Market for firefighting drones to reach $8.98 billion by 2033

This is expected to rise by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.7 per cent to $8.98 billion by the end of 2033.

This reflects a similar rise in the general market for autonomous drones, which is expected to rise at a CAGR of 19 per cent from around $15.6 billion in 2023, to approximately $89 billion in 2033.

At present, autonomous drones are a tool largely restricted to the world’s wealthier regions. Europe constitutes over a third (36.1 per cent) of the total global market, with a value of $692.4 million. North America represented a slightly smaller share at (32.1 per cent), valued at $615.5 million. China also represents 11.6 per cent ($222.5 million) of the global market.

Autonomous drones are projected to have a market penetration of 46 per cent in the overall drone market, which is expected to have a valuation of $33.9 billion in 2023. Currently, sales of autonomous firefighting drones accounted for nearly 12 per cent of the total global autonomous drone market at the end of 2022.

The use of drone technology has become more common to support firefighting operations in recent years, typically being used to offer an ‘eye in the sky’ to firefighters.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority approved the use of 180 drones by firefighters in Dubai in May 2022, while Australia’s Fire and Rescue New South Wales announced plans to deploy a fleet of drones to support its operations in August.