# Drone Industry Shifts to Managed Aerial Services

The U.S. commercial drone market is shifting from standalone aircraft purchases toward managed aerial services that bundle aircraft, pilots, software, analytics, maintenance, and regulatory support. The report cites more than 400,000 commercial drones registered for business use in the United States and forecasts the global market to grow from US$6.34 billion in 2025 to US$26.10 billion by 2035. It does not identify a government solicitation, award, or contract, so the figures indicate market direction rather than a specific procurement opportunity.

- Contractors can evaluate recurring service offerings for inspection, surveying, agriculture, and delivery, including the bundled capabilities buyers may seek beyond hardware.
- Procurement teams assessing drone services should account for autonomy, data integration, airspace permissions, maintenance, and operational compliance when defining service needs.
- The FAA is relevant to airspace operations; firms entering this market should factor regulatory support into their service models rather than treating aircraft acquisition as the sole requirement.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Transportation, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

### Vendors
- DJI Technology Co., Ltd. ()
- Skydio ()
- Parrot SA ()
- AeroVironment, Inc. ()
- Wing ()

### Sources
- [400,000+ Commercial Drones in the U.S. Accelerate the Shift](https://www.openpr.com/news/4662201/400-000-commercial-drones-in-the-u-s-accelerate-the-shift) - openPR.com