Civilian Industrial Grade Drone Market Report 2025

The civilian industrial grade drone market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $13.92 billion in 2024 to $16.03 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1%. The growth during the historic period can be credited to the rising demand for aerial surveillance in agriculture, the expanding use of drones in infrastructure inspection, the increasing need for real-time mapping and surveying in construction, the greater deployment of drones for disaster monitoring and emergency response, and the growing dependence on drones for mining site evaluations.

The civilian industrial grade drone market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $27.9 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the increasing demand for drones in smart city development projects, a growing need for real-time data collection in the energy and utilities sectors, rising demand for autonomous drone operations, expanding adoption in e-commerce deliveries, and greater use in precision livestock monitoring. Key trends during this period include advancements in technology-enhanced autonomous navigation, the development of long-range delivery capabilities, integration into emergency response systems, innovations in modular drone design, and the emergence of drone-as-a-service (DaaS) platforms.

The rising use of precision agriculture is expected to drive the growth of the civilian industrial-grade drone market in the near future. Precision agriculture is a farming management technique that leverages technology and data analytics to maximize crop yields, minimize waste, and improve the efficiency of resource use. This approach has gained traction due to the demand for real-time, high-resolution data that enables timely and accurate decision-making in farming. Civilian industrial-grade drones support precision agriculture by delivering detailed aerial imagery, making them well-suited for monitoring expansive farmlands and crop health. They reduce the need for manual field inspections by facilitating targeted interventions, thereby enhancing yield and resource utilization. For example, in January 2024, the United States Government Accountability Office reported that in 2023, 27% of farms and ranches in the U.S. implemented precision agriculture methods for managing crops or livestock. Consequently, the growing adoption of precision agriculture is fueling the expansion of the civilian industrial-grade drone market.

Leading companies in the civilian industrial-grade drone market are developing sophisticated products such as enterprise drones to improve precision, security, and overall performance in both commercial and government sectors. Enterprise drones are professional-grade unmanned aerial systems designed for demanding commercial, industrial, and government applications that require high durability, precision, and advanced payload options. For instance, in May 2025, Skyfish LLC, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer, introduced the Osprey - a lightweight enterprise drone. This model offers up to 60 minutes of flight time and features a compact design suitable for backpack transport. It supports advanced payloads, including the 61-megapixel Sony LR1 camera and the NextVision Raptor EO/IR system, and delivers centimeter-level RTK positioning accuracy with automated geotagging during flight.

In January 2023, Volatus Aerospace Inc., a Canadian aircraft company, acquired Empire Drone Company LLC for an undisclosed price. This acquisition is intended to enhance Volatus Aerospace’s footprint in the U.S. drone market by boosting domestic distribution, customer support, and operational efficiency. Empire Drone Company LLC is a U.S.-based firm specializing in civilian, industrial-grade drone products and services.

Major players in the civilian industrial grade drone market are Thales Group, SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd, AeroVironment Inc., Skydio Inc., Parrot SA, Performance Drone Works LLC, Autel Robotics Co. Ltd., BRINC Drones Inc., AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., Draganfly Inc., Cleo Robotics Inc., Harris Aerial Inc., XAG Co. Ltd., Action Drone Inc., Aero Systems West Inc., Applied Aeronautics Corporation, Ascent AeroSystems LLC, Corvus Robotics Inc., Parallel Flight Technologies Inc., and Guangdong Walkera Technology Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the civilian industrial grade drone market in 2024. The regions covered in civilian industrial grade drone report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the civilian industrial grade drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

A civilian industrial-grade drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for non-military uses like agriculture, surveying, inspection, logistics, and public safety. These drones feature durable hardware and advanced capabilities to carry out precise tasks in demanding conditions and for extended periods. Their primary goal is to improve operational efficiency, safety, and support data-driven decision-making in industrial and commercial applications.

The main categories of civilian industrial-grade drones include fixed-wing drones, multirotor drones, hybrid drones, and single-rotor drones. Fixed-wing drones have a rigid wing structure, similar to an airplane, that provides lift for forward flight. They come in various payload capacities - lightweight, medium-weight, and heavyweight - and their control systems range from remote-controlled to fully autonomous and swarm operations. These drones use different power sources such as lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and hybrid power systems. Civilian industrial-grade drones find applications across sectors including agriculture, construction and infrastructure, media and broadcasting, surveying and mapping, inspection and monitoring, and delivery services.

The civilian industrial-grade drone market research report is one of a series of new reports that cover civilian industrial-grade drone market statistics, including the civilian industrial-grade drone industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with the civilian industrial-grade drone market share, detailed civilian industrial-grade drone market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the civilian industrial-grade drone market. This civilian industrial-grade drone 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.

The civilian industrial grade drone market consists of sales of aerial surveying drones, delivery drones, inspection drones, and environmental monitoring drones. 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 and 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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