Autonomous Military Aircraft Market Report 2026

The autonomous military aircraft market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.61 billion in 2025 to $4.94 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to development of early unmanned combat aerial vehicle (ucav) technologies, adoption of autonomous aircraft for surveillance and strike missions, advancements in targeting and sensor systems, government investment in defense R&D programs, integration of electronic warfare and communication systems in autonomous military aircraft.

The autonomous military aircraft market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.54 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of autonomous combat aircraft in modern warfare, advancements in AI-driven target recognition and mission planning, growth in long-range and stealth autonomous military aircraft, rising defense budgets for next-generation autonomous weaponry, integration of swarming and coordinated autonomous attack capabilities. Major trends in the forecast period include advanced targeting systems, precision-guided weapon integration, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, long-endurance autonomous missions, adaptive flight control and navigation systems.

The increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to drive the growth of the autonomous military aircraft market in the coming years. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft that operate without a human pilot onboard and can either be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using onboard systems. The use of UAVs is rising due to their ability to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions without exposing human personnel to danger, providing substantial advantages in modern military operations. The growing demand for UAVs supports the expansion of autonomous military aircraft by encouraging the development and deployment of advanced, pilotless systems capable of performing critical missions efficiently while reducing risks to human operators. For example, in June 2025, according to the Ministry of Defence, a UK-based government ministry, the UK committed a record £350 million (approximately $473 million USD) to enhance Ukraine's drone supply, aiming to increase the number of drones provided from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025. Therefore, the increasing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is contributing to the growth of the autonomous military aircraft market.

Leading companies in the autonomous military aircraft market are dedicated to developing innovative products, such as autonomous drone swarms, to deliver dependable services to their clientele. Autonomous drone swarms represent a collective of drones capable of collaborative, self-directed operation without human oversight, enabling communication among themselves and with the environment to coordinate actions toward a common objective. For instance, Shield AI, a prominent U.S.-based aerospace and defense technology firm, unveiled V-BAT Teams in October 2023. These multiple V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can work collaboratively to autonomously execute missions, even in scenarios without GPS or communication access. These cost-effective autonomous systems serve the critical purpose of locating, tracking, and targeting adversaries across extensive distances.

In September 2023, Anduril Industries Inc., a distinguished U.S.-based autonomous systems manufacturer, acquired Blue Force Technologies for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition signifies Anduril's expansion and reinforcement of its existing autonomous capabilities within the Group 5 autonomous aircraft segment. Blue Force Technologies, also based in the United States, specializes in autonomous aircraft manufacturing. This strategic move aligns with Anduril's objectives to enhance its presence in the autonomous aircraft domain.

Major companies operating in the autonomous military aircraft market are The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, GE Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI), Elbit Systems Ltd., Dassault Aviation S.A., Denel Dynamics (Pty) Ltd, Airbus SE, United Technologies Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Safran S.A., Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Textron Inc., Anduril Industries, Shield AI Inc., Thales Group, Cobham Limited, QinetiQ Group plc, Endeavor Robotics (formerly known as iRobot Defense and Security), AeroVironment Inc., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Aurora Flight Sciences a Boeing Company.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in autonomous military aircraft market in 2025. Western Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the autonomous military aircraft market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the autonomous military aircraft 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 affected the autonomous military aircraft market by increasing costs for imported avionics, sensors, and propulsion systems, disrupting global supply chains, and slowing procurement for defense programs. Fighter and reconnaissance aircraft segments, particularly in regions like North America and Europe that depend on components from Asia, are most impacted. Positive impacts include the promotion of local defense manufacturing, encouraging innovation in domestic aerospace technologies, and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

The autonomous military aircraft market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides autonomous military aircraft market statistics, including autonomous military aircraft industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an autonomous military aircraft market share, detailed autonomous military aircraft market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the autonomous military aircraft industry. This autonomous military aircraft market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The autonomous military aircraft market encompasses aircraft operated autonomously from the ground, primarily designed for engaging surface targets with bombs or missiles and executing enemy target destruction in warfare. These aircraft are equipped with an array of critical components, including sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, and electronic transmitters, among others.

In the autonomous military aircraft market, various technological types exist, including remotely operated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous systems. These aircraft serve different roles, ranging from fighter aircraft and bombers to reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, as well as airborne early warning aircraft and other specialized platforms. Key components used in these systems comprise flight management computers, air data inertial reference units, sensors, actuation systems, software, intelligent servos, cameras, radars, and transponders. Fighter aircraft, specifically designed for air-to-air combat against other aircraft, are among the prominent categories within this market.

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

The autonomous military aircraft market consists of sales of automatic aerial vehicles such as autonomous fighters for military applications to carry weapons and destroy the targets. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.