Market Trends of Europe Small UAV Industry
The Rotary-wing Segment is Projected to Show Significant Growth During the Forecast Period
Currently, the rotary-wing segment holds a larger market share, compared to the fixed-wing segment. Small helicopter drones and quadcopter drones are being used on a large scale, both for military and commercial purposes in Europe. The small UAVs have vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities and the advantage of being able to be deployed directly from the ground instead of being launched by hand or a launch platform. Furthermore, the high maneuverability of rotary-wing UAVs and their inherent ability to hover over a designated position are exceptionally useful for conducting surveillance missions for the defense forces. Also, over the past few years, the use of rotary-wing UAVs has increased in the agriculture sector, as they support evidence-based planning and spatial data collection for conducting soil health scans, monitoring crop health, applying fertilizers, and detecting threats to crops, such as pests, diseases, and weeds. Thus, diversified applications are driving the adoption of rotary-wing UAVs in the region.
For instance, in June 2023, Leonardo SpA presented a number of new innovations for its AWHero rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (RW UAV) on the opening day of the Seafuture 2023 expo. The company introduced a heavy fuel powerplant based on a unique twin-engine solution, airframe modifications that deliver significant operational and support advantages in terms of powerplant integration, system/sensor integration and field of view, payload bay capacity, maintainability, and on-deck stability; advanced sensor modularity; and the introduction of the Leonardo Gabbiano TS Ultralight maritime radar. Thus, growing adoption of rotary-wing drones for various military and commercial applications drive the growth of the market.
The United Kingdom to Witness the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period
The UK has one of the largest fleets of small UAVs in Europe. Small UAVs are largely being adopted by the police and law enforcement agencies in the UK. The military is also planning to procure small UAVs for surveillance purposes. With the usage of small UAVs continuing to rise, the UK government enacted legislation to help achieve safer flying across the country. Hence, from November 2019, registration with the Civil Aviation Authority has been made compulsory for drones weighing more than 250 g. With the growing adoption of small UAVs in the commercial sector, the most immediate economic impact will come from lower costs and improved productivity. Using UAVs to automate routine tasks will also enhance safety performance, reduce risk, improve quality, and free people up to focus on value-added work.
British Telecom is working on prototypes of small UAVs to provide temporary internet connectivity to challenging locations, such as areas that have suffered an earthquake. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and other media groups have begun using small UAVs for filming. The use of small UAVs is also increasing in fields, like firefighting, the construction industry, the oil and gas industry, and the mining industry, as these fields require inspection of sites where human access is difficult and risky. For instance, in December 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence has given a 10-year contract to the UK branch of arms company Lockheed Martin to supply the British Army with 250 mini-drones worth USD 157 million. Drones will have high-resolution imaging capabilities that will allow them to find and identify prospective targets. The small drones will include artificial intelligence capabilities such as smart targeting and threat recognition.
Therefore, the small UAV market in the UK will continue to increase during the forecast period. At the same time, countries in the Rest of Europe, like Belgium, Denmark, Poland, and Greece, are increasingly adopting the usage of drones for various purposes.
