Unmanned Marine Autonomous Vehicles Market Report 2025

The unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.04 billion in 2024 to $3.26 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth during the historic period can be credited to increased investments in autonomous naval systems, growing demand for environmental monitoring, heightened interest in deep-sea mining, expanded use in search and rescue missions, and a rise in defense surveillance activities.

The unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.22 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth anticipated in the forecast period is driven by expanding use in underwater infrastructure inspection, greater integration of AI and machine learning, rising demand for autonomous maritime logistics, increased emphasis on border security and surveillance, and expanding applications in climate change research. Key trends include advancements in underwater navigation systems, development of hybrid propulsion technologies, innovations in autonomous docking, progress in sensor fusion techniques, and the emergence of swarm-based vehicle coordination.

The increase in illegal marine activities is expected to drive the growth of the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market in the coming years. Illegal marine activities include unlawful actions such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and unauthorized crossings in maritime areas, posing serious threats to national security, marine ecosystems, and global trade. This rise is largely due to limited surveillance and enforcement in vast, remote ocean regions, which creates opportunities for these activities to occur unnoticed. Maritime authorities are turning to advanced technologies like unmanned marine autonomous vehicles to improve surveillance, maintain security, and enforce maritime laws. For example, in December 2022, the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), a Singapore-based organization focused on combating piracy in Asia, reported 84 piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships (80 actual and 4 attempted), a 2% increase from 2021. Thus, growing illegal marine activities are fueling the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market.

Key players in the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market are emphasizing the development of advanced technologies such as modular, long-range autonomous platforms to improve multi-domain operations and mission versatility. A modular long-range autonomous platform is an underwater vehicle with an open architecture that allows the integration of multiple payloads and systems, providing extended range and endurance for tasks like mine countermeasures, surveillance, and electronic warfare. For instance, in November 2022, HII, a US-based defense technology firm, introduced the REMUS 620, an advanced unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for long-duration missions including mine countermeasures and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). This launch represents a significant step forward in autonomous maritime systems, offering naval forces a high-performance, modular tool to boost undersea dominance and mission adaptability.

In February 2022, Anduril Industries, a US-based defense technology company, acquired Dive Technologies for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition strengthens Anduril’s undersea autonomous capabilities and expands its range of AI-powered defense solutions, accelerating innovation in maritime security and undersea operations. Dive Technologies is a US-based firm specializing in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Major players in the unmanned marine autonomous 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, and Ocean Aero Inc.

North America was the largest region in the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market in 2024. The regions covered in unmanned marine autonomous vehicles report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Unmanned marine autonomous vehicles are watercraft that operate independently using advanced navigation, sensing, and communication technologies. Their main purpose is to enhance efficiency, safety, and data gathering in marine settings. These vehicles serve a range of applications including defense, environmental monitoring, offshore exploration, and maritime surveillance, providing cost-effective solutions that reduce risk. Additionally, they aid oceanographic research, security operations, and sustainable management of marine resources.

The primary categories of unmanned marine autonomous vehicles are surface vehicles and underwater vehicles. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are vessels of various sizes that navigate on the water’s surface without a crew onboard. They feature diverse systems such as propulsion, communication, payloads, and chassis materials. USVs operate at speeds ranging from up to 10 knots, 10 to 30 knots, to over 30 knots, and have endurance capabilities spanning from 100 hours to over 1000 hours. These vehicles are used across different sectors, including defense, research, commercial activities, and more.

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

The unmanned marine autonomous 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 and 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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