North America Drone Market Outlook, 2028

The North American drone market has grown significantly in recent years, revolutionizing industries and grabbing the interest of amateurs and corporations alike. Drones have become indispensable tools in a variety of industries, from aerial photography and agriculture to disaster relief and delivery services. Drones are being used more frequently in industries such as agriculture, construction, mining, and energy. In agriculture, for example, drones outfitted with sensors and cameras assist farmers in monitoring crop health, optimizing irrigation, and increasing overall yields. Drones serve in site surveying, mapping, and safety inspections in building and mining. The use of drones in construction is boosting the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of land surveying methods by addressing the shortcomings of previous methods, such as human error. Drones are increasingly being used to do visual inspections of high-risk regions on construction sites. The capacity to collect real-time data from drones increases the efficiency of on-site communication and management. Drones also assist engineers and surveyors in inspecting high-rise construction and visualizing project progress through overhead images. Additionally, they give site managers an overview of prospective concerns and simplify critical decision-making components to streamline building site operations. Such benefits of using drones in construction are expected to increase the growth of the segment in the coming future. Various government agencies, small businesses, and other start-ups in the United States have been testing the integration of drones into various sectors such as infrastructure, law enforcement, agriculture, last-mile delivery, medical transport, and entertainment, among others, with the support of the FAA. Amazon, Google, Walmart, and Uber have all been testing the use of drones for delivery in the coming years.

According to the research report, “North America Drone Market Outlook, 2028” published by Bonafide Research, the market was valued at more than USD 12 Billion in 2022. The North American drone market has a bright future. Drones will grow more capable, dependable, and economical as technology advances. Aside from the previously listed applications, other domains such as urban air mobility (UAM) and drone taxis are on the horizon. These advancements have the potential to alter urban transportation. Furthermore, advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning will allow drones to fly independently, broadening their use in a variety of industries. Increased connectivity via 5G networks will also improve drones' capabilities for remote monitoring and real-time data transmission. Drone capabilities are being transformed by the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Drones outfitted with artificial intelligence-powered computer vision systems can now recognize and track things, analyze data in real time, and make autonomous judgments. This technology has created new potential in industries such as agriculture, where drones can precisely identify and treat crop issues, and search and rescue, where they can help locate missing people more quickly. AI also improves drone safety by enabling autonomous obstacle avoidance and collision avoidance. The rise of swarming drones is another key trend. Drones may now collaborate as coordinated teams, enhancing efficiency and redundancy in a variety of applications. This is inspired by the collective behavior of natural swarms. This technique has ramifications for agriculture, where swarms of drones may collect data over broad areas, as well as defense and security, where they can be employed for surveillance and reconnaissance. In recent years, the North American drone market has seen the growth of specialist drone-as-a-service (DaaS) companies. These startups provide industry-specific solutions, removing the need for enterprises to invest considerably in drone hardware and training. DaaS providers provide services such as aerial mapping, inspection, and data analysis, making drones more accessible to a broader range of enterprises and individuals.

Based on report market is majorly segmented into three major countries, United States, Canada and Mexico. Among them United States is dominating the market of North America with highest market share.

The United States is an early adopter of drone technology, with roots in military and research uses. Government entities such as the Department of Defense and NASA were instrumental in the development of drone technology. This early start enabled US corporations to build knowledge and identify themselves as pioneers in the sector. The United States has a large aerospace and defense industry, with established businesses such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman having substantial experience in aircraft and unmanned systems. These companies have expanded into the commercial drone sector by using their expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and research and development. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created clear and changing restrictions for commercial drone operations. These laws, while strict, establish a framework that protects safety and responsibility while allowing for ethical drone use. A clear regulatory framework promotes company confidence and growth. In the United States, the availability of venture financing and investment opportunities has driven the emergence of drone firms. Companies have been able to scale their operations, conduct research, and extend their product offerings because of these financial resources. For instance, Walmart mentioned in May 2022 that its delivery service with the operator DroneUp launched in six states, making it the country's first large-scale drone delivery operation. According to the corporation, parts of Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia might get more than 1 million packages by drone each year. Amazon tested its drone service in the United States in June 2022, and Amazon customers in Lockeford, California, will be among the first to receive Prime Air drone deliveries in the United States. The increase in drone operators in the country, as well as government assistance, will drive demand for the drone market in the United States over the projected period.

Based on product type market is segmented into commercial drone, military drone and consumer drone. Furthermore, in terms of type market includes fixed wing, rotary wing and hybrid.



