Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Market Report 2026

The unmanned surface vehicle (usv) market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.23 billion in 2025 to $1.36 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing use of unmanned surface vehicles for oceanographic research and environmental monitoring, early adoption of remote-controlled usvs for maritime surveillance and inspection tasks, rising defense investments in weaponized and ruggedized usvs for naval operations, growth in demand for autonomous marine data collection systems, development of hybrid usv platforms to extend mission duration and operational flexibility.

The unmanned surface vehicle (usv) market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.03 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of autonomous maritime security operations driving adoption of advanced usvs, increasing integration of artificial intelligence and sensor fusion for fully autonomous navigation, rising use of portable and lightweight usvs in commercial marine applications, development of multi-mission usv platforms supporting environmental, defense, and industrial tasks, growing investment in large-scale unmanned fleet operations for persistent maritime domain awareness. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of ruggedized usvs for high-end defense missions, growing demand for portable usvs for nearshore monitoring, increasing deployment of hybrid usvs for multi-domain operations, expansion of usvs in environmental monitoring and data collection, accelerated use of remote-controlled usvs for commercial marine tasks.

The anticipated growth in the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market is expected to be propelled by the increasing threats to maritime security. Maritime security threats encompass a range of risks and challenges, including terrorism, piracy, robbery, illegal movement of goods and persons, and illicit fishing, among others, that can jeopardize the safety and operations of maritime activities. USVs play a crucial role in addressing these threats by performing tasks such as surveillance, patrolling, and monitoring maritime areas. They enhance situational awareness, gather real-time data, and provide support in areas that may pose danger or difficulty for manned vessels. Operating alongside human vessels, USVs improve the capacity of security forces to observe and respond to crises at sea. For instance, in July 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce reported 65 recorded incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the first half of 2023, marking an increase from the 58 incidents reported during the corresponding period in 2022. Consequently, the growing threats to maritime security are driving the growth of the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market.

Leading companies in the unmanned surface vehicle market are concentrating on developing advanced technologies such as autonomous navigation to improve mission efficiency, safety, and operational flexibility. Autonomous navigation is the capability of a vehicle to navigate and make decisions independently without human intervention, helping to reduce human workload, enhance safety, and enable precise and efficient operations. For example, in November 2024, Saab AB, a Sweden-based aerospace company, introduced the Autonomous Ocean Core, a ready-to-use autonomous control system designed to deliver autonomy capabilities to both surface and subsurface naval platforms for military and civilian missions. This vessel-agnostic control system provides baseline autonomy, including vessel control, and allows operators to continuously add new capabilities without compromising built-in safety features. With Autonomous Ocean Core integrated, uncrewed vessels can conduct missions such as mine detection and clearance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.

In September 2023, Oceaneering International, a US-based oil and gas company, acquired Exail's DriX Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition enhances Oceaneering's subsea exploration capabilities and bolsters its integrated Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair (IMR) strategy. Exail, based in France, specializes in advanced maritime, defense, and aerospace solutions, focusing on autonomous systems, robotics, and high-tech sensors to improve operational efficiency in critical environments.

Major companies operating in the unmanned surface vehicle (usv) market are 5G International Inc., L3Harris Technologies, Atlas Elektronik GmbH, ECA Group, Elbit Systems Ltd., Liquid Robotics Inc., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., SeaRobotics Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Textron Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries, Maritime Robotics, Kongsberg Maritime, Saab AB,Thales Group, Fugro NV, Open Ocean Robotics, RanMarine Technology, Xera Robotics Pvt. Ltd., Physical Sciences Inc., Metron Inc., ASV Global, ROV Aerospace Corp., Mesodyne, Blue Bear Plastics Private Limited, Oceaneering International Inc., Waertsilae SAM Electronics.

North America was the largest region in the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market in 2025. The regions covered in the unmanned surface vehicle (usv) 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 on marine electronics, composite materials, navigation systems, and propulsion components have increased manufacturing costs and slowed production cycles in the unmanned surface vehicle market, particularly affecting defense, commercial, and scientific research segments across regions reliant on imported components such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Surface USVs, high-endurance platforms, and autonomous navigation systems are most impacted due to reliance on specialized hardware sourced globally. Some regions benefit positively as tariffs encourage domestic manufacturing, localization of supply chains, and government-backed R&D initiatives that support long-term market expansion despite short-term challenges.

The unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market statistics, including unmanned surface vehicle (USV) industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market share, detailed unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) industry. This unmanned surface vehicle (USV) 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.

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) refer to self-contained surface vehicles capable of navigating and functioning on the water's surface without the need for human operators. These vehicles are designed to perform various tasks and operations in marine environments, including oceanographic research, data collection, and environmental monitoring.

The primary categories of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) include surface and sub-surface types. Surface vehicles are autonomous boats that can navigate and operate on the water's surface without human intervention. They find applications in oceanographic research, military functions such as surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. The main modes of operation include autonomous surface vehicles and remotely operated surface vehicles, featuring different hull types such as catamaran (twin hulls), kayak (single hull), trimaran (triple hulls), and rigid inflatable hulls. These vehicles come in various sizes, such as small, medium, large, and extra-large, and are utilized in defense, commercial activities, scientific research, and other domains.

The countries covered in the unmanned surface vehicle (usv) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The unmanned surface vehicle market consists of sales of ruggedized USV, portable USV, remote-controlled surface vehicles, hybrid USV, weaponized USV, and environmental monitoring USVs. 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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