Region - Forecast to 2030" report has been added to * ResearchAndMarkets.com's* offering.

The small drones market is projected to grow from USD 5.8 billion in 2023 to USD 10.4 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2023 to 2030. Rising procurement of small drones for commercial and military applications like product delivery, inspection and monitoring, ISR to drive the small drone market growth during the forecast period.

Currently, Small drones are being extensively used in various commercial applications, such as photography, 3D mapping, product and medicine delivery, data transmission, and inspection & monitoring in confined spaces. They are also used in agriculture, real estate, and oil & gas industries. In the agriculture industry, the use of small drones has led to the evolution of precision farming, which has enabled farmers to monitor the health of crops, keep track of irrigation equipment, and identify different types of weeds, among others. Modern drones use the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a remote sensing technique that assesses the health and density of vegetation. Drones compare the reflected intensities of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light to provide high-resolution photographs of crops. By employing this reflected light in the visible and near-infrared bands, the NDVI index can identify and measure the presence of living, green vegetation.

On the other hand, the military application segment witnessed significant growth during the forecast period. The defense forces in various nations have increasingly turned to small drones for conducting military operations, including Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) tasks and the management of battle damage. The effectiveness of air, naval, and military operations greatly hinges on their ISR capabilities, leading to ongoing developments and advancements in this field. An example of such innovation is the Fifth Generation C4ISR, a joint battle management system capable of collecting, analyzing, and communicating data seamlessly across its components. This C4ISR system, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), utilizes machine learning to identify and categorize tanks and other vehicles, enhance image feeds, and provide early warnings about obstacles and changing ground conditions. Consequently, governments are swiftly adopting these technologies to bolster their defense capabilities.

Additionally, the growing adoption of small drones by defense forces for use as loitering munition represents another significant factor driving the procurement of these devices. Some remotely piloted small drones are specifically designed to function as loitering munition for defense purposes.

*Based on rotary wing type, the multirotor segment to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period*

The market has been categorized into different types, including fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid. Within the fixed wing category, there are two subcategories: conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). Meanwhile, the rotary wing segment can be further divided into single rotors and multirotors. Among these, the multirotor segment is expected to experience the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the forecast period.

Rotary-wing drones, due to their VTOL capability, possess a more extensive range of operational environments compared to fixed-wing drones. They do not require additional setup or space for take-off and landing, making them versatile for various applications, such as filmmaking, surveillance, and imaging. Within the category of rotary-wing drones, there are two main types: single rotor and multirotor. Multirotor drones can be classified into several subtypes, including bicopters, tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters.

Typically, small multicopter drones rely on batteries as their power source, which contributes to their popularity in both industrial and recreational activities. Prominent players in the development of multirotor small drones include DJI (China), AeroVironment (US), and Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel).

*Based on mode of operation, fully autonomous segment witness strong growth in market during the forecast period*

The small drone market is segmented based on its mode of operation, including fully autonomous, remotely piloted, and optionally piloted categories. Among these, the fully autonomous segment is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the cost-effective utility of autonomous small drones in a wide range of applications, spanning from defense operations to surveys.

Autonomous small drones are essentially programmable robots capable of performing tasks at high altitudes with ample power capacity. These drones excel in operating within inaccessible areas and delivering high-quality results and data, thanks to their advanced technological systems. Presently, the market for autonomous drones is smaller than that of optionally piloted drones. Autonomous drones find extensive use in various military applications, with the United States being the largest market for these drones. The growth in the US market can be attributed to increased investment by the US Army in drone research and development.

*The Asia Pacific regions are projected to be high growth potential markets for the small drone during the forecast period*

Over the course of the forecast period, the Asia Pacific small drone market is expected to rise rapidly. Many nations are concentrating on strengthening their defensive capacities due to the uncertain geopolitical environment in the Asia-Pacific region. In the upcoming years, the Asia Pacific small drone market is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace due to the prevalent tendency of emerging economies like China, Malaysia, and India purchasing drones. The world's adoption of drone technologies has grown exponentially after 2020. Throughout the projected period, the growing need for drone services and solutions from the military, commercial, government, and law enforcement is expected to drive the small drone market's expansion.

In Asia Pacific, the retail and e-commerce industries lead, followed by the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. China and Japan represent significant markets for commercial drone applications.

The continued globalization and the automation trends that are prevalent in China, India, and Australia are also driving growth in the small drone market in Asia Pacific. In China and Japan, small drones are being utilized more and more for inspections in the real estate, agriculture, and pollution monitoring sectors.

