"Counter-Drone Technologies" is part of the analyst's Strategic Intelligence series of reports on unmanned technologies and their impacts across different industries. Counter-Drone Technologies essential in the defense industry, as a successful drone attack can have severe strategic and financial consequences. To overcome drone attacks, companies, nations, and militaries are increasingly adopting a collaborative approach. This approach involves acquisitions, sharing information on threats with their allies, and reporting attempted breaches to improve counter-drone postures.
This report explores emergent trends within the C-UAS market, examining use cases and the implementation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons, and what challenges must be considered in pursuing effective strategies for brand building in this market.
C-UAS are essential defense assets The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has gathered pace in recent years, with most states having access to some form of UAV platform. As new technologies such as AI and drone swarms mature, UAVs have become increasingly important in the fields of defense and security. To counter this emerging threat, investment in cutting-edge Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities is essential. The commercialization of drones is a key driver in the C-UAS market, with technological advances lowering the costs of acquiring drones, thereby increasing access. This has led to wider commercial and governmental proliferation, which itself necessitates the development and procurement of C-UAS in a variety of defense, commercial, and law enforcement roles. In an increasingly multi-polar world, investment in defensive C-UAS capabilities will only accelerate. Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both sides have deployed UAVs extensively, with amateur footage of drone deployment becoming a major symbol of the conflict in international media. The Ukrainian military’s meticulously planned Operation Spiderweb assault in June 2025 was a series of successful covert drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, which, according to Ukrainian sources, damaged or destroyed at least 41 Russian military jets, including several Tupolev-95 strategic bombers. The raids served not only as a major propaganda victory but as an acute reminder that, given the focus on the development and advancement of drone technology, it is likely that the cultivation and procurement of robust C-UAS systems capable of countering a range of UAV threats (Groups 1-5) will be essential. Furthermore, the potential for the weaponization of commercially available small UAS (sUAS), such as the installation of grenades and mortars on recreational quadcopters as seen in Ukraine, will continue to drive capable C-UAS systems on all scales.
This report explores emergent trends within the C-UAS market, examining use cases and the implementation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons, and what challenges must be considered in pursuing effective strategies for brand building in this market.
C-UAS are essential defense assets The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has gathered pace in recent years, with most states having access to some form of UAV platform. As new technologies such as AI and drone swarms mature, UAVs have become increasingly important in the fields of defense and security. To counter this emerging threat, investment in cutting-edge Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities is essential. The commercialization of drones is a key driver in the C-UAS market, with technological advances lowering the costs of acquiring drones, thereby increasing access. This has led to wider commercial and governmental proliferation, which itself necessitates the development and procurement of C-UAS in a variety of defense, commercial, and law enforcement roles. In an increasingly multi-polar world, investment in defensive C-UAS capabilities will only accelerate. Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both sides have deployed UAVs extensively, with amateur footage of drone deployment becoming a major symbol of the conflict in international media. The Ukrainian military’s meticulously planned Operation Spiderweb assault in June 2025 was a series of successful covert drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, which, according to Ukrainian sources, damaged or destroyed at least 41 Russian military jets, including several Tupolev-95 strategic bombers. The raids served not only as a major propaganda victory but as an acute reminder that, given the focus on the development and advancement of drone technology, it is likely that the cultivation and procurement of robust C-UAS systems capable of countering a range of UAV threats (Groups 1-5) will be essential. Furthermore, the potential for the weaponization of commercially available small UAS (sUAS), such as the installation of grenades and mortars on recreational quadcopters as seen in Ukraine, will continue to drive capable C-UAS systems on all scales.
Key Highlights
- Studies of emerging technological trends and their broader impact on the defense market.
- Analysis of the various counter-drone technologies solutions, programs and projects currently under development, as well as the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on the future outlook of the counter-drone technologies in defense theme.
Scope
- The key defense challenges that forces and defense sector suppliers face are covered.
- The investment opportunities for armed forces, suppliers, and institutional investors, across the whole counter-drone technologies value chain are covered.
- Highlights from the range different counter-drone technologies related research and development programs currently being undertaken by various military organizations and defense companies.
Reasons to Buy
- Determine potential investment companies based on trend analysis and market projections.
