Asia-Pacific Drone Market Outlook, 2028

In recent years, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as a drone powerhouse. APAC's drone market is seeing significant growth and innovation, thanks to a diverse topography that includes booming metropolises, huge agricultural plains, and rural terrain. The Asia-Pacific drone market is distinguished by its dynamism and diversity. It has several applications, ranging from precision agriculture to surveillance, logistics, and entertainment. The market is expected to continue growing thanks to factors such as technical improvements, rising industrial applications, and favourable government policies. Precision agriculture is changing the way crops are farmed in the Asia-Pacific region. Drones outfitted with powerful sensors and imaging technology allow farmers to precisely monitor crop health, regulate irrigation, and apply fertilizers. This technique will be critical for enhancing agricultural output in densely populated nations such as India and China. The APAC e-commerce boom has increased demand for drone deliveries. China has been at the forefront of testing drone deliveries for online retail behemoths. The region's rapidly rising urban populations necessitate the development of effective last-mile delivery options. The extensive industrial infrastructure of APAC, which includes power plants, refineries, and telecommunications towers, necessitates routine inspection and repair. Drones provide a cost-effective and safe aerial inspection option, saving downtime and improving worker safety. Deforestation, poaching, and climate change pose continual threats to APAC's diverse ecosystems and species. Drones are employed in environmental conservation initiatives such as wildlife population monitoring, illegal logging tracking, and conducting airborne surveys to determine the impact of climate change.

According to the research report, “Asia-Pacific Drone Market Outlook, 2028” published by Bonafide Research, the market is expected to grow at 35.07% CAGR from 2023 to 2028. The region is home to some of the world's most innovative technological inventors, particularly in China, Japan, and South Korea. These innovation clusters propel drone technological developments such as AI, autonomy, and sensor integration. Rapid urbanization in China and India has resulted in congested cities and transportation problems. Drones can help with urban planning, traffic control, and emergency response. Drones in the Asia-Pacific area are distinguished by their amazing flexibility to solve the numerous and frequently unique problems posed by this wide and dynamic geographical expanse. The APAC area presents a plethora of applications that exhibit the amazing potential of drones, ranging from the towering skyscrapers of Asian megacities to the vast agricultural plains of Oceania. Another application for drones in this sector is industrial inspections. Drones, with their extensive infrastructure of power plants, refineries, and telecommunications towers, provide a cost-effective and safe way to conduct airborne inspections, minimizing downtime and improving worker safety. Many countries in APAC have recognized drones' transformational potential and have enacted forward-thinking rules to encourage their responsible use. These regulatory frameworks encourage an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling enterprises to use drone technology for a variety of purposes. The deployment of 5G networks in APAC is poised to transform drone operations. Real-time data transmission, remote piloting, and communication between drones and ground control stations require high-speed, low-latency connectivity. This tendency is crucial for enabling operations beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS). With the development of drones comes an increased demand for counter-drone technologies. To protect airspace security, APAC countries are investing in the development of systems to identify, monitor, and mitigate rogue drones, particularly near critical sites such as airports and government institutions.

Based on report market is bifurcated into five major countries China, Japan, India, Australia and South Korea.

China is leading the market of Asia-Pacific as well as global also. China is known as the "world's factory," and this includes the manufacture of drones. Many of the world's biggest drone manufacturers are situated in China, and they offer a diverse range of drones for a variety of industries and pricing points. Because of its considerable manufacturing capability, China has established itself as the world's leading supplier of drones. Chinese firms have made major investments in drone technology, resulting in significant improvements in areas such as autonomous flight, AI integration, and sensor technology. Because of these advancements, China is now able to develop highly competitive drones with cutting-edge characteristics. The Chinese government has been supportive of the drone sector, both domestically and internationally. They have put in place policies to stimulate drone innovation, as well as funds and resources for research and development in this industry. Chinese drones are designed to serve a variety of purposes, ranging from consumer drones for photography enthusiasts to industrial-grade drones used in agriculture, mining, and construction. Chinese drones are appealing to a global consumer base because of their adaptability. China is dominating the global drone market, and Shenzhen is the buzzing core of this industry, thanks to strong government support and rapid technological growth. With over 600 approved drone manufacturers out of a total of over 7,000 in mainland China, the city is widely regarded as China's Silicon Valley. The concentration of drone enterprises in Shenzhen is beneficial to the industry's worldwide competitiveness and innovation. The growing demand for a next-generation logistics network presents a significant opportunity for China's drone industry.