*The report provides insights on the following:*

· Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on small drone offered by the top players in the market
· Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the small drone market
· Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyzes the small drone market across varied regions
· Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the small drone market
· Market Growth: Supportive government regulations and initiatives to drive the market growth in near future
· Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the small drone market

*Key Attributes:*
*Report Attribute* *Details*
No. of Pages 343
Forecast Period 2023 - 2030
Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $5.8 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $10.4 Billion
Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.6%
Regions Covered Global*Key Topics Covered:*

*1 Introduction*

*2 Research Methodology*

*3 Executive Summary*
Figure 8 Civil & Commercial Segment to Lead Market During Forecast Period
Figure 9 Commercial Segment to Dominate Market During Forecast Period
Figure 10 Rotary Wing Segment to Account for Largest Market Share During Forecast Period
Figure 11 Optionally Piloted Segment to Hold Largest Market Share During Forecast Period
Figure 12 Battery Operated Segment to Hold Dominant Share During Forecast Period
Figure 13 Asia-Pacific to Register Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

*4 Premium Insights*
4.1 Attractive Opportunities for Players in Small Drone Market
4.2 Small Drone Market, by Civil & Commercial Platform
4.3 Small Drone Market, by Defense & Government Platform
4.4 Small Drone Market, by Commercial Application
4.5 Small Drone Market, by Military Application
4.6 Small Drone Market, by Government & Law Application
4.7 Small Drone Market, by Fixed-Wing Type
4.8 Small Drone Market, by Rotary-Wing Type
4.9 Small Drone Market (Rotary Wing), by Multirotor Sub-Type
4.10 Small Drone Market, by Battery Operated Power Source

*5 Market Overview*
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Market Dynamics
5.2.1 Drivers

· Surge in Adoption for Civil and Commercial Applications
· Rising Procurement for Military Applications
· Supportive Government Regulations and Initiatives
· Growing Demand for Small Patrolling Drones for Marine Border Security

5.2.2 Restraints

· Information Security Risk and Lack of Standardized Air Traffic Regulations
· Limited Number of Certified Drone Operators

5.2.3 Opportunities

· High Investments by Governments and Key Market Players
· Enhancing Critical Infrastructure Protection and Law Enforcement with Aerial Remote Sensing
· Growing Use in Providing Wireless Coverage
· Rising Adoption for Real-Time Traffic Monitoring

5.2.4 Challenges

· Lack of Sustainable Power Sources to Improve Endurance
· Severe Weather Conditions
· Safety and Privacy Concerns
· Time-Consuming Regulatory Approval

5.3 Value Chain Analysis
5.4 Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customer Business
5.5 Case Study Analysis

· Agricultural Monitoring
· Aerovironment's Maritime Initiative
· Cargo Drone Field Tests in Amazon Forest, Peru
· Mapping Canyons of Ancient National Monument in Colorado, US

*6 Industry Trends*
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Technology Trends

· Microturbine Engine-Powered Drones
· High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite
· Aerial Target Drones
· Drone Manufacturing Using Advanced Materials
· Inspection Drones for Confined Spaces
· Small Drone Swarm Technology
· Multi-Sensor Data Fusion for Small Drone Navigation
· Micromechanical Flying Insects
· Synthetic Aperture Radar

6.3 Impact of Megatrends
6.4 Patent Analysis
6.5 Technology Roadmap

*7 Small Drone Market, by Platform*

*8 Small Drone Market, by Application*

*9 Small Drone Market, by Type*

*10 Small Drone Market, by Mode of Operation*

*11 Small Drone Market, by Power Source*

*12 Small Drone Market, by Region*

*13 Competitive Landscape*

*14 Company Profiles*

· Sz Dji Technology Co. Ltd.
· The Boeing Company
· Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
· Aerovironment, Inc.
· Parrot Drone Sas
· Northrop Grumman Corporation
· Rtx Corporation
· Teledyne Flir LLC
· Textron Inc.
· Bae Systems PLC
· Thales Group
· Elbit Systems Ltd.
· Aeronautics Ltd
· Skydio, Inc.
· Xag Co. Ltd.
· Chengdu Jouav Automation Tech Co. Ltd
· Yuneec International Co. Ltd.
· Delair
· Microdrones
· Turkish Aerospace Industries
· Shield AI
· Instanteye Robotics
· Flyability
· Autel Robotics
· Wingtra
· Nearthlab
· Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2y05rx

*About ResearchAndMarkets.com*
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

*Attachment*

· Global Small Drones Market

CONTACT:
CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com
Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470
For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900