Market Trends of UAV Navigation Systems Industry
The Military Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
The military sector has seen a surge in the adoption of UAVs, primarily for their ability to bolster ground troops' situational awareness. Unlike their civil and commercial counterparts, military UAVs need heightened maneuverability, precise guidance, and intricate navigation to execute their complex tactical missions. Consequently, these demands contribute significantly to the elevated costs of navigation systems in military UAVs.
Furthermore, as military UAVs increasingly embrace autonomous features, navigation systems must evolve with more sophisticated system-level architectures. This evolution boosts the market revenues of these navigation systems and underpins the growth of the military UAV segment. A notable example is the contract I-CONIC Vision and Spacemetric secured in May 2023 under the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration's military innovation program. The contract focuses on developing methods for GNSS-free navigation for drones, especially over extended distances.
North America is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
In North America, UAVs have diverse applications, from border security and aerial photography to law enforcement and weather research. The US military stands out as the region's primary driver of UAV demand, procuring and operating a substantial number annually. As the use of UAVs rises, the demand for their subsystems also increases, particularly navigation systems. This, combined with a significant presence of UAV OEMs, solidifies North America's dominant market position.
In May 2023, Asio Technologies (Israel) showcased its NavGuard optical navigation system to key US customers. In response to civil and defense requests, these demonstrations featured a rotary-wing UAV. Notably, this UAV showcased its ability to conduct aerial navigation and make point-to-point deliveries, even in areas where GNSS signals are unreliable. Such advancements are poised to fuel the market's growth during the forecast period.
