Drone Detection Market

Drone Detection Market Size

The global drone detection market was estimated at USD 694.6 million in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 858.6 million in 2025 to USD 2.8 billion in 2030 and USD 8.4 billion by 2034, at a value CAGR of 28.9%, during the forecast period of 2025–2034.    

• The growth of the drone detection market is attributed to factors such as the increased defense & military investments, growth in drone adoption across industries, rising security threats from unauthorized drones, technological advancements in AI and IoT, and increased adoption in critical infrastructure.
  
• Increased defense and military spending are a key driver of growth in the market. Governments around the world are spending more money securing their countries as there had been increasing concerns of illegal drone operations such as spying, smuggling, and critical infrastructure sabotage. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) worldwide military spending in 2023 exceeded USD 2.2 trillion, showing a steady rise in defense budgets. This growth leads to higher demand for high end drone detection equipment with ability to detect, track, and bring down aggressive unmanned ariel vehicles (UAVs).
  
• The growing adoption of drone detection system across various critical infrastructure sectors is further fuelling growth of the drone detection market. For instance, In April 2025, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accomplished its two weeks testing program in Cape May, New Jersey, aimed to evaluate the latest of drone detection techs, which supports homeland security, and transparency. Sensitive infrastructure facilities like power plants, airports, oil & gas industries, government buildings, and transportation centres are high-risk areas to unauthorized drone incursions, which results in security shutdowns, sabotage, and disruption of operations, and thus fuelling the demand for drone detection systems.
  
• The technological advancements such as RF-based detection, AI and IoT is another major growth driver propelling the growth of drone detection market. According to AUVSI, the FAA's Remote ID mandate, effective from March 2024, requires drones to broadcast identification and location data, that will further increase the adoption of RF-based detection by 35%. In order to improve safety and security and integrate drones into the national airspace, this mandate is essential. The integration of AI and IoT technologies has revolutionized drone detection by enabling smarter, faster, and more accurate identification and tracking of drones. AI-powered algorithms analyse vast streams of sensor data in real time to differentiate between drones, birds, and other flying objects, significantly reducing false alarms.
  
• North America dominated the drone detection market and was valued at USD 246.9 million in the year 2024 due to its advanced defense apparatus, strong technology consumption, and stringent regulatory regimes based on concerns regarding drones. For instance, In April 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration is testing systems to identify drones in New Jersey, after a series of unexplained drone sightings in the state over the concern caused during the last year.
  

Drone Detection Market Trends

• The growing interest in the integration of multi-sensor systems is revolutionizing drone detection by converging data from many sources, such as radar, radio frequency (RF) scanners, optical cameras, thermal sensors, and acoustic sensors, into one solution. This convergence of various inputs overcomes the weaknesses of stand-alone sensors to enable enhanced identification, tracking, and classification of drones even within dense or cluttered environments. This trend began between 2016 – 2018 with the introduction of sensor fusion platforms and is gaining traction with the introduction of AI and ML in 2019 – 2022. This trend witnessed mainstream adoption during 2022 – 2025 with multi sensors fusion and will grow immensely through 2030.
  
• AI and ML are rapidly being incorporated into modern drone detection systems that coordinate real-time data analysis at the sensor level, to detect and classify the drones with significantly high precision. These smart systems are exposed to trainings that make them recognize drones as the targets among other aerial objects and also do constant improvements into their performance by accessing new data. The wide spread adoption of such systems started around the time of 2018-2019 when significant improvements in the ability to process the data produced by sensors in real-time started being realized using AI algorithms with the help of both computing power and cloud computing capabilities. By 2025, the technology is in the mainstream adoption and its implementation is set to grow significantly.
  
• Edge computing is one of the major trends in drone detection that has moved data processing from distant cloud servers to the edge devices, right on drone or at-location sensors. This offers low latency and is used in quick response use cases and disaster response or proactive security. The use of decentralized processing largely reduce its bandwidth requirements, enhance scale, and preserve data confidentiality and enable the use of drones in regions with low connectivity.
  
• Edge computing has started to become noticeable in drone detection and autonomous UAV operations in 2018 - 2020 due to a necessity to have real-time, local analysis provided and decreased dependency on cloud servers. By 2025, edge computing emerged as a critically important market trend, due to acceleration capability brought to it by the development of AI and 5G and is expected to back most processing of real-time drone data.  
  

