EO/IR Gimbal Market Report by Product Type (2-Axis EO/IR Gimbals, 3-Axis EO/IR Gimbals), End User (UAV/UAS, Defense, Marine, Law Enforcement, and Others), and Region 2025-2033

The global EO/IR gimbal market size reached USD 884.3 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,878.3 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.29% during 2025-2033. The growing use of drones for military-based activities, increasing focus on security and surveillance, and the rising geopolitical tensions and defense spendings are primarily driving the market's growth.

EO/IR Gimbal Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The rising need for surveillance and the escalating demand for intelligent sensors and sighting devices represent several key factors positively influencing the market. Moreover, the increasing investments in airborne homeland security, combat, patrol, and defense systems, are encouraging key market players to introduce more advanced product variants, further escalating the market's growth.
• Key Market Trends: The growing investments in research and development (R&D) activities in next-generation logistics are providing a thrust to the market growth. In addition to this, the development of nanostructure-based material technology to benefit next-generation EO/IR sensors is also supporting the market growth.
• Competitive Landscape: Some of the prominent EO/IR gimbal market companies include AeroVironment Inc., Ascent Vision Technologies (CACI International Inc), CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.), Harris Aerial, Innovative Intuitive Technology Inc., L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo DRS (Leonardo S.p.A.), Lockheed Martin Corporation, Merio - UAV Payload Systems, Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated), and Ukrspecsystems., among many others.
• Geographical Trends: According to the EO/IR gimbal market dynamics, North America acquires a prominent share in the market owing to the large defense budget and extensive defense and aerospace industries. Moreover, the European market is also growing owing to the ongoing modernization of military assets and rising geopolitical tensions.
• Challenges and Opportunities: High development costs associated with gimbal systems and extensive competition among key players are hampering the market's growth. However, the rising use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and commercial applications is stimulating the industry's demand.

EO/IR Gimbal Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Unmanned Vehicles

The growing adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and military operations is driving the market's growth. For instance, according to IMARC, India’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market size is projected to exhibit a growth rate (CAGR) of 13.20% during 2024-2032. EO/IR gimbals are essential for providing high-quality, stabilized imaging, and targeting capabilities on these platforms. These factors are expected to propel the EO/IR gimbal market in the coming years.

Increased Defense Spending

Governments worldwide are investing heavily in defense technology, including EO/IR systems for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting. For instance, in July 2024, the Ministry of Defense approved INR 300 crore through its Technology Development Fund to improve capacities in cutting-edge technology and promote 'Aatmanirbharta' in defense. The government planned to increase India's yearly defense manufacturing. These systems are essential for modern military operations and homeland security. These factors further positively influence the EO/IR gimbal market forecast.

Technological Advancements

Improvements in sensor technology, image processing, and stabilization systems have enhanced the performance and capabilities of EO/IR gimbals. For instance, in July 2024, UAVOS launched the Gimbal 155, a new gimbaled camera designed specifically for the UAS Survey Mission program. The GOS-155 two-axial gimbal is an EO/IR system. It consists of a 30x optical zoom HD (1280×720) visible camera and a fixed focal length, uncooled thermal LWIR (1280×1024) camera. This allows users to capture intricate pictures in both the visible and infrared spectrums, thus boosting mission success. This technological progress makes these systems more attractive for a wide range of applications, thereby boosting the EO/IR gimbal market revenue.

Global EO/IR Gimbal Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global EO/IR gimbal market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on product type and end user.

Breakup by Product Type:

• 2-Axis EO/IR Gimbals
• 3-Axis EO/IR Gimbals

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the EO/IR gimbal market based on the product type. This includes 2-axis EO/IR gimbals, and 3-axis EO/IR gimbals.

According to the EO/IR gimbal market outlook, 2-axis gimbals are often used in applications where cost constraints are a significant factor, such as in certain commercial drones or entry-level surveillance systems. They provide stabilization in pitch and roll axes, which is sufficient for many applications where full 3D stabilization is not necessary. While 3-axis gimbals offer stabilization across all three axes (pitch, roll, and yaw), making them ideal for high-precision applications requiring optimal image clarity and stability. They are widely used in military drones, high-end surveillance systems, and professional-grade imaging platforms where superior stabilization is crucial.

Breakup by End User:

• UAV/UAS
• Defense
• Marine
• Law Enforcement
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the EO/IR gimbal market based on the end user. This includes UAV/UAS, defense, marine, law enforcement, and others.

According to the EO/IR gimbal market overview, EO/IR gimbals are critical for UAV/UAS used in surveillance and reconnaissance missions, providing high-resolution imagery and thermal sensing. Moreover, drones equipped with EO/IR gimbals are used for industrial inspections, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Furthermore, EO/IR gimbals are essential for military operations, providing high-precision surveillance, target acquisition, and night vision capabilities. Apart from this, EO/IR gimbals are used on naval vessels for maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, and protection against threats.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Australia
• Indonesia
• Others
• Europe
• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Spain
• Russia
• Others
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Others
• Middle East and Africa

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa.

According to the EO/IR gimbal market statistics, North America is a major player in defense spending, with extensive investments in advanced surveillance and reconnaissance systems, including EO/IR gimbals. The ongoing modernization of military assets and the use of UAVs for various defense applications drive the significant demand. Moreover, European countries are modernizing their defense systems and investing in advanced surveillance technologies. The need for border security, counterterrorism, and maritime patrols drives demand for EO/IR gimbals. Apart from this, rapid defense modernization programs, across Asia Pacific countries like China and India, are driving demand for advanced EO/IR gimbals for military and surveillance purposes.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Detailed profiles of all major market companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• AeroVironment Inc.
• Ascent Vision Technologies (CACI International Inc)
• CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.)
• Harris Aerial
• Innovative Intuitive Technology Inc.
• L3Harris Technologies Inc.
• Leonardo DRS (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Merio - UAV Payload Systems
• Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Ukrspecsystems

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the global EO/IR gimbal market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global EO/IR gimbal market?
• What are the key regional markets?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the end user?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?
• What is the structure of the global EO/IR gimbal market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Show more