A combat drone, also referred to as an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) or armed drone, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specifically designed and equipped for military operations. These drones can be remotely controlled or operate autonomously, undertaking various combat missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, and airstrikes. Equipped with sensors, cameras, weapons systems, and communication devices, they execute missions while minimizing risks to human personnel.
The primary types of combat drones include fixed-wing, rotary wing, and hybrid configurations. Fixed-wing drones feature rigid wings and rely on aerodynamic lift for flight. They can be launched via various methods such as air-launched effects, vertical take-off, automatic take-off and landing, catapult launchers, and hand-launched platforms. These drones span across different sizes including small, nano, micro, mini, tactical, close-range, short-range, medium-range, long-range, and strategic, with applications encompassing lethal, stealth, loitering munitions, reversible, expendable, and target-focused operations.
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.
The sharp increase in U.S. tariffs and resulting trade disputes in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the aerospace and defense sector. Prices for key materials such as titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics primarily sourced from international suppliers have surged. Defense contractors, constrained by fixed-price government contracts, are forced to absorb these rising costs. Meanwhile, commercial aerospace companies are encountering resistance from airlines over increased aircraft prices. In addition, customs delays are disrupting already tight production timelines for jets and satellites. In response, the industry is stockpiling essential materials, pursuing import waivers for defense-related goods, and working with allied nations to diversify supply chains.
The combat drone market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides combat drone market statistics, including combat drone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with combat drone market share, detailed combat drone market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the combat drone industry. This combat drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The combat drone market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $8.81 billion in 2024 to $9.61 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to military modernization, commercial innovation, doctrine and strategy evolution, asymmetric warfare.
The combat drone market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.7 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, miniaturization of sensors and payloads, integration of swarming technology, development of stealth and low observable technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include swarming technology, integration with manned platforms, adoption of artificial intelligence, multi-domain operations.
The forecast of 9.3% growth over the next five years remains unchanged from the previous projection for this market. Despite the stable forecast, ongoing tariff-related uncertainties between the U.S. and its trade partners continue to pose risks.This is likely to directly affect the US through supply chain disruptions for EO/IR targeting systems, sourced from key regions such as Israel and Canada, which could lead to increased expenses for unmanned combat aerial vehicles.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
The expanding defense sector is projected to drive growth in the combat drone market in the coming years. The defense sector encompasses the development, manufacturing, procurement, and maintenance of military equipment, technologies, and systems aimed at national defense and security. An increasing focus on investment in this sector is expected to advance and proliferate combat drone technology, fostering innovation, boosting market demand, and enhancing the capabilities of unmanned systems in military operations. For example, a report from USAFacts, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, indicated that in 2023, U.S. military spending was approximately $820.3 billion, representing about 13.3% of the federal budget. Additionally, in March 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) requested $842.0 billion for 2024, marking a 2.6% increase. Consequently, rising defense expenditures are propelling growth in the combat drone market.
Key players in the combat drone market are focusing on autonomous unmanned aircraft systems to address the growing demand for combat drones. Autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, or drones, represent advanced technologies utilized in various applications such as surveillance, security, and force protection. For example, in September 2023, Anduril Industries, a US-based defense technology company, introduced the Ghost-X system, an enhanced version of its Ghost autonomous uncrewed aircraft system. The Ghost-X system boasts capabilities for carrying heavier payloads and extended flight durations. With an upgraded propulsion system enabling the accommodation of two batteries, the Ghost-X system can extend its flight time to 75 minutes while doubling its payload capacity to 9 kilograms (20 pounds). Moreover, it offers an optional long-range communications kit and can be configured to accommodate a variety of sensors and payloads, including electro-optical gimbals and a vision-based navigation module facilitating satellite-independent flight capabilities.
In July 2023, Anduril, a US-based defense technology company, successfully acquired Blue Force Technologies for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition is geared towards expanding Anduril's suite of autonomous capabilities, with a specific focus on Group 5 autonomous aircraft. Blue Force Technologies, based in the US, is an aerospace design and manufacturing company that specializes in drones. The acquisition aligns with Anduril's mission to enhance its autonomous technologies, particularly in the domain of unmanned aerial systems, to address various defense and security challenges.