Drone Detection Market Analysis

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Based on the platform, the market is categorized into ground-based systems, handheld devices, vehicle-mounted systems, and fixed integrated systems.

• The ground based systems segment was the largest market and was valued at USD 246.5 million in 2024. The growth of ground-based drone detection systems is driven by their widespread installation at critical infrastructure, airports, and defense installations that require continuous and wide-area surveillance.
  
• They are used to support integration with radar, RF analyzers, and electro-optical sensors for enabling timely detection and accurate threat tracking. Their scalability and deployment rate make them optimally placed for guarding temporary event spaces or border areas.
• Manufacturers should enhance ground-based platforms with modular multi-sensor arrays and AI-based analytics for improved detection fidelity and operational efficiency.
  
• The fixed integrated systems segment is the fastest growing market and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 30.5% during the forecast period of 2025 – 2034. Fixed integrated systems are gaining popularity due to their seamless incorporation into the prevailing surveillance network of airports, military bases, powerhouses, and urban security networks.
  
• The growing need for 24/7 security protection from aerial intrusions in population-dense or high-risk areas is a strong driver. Their capability for low-latency alerts and compatibility with counter-drone technologies provides a full threat response loop.
  
• Manufacturers should position fixed integrated systems as high-availability, low-latency platforms are ideal for mission-critical infrastructure.
  

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On the basis of technology, the drone detection market is segmented into radar detection systems, RF scanners, electro-optical & infrared systems, acoustic detection systems, hybrid multi-sensor systems, and others.

• The radar detection systems segment was the largest market and was valued at USD 255.4 million in 2024. Their longstanding effectiveness in identifying aerial objects, even at extended distances and under challenging weather conditions keeps them at the core of drone detection strategies.
  
• Growth in the industry is attributable to rising demand of warning systems at airports, defense outlets and borders. Contemporary radar systems provide better resolution and can be classified into drone-specific modes that can distinguish between slow moving low altitude drones and clutter, such as birds.
  
• Manufacturers should drive R&D toward solutions that are optimized to drones specifically and pulse-Doppler and 3D AESA radar systems, in particular, would be able to enhance low-altitude resolution.
  
• The hybrid multi-sensor systems segment is the fastest-growing market, expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.9% from 2025 to 2034. These systems are increasingly being adopted with the integration of multi-function radar, RF scanners, EO and infrared cameras, and acoustic sensors.
  
• Through the combination of different technologies, these solutions overcome the weaknesses of stand-alone sensors such as offering better accuracy, real-time classification, and eliminating those costly false alarms. They are well worth their price in high-risk zones such as defense borders, cities, and critical infrastructure.
  
• Manufacturers must focus on creating modular, AI-driven sensor fusion platforms that incorporate radar, RF, EO/IR, and acoustic seamlessly.
  

Based on the deployment mode, the drone detection market is bifurcated into fixed installations, portable systems, and others.

• The fixed installations segment was the largest market and was valued at USD 395.7 million in 2024. There is a surge in demand for fixed drone detection systems to guard critical infrastructure such as airports, power stations, military bases, and government buildings. They offer uninterrupted, automated observation with superior range and accuracy.
  
• The ability to scale fixed installations, as well as their all-weather, 24/7 potential, makes them the choice of preference for high-risk, high-value locations that require long-term, unmanned aerial surveillance with low maintenance.
  
• Manufacturers should position fixed deployment systems as high-reliability, all-weather platforms tailored for long-term installations.
  
• The portable systems segment is the fastest growing market and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 30.3% during the forecast period of 2025 – 2034. These miniaturized detection systems are portable in nature and are increasingly popular because of their light weight and rapid deployable feature, that can be deployed in tactical and temporary scenarios. These are ideal for military patrols, security with public events, VIP protection, and law enforcement.
  
• Advances in technology have made them more accurate and power efficient, which increases their application. Furthermore, increasing deployment in disaster management and border law enforcement also drives segment growth.
  
• Manufacturers must focus on AI-empowered portable systems with long lasting battery power and combined RF and EO/IR sensors for rapid assembly in tactical and temporary situations.
  

