Australia Commercial Drone Market: Impact of COVID-19 and Recovery Strategies

The Australia commercial drone market was valued at approximately USD 772 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 15.3% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing use of drones across various industries, including agriculture, delivery and logistics, and energy. Commercial drones perform tasks efficiently and can significantly reduce labor costs. Being battery-powered, they also offer an eco-friendly solution for completing these tasks.

Drones are being widely adopted in multiple sectors. For example, in construction and real estate, they facilitate monitoring, surveillance, and property surveying, providing accurate project alerts. Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of measurement and annotation tools for estimating area, volume, and distance.

Moreover, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions allows for the extraction of accurate insights from large data sets. These modern technologies enable real-time, data-driven decision-making, allowing users to interact with and observe footage captured by other drones in real-time while tracking their flight paths.

Key Market Trends & Insights

• The market can be segmented by applications into commercial and government & law enforcement sectors. In 2023, the commercial segment led the market, capturing over 75% of the revenue share. Drones are predominantly used in filming and photography, particularly for movie production.

• In terms of products, the rotary blade segment held the largest revenue share in 2023. This dominance is due to their effectiveness in inspection activities, as they can hover and maneuver with agility while maintaining visual observation for extended periods.

• By end use, the media & entertainment segment also dominated the market with the largest revenue share in 2023. This sector is the primary consumer of commercial drones, with filmmakers utilizing them for stunning aerial photography and cinematography.

• Regarding range, the visual line of sight (VLOS) segment led the market in 2023, representing the largest revenue share. VLOS requires pilots to maintain visual contact with the aircraft at all times during flight, ensuring they can see the drone without assistance from binoculars or other devices.

• In terms of endurance, the segment for drones with less than 5 hours of flight time dominated the market in 2023. This segment includes commercial drones that carry payloads and equipment for various applications. The remotely piloted mode also led the market, benefiting sectors like agriculture, videography, surveillance, and delivery services.

• By propulsion type, the electric propulsion segment captured the largest revenue share in 2023. Electric drones with rechargeable batteries are increasingly popular due to their quiet operations, flight efficiency, longer flight times, and ease of maintenance.

• Finally, in terms of maximum takeoff weight, the segment for drones weighing less than 25 kg dominated the market in 2023. Drones in this category offer operational flexibility, affordability, and ease of use, making them suitable for a wide range of applications while adhering to strict regulations.

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Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Some of the key players in the Australia commercial drone market include Aeronavics Ltd., Autel Robotics, SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, and Intel Corporation.

• DJI is the industry leader in both commercial and recreational drone manufacturing. The company offers a diverse range of commercial drones along with various accessories and payloads, featuring product lines such as the Phantom, Inspire, Ronin, and Spreading Winds.

• AeroVironment Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for commercial and military uses. In 2017, the company collaborated with the Australian Defense Force on a small unmanned aircraft systems program.

Other notable companies in the Australia commercial drone market include PrecisionHawk Inc., Elistair, Flyability, and Draganfly Innovations Inc.

• PrecisionHawk not only manufactures drones but also develops software for aerial data analysis (DataMapper) and drone safety systems (LATAS). The company has been active in the Australian market since 2016.

Key Players

• Aeronavics Ltd.

• Autel Robotics

• PrecisionHawk Inc.

• SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd

• Elistair

• Flyability

• Draganfly Innovations Inc.

• AeroVironment Inc.

• Intel Corporation

• Tekuma.tech

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Conclusion

The Australia commercial drone market growth is driven by increasing applications in industries such as agriculture, delivery and logistics, and energy, as drones efficiently complete tasks while reducing labor costs and offering eco-friendly solutions. Drones are increasingly utilized in sectors like construction and real estate for monitoring, surveillance, and property surveying, thanks to advancements in measurement and annotation tools. Additionally, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) enhances data analysis, enabling real-time decision-making and allowing users to interact with live footage and flight paths.