Drone Industry Analysis in Europe

Drone Sales Outlook for Europe (2024 to 2034)

Sales of drones in Europe have been calculated at a market value of US$ 4.56 billion for 2024. The European market has been forecasted to register a CAGR of 26% and reach a size of US$ 45.96 billion by 2034.

Growth of the market is attributed to rapid rise in the use of drones for commercial and residential applications alike, along with the rising deployment of drones for use in agriculture and weather forecasting purposes.

Drones are being widely used in several applications nowadays, and technological advancements in terms of electronics and payload are supporting the growth of the market. Drone manufacturing companies are catering to diversified use cases such as in agriculture, data collection, aerial photography, surveys and documenting wildlife, and photography & video recording.

Furthermore, now getting home delivery of products with the help of drones is becoming a reality owing to the efforts undertaken by retail and other logistics companies. This is estimated to narrow down associated costs and delivery time. All such aspects are also boosting the sales of drone accessories.

• Short Term (2024 Q2 to 2027): Recent trend of the use of drones for recreational purposes is expected to support market growth in the short term.
• Medium Term (2027 to 2030): Incorporation of advanced technologies is forecasted to boost the demand for smart drones in the medium term.
• Long Term (2030 to 2034): Supportive government initiatives and increasing of use of drone technologies in construction projects are expected to boost drive market expansion in the long run.

Report Attributes	Details
Drone Sales in Europe (2024E)	US$ 4.56 Billion
Forecasted Sales (2034F)	US$ 45.96 Billion
Demand Growth (2024 to 2034)	26% CAGR
Rotary Wing Drone Sales (2024E)	US$ 1.31 Billion
France Market Growth (2024 to 2034)	25.7% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	BAE Systems, Inc.; Pix4D SA; Aerialtronics; Parrot Drone SAS; Flyability; AltiGator; Delair; senseFly SA

Why are Drones Gaining Such High Popularity in Europe?

“Drones Exhibiting Increasing Applications in Commercial as Well as Recreational Activities”

Drones are finding enhanced application in commercial uses, such as in the construction sector, as a result of which, building managers are able to meet their project deadlines and objectives quickly and more efficiently. Drones are used to scan construction sites and overlook the entire construction lifecycle.

Corporate houses and other industrial conglomerates are making enhanced use of drones that are fitted with thermal imaging cameras for emergency response to make contact and identify hazards. Furthermore, cutting-edge drone technologies are also leveraged by wildlife conservationists to monitor, track, and gather samples from endangered animals.

In addition, drones are now being widely used for recreational purposes in terms of recording videos, in the film and television industry, and carrying out other recreational activities. They are used to carry out drone-enable firework displays and to capture dramatic and cinematic views. As such, increasing application of drones for commercial and recreational purposes is expected to boost their demand growth during the forecast period.

The EU aviation strategy delivers guidance for exploring emerging and new technologies to develop drones that range from small to several tonnes in weight, are versatile, come with high-performance drone batteries, and can perform a variety of functions.

Start-up Ecosystem

• Sentient Blue is an Italian start-up offers innovative powertrain technologies for drones and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). The company make use of proprietary hybrid and standalone microturbine systems to create energy and run drones
• A United kingdom-based start-up Sees.ai develops remote drone operation technologies for construction companies. The integrated virtual reality (VR) technology is expected to offer high efficiency, on-site worker safety, and profitability to users.

Country-wise Analysis

Why is Germany a High-Growth Market for Drone Producers?

“High Private Ownership of Drones in the Country”

Attribute	Germany
Market Value (2024E)	US$ 1.08 Billion
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	24.3% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 9.55 Billion

Drones are being widely used in Germany for agricultural and commercial purposes. The accessibility to fly drones in Germany is contributing to the overall market growth

• According to the German Federal Aviation Office (FAO), the national aviation authority of Germany, flying a drone is legal in the country. However, Germany, being a part of the European Union, has to abide by the drone rules put in place by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

What is the Sales Outlook for Drones in the United Kingdom?