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North America dominated the drone detection market and was valued at USD 246.9 million in 2024 and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 27.9% during the forecast period of 2025 – 2034. This exponential growth is fuelled by the robust investments in defense and homeland security, and the rapid adoption of sophisticated counter-drone systems.

• U.S. dominated the market and was valued at USD 200.9 million in the year 2024. The market in the region is driven by stringent counter-UAS requirements and increasing drone incursions. The Transportation Security Administration recorded over 2,000 drone sightings at U.S. airports between 2021–2023, and 326 incidents in the first four months of 2024 alone, signalling escalating airspace risks. Moreover, airports, power facilities, military bases, and federal agencies are deploying a mix of radar, RF, EO/IR, and acoustic systems to protect high-value targets and comply with Remote ID regulations.
  
• Manufacturers should emphasize towards the systems validated for detecting incursions near airports and military installations, with high-resolution radar and layered sensor fusion.
  
• The drone detection market in Canada is anticipated to surpass USD 487.4 million by 2034. The increased UAV strikes and the encroachment threat nearby airports, correctional facilities, and energy assets are increasing the demand for drone detection capacities in Canada. The Transport Canada reported more than 1,800 drone over the past five years, with unauthorized flights meeting the accelerated number of flights close to the Class C and D airports. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Armed Forces are resorting to adoption of hybrid and portable systems to be used in border surveillance and operations in the Arctic.
  
• Manufacturers should focus on ruggedized, cold-weather operable drone detection solutions tailored for Canada’s remote infrastructure and northern border regions.
  

The drone detection market in Europe is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 27.1% during the forecast period of 2025 – 2034. The market is experiencing expansion due to heightened regulatory enforcement, rising drone-related threats, and widespread deployment across civil and defense infrastructure.

• The Germany market was valued at USD 44.3 million in 2024. The country has been one of the significant users of drone detection technology in Europe because of increasing threats of drones against airports, military areas and events. For instance, German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) has reported that more than 125 incidents involving drones interfered with the schedules of large airports in 2023 alone. Further, real-time drone tracking and mitigation are undergoing extensive tests by such major infrastructure operators as Frankfurt Airport.
  
• Drone detection solution providers should collaborate with airport authorities, critical infrastructure operators, and defense procurement agencies.
  
• UK drone detection market is anticipated to surpass USD 323.7 million by 2034. The UK market is increasing as a result of the growing concerns of both critical infrastructure protection and airspace security. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been increasing drone regulations since the Gatwick and Heathrow drone activities and businesses are now investing in drone countermeasures at airports and energy plants. Military expenditure also contributes to military operations at military bases and seaports.
  
• Manufacturers should develop radar-integrated, fixed detection solutions tailored for British civil aviation and urban security needs.
  

The drone detection market in Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 31.1% during the forecast period. The growth in the region is propelled by the increasing geopolitical tensions, unauthorized drone sighting, and growing threats to urban airspaces.

• China drone detection market is projected to reach USD 971.1 million by the year 2034. China market is accelerating with its own large domestic user market for drones and rising levels of illegal UAV flights. Existing policies are emphasizing national airspace protection, where the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has set strict geofencing and real-time monitoring mandates. Anti-drone equipment is also being incorporated into the surveillance networks in pursuit of quick smart cities.
  
• OEMs must focus on AI-powered hybrid detection systems integrated with urban surveillance grids
  
• The drone detection market in Japan was valued at USD 18.2 million in 2024. Japan's market is expanding as it prepares for large-scale events like Osaka Expo 2025 and expands UAV integration in logistics and disaster response. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has mandated strict UAV flight paths, boosting demand for automated detection systems.
  
• Manufacturers must create low latency, portable detection devices that can be used in public event and disaster response situations.
  
• India drone detection market is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of over 32.4% during the forecast period. A variety of drone detection solutions have been actively being tested in India, driven by the increased border tensions, critical infrastructure threats, and misuse cases such as the recent arms drop across the Punjab border. The Ministry of Home affairs and DRDO are increasingly investing in the domestic production of counter drones' system for defense and homeland security. Drone detection systems are further being incorporated into India’s growing smart cities and critical infrastructure, covering oil & gas, power plants, and airports to provide multiple layers of security.
  
