Drone Industry Analysis in United States

Drone Sales Outlook for United States (2024 to 2034)

Sales of drones in the United States have been approximated at US$ 6.58 billion in 2024 and are forecasted to increase swiftly at a CAGR of 16.9% from 2024 to 2034. Fact.MR estimates that the United States market will reach a value of US$ 31.34 billion by 2034-end.

Demand for drones in the United States is surging due to their high usage for both commercial and recreational purposes. Integration of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is leading to the development of highly smart drones. The western region of the country is forecasted to hold 25.1% of the United States market share by 2034.

Drones are also known as unmanned aircraft systems or unmanned aerial combat vehicles (UACVs). The market in the United States is growing at a rapid pace because of the high application of drones in several end-use verticals such as agriculture, construction, and surveillance. Drones are being used for commercial and recreational purposes alike. Commercial applications of drones are gaining traction for surveillance and security measures in defense and border security systems and for film and television purposes.

• According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as of 5/31/2024, in the United States, out of the total number of drones registered 383,302 are commercial drones and 392,468 are recreational drones.

Construction drone sales are projected to expand at a high CAGR on the back of the augmented use of drones for conducting visual inspections on building sites and high-risk areas. Efficiency is improved as drones can collect real-time data that is highly effective for communication and administration.

In addition, surveyors and engineers use drones to visualize the progress made in their construction projects by taking overhead images. Having a project overview leads to simplification of decision-making, thereby streamlining building site operations.

• Short Term (2024 to 2027): International political and geographical tensions will push the sales of drones during this near-term period.
• Medium Term (2027 to 2030): The southeast region of the country is anticipated to exhibit high demand for drones due to favorable government initiatives.
• Long Term (2030 to 2034): Diversified usage of drones in several end-use sectors along with the incorporation of advanced technologies will open lucrative opportunities for key market players in the long run.

Report Attributes	Details
Drone Sales in United States (2024E)	US$ 6.58 Billion
Forecasted Sales (2034F)	US$ 31.34 Billion
Demand Growth (2024 to 2034)	16.9% CAGR
Autonomous Drone Demand Growth (2024 to 2034)	19.7% CAGR
Manually Operated Drone Sales (2034F)	US$ 5.83 Billion
Fixed Wing Drone Demand Growth (2024 to 2034)	19.1% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	3D Robotics Inc.; The Boeing Company; Northrop Grumman; AeroVironment, Inc.; General Atomics; Eagle Pro Industrial Tools Inc.; Hoodman Corporation; Transdigm Group Inc.; InvenSense; Martin UAV.

What Market Dynamics are Positively Influencing Sales of Drones in the United States?

“Investments in R&D to Offer Reliable and Smart Drones”

Drones are now being used for several applications, ranging from surveillance, deployment in military operations, video recording, agriculture, and film & television. With this rise in drone applications, key players in the United States market are incorporating advanced technologies in drones. Increasing drone payload capacity and introducing drones for specific applications are anticipated to promote the profits of drone manufacturers. Furthermore, leading companies are also making drones with high-power motors. Home deliveries through drones have now become a reality with the help of retail and logistics organizations such as Amazon.

Technologically advanced drones can now travel at a speed of up to 100 miles per hour and aid in the transportation of products. Prominent companies are investing substantially in research and development activities for the production of advanced drone accessories.

“FAA and Other Local Regulations Supporting Drone Sales Growth”

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drones or unmanned aircraft systems and has laid down general rules for flying drones in the country. For instance, drones are allowed for recreational and commercial use in the United States and there is a provision of details on flying drones for fun or work.

Drones need to be registered with the FAA, which is then valid for three years. The law also describes how, when, and where a person can fly a drone for recreational purposes. All safety guidelines of existing aeromodelling organizations and safety guidelines provided by the FAA need to be followed.

Which Part of the Country Accounts for Higher Sales of Drones?

“Southeast Region Leads Sales of Drones in United States”

Attribute	Southeast Region
Market Value (2024E)	US$ 1.76 Billion
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	17.2% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 8.65 Billion

The Southeast region of the United States is anticipated to hold the leading market share throughout the forecast period. This high growth is attributed to several factors such as the presence of favorable government initiatives and rising demand for drones for security purposes.

The Southeastern part of the country is facing towards the sea making the border a challenge for United States defense and security agencies. The United States defense and security agencies are making high use of AI-military drones for effective security purposes. Digital drones with cutting-edge features are anticipated to provide predictive analysis of any threat.

Category-wise Analysis

Why is Demand for Military Drones So High in the United States?

“Government Strengthening Armed Forces amid International Political and Geographical Tensions”

The United States market is segmented into consumer/civil drones, commercial drones, and military drones. The military drones are anticipated to hold a high share in 2024. This can be due to the rising defense expenditure by the government of the United States. Furthermore, as the international political arena is becoming highly volatile and ongoing war tensions among neighboring countries such as Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Palestine are increasing, the United States government is investing substantial amounts in strengthening its military capabilities and surveillance activities.

Which Aspects are Promoting Sales of Semi-autonomous Drones?

“Semi-autonomous Drones Widely Used for Photography and Videography Activities”

Attribute	Semi-autonomous Drones
Segment Value (2024E)	US$ 3.29 Billion
Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	14.8% CAGR
Projected Value (2034F)	US$ 13.05 Billion

Semi-autonomous drones require less human intervention and can perform independently. Photography, videography, and recreational flying are some of the prime applications of semi-autonomous drones. They are also used in situations requiring human oversight such as security or search and rescue missions.

Competitive Landscape

The United States market is expanding rapidly on the back of innovation being undertaken by prominent companies. Leading drone manufacturers are incorporating advanced features and functions in drones and are also focusing on research & development and collaborative activities to gain an edge over their competitors in the market.

Industry giants are focusing on state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and tools such as advanced assembly techniques and robotic automation, leading to quality enhancement.

• Texas-based Martin UAV launched a new, artificial intelligence (AI) powered V-Bat drone in 2023.
• In 2021, The Boeing Company set up a new factory to produce a carrier-based drone for the U.S. Navy in Illinois. This production expansion is anticipated to result in high-fidelity models, thereby driving efficiency, quality, and flexibility throughout the manufacturing process.

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

Segmentation of Drones Study in United States

• By Drone Type :

  • Consumer/Civil Drones
  • Commercial Drones
  • Military Drones

• By Product Type :

  • Fixed Wing Drones
  • Rotary Wing Drones
  • Hybrid Drones

• By Payload :

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

• By Power Source :

  • Electric
  • Gas/Gasoline/Diesel
  • Hybrid

• By End Use :

  • Agriculture & Forestry
  • Delivery & Logistics
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Construction & Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Security & Law Enforcement
  • Recreational Activities
  • Others

• By Sales Channel :

  • OEMs
  • Aftermarket
    • Online Stores
      • Direct to Consumer
      • Third-Party Online
    • Modern Trade Channels
    • Electronic Stores
      • Franchised Stores
      • Independent Stores
    • Others

• By Region :

  • Northeast
  • Southeast
  • West
  • Southwest
  • Midwest