Recent global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, have underscored the widespread use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in military scenarios. These systems are not only pivotal in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions but are also playing direct combat roles. Additionally, UAS are revolutionizing various commercial industries, such as infrastructure, logistics, insurance, media, telecommunications, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and retail.

This rapid proliferation of UAS has introduced new threats, such as unauthorized surveillance, privacy breaches, airspace obstruction, and the potential use of drones for carrying destructive payloads. These concerns are particularly pronounced in civilian airspace, where incidents involving drones have surged. From 2021 to 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported over 2,000 drone sightings near U.S. airports, including incidents that required pilots to take evasive actions. In the first four months of 2024 alone, the FAA recorded 326 drone-related incidents near airplanes, helicopters, and airports, highlighting the growing security risks.

In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need for effective counter-UAS (C-UAS) technology. Countries are increasingly procuring systems for detection, identification, tracking, alerting, jamming, spoofing, and neutralization of rogue drones. The global market for C-UAS technology is expected to quadruple between 2021 and 2031. Notably, integrated defense networks that combine various detection and mitigation technologies are proving more effective than isolated systems, as evidenced by a U.S. Army assessment.

The following report will analyze the currently evolving C-UAS market, examine current trends, technological advancements, and future efforts to address the growing challenges posed by UAS proliferation.

If you are interested in learning more about the C-UAS market, register for IDGA’s C-UAS Summit today. This two-day event, which takes place August 27-28 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, will engage our audience with high level discussions surrounding kinetic and non- kinetic approaches for countering drones, including exploring case studies on specific incidents, insights into the latest innovative CUAS technologies, the impact of shifting legal authorities, and much more.