• Manufacturers should design cost effective modular systems based on Indian defense standards that can be deployed at borders, airports and industrial zones.
  

The drone detection market in Latin America was valued at USD 40 million in 2024. The market in Latin America is expanding due to increasing concern with drug trafficking, prison contraband and threats to critical infrastructure.

MEA drone detection market is projected to surpass USD 640.4 million by 2034. MEA's industry is expanding due to increasing local conflicts, increased security threats to critical infrastructure (oil refineries, ports), and increasing terrorist drone threats.

• South Africa drone detection market held a market share of 13.7% in 2024. South Africa market is driven by increasing abuse of drones in city crime and assault on government and energy infrastructure. The Department of Defence and law enforcement agencies are adopting counter-UAS technologies for border defense and security of major events. Drastically rising investment in smart city solutions comprises drone surveillance and detection.
  
• OEMs should offer cost-efficient, modular detection solutions tailored for urban security and border control under SACAA regulations.
  
• The drone detection market in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow with a CAGR of 27.9% during the forecast period. The growth of the Saudi Arabia market is fuelled by ongoing security risks from drones targeting oil and gas facilities. The government's Vision 2030 initiative drives infrastructure growth requiring end-to-end airspace security. The house of ministries and defense companies are investing in advanced counter-drone systems that integrate radar, RF, and EO/IR sensors. Fixed and handheld detection systems also create demand at big events and urban development projects.
  
• The drone detection market in UAE is anticipated to grow at CAGR of 26.9% over the forecast period. The UAE is a regional leader in drone detection due to proactive security policy at the national level and initiatives for smart cities. International expos and high-profile events generate high demand for holistic surveillance by drones. Government agencies have launched advanced C-UAS projects that integrate multi-sensor systems with artificial intelligence for urban, critical infrastructure, and military defense.
  
• Manufacturers need to develop AI-based, multi-sensor drone detection equipment specific for smart city and events security use in the UAE.
  

Drone Detection Market Share

• The drone detection industry is a highly competitive and fragmented market with many big and small companies within the market. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Thales Group, Northrop Grumman, Elbit System, are the key players in the market. These companies collectively account for 38.3% of the total market share in 2024.
  
• Lockheed Martin led the global drone detection market in 2024 with a 12.4% market share. It held a major share due to its strong counter-UAS solutions and it is supported by its AI radar surveillance, RF jamming, and kinetic neutralizing capabilities. Such service banners as MORFIUS and Icarus have been deployed at U.S. military and critical infrastructure sites. Lockheed's established connections with the Department of Defense and NATO partners ensure continued deployment and step-by-step product improvement, solidifying its place of pre-eminence amidst the fast-evolving drone threat.
  
• Raytheon Technologies held a 9.5% market share in 2024 with its layered defense approach of early warning radar, directed energy guns, and electronic warfare systems. The High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) and KuRFS radar are solutions that are part and parcel of the security processes in any airport and in the defense sector. The high level of integration of Raytheon range of its technology including counter-UAS systems into more comprehensive air defense systems and its defense deals with various militaries around the world supports the company in maintaining its high level of competitiveness.
  
• Thales Group captured a 6.7% market share in 2024, and this has been achieved through its focus on modular and scalable drone detection systems. EagleSHIELD and Gecko systems deployed by the company use the multi-sensor fusion technology (radar, acoustic, EO/IR, and RF) to detect, track, and classify drones in the civilian and military areas. Thales is ahead in terms of integration of both detection systems with airport management and infrastructure of smart cities which provides an upper hand in homeland security activities.
  
• Northrop Grumman accounted for 5% of the drone detection market in 2024. It is capable in terms of their defense-focused counter-UAS options incorporated into more significant battlefield management structures. Northrop gives real-time understanding and collaborated countermeasures by the utilization of radar facilities such as AN/TPS-80 radar, and command-and-control associated software.
  
• Elbit Systems held a 4.7% market share in 2024, dealing in mobile and non-mobile units of drone detection in surveillance of the borders and military actions which are implemented tactically. It has passive detection and active mitigation, using soft-kill tactics in its ReDrone system. Competitive edge of Elbit is its ability to customize systems depending on the specific requirement of the terrain operation and its popularity in emerging markets of Asia and Latin America where portable and more economical products are gaining increasing popularity.
  

