Autonomous Marine Vehicles Market Report 2026

The autonomous marine vehicles market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.52 billion in 2025 to $4.09 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to marine exploration programs, naval modernization, offshore oil and gas exploration, remotely operated vehicle usage, advancements in marine robotics.

The autonomous marine vehicles market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.54 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to blue economy investments, AI-based navigation systems, environmental monitoring demand, autonomous mission endurance improvements, smart ocean infrastructure. Major trends in the forecast period include growth of unmanned underwater vehicles, expansion of autonomous surface vessels, integration of ai navigation systems, rising demand for ocean monitoring, defense and surveillance adoption.

An increase in demand for cargo transportation via marine routes is expected to propel the growth of the autonomous marine vehicles (AMVs) market going forward. Cargo transportation refers to the movement of bulk goods by water, air, or land. The demand for marine cargo transport is rising due to expanding global trade, driven by the growth of e-commerce and international supply chain requirements. Autonomous marine vehicles enhance cargo transportation by navigating waterways with minimal human intervention, improving operational efficiency and reducing costs. For instance, in January 2025, the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government department, reported that goods exports to the United States totaled $80.4 billion (£60.4 billion), making it the UK’s largest export destination and accounting for 15.3% of all goods shipped abroad. Therefore, rising demand for cargo transportation via marine routes is driving the growth of the autonomous marine vehicles market.

The expanding oil and gas industry is another factor expected to boost the autonomous marine vehicles market. The oil and gas sector, also known as the energy or petroleum industry, encompasses exploration, extraction, production, refining, transportation, and distribution of hydrocarbon resources, primarily crude oil and natural gas. This industry relies heavily on underwater infrastructure, including pipelines, wellheads, and subsea installations. AMVs equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies are increasingly used for inspecting and maintaining these critical assets, ensuring operational integrity and minimizing environmental risks. For instance, in September 2023, GOV.UK reported that UK government revenues from oil and gas production rose to $9.9 billion (£9 billion) in the 2022-2023 financial year. Therefore, the growth of the oil and gas industry is driving the expansion of the autonomous marine vehicles market.

Turnkey autonomous vessels are emerging as a key trend to enhance surveillance and investigative capabilities in the autonomous marine vehicle market. A turnkey autonomous vessel refers to a complete marine solution with all necessary systems, hardware, and software for autonomous operations. For instance, in April 2024, Sea Machines Robotics, a U.S.-based commercial software systems company, launched the turnkey autonomous vessel SELKIE. Designed for autonomous operation, SELKIE incorporates advanced navigation, control, and operational efficiency technologies. Through SELKIE, Sea Machines cements its position as a leader in autonomous marine technology, demonstrating not only the potential for operational efficiency improvements but also the rising emphasis on sustainable practices within the maritime industry.

Major companies operating in the autonomous marine vehicles market report include L3Harris Technologies, Inc., BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Kongsberg, Saab AB, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Textron Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries, Teledyne Technologies, Inc., Atlas Elektronik, Ocius Technology Ltd, Open Ocean Robotics, International Submarine Engineering, Aselsan A.S., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, Tsuneishi Holdings, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, China International Marine Containers Group, Naval Yards Kiel GmbH, Meyer Werft, PIRIOU, SOCARENAM, Cammell Laird, Remontowa, CRIST S A, PO SEVMASH, AO, OSK, Severnaya Verf, Pella, Vard Tulcea, Santierul Naval Damen Galati, Damen Shipyards Mangalia, Sefine Shipyard.

North America was the largest region in the autonomous marine vehicles market in 2025. Middle East was the second largest region in the global autonomous marine vehicles market share. The regions covered in the autonomous marine vehicles market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the autonomous marine vehicles market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The autonomous marine vehicles market consists of sales of submarine gliders and autonomous underwater vehicles. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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