Dublin, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Drone Service Market Report 2026-2036" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Overall world revenue for the Drone Service Market will surpass US$35.72 billion in 2026,
The Drone Service Market Report 2026-2036 (Including Impact of U.S. Trade Tariffs): This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.
BVLOS Normalization Unlocks Scale Economics
The single biggest catalyst is the shift from ad-hoc waivers to rule-based, routine BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations. In the U.S., the FAA has moved from scattered exemptions to a formal BVLOS rulemaking, publishing a proposed performance-based framework in August 2025 that addresses aircraft design, separation, operational authorizations and third-party services-setting the stage for routine low-altitude BVLOS at commercial scale.
Even before rule finalization, the FAA's BEYOND program has been quietly seeding approvals that matter to enterprise buyers; for example, a February 2024 waiver allowed BVLOS power-infrastructure inspections without visual observers using Skydio aircraft under ' shielding' mitigations, a blueprint many utilities can now replicate. These steps shrink the cost of compliance and reduce lead times from quarters to weeks, changing the IRR math for inspection, mapping and security services.
Regulatory momentum is global. Australia's CASA launched a 12-month ' Broad Area BVLOS' approvals trial in 2025 with four standardized pathways so qualified operators can win area-based authorizations rather than site-by-site waivers; the UK CAA has been expanding BVLOS in ' atypical air environments,' and is now green-lighting long-range rail inspections and even cross-border trials.
In Europe, U-space is progressing from concept to certification, with EASA issuing the first U-space service-provider certificate in May 2025-an essential building block for scalable, digitally managed drone traffic across the EU. Together, these moves reduce regulatory uncertainty and create procurement-friendly language for tenders that require ' BVLOS-ready' services across power, rail, and public-safety corridors.
Economics of Handheld-Class Links And Sparse Demand Pockets
Even as retail delivery grows, the unit economics remain sensitive to density, weather, and payload constraints. Under present rules and airframes, many U.S. retail operations limit weight to roughly five pounds, set delivery radii near six miles, and mandate ' parked-only' handoff designs that add operational friction.
The early commercial offers prove value but also define a ceiling on throughput per node, which means providers must cluster demand or leverage store networks to reach profitability. In parallel, handheld-class direct-to-device links (satellite or HIBS) are not a substitute for drone logistics; they solve coverage, not carriage of goods, and reinforce that drones must win on cost and convenience route by route.
Capital intensity is real. Drone delivery networks require fleets, batteries, docks, ground processes and cloud orchestration, while inspection networks need docks, connectivity and trained analysts. Until regulators fully normalize BVLOS-and insurers and financiers price risk accordingly-some enterprise buyers will stay piloting rather than locking into multi-year, multi-site contracts. The cadence of FAA rulemaking is improving, but many budgets still assume waivers and environmental reviews, extending time to revenue for newcomers.
What would be the Impact of US Trade Tariffs on the Global Drone Service Market?
The imposition of U.S. tariffs on drone imports particularly from key manufacturing hubs like China has introduced both challenges and opportunities in the global drone service market. These tariffs, which target components such as sensors, batteries, control systems, and finished drones, have led to higher production costs and delayed supply chains for U.S.-based drone service providers. The trade tensions have particularly affected commercial operators and startups that rely heavily on Chinese-manufactured drones and spare parts.
However, the situation has also catalyzed the growth of domestic manufacturing ecosystems in the U.S., as companies increasingly invest in local production and research to mitigate import dependency. The global market is witnessing realignment as Europe, Japan, and India expand their manufacturing and export capacities to fill supply gaps created by U.S.-China trade frictions.
In addition, the tariffs have influenced pricing structures and procurement decisions across end-user industries. Sectors such as agriculture, logistics, and energy have faced temporary disruptions in drone service contracts due to cost inflation and component shortages. Nonetheless, policy support from U.S. agencies like the FAA and Department of Defense for homegrown manufacturers (e.g., Skydio, ModalAI, and Shield AI) has bolstered the resilience of the North American drone ecosystem.
This evolving tariff landscape has, therefore, created a two-fold impact: short-term constraints in supply and costs, and long-term incentives for technological innovation, reshoring, and diversification in the global drone service supply chain.
Key Questions Answered
- How is the drone service market evolving?
- What is driving and restraining the drone service market?
- How will each drone service submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2036?
- How will the market shares for each drone service submarket develop from 2026 to 2036?
- What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2026 to 2036?
- Will leading drone service markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?
- How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2036 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2036?
- Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?
