Global Drone Sensor Market Overview:
The global drone sensor market size was valued at USD 1.15 Billion in 2024. The drone sensor industry is projected to grow from USD 1.41 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.60 Billion by 2034, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.3% during the forecast period (2025 - 2034). The increasing demand for drones for mapping, the growing demand for drones for payload delivery, and the growing adoption of drones for media are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.
Source: Primary Research, MRFR Database, Secondary Research, and Analyst Review
Drone Sensor Market Trends
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High adoption of unmanned system military operations is driving the market growth.
Market CAGR for drone sensors is being driven by the increase in procurement of UAVs in numerous countries to modernize the existing fleet and enhance military and defense capabilities for terrorism, counterinsurgencies, and border crossing is enhancing the market growth. The huge range of unmanned systems uses numerous sensors, including infrared and Lidar, for surveillance. Some important sensors, including air pressure sensors to stabilize the body, gyro-meter, accelerometer, and barometric pressure sensors, are widely utilized to allow flight with smooth precision. Enhanced integration of artificial intelligence in automation technology is anticipated to drive the drone sensor market revenue.
Additionally, technological developments in unmanned systems in the past few years, due to high investments from private players, are enhancing the demand for advanced sensors. These developments are transforming traditional aerial photography and videography due to excellent camera sensors deployed on unmanned systems. Excellent data collection ability with the assistance of analytics software and enhancing the overall performance of unmanned systems.
The evolving need for drones in various fields demands drone manufacturers equip the drones with new technologies that assist them in adapting to the changes. Off late, LiDAR is becoming a high-resolution and more real option for 3D mapping and geospatial data display. As LiDAR utilizes ultraviolet, near-infrared light, effective mapping can be done, which allows the growth of its priority. For instance, in February 2020, Bluesky International defeated a contract from the Welsh government to perform an aerial survey of Wales. Natural Resources Wales and Bluesky will grab the data with the assistance of LiDAR of more than 20,000 sq km of Wales's rural and urban landscape.
Drone Sensor Market Segment Insights:
Drone Sensor Type Insights
The global drone sensor market segmentation, based on sensor type, includes inertial sensor {accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and tilt sensor}, image sensor {infrared, thermal, multispectral, and 3D image sensor}, speed & distance sensor {RADAR, LiDAR, and proximity sensor}, position sensor {GPS, and GNSS}, pressure sensor, light sensor, current sensor, and others. The image sensor segment dominated the market, accounting for 35% of market revenue (0.22 Billion). In developing economies, category growth is driven due to the growing application of aerial photography in the commercial sector. However, speed & distance sensor is the fastest-growing category due to technological advancement.
Drone Sensor End-User Insights
The global drone sensor market segmentation, based on end-user, includes construction, media & entertainment, agricultural, personal, security & surveillance, defense, law enforcement, transportation, and others. The agricultural category generated the most income (70.4%) due to the high adoption of drones in the agriculture sector for crop growth. However, security & surveillance is the fastest-growing category due to the growing use of drones for intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Drone Sensor Platform Type Insights
The global drone sensor market segmentation, based on platform type, includes VTOL, fixed-wing, and hybrid. The fixed-wing category generated the most income owing to extensive utilization in military and defense applications worldwide. Most military operations have strong needs for key applications such as information collection, image mapping, data gathering, and intelligence. However, VTOL is the fastest-growing category due to the increasing adoption of unmanned systems in commercial logistics services, including food delivery, parcel deliveries, medicine supply, and sample collection.
Figure 1: Global Drone Sensor Market by Platform Type, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Drone Sensor Application Insights
The global drone sensor market segmentation, based on application, includes navigation, data acquisition, motion detection, air pressure measurement, collision detection & avoidance, power monitoring, and others. The navigation category generated the most income over the forecast period. The huge range of unmanned systems is highly reliable in detecting accurate positions and directions for flight operations. However, motion detection is the fastest-growing category as it provides accurate information, including proper direction and distances.
Drone Sensor Regional Insights
By region, the study delivers market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. The North American drone sensor market will dominate, owing to the increasing adoption of drones in the military & defense sector and commercial industry. The developed economies in this region have perfect integration of technology via smart & advanced equipment for enhancing production output will boost market growth in this region. Further, the US drone sensor market held the largest market share, and the Canadian drone sensor market was the fastest-growing market in the North American region.
Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The US, Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure 2: GLOBAL DRONE SENSOR MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Europe's drone sensor market accounts for the second-largest market share due to the expanding demand for commercial drones in this region. Further, the German drone sensor market held the largest market share, and the UK drone sensor market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.
The Asia-Pacific drone sensor market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. This is due to the surging spending on military & defense in countries to enhance capabilities and fleet size. Moreover, China’s drone sensor market held the largest market share, and the Indian drone sensor market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Drone Sensor Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development to expand their product lines, which will help the drone sensor market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking multiple strategic activities to expand their global footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, the drone sensor industry must offer cost-effective items.
Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics manufacturers use in the global drone sensor industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. Major players in the drone sensor market, including Trimble (US), Bosch Sensortec (Germany), TDK InvenSense (Japan), Sparton NavEx (US), ams AG (Austria), Raytheon (US), and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.
TDK Corp manufactures and supplies electronic products, including passive components, applied film products, applied magnetics, and others. The company's product portfolio includes inductors, ceramic capacitors, sensors, inductive devices, piezoelectric material products, transformers, circuit protection components, applied films, magnets, hard disk drive (HDD) heads, flash storage, sensor systems, EMC components, RF components, inductors, Power Supplies, FA Systems and other components. TDK also offers mechatronics equipment, memory-applied devices, anechoic chambers, factory automation equipment, camera module micro actuators for smartphones and other related products. Its products find application in several electronic products and devices such as mobile phones, household electric appliances, personal computers, automobiles, and industrial and medical equipment. In January 2019, TDK Corporation established the ICM-42622 6-axis motion sensor, a 6-axis IMUs optimized sensor. Its characteristics include higher gyroscope temperature stability, fast sampling capability, low gyroscope and accelerometer noise, etc.
EMCORE Corp provides sensors for navigation in the defense and aerospace market. The company's product portfolio includes switches, CATV lasers, fiber optic transmitters and components, laser chips, PIN photodiode chips, fiber optic links, microwave components and navigation systems. EMCORE also provides navigation sensing products and other optical products. Its products find application in satellite communications, communications and CATV network infrastructure, aerospace, and defense markets. EMCORE sells its products through third-party sales representatives, distributors, direct sales forces, and application engineers. In June 2019, EMCORE Corporation acquired Systron Donner Inertial, Inc., which has helped both companies to share their sensor expertise.
Key Companies in the Drone Sensor market include
Drone Sensor Industry Developments
November 2020: U.S. Department of Defense granted an agreement worth USD 93.3 million to General Atomics to produce perfect sensors for the MQ-9 Reaper. The agreement was under Joint Artificial Intelligence Center's Smart Sensor Project to design artificial intelligence to manage aircraft sensors by displaying object recognition algorithms.
January 2020: Velodyne Lidar established its smallest sensor, Velabit, developed for UAVs, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. The sensor allows advanced GPS-denied HD mapping in the industry.
Drone Sensor Market Segmentation:
Drone Sensor Type Outlook
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Accelerometer
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Gyroscope
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Magnetometer
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Tilt Sensor
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Infrared
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Thermal
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Multispectral
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3D Image Sensor
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RADAR
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LiDAR
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Proximity Sensor
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Pressure Sensor
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Light Sensor
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Current Sensor
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Others
Drone Sensor End-User Outlook
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Construction
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Media & Entertainment
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Agricultural
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Personal
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Security & Surveillance
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Defense
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Law Enforcement
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Transportation
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Others
Drone Sensor Platform Type Outlook
Drone Sensor Application Outlook
Drone Sensor Regional Outlook
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Germany
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France
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UK
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Italy
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Spain
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Rest of Europe
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China
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Japan
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India
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Australia
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South Korea
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Australia
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Rest of Asia-Pacific
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Middle East
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Africa
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Latin America
| Report Attribute/Metric |
Details |
| Market Size 2024 |
USD 1.15 Billion |
| Market Size 2025 |
USD 1.41 Billion |
| Market Size 2034 |
USD 8.60 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) |
22.3% (2025-2034) |
| Base Year |
2024 |
| Market Forecast Period |
2025-2034 |
| Historical Data |
2020- 2023 |
| Market Forecast Units |
Value (USD Billion) |
| Report Coverage |
Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
| Segments Covered |
Sensor Type, Application, End-User, Platform Type and Region |
| Geographies Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World |
| Countries Covered |
The US, Canada, German, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil |
| Key Companies Profiled |
Trimble (US), Bosch Sensortec (Germany), TDK InvenSense (Japan), Raytheon (US), Sparton NavEx (US), ams AG (Austria), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), PrecisionHawk (US), Sentera, Inc. (US), and SlantRange (US) |
| Key Market Opportunities |
High adoption of drones in the agriculture sector for crop growth |
| Key Market Dynamics |
Growing demand for drones for payload delivery |
Drone Sensor Market Highlights:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :
The global drone sensor market size was valued at USD 1.15 Billion in 2024.
The global market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.3% during the forecast period, 2025-2034.
North America had the largest share of the global market
The key players in the market are TDK InvenSense (Japan), Raytheon (US), Sparton NavEx (US), ams AG (Austria), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), PrecisionHawk (US), Sentera, Inc. (US), and SlantRange (US).
The image sensor category dominated the market in 2022.
The agricultural had the largest share in the global market.
The fixed-wing category dominated the market in 2022.
Navigation had the largest share of the global market.
