Summary

The global solar-powered UAV market size reached USD 401.0 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 867.3 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% during 2025-2033. The increasing demand for drone services for various commercial applications and extensive research and development (R&D) activities are primarily driving the market growth.

Solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) refers to high-altitude pseudo-satellites or drones specially designed to receive power directly from the sun for performing continuous stratospheric operations for a longer duration. It can be operated autonomously without any human intervention even from a remote location by utilizing limitless propulsion systems. It further comprises a range of solar-powered cells that are unified with the vehicle to capture solar energy during the day and generate and recharge the battery on board to provide power in nighttime flights. As compared to traditional UAVs, it offers better stability, higher flight altitude, larger coverage area, and superior load capacity. Along with this, it provides environmental protection, improves employee safety, monitors ecological damages, and minimizes the need for human transportation procedures. As a result, the solar-powered UAV finds extensive application in the surveillance and rescue operations, pollution monitoring, disaster management, attack missions, and intelligence-gathering operations.

Solar-Powered UAV Market Trends:
The increasing demand for drone services for various commercial applications, including resource exploration and climate monitoring, represents a prime factor driving the market growth. In line with this, significant improvements in the military and defense sector and the recent development of UAV drones for asset management and performing dangerous battlefield surveillance operations are acting as another growth-inducing factor. This is further supported by the favorable investments being made by the governments of different nations to enhance their military capabilities. Additionally, the extensive usage of solar-powered UAVs in the agricultural sector over traditional surveying methodologies to analyze crop growth, climatic conditions, spray fertilizers, and track soil conditions is favoring the market growth. Solar-powered UAVs are further employed to assess the ecological damage and active risks, perform weather forecasting, and minimize the adverse effects of potential danger in the mining industry to improve workers safety, which is supporting the market growth. Moreover, the escalating usage of photovoltaic (PV) cells and hybrid-electric propulsion engines to improve the vessel performance at lower maintenance costs is propelling the market growth. Apart from this, significant technological advancements, such as the integration of image-transmitting systems and strategic collaborations amongst key players, are positively impacting the market growth.

Key Market Segmentation:
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global solar-powered UAV market, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, range, component, mode of operation and application.

Type Insights:

Fixed Wing Drones
Multirotor Drones
Quadcopter Drones

The report has also provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the solar-powered UAV market based on the type. This includes fixed wing, multirotor, and quadcopter drones. According to the report, fixed wing drones represented the largest segment.

Range Insights:

Less Than 300 KM
More Than 300 KM

A detailed breakup and analysis of the solar-powered UAV market based on the range has also been provided in the report. This includes less than 300 KM and more than 300 KM. According to the report, more than 300 KM accounted for the largest market share.

Component Insights:

Propulsion System
Airframe
Guidance Navigation
Control System
Payload

The report has also provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the solar-powered UAV market based on the component. This includes propulsion system, airframe, guidance navigation, control system and payload.

Mode of Operation Insights:

Semi-Autonomous
Autonomous

A detailed breakup and analysis of the solar-powered UAV market based on the mode of operation has also been provided in the report. This includes semi-autonomous and autonomous. According to the report, semi-autonomous accounted for the largest market share.

Application Insights:

Defense
Commercial

The report has also provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the solar-powered UAV market based on the application. This includes defense and commercial. According to the report, defense represented the largest segment.

Regional Insights:

North America
United States
Canada
Asia Pacific
China
Japan
India
South Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Others
Europe
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Russia
Others
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Others
Middle East and Africa

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets that include North America (the United States and Canada); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America was the largest market for solar-powered UAVs. Some of the factors driving the North America solar-powered UAV market included the widespread product application in the defense and military sectors, extensive research and development (R&D) activities, and the rising utilization in the agricultural industry.

Competitive Landscape:
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global solar-powered UAV market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the companies covered include BAE Systems Plc, Barnard Microsystems Ltd, Eos Technologie, Sunlight Aerospace, UAV Instruments S.L, Xsun, etc.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

1. How big is the global solar-powered UAV industry market?
2. What is the expected growth rate of the global solar-powered UAV market during 2025-2033?
3. What are the key factors driving the global solar-powered UAV market?
4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global solar-powered UAV market?
5. What is the breakup of the global solar-powered UAV market based on the type?
6. What is the breakup of the global solar-powered UAV market based on the range?
7. What is the breakup of the global solar-powered UAV market based on the mode of operation?
8. What is the breakup of the global solar-powered UAV market based on the application?
9. What are the key regions in the global solar-powered UAV market?
10. Who are the key players/companies in the global solar-powered UAV market?

