Military robotics market projected to reach $128.92 billion by 2031

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 3, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The military robotics market is set to experience significant growth, reaching an estimated value of $128.92 billion by 2031, according to a recent report by MarketsandMarkets™. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.1% over the forecast period, driven by advancements in sensor systems, autonomous navigation, and AI-based decision support.

By 2026, the market is expected to be valued at $42.15 billion, with the number of units increasing from 74,817 to 109,010 by 2031. The report highlights that military forces are increasingly adopting unmanned systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics, combat support, and other critical missions, particularly where reducing personnel exposure is crucial.

In terms of market segmentation, the marine segment is forecasted to register the highest CAGR of 26.7% between 2026 and 2031. By application, the airborne segment is currently the most dominant, although the marine segment is expected to show the highest growth. Regionally, the Middle East and Africa are anticipated to witness the fastest growth, with a CAGR of 31.8% during the forecast period.

The report attributes the market's growth to the expansion of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for battlefield intelligence, resupply, and operational support. As defense organizations move towards more autonomous systems, the market is seeing a shift from remotely operated platforms to systems with greater autonomy and modular payloads. Advances in AI, autonomous navigation, and real-time data processing are enabling robots to perform tasks such as area search, threat detection, target identification, navigation, and resupply with reduced continuous operator input.

The airborne beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) segment is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing requirement for unmanned aircraft to conduct long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and other missions beyond terrain and visual limitations. The US Army, for instance, is expanding its unmanned aircraft capabilities for operations beyond the immediate line of sight.

Key players in the military robotics market include Milrem Robotics (Estonia), Tencore (Ukraine), Teledyne FLIR Defense (US), Rheinmetall (Germany), and Elbit Systems (Israel). These companies have strong distribution networks across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.

MarketsandMarkets™, the research firm behind the report, has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes. The company specializes in providing growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for B2B organizations. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, MarketsandMarkets™ helps businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem by assisting them in monetizing new revenue streams.