The United States ranked first in global military drone exports over the past four years, but Iran pulled far ahead of the United States last year, data showed. Demand for strike drones has surged since the war in Ukraine, shifting the landscape of the global arms export market.

On Oct. 13, U.S. technology outlet TechRadar reported that an analysis of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) arms transfer statistics showed the United States exported 7,592 military drones in 2022 to 2025, ranking first globally. Iran ranked second with 6,800, followed by Germany with 1,000. Combined exports by the United States and Iran accounted for about 86 percent of the total tallied volume.

The main recipients for both countries were parties to the war in Ukraine. Of drones exported by the United States, 95 percent went to Ukraine, while 99 percent of Iran's exports were supplied to Russia. Most of the drones acquired by Russia were Shahed-136 strike drones designed to crash into targets and explode.

By year, export rankings differed. In 2025, Iran exported 2,002 drones, about five times the U.S. total of 402. U.S. exports plunged within a year from 3,219 in 2024.

The drop in U.S. exports was influenced by reduced military support for Ukraine. In 2025, the main destination for U.S.-made drones shifted from Ukraine to Taiwan.

The gap with other countries was also wide. Poland ranked fourth with 690, and Turkey ranked fifth with 381.

Turkey in particular supplied drones to 28 countries including Pakistan, Kuwait and Romania. Its main model, the Bayraktar TB2, accounted for 58 percent of reusable military drone exports.

The statistics do not cover the entire military drone market. SIPRI counts unmanned aircraft above a certain weight and one-way strike drones, while mostly excluding small FPV drones and commercial airframes. With 97 percent of the tallied volume consisting of one-way strike drones, it is difficult to assess national drone technological capabilities or overall defense industry competitiveness based on export unit counts alone.