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Table of Contents

1 Preface
2 Scope and Methodology
2.1 Objectives of the Study
2.2 Stakeholders
2.3 Data Sources
2.3.1 Primary Sources
2.3.2 Secondary Sources
2.4 Market Estimation
2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach
2.4.2 Top-Down Approach
2.5 Forecasting Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Introduction
4.1 Overview
4.2 Key Industry Trends
5 Global Solar-powered UAV Market
5.1 Market Overview
5.2 Market Performance
5.3 Impact of COVID-19
5.4 Market Forecast
6 Market Breakup by Type
6.1 Fixed Wing Drones
6.1.1 Market Trends
6.1.2 Market Forecast
6.2 Multirotor Drones
6.2.1 Market Trends
6.2.2 Market Forecast
6.3 Quadcopter Drones
6.3.1 Market Trends
6.3.2 Market Forecast
7 Market Breakup by Range
7.1 Less Than 300 KM
7.1.1 Market Trends
7.1.2 Market Forecast
7.2 More Than 300 KM
7.2.1 Market Trends
7.2.2 Market Forecast
8 Market Breakup by Component
8.1 Propulsion System
8.1.1 Market Trends
8.1.2 Market Forecast
8.2 Airframe
8.2.1 Market Trends
8.2.2 Market Forecast
8.3 Guidance Navigation
8.3.1 Market Trends
8.3.2 Market Forecast
8.4 Control System
8.4.1 Market Trends
8.4.2 Market Forecast
8.5 Payload
8.5.1 Market Trends
8.5.2 Market Forecast
9 Market Breakup by Mode of Operation
9.1 Semi-Autonomous
9.1.1 Market Trends
9.1.2 Market Forecast
9.2 Autonomous
9.2.1 Market Trends
9.2.2 Market Forecast
10 Market Breakup by Application
10.1 Defense
10.1.1 Market Trends
10.1.2 Market Forecast
10.2 Commercial
10.2.1 Market Trends
10.2.2 Market Forecast
11 Market Breakup by Region
11.1 North America
11.1.1 United States
11.1.1.1 Market Trends
11.1.1.2 Market Forecast
11.1.2 Canada
11.1.2.1 Market Trends
11.1.2.2 Market Forecast
11.2 Asia-Pacific
11.2.1 China
11.2.1.1 Market Trends
11.2.1.2 Market Forecast
11.2.2 Japan
11.2.2.1 Market Trends
11.2.2.2 Market Forecast
11.2.3 India
11.2.3.1 Market Trends
11.2.3.2 Market Forecast
11.2.4 South Korea
11.2.4.1 Market Trends
11.2.4.2 Market Forecast
11.2.5 Australia
11.2.5.1 Market Trends
11.2.5.2 Market Forecast
11.2.6 Indonesia
11.2.6.1 Market Trends
11.2.6.2 Market Forecast
11.2.7 Others
11.2.7.1 Market Trends
11.2.7.2 Market Forecast
11.3 Europe
11.3.1 Germany
11.3.1.1 Market Trends
11.3.1.2 Market Forecast
11.3.2 France
11.3.2.1 Market Trends
11.3.2.2 Market Forecast
11.3.3 United Kingdom
11.3.3.1 Market Trends
11.3.3.2 Market Forecast
11.3.4 Italy
11.3.4.1 Market Trends
11.3.4.2 Market Forecast
11.3.5 Spain
11.3.5.1 Market Trends
11.3.5.2 Market Forecast
11.3.6 Russia
11.3.6.1 Market Trends
11.3.6.2 Market Forecast
11.3.7 Others
11.3.7.1 Market Trends
11.3.7.2 Market Forecast
11.4 Latin America
11.4.1 Brazil
11.4.1.1 Market Trends
11.4.1.2 Market Forecast
11.4.2 Mexico
11.4.2.1 Market Trends
11.4.2.2 Market Forecast
11.4.3 Others
11.4.3.1 Market Trends
11.4.3.2 Market Forecast
11.5 Middle East and Africa
11.5.1 Market Trends
11.5.2 Market Breakup by Country
11.5.3 Market Forecast
12 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
12.1 Overview
12.2 Drivers
12.3 Restraints
12.4 Opportunities
13 Value Chain Analysis
14 Porters Five Forces Analysis
14.1 Overview
14.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
14.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
14.4 Degree of Competition
14.5 Threat of New Entrants
14.6 Threat of Substitutes
15 Price Analysis
16 Competitive Landscape
16.1 Market Structure
16.2 Key Players
16.3 Profiles of Key Players
16.3.1 BAE Systems Plc
16.3.1.1 Company Overview
16.3.1.2 Product Portfolio
16.3.1.3 Financials
16.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis
16.3.2 Barnard Microsystems Ltd
16.3.2.1 Company Overview
16.3.2.2 Product Portfolio
16.3.3 Eos Technologie
16.3.3.1 Company Overview
16.3.3.2 Product Portfolio
16.3.4 Sunlight Aerospace
16.3.4.1 Company Overview
16.3.4.2 Product Portfolio
16.3.5 UAV Instruments S.L
16.3.5.1 Company Overview
16.3.5.2 Product Portfolio
16.3.6 Xsun
16.3.6.1 Company Overview
16.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

