Drones Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Drones Market Report is Segmented by Application (Construction, Agriculture and More), Type (Fixed-Wing Drones, Rotary-Wing Drones, and More), Weight Class (Nano/Micro, Small, and More), Mode of Operation (Remotely Piloted, Optionally Piloted, and More), End-User (Commercial and Consumer, and More) and Geography (North America, Europe, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Drones Market Size and Share

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Drones Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The drones market reached USD 41.79 billion in 2025 and is on course to climb to USD 89.70 billion by 2030, reflecting a robust 13.9% CAGR. Adoption accelerates as on-board edge-AI runs complex perception algorithms on sub-10 W chipsets, making autonomous missions viable in construction, energy, and agriculture. Rapid 5G roll-outs with Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) provide sub-10 ms latency that supports dependable Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) control, while steep sensor‐price declines open sophisticated payloads to smaller operators. Regulatory momentum—most notably the FAA’s draft BVLOS rules and ICAO’s new Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)—signals greater airspace access. Yet supply chain strains, notably lithium-ion cell shortages and export curbs on rare-earth materials, continue to inflate bill-of-materials costs and could dampen discretionary demand. Overall, competition is shifting toward firms able to bundle hardware, AI software, and regulatory compliance into an end-to-end value proposition, accelerating consolidation across the drones market.

  • By application, construction accounted for 39.45% of the drones market share in 2024, whereas the energy segment is forecast to advance at a 19.05% CAGR through 2030.
  • By type, fixed-wing platforms led with 45.07% revenue share in 2024; hybrid/VTOL designs are set to expand at a 20.10% CAGR to 2030.
  • By weight class, small drones (2–25 kg) captured 43.67% of the drones market size in 2024; large platforms (>150 kg) exhibit an 11.34% CAGR outlook.
  • By mode of operation, remotely piloted systems dominated the drone market, with a 75.35% share in 2024, while fully autonomous models are growing at a 14.97% CAGR.
  • By end-user, commercial and consumer segments held 52.55% of the drones market in 2024; government deployments show the fastest 12.54% CAGR to 2030.
  • By geography, North America retained 37.97% of global revenue in 2024; Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a 15.27% CAGR.

Segment Analysis

By Application: Construction Dominance Faces Energy-Sector Disruption

Construction held 39.45% of the drones market in 2024 as aerial progress tracking, 3-D modeling, and site security became mainstream. High-resolution photogrammetry slashes survey time by over 70% compared with manual methods, while automated volume calculations speed payment cycles. The energy industry, though smaller, exhibits a 19.05% CAGR that could narrow the gap by 2030. Utilities now swap helicopters for AI-guided rotorcraft that spot insulator cracks or thermal hotspots in a single sortie, achieving around 60% annual cost savings. Agriculture follows closely, thanks to FAA-approved swarm spraying; firms such as Hylio report that over half of clients now deploy multi-drone swarms to cover large acreages.

Momentum is also building in public safety and entertainment. In trials, drone-as-first-responder (DFR) programs cut dispatch times from eight to 3.5 minutes, augmenting community policing efficiency. Cinematography continues to push payload innovation, encouraging wider sensor integration. These trends point to a progressively diversified drone market, each niche optimizing specific airframe, sensor, and autonomy requirements.

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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Type: Fixed-Wing Leadership Challenged by Hybrid Innovation

Fixed-wing craft commanded 45.07% of 2024 revenue, prized for low energy consumption over long linear corridors such as pipelines. Yet, hybrid VTOL aircraft are scaling at 20.10% CAGR as urban air-mobility operators need vertical take-off to fit space-constrained rooftops. Rotary-wing units remain essential for hovering jobs like telecom-tower inspection or search-and-rescue. EHang’s EH216-S achieved the world’s first. Adoption of composite materials is another differentiator. Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer airframes trim weight by up to 15% while preserving stiffness, directly extending range. Meanwhile, bio-based resins show promise for end-of-life recyclability, reflecting rising environmental scrutiny across the drone type certificate for a pilotless passenger eVTOL in 2024, underscoring hybrid viability.[4]EHang Holdings Limited, “EH216-S Obtains Type Certificate and Completes First Urban Flight,” ehang.com

Adoption of composite materials is another differentiator. Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer airframes trim weight by up to 15% while preserving stiffness, directly extending range. Meanwhile, bio-based resins show promise for end-of-life recyclability, reflecting rising environmental scrutiny across the drone industry.

