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Germany Aerospace Civil Drone Market

Overview

The demand for private and commercial drones is increasing fast. Affordable prices and a wide range of commercial applications drive up the demand for drones in the private and business sectors. UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) can be used to monitor power plants, to maintain technical facilities, to deliver goods & aid to difficult-to-reach areas, and to make logistics more efficient. So far, the largest part of the German drone market is private. Nevertheless, this market is becoming more and more saturated while the commercial use of drones is increasing in popularity. The VUL (Association of Unmanned Aviation) predicts that from 2022 to 2030 the number of commercial used drones will increase by 40%. Compared on an international level, Germany is the 4th largest market for commercial drones (VUL report from 2023). 

The majority of German drone companies are located in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Berlin. In 2022, 86 million Euros have been invested in German drone companies. Over the last 10 years (as of 2023) investment was around 124 million Euros. In 2024, the revenue generated through the German Drone’s market is projected to eclipse 137 million.

To use the full potential of drones, a safe integration of UAVs into the existing airspace is of great importance. In 2021 the BMDV funded a U-Space Reallabor project in Hamburg, to test and coordinate a safe and efficient integration of drones into the air traffic.

Drones for Firefighting 

The number of forest fires in Germany has increased in recent years. Various projects are currently investigating how the use of drones can improve the prevention, early detection, and the control of wildfires. Drones can be a great support, especially when extinguishing fires that are difficult to access. The German PEELIKAN project is a firefighting drone system. It consists of a mobile supply station from which a swarm of drones flies to a fire site that is up to 5 km away. These drone systems could improve firefighting, as extinguishing agents can be dispersed more precisely. Other projects focus more on the early detection of fire sites, such as the REALISE project from Hamburg.

Other commercial sectors, where drones are already being used in Germany:

  • Construction: Inspection of buildings (25%), Construction site safety (15%), Visualization (13%)
  • Agriculture: Check condition of plants and soils, Animal, and crop protection 
  • Logistics: Delivery of packages, Warehouse management
     

Laws and Regulations

Drone flights in Germany are subject to EU and national laws. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) are responsible for these regulations.
Pilots must register with the Federal Aviation Office to obtain an e-ID. This ID is required to identify the owner of a UAV in the event of a crash or accident. Insurance is recommended for hobby pilots. For commercial operations it is required. There are different requirements depending on use, weight, and operational location. Drones are divided into three categories, based on their level of risk: open, specific, and certified category. 
In general, it is not allowed to fly a drone higher than 120m in the air and near residential buildings. The drone ordinance in Germany stipulates where drones are allowed to be used and regulates privacy issues. 

Opportunities

Germany is amongst the world’s leading aviation and aerospace nations. The aerospace sector is one of the most innovative industries in this country.

  • Market: Thanks to a large number of aerospace related manufacturing, R&D, design and supply, Germany offers numerous business opportunities for international investors.
  • Digitalization: New technologies have a huge impact on the aerospace industry. Reaction times to operational environment changes can be reduced thanks to real-time data. 
  • Climate: Germany wants to bring the world’s first climate-neutral commercial aircraft to market. 
  • Trade: In 2022, the country imports around 38% of UAVs, while exporting 34%. In the first half of 2023, the country’s total exports expanded by 3.3% while imports contracted by 4.3%, yielding an export surplus of 98.7 billion euros. 
  • Growth: From 2019-2021, the use of commercial drones increased by 138%.
  • Employment: The drone industry accommodates approximately 15,000 jobs across manufacturing-related, operational, analytical, managerial, and regulatory dimensions. Driving this significant influx are a wide array of market catalysts, including the increased integration of drones across many business facets, such as agriculture, logistics, urban mobility, and public safety.
  • Outlook: Drone companies in Germany have plans to start their operations in the passenger drone market as of 2024. Over the past few years, Germany has been one of the top countries investing in the drone market. 
     

Drone related Trade Shows in Germany

Intergeo: September 24-26 2024, Stuttgart
Xponential Europe: 18-20 February 2025, Düsseldorf
Aero - The leading trade show for general aviation: April 9-12 2025, Friedrichshafen
ILA Berlin: June 10-14 2026, Berlin

Contact

For further information contact office.berlin@trade.gov or visit trade.gov/Germany

 

 

 




 

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