First Published Aug 09, 2019, Updated Apr 07, 2020
As per Global Data UK Ltd, the Global Military UAV Market 2019–2029 report indicates that the global military UAV market will be driven by internal and external security threats, territorial disputes, and modernization initiatives undertaken by armed forces across the world.
Significant UAV customers include countries in the Asia Pacific and North American region, and the global UAV market will be dominated by the US throughout the forecast period.
Asia Pacific’s share of the global UAV market is also projected to increase, largely due to a number of international territorial conflicts and insurgency issues.
The Report contends that The Military UAV Market, valued at US$10.9 billion in 2019, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.14% to reach US$14.8 billion by 2029.
UAVs are force multipliers thus countries are allocating substantial defense budgets to the R&D and procurement of advanced UAVs.
UCAVs and HALE UAVs are more in demand by major defense spenders such as the US, Russia, the UK, and China, whereas MALE UAVs and TUAVs are finding growing markets in developing countries such as India, Brazil, and the UAE states the Report.
Some of the major companies that have been identified in the report are Israel Aerospace Industries, EMT Ingenieurgesellschaft, AAI Corporation, BlueBird Aero Systems, Singapore Technologies Aerospace, Airbus, Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., AeroVironment Aeronautics Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Dassault Aviation SA., Denel Dynamics, Korea Aerospace Industries, BAE Systems and the Swedish company the SAAB.
In India the major drone manufacturers for the military such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is struggling to bring a flying machine into the services.
Interest has also been shown by private sector manufacturers as Dynamatics Corporation.
The government is boosting drone manufacturing by providing incentives for drone testing.
Availability of drone testing in the country will boost drone manufacturers who will have a readymade range available for development and productionalisation after trials.
The Government of India, Ministry of Defence is providing grand in aid worth Rs 400 Crore for setting up testing facilities for drones under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS).
Availability of drone testing in the country will boost drone manufacturers who will have a readymade range available for development and productionalisation after trials.
As drones have dual use – military and civil, the facility created can be used by varied manufacturers.
The DTIs was approved by Raksha Mantri to facilitate indigenous defence production & consequently reduce imports of military equipment and make the country self-reliant on 08 June as per the Department of Defence Production (DDP) monthly summary for June.
The DDP/DGQA has invited the first Expression of Interests (EOIs) from reputed private entities for setting up Testing Facilities for Drones under the DTIS. The agencies are required to set up testing facilities.
The process of inducting into the UAV market by India will remain slow but through investment in testing the government has denoted intent.