- Gaining an understanding of the market challenges and opportunities surrounding the counter-drone technologies in defense theme.
- Understanding how spending on counter-drone technologies and related segments will fit into the overall market and which spending areas are being prioritized.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Players
- Technology Briefing
- Trends
- Technology trends
- Macroeconomic trends
- Regulatory trends
- Industry Analysis
- Use cases
- Timeline
- Signals
- M&A trends
- Patent trends
- Hiring trends
- Value Chain
- Detection & tracking
- Interdiction
- Companies
- Public companies
- Private companies
- Sector Scorecards
- Defense sector scorecard
- Glossary
- Further Reading
- Thematic Research Methodology
- About the Analyst
- Contact the Publisher
- NATO drone classification
- US drone classification
- Bringing technologies from academia to industry (TRL)
- Technology trends
- Regulatory trends
- US companies and products
- China companies and products
- Russia companies and products
- UK companies and products
- Israel companies and products
- M&A trends
- Detection and tracking techniques
- Public companies
- Private companies
- Glossary
- Further reading
- Leading players in the counter-drone technologies theme, and where they sit in the value chain
- Fundamentals of C-UAS interdiction
- Bridging the ‘Valley of Death’
- Common drone criminality
- Market forecast 2025-2035 (global UAV market)
- Global UAV market value forecast (2025-2035)
- The counter-drone story
- Published counter-drone and directed energy weapon technology patents
- Active jobs in the counter-drone technologies and directed energy weapons space
- The counter-drone value chain
- The counter-drone technologies value chain
- The Doppler Effect
- Radar cross-sections
- Micro-Doppler radar
- MQ-9 Reaper UAV
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Conventional projectiles: leaders and disruptors
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Unconventional projectiles: leaders and disruptors
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Directed energy weapons: leaders and disruptors
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Jamming: leaders and disruptors
- Counter-drone cyber technologies value chain - Leading methods of countering drones using cyber technologies
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Cyber: leaders and disruptors
- Counter-drone technologies value chain - Combined interdiction: leaders and disruptors
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Anritsu
- ApolloShield
- Aselsan
- Axon
- Babcock
- BAE Systems
- Boeing
- CACI
- Chenega
- CS Group
- Elbit Systems
- General Atomics
- Hensoldt
- IAI
- Indra
- Kongsberg
- Kratos Defense
- L3Harris Technologies
- Leidos
- Leonardo
- Lockheed Martin
- MBDA
- Nammo
- Northrop Grumman
- QinetiQ
- RADA Electronic Industries
- Rafael
- RTX Corp
- Rheinmetall
- Saab
- Stanley Electric
- Thales
- Aaronia
- Accipter Radar
- Advanced Protection Systems
- Advanced Radar Technology
- AerialX
- AeroDefense
- Almaz Scientific-Production Enterprise
- ALS Less Lethal
- Alpine Eagle
- Anduril Industries
- AntiDrone
- ARTsys360
- Asterion Systems
- Aurora Flight Sciences
- Aveillant
- Big Bang Boom Solutions
- Black Sage
- BlueHalo
- BSVT - New Technologies
- CASIC
- Centum
- CerbAir
- Chess Dynamics
- Citadel Defense
- Concern Avtomika
- DAT CON
- Delft Dynamics
- Department 13
- D-Fend Solutions
- Drone Defence
- DroneShield
- Droptec
- Dynamite Global Strategies
- EDGE Group
- Epirus
- Fortem Technologies
- Hanwha Defense
- IEC Infrared
- IMI Systems
- K9 Electronics
- KB Radar
- KEAS
- Kirintec
- KRET
- MARSS
- METIS Aerospace
- Microflown Avisa
- Netline
- Orbital ATK
- Patria
- Poly Technologies
- Regulus
- Rinicom
- Robin Radar
- Rohde & Schwarz
- ROKETSAN
- Rosoboronexport
- Sierra Nevada
- Silent Sentinel
- SkyLock
- SkySafe
- SkySec
- Smart Shooter
- SmartRounds
- Spotter
- Squarehead Technology
- SteelRock Technologies
- Teledyne FLIR
- ThirdEye Systems
- United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation
- Vorpal
- Wiebel Scientific
- Zen Technologies
