Racing Drones Market Report 2025

The racing drones market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.46 billion in 2024 to $1.72 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9%. The expansion in the historical period was driven by the growing enthusiasm for first-person view racing, the emergence of organized drone racing leagues, increased use of drones in entertainment and sporting contexts, wider access to customizable drone kits, and declining costs of entry-level racing drones.

The racing drones market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.27 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5%. The projected growth is attributed to rising demand for high-performance drones, increasing integration of racing drones into youth educational and tech initiatives, growing global audiences for drone racing broadcasts and live streams, the broadening of drone product distribution channels, and greater use of AI technologies for real-time flight enhancements. Key trends anticipated in this period include the advancement of autonomous drone racing software, the connection of telemetry with wearable gear, the adoption of blockchain for race operations, innovations in collision avoidance systems, and the development of gamified training tools.

The increasing popularity of esports is expected to propel the growth of the racing drones market going forward. Esports popularity refers to the widespread interest and growing audience engagement in competitive video gaming across global digital and live platforms. The increasing popularity of esports is primarily driven by growing accessibility to games and the rise of streaming platforms that allow global audiences to watch and engage in real time. Racing drones enhance esports by introducing high-speed, real-time competitive experiences that blend physical skill with digital precision, attracting both players and spectators to immersive gameplay. For instance, in October 2022, the Republic of Estonia E-Residency, a Estonia-based government organization, in 2022, global esports viewership reached 532 million and is projected to exceed 640 million by 2025, while revenue surpassed $1.38 billion and is expected to hit $1.87 billion by 2025. Therefore, the increasing esports popularity is driving the growth of the racing drones market.

Leading companies in the racing drones market are investing in advanced FPV transmission technologies that offer clearer visuals and reduced latency, enhancing pilot control and responsiveness during races. These FPV transmission systems enable real-time video relay from the drone’s camera to the pilot’s display, allowing immersive first-person control. For example, in January 2025, SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd., a technology company based in China, introduced the O4 Air Unit Series. This new lineup features cutting-edge digital video transmission and imaging technology, providing ultra-low latency and a range of up to 15 km for an elevated FPV flight experience. The series supports 4K recording at up to 120 fps (in the Pro version), with a 1/1.3″ sensor that captures vivid detail and dynamic range. It also includes RockSteady 3.0+ stabilization, dual antenna setup, Betaflight OSD support, and compatibility with DJI’s newest goggles and remote control systems.

In April 2024, Infinite Reality, Inc., a US-based technology and entertainment firm, acquired Drone Racing League for $250 million. The purpose of this acquisition was to amplify fan engagement and transform the spectator experience in sports and entertainment using immersive technology. By integrating Drone Racing League’s sophisticated ecosystem and tech solutions, Infinite Reality intends to reimagine how audiences connect with competitive events. The Drone Racing League Inc. is a US-based organization that specializes in hosting and producing drone racing events, known for delivering high-impact 3D drone racing content with mass appeal.

Major players in the racing drones market are Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co. Ltd., 3D Robotics Inc., Autel Robotics Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co. Ltd., Parrot Drones SAS, MJX R/C Technic Co. Ltd., ImmersionRC Limited, Orqa d.o.o., Shenzhen iFlight Innovation Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Hubsan Technology Company Limited, Skytech Drone Systems Inc., Lumenier LLC, Swagtron Inc., EMAX Model Co. Ltd., BETAFPV Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Eachine Technology Co. Ltd., Pyrodrone LLC, Uvify Inc., Shenzhen GEPRC Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., Airjugar Technology Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the racing drones market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in racing drones report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the racing drones 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.

Racing drones are fast and nimble unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) specifically engineered for competitive racing, where pilots steer them through intricate obstacle courses using first-person view (FPV) systems. These drones are optimized for high performance, incorporating lightweight structures, powerful motors, and quick-response controls that enable swift acceleration and sharp turning capabilities.

There are three primary types of racing drones: ready-to-fly, bind-and-fly, and almost ready-to-fly. Ready-to-fly racing drones come completely assembled and pre-tuned, allowing immediate use straight out of the box without any need for additional setup or parts. These drones are integrated with advanced features such as first-person view (FPV), GPS-based navigation, autonomous flight functions, and hybrid or electric power systems. The essential components of these drones include the airframe, motors, cameras or sensors, propellers, battery, flight controller, and other crucial parts. They are employed in multiple applications including sport racing, freestyle racing, drone-based cinematography, and surveillance. Their users range from government entities and environmental consultancies to real estate developers, private enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.

The racing drones Market Research Report is one of a series of new publications that offers data on the racing drones market, including global industry size, regional distribution, market shares of leading competitors, comprehensive segmentation, and insights on market trends and opportunities. This racing drones market research report provides a holistic view, offering detailed analysis of both current conditions and future outlook for the industry.

The racing drones market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as repair and maintenance services, drone racing event management, component upgrades, drone customization services, and tuning services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The racing drones market also includes sales of custom-built racing drones, lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries, transmitters and radio controllers, antenna systems, and drone frames. 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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