Small UAV Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Technological advancement: The small drone market is expanding owing to the state-of-the-art innovations in its capabilities and applications. For instance, in August 2024, EndureAir in collaboration with the team at IIT Kanpur, developed a UAV technology using state-of-the-art research. The newest addition is the Sabal, a UAV with heli-drone technology that is intended for the middle-mile market. Technologies incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning have provided larger autonomics in offering more independence. Thus, enabling small drone to function without human interference to evade obstacles and optimize routes.
• Increased military applications: Defense forces across the globe increasingly incorporate drones into critical operations. Additionally, by merging autonomous navigation, AI-based analytics, and communication systems, their efficiency has improved in target acquisition and border patrol operations. For instance, in October 2024, India and the US signed an agreement worth USD 345 billion to purchase MQ9B drones for the military. Thirty-one of the long-range drones will be acquired by the Indian armed forces and divided among the army, air force, and navy as part of a government-to-government agreement.

Challenges

• High initial costs and skill requirements: The sophisticated UAV systems, with their sensing paradigm that combines AI capabilities and long-lasting batteries, might be too expensive. These high-tech drones also need specific operating skills and training, together with awareness of regulatory compliance and airspace management. Thus, these would restrict the adoption of small drone, particularly in areas intending the cost-to-benefit ratio has to be watched carefully, and the overall small drone market growth would be slowed.
• Risk of collisions and air traffic management: The significant obstacles in the small drone market include concerns over the growth of drones in the commercial and recreational sectors. It also stems from the absence of standardized systems for drone flight paths and distance coordination in air traffic management. Thus, the threat of mid-air collision in densely populated areas or highly trafficked areas also emerges. For instance, in October 2024, a sophisticated Russian S-70 Okhotnik stealth drone was shot down, over Kostiantynivka, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.