Small Drone Market Size for 2032 is Anticipated to Hit USD 128.75 Billion with a CAGR of 24.8% over 2025 to 2032; Increased Demand for Drone-Based Services to Fuel Market Development

The global small drone market size was valued at USD 21.34 billion. The market value is expected to augment from USD 27.34 billion in 2025 to USD 128.75 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 24.8%. Fortune Business Insights™ presents this information in its report titled “Small Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By End Use (Defense, Consumer, Commercial, and Civil), By Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, and Hybrid Wing), By Maximum Take-off Weight (Less than 5 kg, 5 - 25 kg, and 25 - 150 kg), By Power Source (Fuel Powered, and Battery Powered), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032”.

A small drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for short-range flights and small enough to be operated by a single individual. The market growth is driven by increasing demand across the defense, commercial, and civil sectors. Small drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are lightweight and designed for short-range flights, making them ideal for applications such as aerial photography, surveillance, and infrastructure inspection.

Increased Need for Drones for Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Combat Operations in Modern Warfare Fueled the Market Growth

The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified the usage of small drones for military purposes, leading to increased defense expenditure on UAVs. Both nations have deployed drones for reconnaissance and combat operations. Small drones are used significantly to obtain real-time intelligence and enable precision strikes with minimal risk to personnel. For instance, in January 2025, the European Union announced that it would offer hefty funding for research into the bulk manufacture of kamikaze drones under its 2025 European Defence Fund (EDF) program.

SZ DJI Technology Launched a Compact Drone to Replace Spare Batteries for Longer Durations

In January 2025, a pioneer in small drone manufacturing and technology, SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., recently announced the launch of a new, small and compact drone called Flip, which has the skill to fly non-stop for 30 minutes. Moreover, it includes a Flip Parallel Charging Hub which can use two batteries at once, resulting in easy replaceable spare batteries. Consumers can fold and unfold the drone, and easily launch it from their hand with a single push of a button, or opt to use joysticks to fly the drone.

Increasing Product Usage in Commercial Applications Drives Market Growth

Small drones are widely adopted to be used commercially as their usage is changing various industries and promising positive growth. It is widely used for crop monitoring, irrigation management, and pest infiltration identification. These drones are innovating new ways to replace traditional farming methods, including spraying, field mapping, crop scouting, and crop monitoring.

However, the main issue that hampers the small drone market growth is the strict regulatory framework that restricts drone operations across many countries. Several governments impose stringent rules that require drone operators to obtain specific certifications and licenses.

Prominent Industry Players are Focusing on Technological Advancements of Drones to Boost Their Market Positions

Prominent players of the small drone market include SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., Parrot Drones, AeroVironment Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co., Ltd., and others. These key companies are aiming at technological progressions, product advances, expansion of cost-effective drones, and expansions into developing markets to upsurge their market share and gain a competitive edge.

Key Players Profiled in the Report

• SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
• Parrot Drones SAS (France)
• AeroVironment Inc. (U.S.)
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)
• Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co., Ltd (China)
• Yuneec (China)
• Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.)
• BAE Systems (U.K.)
• Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel)
• Skydio, Inc. (U.S.)
• Autel Robotics (China)
• Ehang Holdings Limited (China)

Key Industry Development

• March 2023 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided the department’s agreement to run its drones as first responders beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without any visual learner. The Pearland Police Department in Texas announced the launch of the drone as a first responder (DFR) program to augment its response to emergency calls.

Further Report Findings

• By type, the rotary wing segment led the market due to its lightweight design and flight stability. These type of drones uses four rotors or propellers to lift and move around in the air, thus strengthening market positions.
• North America dominated the global small drone market share in 2024. This growth is contributed to by major OEMs’ dominance in this region and the government contract to extend military power & forces.
• Asia Pacific holds the second leading market share, owing to increasing demand for agriculture crop monitoring and surveying. For example, in January 2025, DroneShield declared three separate contracts tallying up to USD 11.8 million for transportation to a military customer in an Asia Pacific country.

Table of Segmentation