Smart Coatings Market Outlook:
Smart Coatings Market size was over USD 11.03 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to cross USD 89.58 billion by 2035, witnessing more than 23.3% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2026-2035. In the year 2026, the industry size of smart coatings is estimated at USD 13.34 billion.
The smart coatings market is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the high usage of smart coatings in drone technology. Smart coatings are increasingly used in drones to enhance their performance, durability, and efficiency. Traditional coatings provide basic protection and often fail in extreme environments or require regular maintenance, making smart coating a vital innovation. These materials offer unique properties such as self-healing, UV resistance, anti-corrosion, and conductivity, providing drones with improved functionality.
Smart coatings can respond dynamically to environmental stimuli. For example, self-healing smart coatings can automatically repair microcracks which diminishes the need for manual creation and prolongs the life of drones. In February 2020, Saab AB integrated self-healing coatings into their Skeldar drone platforms to improve durability in hostile environments such as maritime and desert zones. These coatings let drones work in extreme temperatures and corrosive atmospheres which further extends the maintenance cycle and decreases operational downtime.
