Military Psychological Operations Broadcast Drone Market Report 2026

The military psychological operations broadcast drone market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.26 billion in 2025 to $1.42 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased adoption of unmanned aerial systems for psysops, technological advancements in broadcast and communication payloads, rising geopolitical tensions prompting information warfare, government defense budget allocations for non-lethal strategic tools, proven effectiveness in prior conflict zones to influence adversaries.

The military psychological operations broadcast drone market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.26 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to integration of AI-driven message targeting and analytics, expansion in long-range communication and payload capacity, rising demand for rapid deployment drones in multi-domain operations, adoption of secure and encrypted transmission systems, increased collaboration between defense contractors for next-gen psysops solutions. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced broadcast range and signal penetration, integration of psychological warfare with cyber operations, miniaturization and portability of drone systems, multi-modal payload deployment (audio-visual-leaflet), real-time behavioral analytics and targeting,.

Rising geopolitical tensions are expected to support the growth of the military psychological operations broadcast drone market. These tensions refer to increasing political and military confrontations between countries or regions, often leading to instability or conflict. The escalation is largely driven by power rivalries and territorial disputes, prompting nations to prioritize security and strategic influence. In such environments, psychological operations broadcast drones are in greater demand, as they enable advanced communication and information warfare capabilities to influence adversary populations and support mission objectives. For example, in February 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that global conflict fatalities rose from 153,100 in 2022 to 170,700 in 2023, highlighting the growing severity of conflicts. This trend is contributing to the expansion of the military psychological operations broadcast drone market.

Rising defense expenditures are contributing to market growth. These expenditures involve government funding allocated to enhance military capabilities through the acquisition of advanced equipment and technologies. The increase in global defense spending is a direct response to growing geopolitical instability and conflict, as nations invest in tools to maintain strategic advantages. Psychological operations broadcast drones benefit from this increased funding, as they are key assets for modern communication and information warfare. For instance, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported a 6.8% rise in global military spending, reaching $2.44 trillion in 2023, up from $2.28 trillion in 2022. This increase directly supports the deployment of advanced UAV-based psychological operations systems.

The rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is helping to drive the military psychological operations broadcast drone market. UAVs are aircraft operated remotely or autonomously, used widely across military and civilian sectors. Their growing use is tied to ongoing military modernization programs and the increasing need for secure, remote operational capabilities in contested environments. Psychological operations drones benefit from UAV advancements by offering effective platforms for delivering targeted messages in high-risk zones without endangering personnel. For example, in April 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the recreational small UAS sector in the United States reached approximately 1.75 million drones in 2023, reflecting a 3.7% growth from the previous year. This increasing adoption of UAVs supports the continued expansion of their use in military psychological operations.

Major companies operating in the military psychological operations broadcast drone market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Thales Group, Elbit Systems Ltd., Aviation Industry Corporation of China Ltd., EDGE Group PJSC, Leonardo DRS Inc., General Atomics, Skydio Inc., QinetiQ Group plc, Baykar Teknoloji Anonim Şirketi, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Paramount Group, AeroVironment Inc., Quantum-Systems GmbH, Ondas Holdings Inc., Elistair SAS, Hoverfly Technologies Inc., Elsight Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the military psychological operations broadcast drone market in 2025. The regions covered in the military psychological operations broadcast drone 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 introduced complexities and costs in the military psychological operations broadcast drone market by affecting the supply chains of critical components such as communication systems, payload equipment, and airframes. Production costs have increased, especially impacting segments reliant on advanced electronics and composite materials, with regions like North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific facing the most disruption due to their roles in manufacturing and assembly. However, tariffs have also incentivized manufacturers to diversify supply chains and localize production, potentially boosting domestic industry capabilities and fostering innovation in cost-efficient drone systems.

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

A military psychological operations (PSYOPS) broadcast drone is an unmanned aerial system designed to deliver targeted audio, visual, and messaging content that influences the behavior and morale of adversaries and civilians. It transmits information over wide areas in conflict or crisis zones while keeping personnel out of direct danger. The drone shapes opinions, reduces enemy resistance, and supports strategic military objectives without engaging in combat, ensuring broad communication reach with efficiency and safety.

The primary drone types of military psychological operations broadcast drones are fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid. A fixed wing drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle with airplane style wings, designed for extended flight to deliver audio, video, or informational content for communication and influence missions. Payloads include audio systems, visual display systems, leaflet dispensers, multi sensor payloads, and others. These drones are available in short, medium, and long range variants. Applications include propaganda dissemination, crowd control, information warfare, disaster response, and more. Key end users include the army, navy, and air force.

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

The military psychological operations broadcast drone market consists of sales of airframes, communication systems, payload integration systems, data storage units, broadcast equipment, and ground control stations. 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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