Underwater Drone Market Report 2026

The underwater drone market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $5.33 billion in 2025 to $5.89 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing reliance on remotely operated systems for subsea inspection and monitoring, early adoption of observation-class underwater drones for marine research, rising need to reduce diver-related operational risks in deep-water tasks, expansion of offshore energy projects requiring underwater assessment, development of micro and mini underwater drones for cost-efficient exploration.

The underwater drone market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.53 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for advanced underwater drones to support large-scale subsea asset management, increasing integration of high-resolution imaging and sensing technologies, rising adoption of autonomous underwater vehicles for long-duration missions, expansion of offshore renewable energy installations driving inspection needs, technological enhancements enabling deeper and more efficient underwater operations. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced underwater imaging and sensor technology, increasing demand for commercial and recreational exploration drones, miniaturization and portability of underwater drones, cost optimization and operational efficiency in subsea operations, remote monitoring and data analytics for marine assets.

The rising demand for oil and increased oil exploration activities are expected to support the growth of the underwater drone market in the coming years. Underwater drones play a vital role in the oil and gas sector by performing tasks such as subsea infrastructure inspection, offshore exploration, and pipeline maintenance. They provide cost-effective solutions, enable real-time data collection, and enhance safety in challenging underwater environments. Additionally, underwater drones support environmental monitoring, emergency response, and regulatory compliance, making them essential tools for the evolving needs of the oil industry. For example, in March 2025, the American Action Forum, a US-based nonprofit organization, reported that in 2023, the United States produced 22 million barrels of oil per day - slightly more than its consumption of 20 million barrels per day in 2022 - positioning it as both the world’s largest producer and consumer. Therefore, the growing demand for oil and oil exploration is driving the expansion of the underwater drone market.

Companies in the underwater drone market are focusing on technological advancements such as wireless streaming-enabled underwater drones to meet rising demand for advanced marine exploration and real-time data acquisition. These drones are equipped with high-definition cameras, onboard sensors, and wireless transmission capabilities - such as Wi-Fi or radio frequency systems - that allow users to stream live footage to surface devices without relying on traditional tethered cables. For instance, in August 2024, Air India, the India-based national airline, introduced wireless inflight entertainment on its wide-body aircraft in response to customer feedback regarding system issues. The new service, Vista, enables passengers to stream content directly to their personal devices. The Vista W-IFE system uses Bluebox’s Blueview platform and the Bluebox Wow wireless network system, housed in a compact unit that fits in overhead compartments. Although not an underwater application, this innovation demonstrates the growing industry trend toward wireless streaming technologies, which are increasingly being adapted for use in underwater drone systems.

In October 2025, Helsing GmbH, a Germany-based defense technology company, acquired Blue Ocean for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Helsing aims to combine Blue Ocean’s hardware and manufacturing capabilities with its AI-driven autonomous systems to strengthen intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in underwater environments. This move supports Helsing’s broader strategy to expand its presence in maritime defense. Blue Ocean is an Australia-based company specializing in the design, development, and operation of autonomous underwater drones.

Major companies operating in the underwater drone market are Saab Seaeye Ltd., Teledyne Marine Group, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bluefin Robotics Inc., Kongsberg Maritime AS, ECA Group SA, Oceaneering International Inc., TechnipFMC PLC, Deep Ocean Engineering Inc., Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Power Vision Technology Group Co. Ltd., Thales Group, General Dynamics Corporation, Terradepth Inc., ecoSUB Robotics Ltd., Eelume AS, Nido Robotics, Neptune Robotics Corporation, OpenROV Inc., SeaDrone Inc., Aquatic Drones, Ocean Infinity Ltd., Ocean Aero Inc., OceanAlpha Inc., Ocean Power Technologies Inc., SeaRobotics Corporation, SeaView Systems Inc., Shark Marine Technologies Inc., Subsea Tech AS, VideoRay LLC, International Submarine Engineering Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the underwater drone market in 2025. The regions covered in the underwater drone market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have impacted the underwater drone market by increasing the cost of imported components, such as sensors, propulsion systems, and advanced electronics, leading to higher production expenses and slower deployment. Segments most affected include micro and small ROVs and AUVs, particularly in regions like Asia-Pacific and Europe, where component sourcing is heavily reliant on cross-border trade. Positive effects include incentives for local manufacturing and innovation, encouraging the development of cost-optimized and domestically produced underwater drones.

The underwater drone market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides underwater drone market statistics, including underwater drone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a underwater drone market share, detailed underwater drone market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the underwater drone industry. This underwater drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Underwater drones represent robotic devices capable of submersion, utilized either by divers or operators on land to explore vast bodies of water. These drones serve organizations, agencies, and subsea industries, enabling remote examination, assessment, and monitoring of assets while reducing operational costs and minimizing human risks.

The primary types of underwater drones include remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and hybrid vehicles. Micro underwater drones constitute the smallest category, typically employed for analyzing challenging shallow-depth objects such as pipe networks and underwater infrastructure. These micro underwater drones are extensively utilized in missions involving underwater inspection or sensing tasks. Underwater drone products are categorized into micro, small, and medium, light work-class, and heavy work-class, powered by electric, mechanical, or hybrid propulsion systems. These underwater drones find applications in various sectors, including defense and security, scientific research, commercial exploration, and other relevant fields.

The countries covered in the underwater drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The underwater drone market consists of sales of work classes, observation classes, and micro and mini underwater drones. 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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