Commercial drones are useful in a variety of industries, including agriculture, construction, mining, energy, infrastructure inspection, surveying, cinematography, and environmental monitoring. Because of their versatility, they appeal to a wide range of customers. Commercial drones are rapidly being used by businesses in a variety of industries to improve operational efficiency and cut expenses. Drones equipped with sensors and cameras, for example, may monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and identify pest infestations in agriculture, ultimately increasing yields and cutting costs. Drone technology advancements have resulted in the development of highly specialized commercial drones. Fixed-wing drones for long-range applications, multi-rotor drones for precision maneuverability, and hybrid drones that mix elements from both are examples of these. This innovation meets the specific requirements of several sectors. Rotary wing is leading the market of North America drone market. Rotary-wing drones, which often have many rotors, are extremely maneuverable. As a result, they are perfect for applications requiring precision control and hovering capabilities, such as aerial photography, videography, and infrastructure inspection. Rotary-wing drones are easier to control than fixed-wing competitors, particularly in urban and tight settings. Because of their capacity to take off and land vertically, they do not require runways or specialized launch and recovery equipment. Rotary-wing drones provide an advantage in regions with developing drone legislation, such as North America. They are more adaptable to diverse airspace limits and laws than fixed-wing drones, which can require larger dedicated flight regions.

In terms of payload market is segmented into drones upto 25Kg, drones from 25Kg-150 Kg and drones more than 150Kg. Based on component market includes, hardware, software and accessories.

Drones upto 25Kg dominates the market of North America with significant market share. Drones with this payload capacity are quite flexible. They can hold a variety of sensors, cameras, and other payloads, making them appropriate for a wide range of applications in industries such as agriculture, construction, mining, environmental monitoring, and others. Drone rules in North America, notably in the United States and Canada, are often more favourable for drones weighing less than 25 kg. These rules frequently have fewer restrictions and make commercial drone activities easier to approve. This encourages firms to choose drones in this weight range since they face fewer regulatory constraints. This weight class of drones is more accessible to a broader range of enterprises and organizations. They are appropriate for small and medium-sized businesses as well as individual professionals, allowing them to reap the benefits of drone technology without incurring excessive costs. Smaller drones often have reduced maintenance and repair expenses since they have less complex components and are easier to fix. This helps to their market appeal in North America. Drone performance is directly influenced by hardware components. Propulsion system, battery, and motor advancements result in longer flying periods, larger payloads, and enhanced maneuverability. This ongoing hardware enhancement contributes to improved drone capabilities and efficiency, which are highly valued in the market. The drone business is constantly benefiting from technological advancements in hardware components. The development of more efficient batteries and power systems, for example, has considerably increased flight lengths. Sensor technology advancements, such as LiDAR and multispectral cameras, have broadened the variety of data that drones can collect.

Based on application market is bifurcated into military and defense, inspection & monitoring, environmental monitoring, construction, agriculture, media and entertainment, aerial surveying , security & law enforcement, logistics & transportation, photography, energy, and others.

Military and defense industries are the major buyers of drone in North America and is expected to dominate the market as well. Drones have become an essential component of current military strategies. They offer a one-of-a-kind blend of surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and strike capabilities. Drones provide a strategic edge to armed forces in an era of asymmetrical warfare and complicated global security issues. One of the key advantages of military drones is their ability to accomplish operations in high-risk settings without putting military personnel's lives in danger. These drones are capable of entering hostile areas, conducting observation, and even engaging enemy targets without putting soldiers in danger. Drones can be quickly deployed and reconfigured for a variety of operations, such as reconnaissance, strikes, search and rescue, and electronic warfare. This versatility is extremely essential in rapidly changing military operations. The military invests extensively in drone technology research and development, resulting in the creation of advanced unmanned systems with enhanced capabilities. Defense contractors and technological firms in North America are at the forefront of these developments. Drones are employed for border surveillance in North America, primarily along the United States-Mexico and Canada-United States borders. They aid with the monitoring of unlawful border crossings, drug trafficking, and other security issues. Interoperability is important to the military, and many drones are designed to function easily with current military communication and control systems, allowing them to integrate into larger defense networks.
Companies Covered in this report:

SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd., Parrot SA, Intel Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, The Lockheed Martin Corporation, Yuneec International, PrecisionHawk, BAE Systems plc, AeroVironment, Inc, Draganfly Inc, Safran S.A., Esri, General Atomics, Skydio.

Considered in this report

• Geography: North America
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

• North America Drone market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise Drone market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Country covered in the report:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

By Product Type

• Commercial Drone
• Military Drone
• Consumer Drone

By Type

• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Wing
• Hybrid

By Payload

• Drones Up to 25 Kg
• Drones from 25 Kg - 150 Kg
• Drones More than 150 Kg

By Component
• Hardware
• Software
• Accessories

By Application

• Military and Defence
• Inspection & Monitoring
• Environmental Monitoring
• Construction
• Agriculture
• Media and Entertainment
• Aerial Surveying
• Security & Law Enforcement
• Logistics & Transportation
• Photography
• Energy
• Others

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organisations related to the Drone industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.