The small UAV market is seeing consistent innovations and enhancements driven by the rising demand for commercial applications. Small UAVs, also known as mini-drones, are small, lightweight, and portable unmanned aerial vehicles weighing less than 25 kilograms. They are equipped with advanced camera technologies for aerial surveying, mapping, inspection, and surveillance purposes across various industries including agriculture, oil & gas, mining, utility, and public safety. The widespread legalization of their commercial use across countries is a significant factor fueling their adoption.

The small UAV market is estimated to be valued at US$ 6.67 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 14.23 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.43% from 2024 to 2031.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the small UAV market are Northrop Grumman, Bayer Tech, DJI, Parrot Drone SAS, Israel Aerospace Industry Ltd., AeroVironment, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Teledyne FLIR LLC, BAE Systems, Elbit Systems Ltd., AIRBUS, Textron Inc., Autel Robotics, Yuneec, PowerVision Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated , Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co Ltd, Yuneec , Turkish Aerospace Industries, and Others.

The growing demand for aerial data and subsequent need for precise analysis is fueling the adoption of small drones across industries. Their ability to offer high-resolution images and real-time monitoring with minimum operational costs is increasing their popularity. Global Small Uav Market Demand are finding widening use in utilities for power line and pipeline inspections, in agriculture for crop health monitoring, and in public safety operations for search & rescue missions.

The increasing focus on global expansion through partnerships, mergers and acquisitions by small UAV manufacturers is supporting market growth. For instance, Parrot acquired senseFly to expand its mapping portfolio while Teledyne FLIR acquired Aeryon Labs to strengthen its small UAS business. The rising demand from emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America is also pushing manufacturers to enhance their global footprint.

Fastest growing region in the Small Uav Market

The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for small UAVs during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031. This can be attributed to rising defense modernization plans of China and India along with other developing economies looking to bolster their intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. In addition, the commercial potential of drones is driving their adoption across application areas like agriculture, infrastructure monitoring and emergency response across APAC. Countries like Australia, South Korea and Japan are also contributing to market growth through indigenous defense programs and technological innovations in autonomous flight, computer vision and data link security. The increasing commercialization of drones across Asia augurs well for a faster adoption of small UAVs both for military as well as non-military applications over the coming years.

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