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



Numerous geopolitical conflicts and territorial disputes exist in the Asia-Pacific area, particularly in the South China Sea and along several borders. Military drones are employed for surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering, allowing countries to more efficiently monitor and respond to security concerns. Many Asian countries have extensive land and sea borders that must be constantly monitored. Drones are a cost-effective and efficient way of patrolling and safeguarding borders, identifying unauthorized crossings, and combating smuggling and illicit operations. Several Asian countries, including Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, are located on islands or archipelagos. Military drones play an important role in guaranteeing the defense and security of these remote areas, as well as monitoring marine approaches and responding to any threats. Rotary-wing drones have dominated the Asia-Pacific industry for a variety of compelling reasons. Rotary-wing drones' agility and adaptability make them particularly well-suited to addressing the varied range of issues and applications prevalent in this dynamic and expansive region. Rotary-wing drones have distinct advantages in rough terrain, crowded urban areas, maritime domains, and vast agricultural landscapes. Their ability to perform vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), which allows them to operate effectively in tight spaces, urban settings, and aboard ships, makes them invaluable for tasks such as aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue operations, is one of the key factors contributing to their dominance.

Based on payload market is divided 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 payload capacity dominates the market of Asia-Pacific. Drones in this weight class are quite adaptable. They can be outfitted with a variety of sensors, cameras, and payloads to suit a wide range of applications, from aerial photography and surveying to agriculture and infrastructure inspection. Infrastructure development is a priority in rapidly developing regions such as the Asia-Pacific. Drones of this weight class are used to inspect bridges, roads, electricity lines, and construction sites, providing cost-effective and efficient solutions for infrastructure maintenance and development. The Asia-Pacific region contains numerous rural and remote places with minimal infrastructure. Drones in this weight class offer a cost-effective way of delivering commodities, medical supplies, and services to these disadvantaged places. Drone operators in Asia-Pacific are increasingly looking for ways to personalize and enhance their drones in order to fulfill specific needs and remain competitive. Specialized cameras, gimbals, and sensors enable operators to customize their drones for a variety of purposes, ranging from aerial photography to agriculture and industrial inspections. High-capacity batteries and efficient propellers improve a drone's performance, allowing for longer flight periods and higher payloads. Improved performance is critical for mission success in a region as diverse as the Asia-Pacific, where terrain and environmental conditions can vary dramatically.

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

Drone operators in Asia-Pacific are increasingly looking for ways to personalize and enhance their drones in order to fulfill specific needs and remain competitive. Specialized cameras, gimbals, and sensors enable operators to customize their drones for a variety of purposes, ranging from aerial photography to agriculture and industrial inspections. High-capacity batteries and efficient propellers improve a drone's performance, allowing for longer flight periods and higher payloads. Improved performance is critical for mission success in a region as diverse as the Asia-Pacific, where terrain and environmental conditions can vary dramatically. The Asia-Pacific energy sector contains a wide range of facilities, from power plants to offshore wind farms. Drones are used to monitor energy infrastructure such as electricity lines, wind turbines, and solar panels in order to maintain operating efficiency and safety. Drones are a low-cost alternative to established inspection methods like piloted aircraft or ground-based inspections. They lower operational expenses and downtime while delivering high-quality data and pictures.

Companies Covered in this report:

SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd., Parrot SA, Intel Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, The Lockheed Martin Corporation, Yuneec International, BAE Systems plc , Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Ideaforge Technology Ltd., Safran S.A., Esri.

Considered in this report

• Geography: Asia-Pacific
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

• Asia-Pacific 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:

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea

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.