Drone Detection Market Company

The top prominent companies operating in the drone detection industry include:

• Northrop Grumman
• DroneShield Limited
• Raytheon Technologies
• Lockheed Martin
• Thales Group
• Rohde & Schwarz
• Hensoldt
• Leonardo S.p.A.
• SRC, Inc.
• Aaronia AG
• Blighter Surveillance Systems
• Cerbair
• D-Fend Solutions
• Fortem Technologies
• Robin Radar Systems
• Liteye Systems, Inc.
• QinetiQ
• Aselsan A.S.
• DeTect, Inc.
• MyDefence Communication
• Elbit System
  

Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Thales Group dominated the international drone detection market, leveraging fighter-grade radar systems, AI-driven tracking software, and combat-proven deployment. Their platforms such as Northrop's AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, Raytheon's KuRFS radar + HELWS, Lockheed's MORFIUS, and Thales' EagleSHIELD are deployed at NATO defense installations, high-security critical infrastructure, and areas of conflict. These systems are known for high-accuracy multi-sensor fusion, robust C2 integration, and active neutralization capabilities including RF jamming and kinetic defeat.

DroneShield Limited, Hensoldt, Leonardo S.p.A., Rohde & Schwarz, and SRC, Inc. are the challengers in the market and are filling the gap by developing modular, adaptive drone detection systems that integrate audio, radar, RF, and optical capabilities into fixed and portable systems. They are aiming at military, homeland security, and airport protection markets. Products like DroneShield's DroneSentry, Hensoldt's Xpeller, and Leonardo's Falcon Shield focus on intelligent detection, directionally jammed, and scalable response.

Aaronia AG, Blighter Surveillance Systems, Cerbair, D-Fend Solutions, Fortem Technologies, and Robin Radar Systems falls under followers category and targets mostly civilian infrastructure, VIP event security, and commercial no-fly zone enforcement. They prioritize affordability, simple deployment, and passive detection (e.g., RF sensors, EO/IR optics). Fortem's SkyDome, D-Fend's EnforceAir, and Cerbair's Hydra feature non-kinetic mitigation and user-friendly interfaces.

Liteye Systems, QinetiQ, Aselsan A.S., DeTect, Inc., MyDefence Communication, and Elbit Systems are niche players in the market. They cater the emerging applications such as swarms of drones, security off-shore assets, far-range passive surveillance, and vehicle-mounted counter-UAS. Prominent trends are QinetiQ's Obsidian, Liteye's SHIELD platform, and Aselsan's IHTAR system.

Drone Detection Industry News

• In May 2025, Rohde & Schwarz introduced the next generation of the ARDRONIS Wi-Fi, which is an advanced system that detects, localizes, and mitigates drones controlled by Wi-Fi. The Rohde & Schwarz ARDRONIS Wi-Fi is a solution that is capable of automatically identifying and categorising drones based on wireless LAN coupled with a rough direction of the detected signal.
  
• In January 2025, L3Harris Technologies presented its new drone detection and defeat system on the T7 robot at the Vanguard 24, an annual exercise of the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
  
• In October 2024, In October 2024, SkySafe and Fortem Technologies partnered to integrate their drone detection and mitigation systems. The combined solution offers threat detection, airspace monitoring, and safe drone removal to protect critical infrastructure and event venues from rising unauthorized drone activity.

The drone detection market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecasts in terms of revenue in (USD Million) from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Technology   

• Radar detection systems    
• RF scanners  
• Electro-optical and infrared systems        
• Acoustic detection systems 
• Hybrid multi-sensor systems         
• Others

Market, By Deployment Mode   

• Fixed installations    
• Portable systems     
• Others

Market, By Platform        

• Ground-based systems      
• Handheld devices    
• Vehicle-mounted systems   
• Fixed integrated systems   

Market, By Range  

• Less than 5 KM        
• 5 to 10 KM    
• Above 10 KM 

Market, By End Use Application

• Critical infrastructure
  • Stadium
  • Airport
  • Prison
  • Power plant
  • Oil & gas plants
  • Others
• Military & defense    
  • Border security
  • Military base
  • Others
• Government & law enforcements   
• Transportation and logistics
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries: 

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe 
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
• Asia Pacific 
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America 
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East and Africa 
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE