Unmanned Systems Engine Market Size, Share, and Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis, By Type (Fuel, Fuel-Electric Hybrid, and Pure Electric), By Structure (Series, Parallel, Series-Parallel, and Complex), By Point of Sale (Original Equipment Manufacturers and Aftermarket), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Unmanned systems engines are used in the propulsion of unmanned vehicles. These can be purely conventional, purely electric, or a hybrid of the two modes. The design of the engine determines the endurance and the payload capacity of an unmanned vehicle. The global unmanned systems engine market size is expected to display strong growth during the forecast period of 2024-2032.

Unmanned systems do not have a crew or personnel on board to look after the system, and thus have a waide range of sensors that constantly relay the vehicle’s metric to the ground operator. Engines designed for unmanned systems can be fuel-based, electric, or a fuel-electric hybrid, depending on the application. Some of the common conventional engines used are two-stroke piston engines, four-stroke piston engines, diesel engines, and wankel rotary engines. Electric motors and an engine can be employed is different arrangements to provide different outputs, with additions such as a converter.

The unmanned systems engine market is driven by the need for developments of better engines which provide better endurance capabilities with fuel consumption, thus lowering the overall cost of operation. Increased efficiency would allow the vehicle to stay on trajectory for a longer duration. Better engines would also be beneficial from an environmental point.

A big restraint towards the growth of the market is the high investment required for the development, installation, and maintenance of these systems. Unmanned systems engines need to be repaired after every trip, which is a complex task due to the involvement of a variety of sensors  for monitoring the engines.

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on the Global Unmanned Systems Engine Industry:

The Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022, and has been ravaging the east Ukrainian border for more than a year now. The war has grown heavily dependent on the electronic warfare method, with both sides deploying the latest technologies in the battlefields. The usage of UAVs has become an important aspect for both the nations. UAVs and drones have been consistently used for surveillance, intelligence, attacks, and other applications. This increase in the demand for UAVs has created a subsequent demand for the engines of these systems. The import of military aids from other nations has also created a demand outside of Europe. Increased production has also boosted the research and development of the propulsion systems. The war overall has brought a positive impact on the unmanned systems engine market.

The global unmanned systems engine industry is segmented into three broad categories- by type, by structure, and by the point of sale. Based on the type of propulsion, the market is trifurcated into fuel, ful-electric hybrid, and pure electric. Based on the structure of the propulsion, the market is divided into series, parallel, series-parallel, and complex. Based on the point of sale, the market is divided into original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket. Based on the region, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.

Key Insights:

The report will describe the following key insights:

• The report analyzes a detailed industry overview, including qualitative and quantitative information.


• The report analyzes an overview and forecast of the global unmanned systems engine market based on various segments.


• The report also analyzes comprehensive PEST analysis for all four regions, i.e. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America, after evaluating economic, social, political, and technological factors affecting the global unmanned systems engine industry in these regions.

Regional Analysis:

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North America is projected to dominate unmanned systems engine market growth. The region sees a very high number of unmanned systems employed a wide range of applications in the commercial and military sectors, which creates high demand for engines as well. The presence of big players such as Honeywell International Inc. and Lockheed Martin Corporation boosts the research and development of technology in the region.

Asia Pacific is projected to grow the fastest in the future. The market is seeing heavy demand for modernization of industries with the help of autonomous unmanned vehicles. Increasing military budgets of nations like India, China, and South Korea are also aiding market growth. Since the market is staring to pick up pace, new players are also emerging, significantly contributing towards the research and development of unmanned systems engines market.

Key Players Covered:

• Lockheed Martin Corporation


• Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.


• AeroVironment, Inc.


• Northrop Grumman Corporation


• Honeywell International Inc.


• GE Aviation


• Rolls Royce


• Textron Inc.


• DJI


• Elbit Systems Ltd.

Unmanned Systems Engine Market Segmentation:

Key Industry Developments:

• In February 2023, General Atomics announced that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will provide the maintenance support services for the engine of the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system. The drone is designed for long-endurance and high-altitude surveillance, and can add any number of custom sensors required for any situation.


• In September 2022, LiquidPiston announced that the firm had been awarded a contract worth USD 1.7 Million by the U.S. Army for the development of its hybrid electric x-engine (HEXE) propulsion system. This system will provide the army with the ability for vertical take-off an landing (VTOL) in an unmanned aircraft system in the future.