Autonomous Military Weapons Market Report 2026

The autonomous military weapons market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $17.96 billion in 2025 to $19.82 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to advancements in sensors and object-classification technologies enabling early autonomous targeting, rising deployment of unmanned aerial and ground platforms in defense operations, increased military investment in automated threat-detection and engagement systems, development of autonomous explosives and missiles for high-risk missions, growing need to reduce personnel exposure in combat environments.

The autonomous military weapons market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $30.18 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expanding integration of artificial intelligence to improve autonomous decision-making in weapons systems, rising demand for fully autonomous combat platforms across major defense forces, development of advanced sensor fusion technologies enabling higher targeting accuracy, increasing defense budgets supporting next-generation autonomous strike systems, growing focus on swarm-based autonomous weapon architectures for large-scale coordinated operations. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of multi-sensor threat detection systems, development of ai-based targeting algorithms, expansion of autonomous military platforms (uavs, agvs, naval systems), miniaturization and mobility enhancement of weapons systems, focus on battlefield interoperability and network-centric warfare.

Rising defense spending is anticipated to drive the expansion of the autonomous military weapons market in the coming years. Defense expenditure includes all ongoing and capital outlays for the armed forces, covering peacekeeping units under defense ministries and other government bodies engaged in defense activities, as well as paramilitary forces. With larger defense budgets, military institutions can dedicate greater resources to the research, development, and procurement of autonomous military weapons. For example, in April 2025, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based independent global military expenditure monitor, reported that global military spending reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.4 percent rise from 2023. Consequently, the growth in defense expenditure is expected to boost the autonomous military weapons market.

Leading companies in the autonomous military weapons market are concentrating on creating innovative products, such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), to deliver dependable services to their clients. UGVs are vehicles that operate on the ground without the presence of a human operator. For example, in February 2023, BAE Systems Australia, an Australia-based company providing various defense and security services, introduced the STRIX hybrid VTOL uncrewed air system. This system can carry munitions for targeted attacks on ground targets, thereby enhancing combat capabilities through air-to-ground strikes. Furthermore, the STRIX is tailored for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, facilitating real-time data collection and better situational awareness. It can also act as a 'loyal wingman,' working alongside manned aircraft to offer additional support and firepower.

In March 2023, SIG SAUER, Inc., a US-based producer of firearms and defense systems, acquired General Robotics Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition, SIG SAUER intends to broaden its expertise in autonomous weapon stations and tactical robotics, strengthening its product offerings for contemporary defense and security applications. General Robotics Ltd., based in Israel, manufactures lightweight remote weapon stations and robotic systems, focusing on unmanned and autonomous defense technologies.

Major companies operating in the autonomous military weapons market are China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus Group Inc., Kalashnikov Concern LLC, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Rostec State Corporation, BAE Systems plc, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Thales Group, Textron Inc., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Saab AB, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Bharat Electronics Limited, Palantir Technologies Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Denel SOC Ltd., Anduril Industries Inc., Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the autonomous military weapons market in 2025. Western Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the autonomous military weapons market share during the forecast period. The regions covered in the autonomous military weapons market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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.

Tariffs have influenced the autonomous military weapons market by increasing the cost of imported components, sensors, and specialized materials used in production. This has particularly affected segments such as autonomous missiles and UAVs, with Asia-Pacific and North American regions experiencing supply chain disruptions. While the tariffs have raised production costs, they have also encouraged domestic manufacturing and innovation in local defense industries, providing potential growth opportunities for regional players.

The autonomous military weapons market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides autonomous military weapons market statistics, including global market size, regional shares, competitors with an autonomous military weapons market share, detailed autonomous military weapons market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the autonomous military weapons industry. This autonomous military weapons 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.

Autonomous military weapons refer to automated military systems that, upon activation, independently carry out tasks such as searching, detecting, evaluating threats, tracking, and attacking enemy targets using sophisticated algorithms. These operations are executed without further intervention by a human operator. The deployment of autonomous military weapons involves the integration of core elements, including a mobile combat platform (such as a drone aircraft, ship, or ground vehicle), various sensors to analyze the surroundings, processing systems to interpret data from the sensors, and algorithms guiding the platform to initiate an attack upon detecting an identified target.

The primary categories of autonomous military weapons are autonomous and semi-autonomous. Autonomous weapons can independently choose and engage targets without requiring human involvement. Products falling under this category include missiles, rockets, guided bombs, target pods, and others, and they are utilized across various platforms, including land-based, airborne, and naval systems.

The countries covered in the autonomous military weapons market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The autonomous military weapons market consists of sales of auto-operated weapons such as autonomous explosives, and missiles. 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.

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