Military Gliders and Drones Market Report 2026

Military Gliders and Drones Market Overview

• Military Gliders and Drones market size has reached to $30.63 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $46.47 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% • Growth Driver: Increased Funding For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) Fuels Growth In The Military Glider And Drone Market • Market Trend: Innovative Products Expand The Military Glider And Drone Market • Asia-Pacific was the largest region in 2025 and Western Europe is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Military Gliders and Drones Market?

Military gliders are unpowered aircraft historically used to transport troops and equipment silently into enemy areas, notably during World War II. Military drones are powered, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that perform tasks like surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes, often remotely operated or fully autonomous. Both gliders and drones play crucial roles in military operations, with drones being more prominent in modern warfare for their versatility and low-risk operation. The main types of military gliders and drones on the market are military gliders and military drones. A military drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance and carries aircraft ordnance such as missiles, ATGMs, and/or bombs in hardpoints for drone strikes. The various technologies involved are remotely operated, semi-autonomous, and autonomous that are used for search and rescue, national defense, military exercises, and others.

What Is The Military Gliders and Drones Market Growth Forecast?

The military gliders and drones market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $46.47 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising deployment of autonomous military drones for surveillance and combat, advancements in long-endurance and stealth drone technologies, growth in tactical logistics using modern glider concepts, increased investment in drone swarming and coordinated operations, integration of AI and real-time data analytics in military uav systems. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced tactical deployment, swarm drone technology, advanced reconnaissance capabilities, lightweight materials for gliders, extended flight endurance.

Global Military Gliders and Drones Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Military Gliders, Military Drones 2) By Technology: Remotely Operated, Semi-Autonomous, Autonomous 3) By Application: Search and Rescue, National Defense, Military Exercises, Others Subsegments: 1) By Military Gliders: Tactical Gliders, Transport Gliders, Reconnaissance Gliders, Assault Gliders 2) By Military Drones: Fixed-Wing Drones, Rotary-Wing Drones, Hybrid Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Drone Swarms, Target Drones

What Is Driver Of The Military Gliders and Drones Market?

Increasing funding for unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, is projected to contribute to the growth of the military glider and drone market. The growing requirement for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets has generated higher demand for military gliders and drones. The militaries are expected to spend around $98 billion on new intelligence gathering and strike capabilities. For instance, in May 2024, according to the International Trade Administration, a US-based government agency, VUL (Association of Unmanned Aviation), anticipates a 40% increase in the global number of commercially used drones between 2022 and 2030. Such investments in unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are expected to drive the military glider and drone market during the forecast period.

Key Players In The Global Military Gliders and Drones Market

Major companies operating in the military gliders and drones market are Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Textron Systems, BAE Systems Inc., Jonker Sailplanes, Leonardo, Boeing Co., DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, Aerovironment Inc., Ascent Aerosystems, BFD Systems, Cleo Robotics, Corvus Robotics, DragonFly, Easy Aerial Inc., Teledyne FLIR LLC, Action Drone Inc., Drone America, Inova drone, Insitu Inc., Skyfish, Skypersonic, Raytheon Company, Northrop Grumman, Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd.

Global Military Gliders and Drones Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the military glider and drone market are developing new products such as hybrid unmanned aerial systems to meet larger customer bases, more sales, and increase revenue. A hybrid unmanned aerial system (UAS) refers to a type of drone or unmanned aircraft system that combines multiple propulsion systems or energy sources to enable enhanced operational capabilities. For instance, in February 2023, BAE Systems Plc, a UK-based aerospace company, launched the STRIX. This device has a special feature that will facilitate air-to-ground strikes, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in high-risk conditions. Its dimensions are 2.6 meters by 4.5 meters (8.5 feet by 14.8 feet). The tandem-wing, multi-domain drone, according to its creator, can go up to 800 kilometres (497 miles) with a payload weighing up to 160 kilograms (352 pounds). It can also hold a variety of weapons, including those used by the Australian military already.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Military Gliders and Drones Market? Rheinmetall Partners With Auterion To Develop Unified Military Drone Systems

In September 2024, Rheinmetall AG, a Germany-based defence technology company, partnered with Auterion Inc. to jointly develop standardized, software-based components for unmanned military platforms. Through this partnership, Rheinmetall AG and Auterion Inc. aim to create a unified military industry standard for controlling and operating unmanned aerial, land, and naval drone systems, enhancing interoperability, efficiency, and scalability for defence forces. Auterion Inc. is a US-based software company that develops operating systems and applications for aerial, land, and naval drones, enabling software-defined defence and seamless integration across various unmanned platforms.

Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the military gliders and drones market in 2025. Western Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the military gliders and drones market during the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Military Gliders and Drones Market?

The military gliders and drones market consists of sales of fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles for military purposes to carry troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Military Gliders and Drones Market Report 2026?

The military gliders and drones market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the military gliders and drones industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.