- What are the drone service projects for these leading companies?
- How will the industry evolve during the period between 2026 and 2036? What are the implications of drone service projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?
- Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the drone service market?
- Where is the drone service market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?
- What are the best investment options for new product and service lines?
- What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite?
Market Dynamics
Market Driving Factors
- Expansion of Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Model Driving the Market Growth
- Growing Use of Drones for Crop Health Assessment and Soil Monitoring
- Growing Need for Surveying and Mapping Driving the Market Growth
Market Restraining Factors
- Shortage of Skilled Pilots and Technical Personnel Restrain the Market Growth
- Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Concerns Restrain the Market Growth
Market Opportunities
- Strategic Collaborations and Cross-Industry Partnerships Opportunities for the Market Growth
- Expansion in Logistics and E-Commerce Deliveries Opportunities for the Market Growth
- Increasing Adoption in Smart Cities and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Opportunities for the Market Growth
Leading Companies Profiled
- AeroVironment, Inc.
- AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
- Airbus SE
- AIRO Group Holdings Inc.
- Cyberhawk Innovations Limited
- DroneDeploy
- DroneShield Ltd
- Edall Systems
- Garuda Aerospace Private Limited
- Percepto Ltd.
- Phoenix LiDAR Systems
- Sky-Futures Ltd
- Skyports Drone Services Ltd
- Terra Drone Corporation
- Zipline International Inc.
Segments Covered in the Report
By Solution
- End-to-End Solution
- Point Solution
By Customer Type
- Government Agencies
- Other Customer Types
- Businesses & Enterprises
By Service Type
- Drone Rental
- Drone Sales
- Drone Pilot Training
- Other Service Types
By Application
- Filming & Photography
- Mapping & Surveying
- Inspection & Monitoring
- Delivery & Logistics
- Other Applications
By Industry Vertical
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Agriculture
- Logistics & Transportation
- Defense & Law Enforcement
- Media & Entertainment
- Other Industry Verticals
Full List of Companies Featured
- AeroVironment, Inc.
- AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
- Airbus SE
- AIRO Group Holdings Inc.
- Cyberhawk Innovations Limited
- DroneDeploy
- DroneShield Ltd
- Edall Systems
- Garuda Aerospace Private Limited
- Percepto Ltd.
- Phoenix LiDAR Systems
- Sky-Futures Ltd
- Skyports Drone Services Ltd
- Terra Drone Corporation
- Zipline International Inc
- AeroVironment
- AirRobot
- Amazon Prime Air
- Argentine DronesVIP
- Blue Dart Express Ltd.
- Coromandel International
- Correios (Brazil Post)
- Daedong
- Delair
- Drone Delivery Canada
- e& (du)
- Entergy Corporation
- Flytrex
- Garuda Aerospace
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- Helsing
- HevenDrones
- HHLA Sky
- Horus Aeronaves / XMobots
- IdeaForge
- ideaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd.
- IndyASTRA Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
- Joby Aviation
- Kenya Airways / Fahari Aviation
- Korea's K-Drone Delivery Operators
- Microdrones
- NearthLab
- NHS + Apian (Zipline partner)
- Nightingale Security
- ONERA
- Parrot
- Quantum-Systems (Germany)
- Rheinmetall
- Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD)
- Saudi Aramco (Drone Ops)
- SF Express
- Sincron??a Log??stica
- Skydio
- Skylark Drones
- Skyports Infrastructure
- Speedbird Aero
- Stark
- Sunbelt Rentals
- Swoop Aero
- Terra Drone
- Thales Group
- Toyota Tsusho / Sora-iina
- Uber Technologies Inc.
- Volatus Aerospace
- Wingcopter
- XAG
- Zipline
- ANAC (Brazil)
- Argentine Government
- Army Base Workshop (Indian Army)
- Brazilian Government (Agriculture)
- CASA (Australia)
- Chilean Government
- Chinese Government
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- French Ministry of Defence
- German Aviation Authorities
- Government of Himachal Pradesh
- Government of India
- Government of Telangana
- Hong Kong Government
- Indian DGCA
- Indian State Agricultural Departments
- Italian Ministry of Defense
- Kenya Ministry of Agriculture
- MAIDC (India)
- IFFCO
- FMC India
- Malaysian Government (KISMEC)
- Multiple Government Security Agencies
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA)
- Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation
- South Korean Land Ministry
- Transport Canada
- U.S. Department of Defense, DOGE Unit, Secretary of Defense
- U.S. Government (Foreign Military Sales)
- UAE Government
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6bsrgi
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