Unmanned Marine Autonomous Vehicles Market Report 2026

The unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.26 billion in 2025 to $3.48 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early development of autonomous surface and underwater vessels, advancements in marine navigation and guidance systems, government and defense funding for unmanned marine vehicle programs, integration of communication systems for remote monitoring and control, initial deployment of unmanned marine vehicles for environmental and oceanographic research.

The unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.49 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for autonomous marine vehicles in defense and maritime surveillance, expansion of offshore exploration and resource management applications, adoption of advanced navigation and AI-driven control systems, development of next-generation communication and data transmission technologies, increased collaboration between manufacturers and marine research or defense agencies for large-scale unmanned marine operations. Major trends in the forecast period include advanced marine sensor integration, modular payload customization, enhanced underwater communication technologies, long-endurance autonomous missions, multi-platform interoperability.

The rising incidence of illegal marine activities is anticipated to drive the growth of the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market. Illegal marine activities refer to unlawful actions carried out in maritime environments, such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and unauthorized border crossings, which present significant risks to national security, marine ecosystems, and global trade operations. The increase in these activities is mainly attributed to limited surveillance and enforcement capabilities across vast and remote ocean regions, creating opportunities for unlawful operations to go undetected. Maritime authorities are turning to advanced technologies such as unmanned marine autonomous vehicles to improve surveillance, enhance security, and uphold maritime law. For example, in April 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UK-based specialized agency of the United Nations, reported that 146 incidents of piracy and armed robbery occurred in 2024 - representing a 2.7% decline from the 150 incidents recorded in 2023, while 131 incidents were reported in 2022. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of illegal marine activities is fueling the expansion of the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market.

Major companies in the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market are advancing integrated underwater drone technologies to enhance their competitive edge. These systems offer improved capabilities for safeguarding, developing, and maintaining critical underwater infrastructure and port facilities, while also supporting environmental monitoring and protection initiatives. For instance, in October 2025, Fincantieri, an Italy-based shipbuilding firm, launched its first integrated underwater drone system, named DEEP. Built for dual-use applications, DEEP is capable of addressing both civilian and defense-related needs. This development represents a significant advancement in underwater technology, strengthening Fincantieri’s leadership in the sector and contributing to its continued industrial progress. The adoption of such integrated systems demonstrates the industry’s dedication to employing advanced technologies to enhance operational efficiency and address evolving maritime challenges.

In October 2025, Helsing SE, a defense technology company based in Germany, acquired Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition aims to accelerate the advancement and deployment of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and maritime systems, expanding Helsing SE’s capabilities in underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime defense across European and AUKUS regions. Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems is an Australia- and UK-based specialist in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Major companies operating 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, Ocean Aero Inc.

North America was the largest region in the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market in 2025. The regions covered in the unmanned marine autonomous 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 have introduced both challenges and opportunities for the unmanned marine autonomous vehicles market by affecting the cost and availability of critical components like propulsion and communication systems. These tariffs have particularly impacted manufacturing and assembly hubs in regions such as Asia-Pacific, increasing production costs and causing supply chain disruptions. Surface and underwater vehicle segments, especially those reliant on advanced materials and imported technology, are most affected. However, tariffs have encouraged manufacturers to diversify supply chains and invest in local production, potentially accelerating innovation and boosting regional manufacturing capabilities.

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.

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

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 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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