AM Research sees 3D printing in drones hit $900 million by 2034

Additive Manufacturing Research has released a new report on 3D printing in unmanned aerial systems, projecting the market will grow from $140 million in 2025 to $900 million by 2034. The forecast points to rising demand from military and commercial drone production, where low-cost and field-ready manufacturing methods are gaining traction.

Why it matters: - AM Research says 3D printing in drones is becoming a major niche for additive manufacturing, with implications for defense, commercial drone production and industrial supply chains. - The report projects the market will expand from $140 million in 2025 to $900 million by 2034. - The forecast suggests additive manufacturing is moving beyond prototyping and into production parts for unmanned aerial systems.

What happened: - Additive Manufacturing Research published “Additive Manufacturing Opportunities in Unmanned Aerial Systems 2026: Drones Market Analysis and Forecast.” - The report covers the AM drones market by material, segment, application, geography and vendor. - AM Research says the report reflects the latest findings and trends in additive manufacturing for unmanned aerial systems. - The company said the drone market has accelerated over the last three years because of converging market forces. - The report is available with a free sample here.

The details: - The report says drone production is cost-sensitive because many systems are field-deployable and often single-use or one-way-use. - AM Research says that dynamic favors polymers and low-cost 3D printing solutions. - Metal additive manufacturing in UAS is expanding, with metal powder bed fusion identified as the only class of metal printers known to be used today. - The report says metal AM could support propulsion systems and structural components for very large drones with large payload capacity. - The report names companies including Stratasys, EOS, HP Inc., DJI, Skydio, Brinc, Markforged, General Atomics, Firestorm Labs, Titan Dynamics, Tytan Technologies, TAF Industries, Wild Hornets, Thyra, AirForestry, Carlson Software, Camflite, Cobra Aero, Airflight, AcoDyne, Nikon SLM Solutions, Neros, Prusa Research and Quantum Systems. - The market model is built on more than 12 years of historical data. - AM Research describes the report as a leading drone market resource for the 3D printing industry. - AM Research says global AM companies, investors and entrepreneurs have relied on its historical analysis.

Between the lines: - The forecast reflects a wider shift in drones from low-volume specialty products to a defense-relevant manufacturing category. - The emphasis on tactical military drones suggests national security demand is becoming a key driver of additive manufacturing adoption in this segment. - The report’s focus on low-cost and metal production methods points to a market split between rapid, inexpensive polymer parts and higher-performance metal applications.

What's next: - AM Research says governments worldwide now recognize the need to develop drone and counter-drone solutions quickly. - The company argues that speed-to-production could make additive manufacturing even more useful for drone components. - AM Research will hold Additive Manufacturing Strategies X in New York City from Feb. 23-25, 2027. - More details on the company are available here. - The company also shares updates on LinkedIn.