Robotic Warfare Market Report 2026

The robotic warfare market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $37.59 billion in 2025 to $41.29 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing adoption of unmanned combat systems, rising investment in autonomous battlefield technologies, expansion of surveillance and reconnaissance robotics, reliance on imported electronic subsystems, growing demand for robotic logistics platforms.

The robotic warfare market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $59.38 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing development of AI powered combat platforms, rising integration of multi domain robotic systems, expansion of defense modernization programs, growth in autonomous mission support robotics, increasing innovation in secure robotic communication systems. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of AI-driven combat autonomy, growth in multi-domain robotic platforms, deployment of secure cloud-connected warfare systems, adoption of advanced robotic manufacturing techniques, integration of IOT-enabled battlefield robotics.

The rising geopolitical tensions are expected to propel the growth of the robotic warfare market going forward. Geopolitical tensions refer to strained political, economic, or military relations between countries or regions, often arising from conflicting national interests, territorial disputes, or power struggles. Rising geopolitical tensions are due to territorial disputes that fuel national rivalries, military buildups, and diplomatic confrontations over contested borders or regions. Robotic warfare enhances a nation's military capabilities with advanced autonomous systems, thereby influencing power balances and acting as a strategic tool in managing or escalating geopolitical tensions. For instance, in January 2025, according to Euronews SA, a France-based television network, in 2024, global conflicts intensified, with political violence increasing by 25% compared to 2023, affecting one in eight people and resulting in around 223,000 deaths, alongside a 37% rise in overall fatalities. Therefore, the rising geopolitical tensions are driving the growth of the robotic warfare market.

Leading companies in the robotic warfare market are creating advanced solutions such as first-of-its-kind cryptographically secure systems to enable instantaneous and secure optical identification of drones and other unmanned platforms, addressing the vulnerabilities of traditional radio frequency (RF) identification methods that are prone to jamming, spoofing, and detection. The term refers to a pioneering system that employs advanced encryption to ensure trusted and tamper-proof operations. For example, in October 2025, Allen Control Systems, a U.S.-based defense technology company, launched the Friend and Foe Operating System (FAFOS) - a cryptographically secure, radio-silent, long-range optical drone identification solution. FAFOS uses modulated near-infrared optical signals to identify drones in under 200 milliseconds at distances of up to 2 kilometers, operating effectively in contested electromagnetic environments without relying on vulnerable RF channels. Designed for integration across multiple platforms, it offers a cost-effective, scalable solution that can reduce drone deconfliction challenges, enhance battlefield security, minimize friendly-fire risks, and complement ACS’s existing autonomous defense technologies such as the Bullfrog weapon system.

In March 2023, SIG Sauer, Inc., a U.S.-based firearms and defense firm, completed the acquisition of General Robotics for an undisclosed sum. Through this acquisition, SIG Sauer aims to broaden its capabilities into the robotic defense sector by merging advanced firearms systems with robotic platforms to boost combat maneuverability, firepower, and autonomy. General Robotics Ltd., based in Israel, is a defense tech firm recognized for its development of tactical robotic systems used in military, police, and homeland security applications.

Major companies operating in the robotic warfare market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, BAE Systems plc, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A., Textron Inc., Rheinmetall AG, Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Kongsberg Defence And Aerospace AS, QinetiQ Group plc, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Saab AB, Anduril Industries Inc., AeroVironment Inc., Shield AI Inc., Hanwha Defense Co. Ltd., Ghost Robotics Inc.

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 are influencing the robotic warfare market by increasing costs for imported semiconductors, advanced sensors, communication modules, and robotic drivetrain components essential for autonomous combat systems. Military forces, homeland security, and special forces in regions reliant on imported electronicsparticularly North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacificare most affected. However, tariffs are stimulating domestic robotics manufacturing, encouraging regional sourcing of electronic components, and supporting innovation in cost-efficient and resilient robotic warfare solutions.

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

Robotic warfare involves utilizing autonomous or remotely operated robotic systems in military activities such as combat, surveillance, logistics, and support functions. These robotic systems increase efficiency on the battlefield while minimizing human exposure to danger by carrying out duties including reconnaissance, target identification, and direct combat.

Robotic warfare includes several main categories such as unmanned platforms and systems, exoskeletons and wearable devices, target acquisition systems, turrets and weapon systems, and other related technologies. Unmanned platforms and systems are vehicles or devices that function without constant human input, often utilizing remote control, automation, or artificial intelligence. These systems are capable of operating autonomously or semi-autonomously across various domains like land, sea, air, and space. They are deployed in multiple missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), combat, search and rescue, transportation, mine removal, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and firefighting. The end users of these technologies range from military forces and homeland security to law enforcement agencies, special operations teams, and fire services.North America was the largest region in the robotic warfare market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in robotic warfare report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the robotic warfare market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The robotic warfare market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as training and simulation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, and system integration services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The robotic warfare market also includes sales of autonomous ground combat robots, robotic mules and logistics carriers, underwater unmanned vehicles, swarm robots. 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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