AI-powered drones market to triple by 2030, driven by defence, logistics and agriculture

The global market for artificial intelligence (AI) in drones is forecast to grow from $821.3 million in 2025 to $2.75 billion (£2.13 billion) by 2030, according to a new industry report. The projection represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4% over the five-year period, making it one of the fastest-growing areas of the aerospace and defence sector

The research by MarketsandMarkets, published yesterday, attributes growth to rising adoption across the commercial, civil and defence sectors, as drones are increasingly used in applications ranging from logistics and infrastructure inspection to agriculture and urban mobility.

Organisations are said to be adopting drones for last-mile delivery, asset inspection, crop monitoring and precision mapping, with AI capabilities enabling predictive decision-making, automated object detection and real-time analytics.

According to MarketsandMarkets, these developments are also lowering barriers to adoption by allowing businesses to reduce labour costs and integrate drone systems into enterprise operations.

The expansion of drone-as-a-service (DaaS) business models is also helping commercial users access advanced drone technology without the need for significant upfront investment.

“The artificial intelligence (AI) in drones market is witnessing strong growth globally, fuelled by the rising adoption of drones across the defence, commercial, and civil sectors,” the company said.

“As drone applications expand from surveillance and logistics to agriculture and urban mobility, there is a growing demand for advanced AI that offers greater efficiency, endurance, and reliability. This market growth is further supported by increasing defence investments, supportive regulatory frameworks, and a surge in demand for autonomous aerial operations.”

The report also identifies flight and mission operations as the largest functional segment of the market. This includes technologies for autonomous navigation, route optimisation, obstacle avoidance and swarm coordination, all of which are becoming standard for AI-powered systems.

Delivery services are increasingly employing AI to shorten route durations and enhance logistical efficiency, while emergency services are using autonomous drones for reconnaissance and search-and-rescue missions in hazardous environments, according to the report.

North America is expected to account for the largest regional share over the forecast period, driven by military investment, high levels of R&D and a well-established regulatory and innovation ecosystem.

“The region is witnessing the growing use of drones in delivery services, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and emergency services, all of which need reliable and efficient propulsion systems,” MarketsandMarkets said.

It also pointed to the role of the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as the presence of AI chipmakers and drone manufacturers in the United States and Canada.

Elsewhere, the report identifies data privacy and cybersecurity as a major challenge for the sector. As drones become more autonomous and operate in high-stakes commercial and military environments, there is increasing focus on protecting communications, flight data and AI models from interference or manipulation, it said.

Among the most significant developments on the horizon is the deployment of AI-enabled swarm drones. These coordinated fleets are capable of operating autonomously to carry out complex missions across defence, surveillance and emergency response.

According to the report, “deployment of AI-enabled swarm drones for defence and emergency response” represents one of the key growth opportunities in the years ahead.

Main image, courtesy Altaf Shah/Pexels