Unmanned Marine Vehicles Market Report 2026

The unmanned marine vehicles market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.71 billion in 2025 to $5.17 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early development of remotely operated and autonomous marine vessels, advancements in underwater and surface navigation systems, government and naval funding for unmanned maritime programs, integration of communication systems for real-time monitoring, initial deployment of unmanned marine vehicles for environmental and defense missions.

The unmanned marine vehicles market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.42 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for autonomous marine vehicles in naval and commercial applications, expansion of surveillance and data collection operations, adoption of advanced AI-driven navigation and control systems, development of next-generation communication and sensor integration technologies, increased collaboration between manufacturers and maritime agencies for large-scale unmanned marine deployments. Major trends in the forecast period include increased adoption of long-endurance marine platforms, rising demand for high-precision oceanographic & hydrographic data, expansion of commercial offshore energy exploration, advancements in modular payload & sensor integration, growth in government procurement for maritime security.

The rising demand for maritime surveillance and security solutions is anticipated to drive the growth of the unmanned marine vehicles market. Maritime surveillance refers to the monitoring of maritime activity to ensure the safety, security, and protection of coastal and offshore regions, playing a vital role in detecting unlawful activities, safeguarding maritime boundaries, and supporting search and rescue missions. The need for maritime surveillance and security solutions is increasing due to heightened concerns over territorial intrusions and unauthorized activities in national waters, prompting greater investment in technologies that improve real-time monitoring and response. Unmanned marine autonomous vehicles are utilized in maritime surveillance and security by authorities seeking advanced systems to monitor coastal zones and deter unauthorized maritime operations. For example, in January 2025, the International Chamber of Commerce, a France-based agency, reported 116 incidents against ships in 2024, compared to 120 in 2023 and 115 in 2022. Therefore, the rising demand for maritime surveillance and security solutions is fueling the growth of the unmanned marine vehicles market.

Leading companies in the unmanned marine vehicles market are increasingly integrating advanced technologies such as modular open-architecture unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to enhance their competitive advantage. These UUVs incorporate interchangeable components and standardized interfaces, allowing rapid reconfiguration for multiple missions, including data collection, offshore exploration, and mine countermeasures. For instance, in March 2024, HII, a US-based defense and marine systems company, introduced the REMUS 130, a compact, two-person-portable UUV engineered for easy payload integration and capable of operating at depths of up to 100 meters with extended battery endurance. This innovation improves mission flexibility and lowers deployment costs, though it also brings challenges related to system integration, operator training, and maintenance.

In November 2024, BlueHalo, a US-based defense technology firm, acquired VideoRay for an undisclosed sum. The objective of this acquisition was to expand BlueHalo’s presence in the unmanned maritime technology market by integrating autonomous maritime systems into its all-domain defense technology portfolio. VideoRay is a US-based manufacturer of unmanned marine vehicles (UMVs).

Major companies operating in the unmanned marine vehicles market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Textron Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Saab AB, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Fugro NV, Oceaneering International Inc., Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Exail Technologies SAS, The Welding Institute, Saildrone Inc., Physical Sciences Inc., Oceanalpha Co Ltd, SeaRobotics Corporation, Maritime Robotics AS, Ocean Aero Inc.

North America was the largest region in the unmanned marine vehicles market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the unmanned marine vehicles 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 electronic components, marine-grade materials, and advanced communication systems are increasing production costs and slowing delivery timelines for unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. These impacts are most significant in segments relying heavily on imported sensors, batteries, and propulsion technologies, particularly affecting Asia-Pacific and North American manufacturing hubs. Marine security, offshore energy, and research-focused applications experience the most delays, though tariffs have encouraged regional manufacturing, local sourcing, and innovation in cost-efficient designs, offering some long-term benefits to the unmanned marine vehicles market.

The unmanned marine vehicles market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides unmanned marine vehicles market statistics, including unmanned marine vehicles industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a unmanned marine vehicles market share, detailed unmanned marine vehicles market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the unmanned marine vehicles industry. This unmanned marine vehicles 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 marine vehicles are either autonomous or remotely controlled watercraft designed for tasks such as surveillance, data gathering, naval operations, and environmental monitoring. Their key purpose is to improve maritime activities by operating without onboard human presence, thereby boosting safety and efficiency. These vehicles help minimize operational risks, reduce costs, assist in defense and scientific missions, and drive the advancement of smart maritime technologies.

The primary categories of unmanned marine vehicles are unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). USVs resemble robotic boats that navigate water without a crew. They operate via different control methods, including remote operation and autonomous systems, and utilize various propulsion types such as diesel-electric, electric, and hybrid systems. These vehicles serve numerous applications like marine security and defense, oceanographic and hydrographic surveys, environmental monitoring, maritime patrols, offshore mining, and more. Their users span government bodies, research organizations, commercial enterprises, military forces, and the energy sector.

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

The unmanned marine vehicles market consists of sales of autonomous surface and underwater vessels, navigation systems, and advanced communication systems. 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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