“High Use of Drones for Construction and Emergency Services”

Attribute	United Kingdom
Market Value (2024E)	US$ 684 Million
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	25.9% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 6.84 Billion

In the United Kingdom drones play a vital role in construction and emergency services. By joining hands with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the United Kingdom government allows the use of drones for personal needs. The launch of UAV pathfinder program by the United Kingdom government is also benefitting local market players to manufacture drones for various purposes such as construction and agriculture.

Category-wise Analysis

What is a Key End Use of Drones in Europe?

“Rising Use of Drones in Agriculture and Forestry Applications”

Attribute	Agriculture and Forestry
Segment Value (2024E)	US$ 920.8 Million
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	26.5% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 9.64 Billion

Drones are now being widely used for agriculture & forestry purposes by farmers and respective administrations. Use of drones in agriculture can aid in enhancing agricultural productivity, minimize expenditure, and help in eliminating duplicate operations, thus, simplifying various agricultural tasks and making them more efficient and feasible.

Drones in agricultural applications make monotonous, repetitive, and time-taking harvesting operations more efficiently and also come with imaging capabilities to monitor real-time weather changes. In addition, drones can be used to track weather patterns, collect forest and atmospheric data, and forecast any fire incidents. Stakeholders are leveraging drones to provide greater focus on climate change.

Which are Fixed Wing Drones So Popular across Europe?

“Fixed Wing Drones Enhancing Military and Defense Operations”

Attribute	Fixed Wing Drones
Segment Value (2024E)	US$ 3.18 Billion
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	27.1% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 34.88 Billion

Fixed wing drones are largely used for military purposes. They hit the target effectively from great heights. These drones are also effective in gathering data with no human help. The rising security concerns and terrorist threats are driving the sales of fixed wing drones. Fixed wing drones are also used in construction projects for monitoring and tracking information.

Competitive Landscape

Key manufacturers of drones in Europe are using state-of-the-art manufacturing tools and processes such as advanced assembly techniques and robotic automation to boost the quality and performance of drones. Furthermore, drone manufacturers are also focusing on collaborative activities with other players in emerging economies along with investing substantially in research and development activities.

• In March 2024, the United States Navy's Sixth Fleet announced that the Navy's huge drone and one of its most effective maritime patrol assets ‘MQ-4C debuted in Europe for the first time.
• Parrot Drone SAS was chosen for the supply of micro-drones by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) with ANAFI USA in 2021. These drones were specially designed to meet the needs of military forces (Sea, Air, Land), having the best performance in the category. This lead to the development of several hundred drones along with adaptations, and maintenance of software & equipment
• senseFly was acquired by AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. in 2021. This acquisition aided in accelerating the core growth strategy and the provision of full-stack drone solutions for application in energy, construction, and agriculture.

Fact.MR provides detailed information about the price points of key drone manufacturers positioned across Europe, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently updated report.

Segmentation of Drones Study in Europe

• By Category:

  • Consumer/Civil Drones
  • Commercial Drones
  • Military Drones
  • Others

• By Type:

  • Fixed Wing Drones
  • Rotary Wing Drones
  • Hybrid Drones

• By Payload:

  • Up to 25 Kg
  • 25 Kg to 50 Kg
  • 51 Kg to 100 Kg
  • 101 Kg to 150 Kg
  • Above 150 Kg

• By Power Source:

  • Electric Drones
  • Gas/Gasoline/Diesel Drones
  • Hybrid Drones

• By End Use:

  • Agriculture & Forestry
  • Delivery & Logistics
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Construction & Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Power & Utilities
  • Government & Civil Services
  • Industrial & Discreet Manufacturing
  • Security & Law Enforcement
  • Recreational Activities
  • Others

• By Sales Channel:

  • OEMs
  • Aftermarket

• By Country:

  • Germany
  • Italy
  • France
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Nordic
  • Russia
  • BENELUX
  • Rest of Europe