Small Drone Market Analysis

  • Report ID: 6588
  • Published Date: Aug 14, 2025
  • Report Format: PDF, PPT

Small Drone Market Segmentation:

Type (Micro, Mini)

Micro segment is projected to capture small drone market share of around 68.3% by the end of 2035, owing to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and wide applications. It is highly preferred due to its small size. Its defense application includes close-range ISR missions where the data would be available in real-time tactical operations. For instance, in August 2021, Aeronautics created the small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Orbiter for use in homeland security and military applications. The Orbiter UAV is capable of close-quarters intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, low-intensity engagements, urban warfare, and over-the-hill reconnaissance missions.

Application (Civil Commercial, Military Defense, Others)

The civil commercial segment is projected to account for a significant share of the small drone market. The potential sectors for utilization of UAV applications are surveying mapping and inspection to save considerable time and expense over traditional methods. For example, in September 2023, Teledyne Flir unveiled a technology that allowed multiple drones to be launched and recovered autonomously from military vehicles. Its 'Black Recon' system includes a small, agile micro-drone that can fly for up to 45 minutes and weighs only 350 grams. Additionally, with increased demand from the media and entertainment industries for aerial photography and videography, the scope of segment expansion is marked by an increase in the use of such capabilities.  

Our in-depth analysis of the global small drone market includes the following segments:

Type

  • Micro
  • Mini

Application

  • Civil Commercial
  • Military Defense
  • Others

Platform

  • Fixed-Wing
  • Rotatory Wing
  • Others

Browse key industry insights with market data tables & charts from the report:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In the year 2026, the industry size of small drone is evaluated at USD 20.49 billion.

Small Drone Market size was over USD 18.45 billion in 2025 and is poised to exceed USD 58.86 billion by 2035, witnessing over 12.3% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2026-2035.

North America's 46.1% share dominates the Small Drone Market, propelled by high technology infrastructure, advanced defense sectors, and industrialization, driving robust growth through 2026–2035.

Key players in the market include Throttle Aerospace, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Prox Dynamics, Crystal Balls, Elbit Systems Ltd..
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