The global Tactical UAV Market is expected to be USD 5.30 billion in 2024, and it is estimated to reach a valuation of USD 9.76 billion by the end of 2029, growing at an annual compound rate of around 13% during the forecast period.
The main elements of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) tactical operations include launch and recovery sites (LRS) and mission planning and control sites (MPCS). UAVs take off and land in LRS in the same way as crewed aircraft on the runway. Upon reaching the air, LRS controls the UAV to the MPCS. In most combat situations, the commander searches for the LRS MPCS in a split-site configuration. This improves the UAV support for the unit and the survivability of the track sites. The set of UAV tactical missions that are currently applied to the recognition, surveillance and acquisition of objectives (RSTA) can be expanded to include targets, blows, chemical bio-detection, mining countermeasures, theatrical aviation missile defense, electronic warfare, and intelligence.
Investment in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region is increasing the demand for tactical UAVs. Nations like China and India have been investing in these UAVs, and China is already deploying several UAVs, including tactical and strategic UAVs such as the ASN-209 tactical UAV system. This is because tactical UAVs give a competitive advantage on the battlefield. The combination of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, supersonic technology and swarms of small drones into existing UAV tactical technology will provide future opportunities for the development of sophisticated tactical UAV systems.
The increase in military spending has helped subsidize research and development grants in unmanned systems, making UAVs more efficient and competent. There has been a gradual rise in the cost of acquiring advanced uncrewed systems for all military forces worldwide. As the demand for unmanned aerial vehicles increased, processor technology significantly improved, which dramatically improved the performance of ISR systems. The improvements in capabilities also helped bring a standardized architecture at the system level that helped reduce the cost and complexity in the manufacture and operation of tactical UAVs.
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REPORT METRIC |
DETAILS |
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Market Size Available |
2023 to 2029 |
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Base Year |
2023 |
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Forecast Period |
2024 to 2029 |
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CAGR |
13% |
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Segments Covered |
By Application, Type, and Region |
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Various Analyses Covered |
Global, Regional & Country Level Analysis, Segment-Level Analysis, DROC, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Analyst Overview on Investment Opportunities |
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Regions Covered |
North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa |
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Market Leaders Profiled |
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Antonov, Elbit Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Israel Aerospace Industries, Textron Inc, Leonardo SpA, Boeing Company, General Atomics , AeroVironment Inc |
The military sector currently has the largest market share due to the high investment in the acquisition of advanced tactical UAVs and R&D activities. For example, CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp) announced its next-generation attack and reconnaissance UA-CH-X at the China Air Show 2018. The new CH-X is the most advanced UAV in the CH series. Developments like these in the military sector is expected to lead the sector's growth during the forecast period.
Based on the type, the global tactical UAVs market is divided as Close-Range, Short-Range, Medium-Range, Medium-Range Endurance, Low-Altitude Deep Penetration, and Low-Altitude Long-Endurance.
As R&D programs increase in countries like Israel and purchases increase in countries like Germany, the global market is likely to have the highest annual growth rate in all parts of the world during the forecast period. In addition, this growth is due to the development of tactical UAVs in European nations like Russia and Ukraine. The emphasis on the unique construction of the tactical UAV, led by Russia and Israel, is expected to promote the expansion of this industry during the forecast period.
Boeing is involved in the tactical R&D of the UAV, according to its wholly-owned subsidiary Institute, which makes a significant contribution to the defense revenue of Boeing's contracts.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) chose Northrop Grumman Corporation as a first level systems integrator of the swarm-enabled offensive tactics program (OFFSET).
Antonov developed and deployed Gorlysta, a new tactical drone for the Ukrainian army. This UAV multifunctional tactical drone consists of four drones, remote control stations, and command and communication links.
By Type
By Application
By Region
Frequently Asked Questions
Tactical UAVs are primarily used for military and defense applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, and intelligence gathering. They are also increasingly used in civilian applications such as disaster management, border control, and environmental monitoring.
Key technological trends include the development of more advanced sensors, AI-driven data processing, improvements in UAV endurance and range, and enhanced autonomous flight capabilities. There is also a growing focus on swarm technology and counter-UAV systems.
The primary challenges include high development and operational costs, concerns over privacy and security, regulatory hurdles, and technological limitations such as battery life and payload capacity. Addressing these challenges is critical for sustained market growth.
The demand for tactical UAVs is expected to continue growing over the next decade, driven by advancements in UAV technology, increasing defense budgets, and the expanding scope of UAV applications in both military and civilian sectors.
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