List of Figures

Figure 1: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Major Drivers and Challenges
Figure 2: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019-2024
Figure 3: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 4: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Type (in %), 2024
Figure 5: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Range (in %), 2024
Figure 6: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Component (in %), 2024
Figure 7: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Mode of Operation (in %), 2024
Figure 8: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Application (in %), 2024
Figure 9: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Region (in %), 2024
Figure 10: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Fixed Wing Drones) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 11: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Fixed Wing Drones) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 12: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Multirotor Drones) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 13: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Multirotor Drones) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 14: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Quadcopter Drones) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 15: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Quadcopter Drones) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 16: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Less Than 300 KM) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 17: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Less Than 300 KM) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 18: Global: Solar-powered UAV (More Than 300 KM) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 19: Global: Solar-powered UAV (More Than 300 KM) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 20: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Propulsion System) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 21: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Propulsion System) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 22: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Airframe) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 23: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Airframe) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 24: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Guidance Navigation) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 25: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Guidance Navigation) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 26: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Control System) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 27: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Control System) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 28: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Payload) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 29: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Payload) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 30: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Semi-Autonomous) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 31: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Semi-Autonomous) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 32: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Autonomous) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 33: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Autonomous) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 34: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Defense) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 35: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Defense) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 36: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Commercial) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 37: Global: Solar-powered UAV (Commercial) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 38: North America: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 39: North America: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 40: United States: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 41: United States: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 42: Canada: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 43: Canada: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 44: Asia-Pacific: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 45: Asia-Pacific: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 46: China: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 47: China: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 48: Japan: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 49: Japan: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 50: India: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 51: India: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 52: South Korea: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 53: South Korea: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 54: Australia: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 55: Australia: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 56: Indonesia: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 57: Indonesia: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 58: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 59: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 60: Europe: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 61: Europe: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 62: Germany: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 63: Germany: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 64: France: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 65: France: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 66: United Kingdom: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 67: United Kingdom: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 68: Italy: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 69: Italy: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 70: Spain: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 71: Spain: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 72: Russia: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 73: Russia: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 74: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 75: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 76: Latin America: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 77: Latin America: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 78: Brazil: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 79: Brazil: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 80: Mexico: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 81: Mexico: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 82: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 83: Others: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 84: Middle East and Africa: Solar-powered UAV Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 85: Middle East and Africa: Solar-powered UAV Market: Breakup by Country (in %), 2024
Figure 86: Middle East and Africa: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 87: Global: Solar-powered UAV Industry: Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
Figure 88: Global: Solar-powered UAV Industry: Value Chain Analysis
Figure 89: Global: Solar-powered UAV Industry: Porter's Five Forces Analysis

List of Tables

Table 1: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Key Industry Highlights, 2024 & 2033
Table 2: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Type (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 3: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Range (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 4: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Component (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 5: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Mode of Operation (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 6: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Application (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 7: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market Forecast: Breakup by Region (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 8: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Competitive Structure
Table 9: Global: Solar-powered UAV Market: Key Players