Defense Drone Antenna Market Size, Trends and Growth Analysis by 2027

The defense drone antenna sector was valued at approximately US$ 539.42 million in 2019 and is anticipated to grow to US$ 872.38 million by 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% from 2020 to 2027.

Several factors are driving the expansion of the global defense drone antenna market, including increased procurement of drones by military organizations due to enhanced defense budgets and a growing interest in circular omni-directional antennas. However, challenges such as signal overlapping issues associated with linear antennas may impede market growth. Despite these challenges, the surge in research and development aimed at creating innovative variants, such as lightweight and 360-degree multibeam antennas, is expected to propel the market forward in the coming years.

Unmanned technologies are employed by military forces for various applications, including surveillance, communication, navigation, and signal intelligence. There is a continuous pursuit of advanced technologies to improve the capabilities of unmanned vehicles. Among the preferred technologies are linear polarized omni-directional antennas, although there is a notable shift towards circular polarized omni-directional antennas. Modern military drones often require agility and the ability to maneuver to collect extensive data, which sometimes necessitates acrobatic flying. The compact size of circular antennas provides a significant advantage for enhanced maneuverability. Furthermore, their capability to transmit data in a 360-degree format is increasingly appealing to both defense forces and drone manufacturers. Military organizations demand high-quality data and imagery, and these antennas facilitate the transmission of superior quality images during drone operations close to targets. The advantages offered by circular omni-directional antennas are significantly contributing to the growth of the defense drone antenna market.

The defense drone antenna market is categorized based on technology, type, frequency, and application. In terms of technology, the market includes linear polarized directional antennas, linear polarized omni-directional antennas, circular polarized directional antennas, and circular polarized omni-directional antennas. In 2019, the linear polarized omni-directional antenna segment dominated the global market. Regarding type, the market is divided into lightweight antennas, FPV antennas, telemetry antennas, NLOS antennas, and others, with the FPV antenna segment projected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period. For applications, the market is segmented into surveillance, navigation, communication, telemetry, and others, with the communication segment holding a significant share in 2019. The surveillance segment is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly spread worldwide, with countries like China, the US, Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK, Iran, and France being severely affected as of April 2020. In the defense sector, contractors are relatively well-positioned, as they are not expected to experience significant adverse effects from the pandemic in the short to medium term. Although production may slow down due to the pandemic's impact on drone and related component manufacturing, demand is likely to remain stable over the next two years since budgets for these projects were allocated prior to the outbreak, and these initiatives are critical for national defense. The recovery period for the defense industry is expected to be quicker compared to other sectors. Production of equipment is anticipated to commence at a slower rate in 2020 but is expected to accelerate from 2021 onwards, positively influencing the manufacturing of defense equipment, including drone antennas. This trend is expected to support the growth of the defense drone antenna market throughout the forecast period.

The overall size of the defense drone antenna market has been determined through both primary and secondary research methods. The research process began with extensive secondary research utilizing both internal and external sources to gather qualitative and quantitative data related to the market. This approach also aims to provide an overview and forecast for the defense drone antenna market across all segments. Additionally, it offers insights and forecasts for the global defense drone antenna market segmented by five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. Primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and experts to validate the data and gain deeper analytical insights. Participants typically include industry professionals such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, as well as external consultants like valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the defense drone antenna market.

Key players in the global defense drone antenna market include Alaris Holdings Ltd., Antcom Corporation, Antenna Research Associates, Inc., Cobham Plc, JEM Engineering, MP Antenna, LTD, PPM Systems, Southwest Antennas, Inc., TE Connectivity, and Trimble Inc., among others.