By Weight Class: Small Platforms Dominate, Large Cargo Drones Accelerate

Small airframes between 2 kg and 25 kg captured 43.67% of the drones market share in 2024, thanks to lighter regulatory burdens and flexible mission profiles. Large drones above 150 kg show an 11.34% CAGR as cargo and eVTOL passenger services inch toward certification. The FAA’s decision to let one operator supervise multiple heavy drones allows agriculture fleets to scale without proportional labor costs. Hylio has ramped up production to meet surging demand.

Battery-specific energy improvements and higher-torque motors enable heavier payloads within existing categories, blurring traditional weight boundaries. Modular payload bays further let operators up-gauge or down-gauge sensors without swapping airframes, reinforcing platform longevity.

By Mode of Operation: Remote Piloting Prevails While Autonomy Gains Ground

Human-in-the-loop control covered 75.35% of flights in 2024, mirroring regulatory norms still demanding a licensed remote pilot for most commercial sorties. Nevertheless, fully autonomous missions will grow at 14.97% CAGR as risk-based frameworks gain traction. The FAA’s draft BVLOS rule, if finalized, will let qualified systems self-separate from other traffic, accelerating adoption.[5]Federal Aviation Administration, “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line of Sight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,” faa.gov

Advanced autonomy hinges on AI-driven contingency management. Large language models now interpret flight telemetry and surrounding-aircraft intent, augmenting sense-and-avoid logic for crowded airspace. Optionally piloted platforms remain a transitional bridge, providing manual override for rare edge cases while automating routine legs.

Drones_market_mode_of_operation
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End-User: Commercial Leads, Government Demand Rises

Commercial and consumer segments contributed 52.55% of 2024 revenue, spanning construction surveys, media capture, and precision farming. Government and civil agencies, however, will register a 12.54% CAGR to 2030 as public-safety bodies like the Chula Vista Police Department demonstrate measurable response-time reduction through DFR programs.

Defense procurement also expands, with global military drone budgets forecast to triple in the coming decade. Capabilities matured in conflict zones—such as AI-guided loitering munitions—tend to cascade into civilian inspection and security offerings, sustaining a virtuous innovation loop across the drones market.

Geography Analysis

North America produced 37.97% of global 2024 revenue, buoyed by FAA test-site programs and dedicated 5030-5091 MHz spectrum for command links. Wing and Walmart surpassed 150,000 parcel deliveries using fully integrated UTM services, demonstrating commercial readiness at scale. Policy, however, is tightening around data security, with the American Security Drone Act encouraging domestic production to replace Chinese airframes in federal fleets.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-expanding region, with a 15.27% CAGR. China’s “low-altitude economy” strategy targets a CHY 3.5 trillion yuan (USD 487 billion) market by 2035 and supports local champions with testing corridors and purchase subsidies. India’s import embargo stifles foreign OEMs but fuels nascent manufacturing clusters under the PLI scheme. Japan and South Korea channel drones into infrastructure inspection and tsunami-response missions, reflecting high disaster-preparedness budgets.

Europe remains pivotal, anchored by EASA’s unified U-space blueprint that governs more than 1.6 million registered operators. Stringent privacy-by-design mandates prolong deployment cycles, yet sustainability-oriented projects—like drone-assisted offshore-wind maintenance—keep demand rising. The continent has also approved specific corridors for eVTOL trials, putting manufacturers on a clear path toward air-taxi certification by the late 2020s.

Drones Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

The drones market displays moderate concentration. DJI maintains a commanding global presence, but escalating security reviews in North America and Europe drive public-sector buyers toward domestic suppliers. Merger and acquisitions activity is brisk: traditional aerospace firms acquire niche payload or autonomy specialists to assemble turnkey stacks. This vertical integration approach locks in high-margin software and compliance services alongside hardware sales, raising entry barriers for new pure-hardware entrants.

Two strategic archetypes dominate. Scale players like Wing pursue mass consumer logistics, banking on network effects and per-delivery cost optimization. Specialist vendors like Skydio chase defense and critical-infrastructure clients who prioritize anti-jam resilience and AI precision over unit price; Skydio’s USD 170 million Series E round underscores investor confidence in this premium tier. Meanwhile, Chinese contenders accelerate eVTOL production; EHang’s partnership with JAC Motors opens an automated assembly base aimed at thousands of units annually. Opportunity exists in underserved niches—high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) relays, arctic inspection, or blockchain-audited flight-log services. Players that combine domain-specific payloads, cloud analytics, and regulatory fluency can carve out a durable share before price competition compresses margins across the broader drone industry.

Drones Industry Leaders

  1. SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.

  2. Parrot Drones SAS

  3. AeroVironment, Inc.

  4. Skydio, Inc.

  5. Yuneec International

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Drones Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • February 2025: EHang partnered with JAC Motors and Guoxian Holdings to establish a dedicated eVTOL factory in Hefei, China.
  • January 2025: EHang’s EH216-S executed its first downtown-Shanghai flight, showcasing controlled urban air-taxi operations.
  • May 2024: EASA published Easy Access Rules for U-space, formalizing automated drone-traffic management across the EU.
  • April 2024: Zipline surpassed one million autonomous deliveries and forged new US retail and healthcare partnerships.

Table of Contents for Drones Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 On-board edge-AI maturation: real-time processing unlocks autonomous operations
    • 4.2.2 5G and MEC roll-outs: ultra-low latency enables BVLOS viability
    • 4.2.3 Sensor-cost freefall: Multispectral and LiDAR price declines expand ROI
    • 4.2.4 U-space/UTM standardization: ICAO alignment accelerates cross-border operations
    • 4.2.5 On-demand logistics boom
    • 4.2.6 Decarbonization economics
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Lithium-ion cell supply crunch inflating small-UAV BOM costs
    • 4.3.2 Stringent India RPAS import bans limiting foreign OEM revenue
    • 4.3.3 Privacy-by-design rules in EU slowing urban adoption
    • 4.3.4 Spectrum-sharing conflicts with 5G mmWave bands
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Outlook
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Application
    • 5.1.1 Construction
    • 5.1.2 Agriculture
    • 5.1.3 Energy
    • 5.1.4 Entertainment
    • 5.1.5 Law-Enforcement
    • 5.1.6 Other Applications
  • 5.2 By Type
    • 5.2.1 Fixed-Wing Drones
    • 5.2.2 Rotary-Wing Drones
    • 5.2.3 Hybrid/VTOL Drones
  • 5.3 By Weight Class
    • 5.3.1 Nano/Micro (Less than 2 kg)
    • 5.3.2 Small (2 to 25 kg)
    • 5.3.3 Medium (25 to150 kg)
    • 5.3.4 Large (Greater than 150 kg)
  • 5.4 By Mode of Operation
    • 5.4.1 Remotely Piloted
    • 5.4.2 Optionally Piloted
    • 5.4.3 Fully Autonomous
  • 5.5 By End-User
    • 5.5.1 Commercial and Consumer
    • 5.5.2 Government and Civil
  • 5.6 By Geography
    • 5.6.1 North America
    • 5.6.1.1 United States
    • 5.6.1.2 Canada
    • 5.6.1.3 Mexico
    • 5.6.2 Europe
    • 5.6.2.1 United Kingdom
    • 5.6.2.2 Germany
    • 5.6.2.3 France
    • 5.6.2.4 Russia
    • 5.6.2.5 Rest of Europe
    • 5.6.3 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.6.3.1 China
    • 5.6.3.2 India
    • 5.6.3.3 Japan
    • 5.6.3.4 South Korea
    • 5.6.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.6.4 South America
    • 5.6.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.6.4.2 Rest of South America
    • 5.6.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.6.5.1 Middle East
    • 5.6.5.1.1 United Arab Emirates
    • 5.6.5.1.2 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.6.5.1.3 Rest of Middle East
    • 5.6.5.2 Africa
    • 5.6.5.2.1 South Africa
    • 5.6.5.2.2 Rest of Africa

