Ground Control Stations (GCS) are, controlling stations that help control various unmanned and manned systems and missions for either land, air and marine platforms. They are either available as a software solution or as a combination of hardware and software. The hardware systems can be installed on a vehicle. Software-based GCS can be installed on personal computers; they provide mission planning and full flight control for drones. GCS provide functionalities such as remote monitoring, mission planning, attitude control, payload control, navigation & positioning, communication & data processing, integrated display & monitoring, etc. These systems also come in the form of handheld/bag mounted devices.

The Ground Control Station vendors are placed into 4 categories based on their performance and reviews in each criterion: “visionary leaders,” “innovators,” “dynamic differentiators,” and “emerging companies".

Vendors that fall under this category generally receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have well-established product portfolios with strong market presence. They provide reputed products and services. They also have strong business strategies to strengthen their position in the 3D radar market.

Dynamic differentiators are well-established vendors with strong business strategies. However, they have weaker product portfolios as compared to their competitors. They generally focus on a specific type of technology-related to a particular product.

Innovators are the vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have an extensive product portfolio. However, they do not have strong growth strategies for their overall business.

Emerging companies are the vendors with niche product offerings, who have started to gain their foothold in the Ground Control Stations MArket. They do not have strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. They might be new entrants and may require some time before gaining significant traction in the market. Substantial investments in defense and advancements in military capabilities by the US and Canada are some of the factors driving the GCS market in North America. North America is a mature market for UAVs. The Federal Aviation Administration allowed military, private, and commercial drones into the US airspace. This move is anticipated to increase the number of unmanned aircraft in the defense sector. The use of UAVs for security applications is also expected to grow, owing to counter-terrorism operations. UAVs have been extensively used by the US in strikes against the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization. In Canada, UAVs have been used in diverse environments and high-risk projects such as atmospheric research, including weather & atmospheric gas sampling, oceanographic research, geophysical research, mineral exploration, imaging spectrometry, telecommunications relay platforms, and reconnaissance. Canada also uses UAVs for survey and inspection of remote power lines & pipelines, traffic & accident surveillance, emergency & disaster monitoring, cartography & mapping, search & rescue, agricultural spraying, aerial photography, promotion & advertising, weather reconnaissance, and flight research, among others. The increasing use of UAVs is expected to drive the market for GCS in this region. UAVs provide real-time situational awareness for battlefields. Technological upgrades in UAVs, in terms of sensors and miniature payloads, have propelled the market for UAVs in Europe. The demand for UAVs for military applications is growing at a rapid pace. In France and the UK, small UAVs are being utilized for civil & commercial applications. UAVs are also being used for border security, fire & rescue operations, and environmental monitoring. Over the past few years, France and Germany have been developing UAVs for security and military applications. Countries in the European region have been working towards developing technologies such as payloads, GCS, and data links for UAVs. This has resulted in increasing functionalities in GCS, which has increased the number of applications of drones. The increasing applications of drones will fuel their demand, which in turn, will drive the market for GCS. Asia Pacific is expected to account for third largest share of the global GCS market. The GCS market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a very good CAGR. The GCS market in Asia Pacific is driven primarily by the rise in territorial disputes. The constant disputes between India, China, and Pakistan over the occupancy of bordering areas are a growing concern in the region. Rapid industrialization and high foreign investments in manufacturing activities are also leading to the growth of the GCS market in this region. These factors are expected to increase the demand for GCS in Asia Pacific during the forecast period.