According to Fortune Business Insights™, the global drone sensor market size was valued at USD 394.7 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 2,342.1 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 25.08% during the forecast period (2021–2028). The rising adoption of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in defense operations and expanding commercial applications such as agriculture, logistics, and aerial imaging are major growth drivers.
Rising Commercial Use of Unmanned Systems to Fuel Market Expansion
Drone technology continues to advance across various countries, enabling its application in aerial photography, logistics, precision farming, disaster response, and wildlife monitoring. The effectiveness of drones in such applications largely depends on high-quality sensors that support long-range, autonomous operations. These sensors—such as inertial, image, position, and distance sensors—are essential for UAVs to collect real-time data and make accurate flight decisions. The increasing global demand for such unmanned systems is expected to significantly accelerate market growth.
Key Companies Profiled
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Trimble (U.S.)
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Bosch Sensortec (Germany)
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TDK InvenSense (U.S.)
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Sparton NavEx (U.S.)
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Raytheon (U.S.)
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AMS AG (Austria)
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FLIR Systems (U.S.)
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KVH Industries (U.S.)
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TE Connectivity (Switzerland)
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Lord Microstrain (U.S.)
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Other Players
Source:
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/drone-sensor-market-102596
Market Segmentation
Sensor Type: The market is segmented into inertial sensors, image sensors, speed & distance sensors, position sensors, pressure sensors, altimeter sensors, ultrasonic sensors, current sensors, light sensors, and others. Inertial sensors include accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt sensors, and magnetometers. Image sensors are classified into thermal, infrared, and multispectral types. Speed & distance sensors consist of LiDAR, radar, and proximity sensors, while position sensors include GPS and GNSS. Among these, image sensors are expected to exhibit the highest CAGR through 2028 due to increasing demand for aerial photography and imaging in commercial sectors. Inertial sensors are also projected to show strong growth, reaching USD 312.5 million in revenue by 2025.
Platform: Based on platform, the market is segmented into fixed-wing, VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing), and hybrid drones. The fixed-wing segment is anticipated to hold the largest market share, primarily due to its widespread use in long-range surveillance, mapping, and intelligence-gathering missions for military and defense. Meanwhile, the VTOL segment is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, driven by rising demand for drones in commercial logistics and delivery applications, including parcel transport, food services, and medical supply chains.
Application: The market is further segmented by application into navigation, collision detection & avoidance, data acquisition, motion detection, air pressure measurement, power monitoring, and others. Among these, the navigation segment is expected to dominate the market, holding a 29% share by 2025. This is attributed to the increasing integration of GPS and smart navigation systems in UAVs, which play a crucial role in delivering accurate flight paths and positional data—especially for emergency services such as disaster management, search and rescue, and remote sensing.
Defense Sector Applications Driving Global Demand
The growing reliance on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions is significantly contributing to market growth. Drones are valued for their ability to operate undetected by radar, making them ideal for high-risk military operations. For example, in August 2020, Michael Kratsios, then Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, announced the Defense Department’s access to commercial drone technology, expanding its use across federal agencies.
North America Dominates Due to Military Integration and Media Innovations
North America accounted for USD 143.2 million of the market value in 2020 and is expected to remain the leading region throughout the forecast period. The region’s growth is driven by the U.S. military’s high drone adoption rate, coupled with the use of drones in sports broadcasting and entertainment. A notable example includes the use of an Intel drone during an NBA dunk performance in 2017.
Expansion Opportunities in Agricultural Insurance and Assessment
Leading companies are developing specialized drone sensors tailored to the agricultural insurance and risk assessment sector, helping insurers conduct accurate field evaluations. For instance, Skymet utilizes drone-based surveys to assist insurers and local governments across Indian states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
Recent Industry Development
In November 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a USD 93.3 million contract to General Atomics under the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center’s Smart Sensor Project. The initiative aims to enhance sensor technology in the MQ-9 Reaper drone by developing AI-powered object recognition algorithms, enabling more autonomous sensor functions.
