IMARC Group, a prominent market research company, has recently published a report titled “Small Drones Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity, and Forecast 2023-2028.” According to the report, the global small drones market reached a size of US$ 10.1 Billion in 2022. Looking ahead, IMARC Group predicts that the market will grow to US$ 24.2 Billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% during the forecast period of 2023-2028.
Small drones are miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to be remotely piloted or flown using a predetermined flight plan. They are categorized into nano drones and micro drones with fixed, rotary, or hybrid wings. These small drones find wide-ranging applications in aerial photography, surveillance, 3D mapping, scientific research, inspection, media coverage, precision agriculture, remote sensing, and more. They are cost-effective, lightweight, easy to handle, and can operate safely indoors or in inaccessible areas, making them superior to traditional counterparts. As a result, small drones are extensively utilized in various sectors, including agriculture, media and entertainment, defense, government, aerospace, e-commerce, construction, and others.
The small drones market is driven by the increasing demand from the military and defense industry for surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, battle damage management, and counter-terrorism operations worldwide. Additionally, the market is positively influenced by the growing need for law enforcement applications like firefighting, traffic monitoring, border management, disaster management, maritime security, and rescue operations. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in small drones, improved power management systems, enhanced maneuverability, and the introduction of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology for data collection and 3D modeling are also contributing to market growth. Furthermore, the use of air logistics services in various industries and increased research and development (R&D) activities to improve operational life are expected to drive the small drones market in the forecasted period.