Major companies operating in the combat drone market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Boeing Defense Space & Security, Textron Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Saab AB, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Baykar Defense, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Denel Dynamics, Yuneec International, AeroVironment Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Aurora Flight Sciences, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, BlueBird Aero Systems, Icarus Aerospace Industries
North America was the largest region in the combat drone market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the combat drone market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the combat drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The combat drone market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as reconnaissance and surveillance, target acquisition, and aerial strikes. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The combat drone market also includes sales of unmanned aerial vehicles, sensors, and payloads, weapons systems. 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.
Combat Drone Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on combat drone market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for combat drone? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The combat drone market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include:
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.
Scope
Markets Covered:1) By Type: Fixed Wing; Rotary Wing; Hybrid
2) By Launching Mode: Air Launched Effect; Vertical Take-Off; Automatic Take Off And Landing; Catapult Launcher; Hand Launched
3) By Platform: Small; Nano; Micro; Mini; Tactical; Close Range; Short Range; Medium Range; Long Range; Strategic
4) By Application: Lethal; Stealth; Loitering Munition; Reversible; Expendable; Target
Subsegments:
1) By Fixed Wing: Small Fixed Wing Drones; Medium Fixed Wing Drones; Large Fixed Wing Drones
2) By Rotary Wing: Single Rotor Drones; Multi-Rotor Drones (Quadcopters, Hexacopters, Octocopters)
3) By Hybrid: Vertical Takeoff And Landing (VTOL) Drones; Convertiplanes
Companies Mentioned: Raytheon Technologies Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation; General Dynamics Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; BAE Systems plc; Boeing Defense Space & Security; Textron Inc.; Leonardo S.p.A.; Rheinmetall AG; Elbit Systems Ltd.; Saab AB; General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Aerojet Rocketdyne; Turkish Aerospace Industries; Baykar Defense; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Denel Dynamics; Yuneec International; AeroVironment Inc.; Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.; Aurora Flight Sciences; Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group; BlueBird Aero Systems; Icarus Aerospace Industries
Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
Delivery Format: PDF, Word and Excel Data Dashboard.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Combat Drone Market Characteristics
3. Combat Drone Market Trends And Strategies
4. Combat Drone Market - Macro Economic Scenario Including The Impact Of Interest Rates, Inflation, Geopolitics, Trade Wars and Tariffs, And Covid And Recovery On The Market
4.1. Supply Chain Impact from Tariff War & Trade Protectionism
5. Global Combat Drone Growth Analysis And Strategic Analysis Framework
5.1. Global Combat Drone PESTEL Analysis (Political, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal Factors, Drivers and Restraints)
5.2. Analysis Of End Use Industries
5.3. Global Combat Drone Market Growth Rate Analysis
5.4. Global Combat Drone Historic Market Size and Growth, 2019 - 2024, Value ($ Billion)
5.5. Global Combat Drone Forecast Market Size and Growth, 2024 - 2029, 2034F, Value ($ Billion)
5.6. Global Combat Drone Total Addressable Market (TAM)
6. Combat Drone Market Segmentation
6.1. Global Combat Drone Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Fixed Wing
Rotary Wing
Hybrid
6.2. Global Combat Drone Market, Segmentation By Launching Mode, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Air Launched Effect
Vertical Take-Off
Automatic Take Off And Landing
Catapult Launcher
Hand Launched
6.3. Global Combat Drone Market, Segmentation By Platform, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Small
Nano
Micro
Mini
Tactical
Close Range
Short Range
Medium Range
Long Range
Strategic
6.4. Global Combat Drone Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Lethal
Stealth
Loitering Munition
Reversible
Expendable
Target
6.5. Global Combat Drone Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Fixed Wing, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion
Small Fixed Wing Drones
Medium Fixed Wing Drones
Large Fixed Wing Drones
6.6. Global Combat Drone Market, Sub-Segmentation Of Rotary Wing, By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2019-2024, 2024-2029F, 2034F, $ Billion