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.2 Parrot Drones SAS
    • 6.4.3 AeroVironment, Inc.
    • 6.4.4 Skydio, Inc.
    • 6.4.5 The Boeing Company
    • 6.4.6 Yuneec International
    • 6.4.7 Terra Drone Corporation
    • 6.4.8 Delair SAS
    • 6.4.9 Autel Robotics Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.10 EHang Holdings Limited
    • 6.4.11 AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
    • 6.4.12 UVify Inc.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Global Drones Market Report Scope

Drones are pilotless platforms that can be remotely controlled by a human operator or navigated autonomously by a programmed onboard computer. Drones provide tremendous potential to transform urban and rural infrastructure and enhance agricultural productivity in developing countries.

The drones market is segmented by application, type, and geography. By application, the market is segmented into agriculture, construction, energy, entertainment, law enforcement, and other applications. The other applications segment of the market includes applications such as firefighting, aerial mapping, etc. By type, the market is segmented into fixed-wing drones and rotary-wing drones. Th market research report also covers the market sizes and market forecast for the drones market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).

By Application Construction
Agriculture
Energy
Entertainment
Law-Enforcement
Other Applications
By Type Fixed-Wing Drones
Rotary-Wing Drones
Hybrid/VTOL Drones
By Weight Class Nano/Micro (Less than 2 kg)
Small (2 to 25 kg)
Medium (25 to150 kg)
Large (Greater than 150 kg)
By Mode of Operation Remotely Piloted
Optionally Piloted
Fully Autonomous
By End-User Commercial and Consumer
Government and Civil
By Geography North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe United Kingdom
Germany
France
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
By Application
Construction
Agriculture
Energy
Entertainment
Law-Enforcement
Other Applications
By Type
Fixed-Wing Drones
Rotary-Wing Drones
Hybrid/VTOL Drones
By Weight Class
Nano/Micro (Less than 2 kg)
Small (2 to 25 kg)
Medium (25 to150 kg)
Large (Greater than 150 kg)
By Mode of Operation
Remotely Piloted
Optionally Piloted
Fully Autonomous
By End-User
Commercial and Consumer
Government and Civil
By Geography
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe United Kingdom
Germany
France
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the drones market?

The drones market reached USD 41.79 billion in 2025.

How fast will the drones market grow through 2030?

It is projected to expand at a 13.9% CAGR, hitting USD 43.07 billion by 2030.

Which application segment grows the quickest?

Energy-sector deployments are forecasted to grow at 19.05% CAGR as utilities replace helicopters with autonomous inspection fleets.

Why are hybrid/VTOL drones gaining popularity?

Hybrid VTOL combines vertical take-off with fixed-wing cruise efficiency, a mix suited to urban air-mobility routes and logistics, fueling a 20.10% CAGR through 2030.

How do 5G networks influence BVLOS operations?

Sub-10 ms latency on 5G with edge-computing nodes supports reliable long-range command links, allowing regulators to craft safer BVLOS rules.

Which region will add the most incremental revenue by 2030?

Asia-Pacific, led by China’s low-altitude-economy initiatives, is expected to generate the largest absolute revenue gain thanks to a 15.27% CAGR.

Page last updated on: June 23, 2025

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