Sea Skimmer Missile Market Report 2026

The sea skimmer missile market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.85 billion in 2025 to $1.98 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing naval modernization programs driving adoption of low-altitude anti-ship missile systems, development of radar altimeter technologies enabling precise sea-skimming flight profiles, early deployment of infrared-guided and passive homing seekers enhancing stealth engagement capability, advancements in solid propellant missile engines improving range and launch readiness, rising focus on coastal defense strategies boosting demand for sea-skimmer missile procurement.

The sea skimmer missile market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.54 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing investment in dual-mode seeker technologies improving target acquisition in contested environments, expansion of naval fleets in emerging economies increasing demand for advanced anti-ship systems, innovation in electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities enhancing missile survivability, rising geopolitical tensions driving procurement of long-range and faster sea-skimmer variants, advancements in miniaturization and propulsion efficiency enabling deployment from diverse naval platforms. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced low-altitude flight precision technologies, increasing adoption of dual-mode seeker systems, advancements in sea-skimming propulsion efficiency, rising demand for anti-ship defense modernization, growth of supersonic and hypersonic sea-skimmer platforms.

The expansion of maritime activities is expected to drive growth in the sea skimmer missile market. Maritime activities encompass all human operations related to the sea, including shipping, fishing, naval operations, marine resource exploration, and coastal tourism. These activities are increasing due to the rapid growth of international trade, which has resulted in higher demand for shipping services, expanded port infrastructure, and more cargo vessels deployed to support global supply chains and economic development. Sea skimmer missiles contribute to maritime operations by enhancing naval defense capabilities, securing sea routes, and protecting maritime assets from low-altitude threats in contested waters. For example, in October 2024, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, a Switzerland-based intergovernmental organization, reported that maritime trade grew by 2.4% to 12.3 billion tons in 2023, with projections of 2% growth in 2024 and an average annual increase of 2.4% through 2029. Thus, the rise in maritime activities is fueling the sea skimmer missile market.

Leading companies in the sea skimmer missile market are focusing on developing advanced technologies such as supersonic sea-skimming targets to improve defense forces' readiness and capability against modern maritime missile threats. A supersonic sea-skimming target is an aerial system designed to mimic the flight characteristics of advanced anti-ship cruise missiles by flying at very low altitudes and high speeds. This allows for realistic threat simulations used in training and defense assessments. For instance, in June 2025, Northrop Grumman Corporation, a U.S.-based aerospace and defense firm, introduced the GQM-163A Coyote, a supersonic sea-skimming target drone. Built to support advanced naval defense training and missile defense testing for the U.S. Navy and allied forces, the Coyote is powered by a solid-fueled, air-breathing ducted-rocket engine. It can reach speeds over Mach 2.5 while flying as low as 15 feet above the ocean surface, effectively simulating high-speed anti-ship missile threats. Equipped with sophisticated avionics and capable of high-G maneuvers, it plays a critical role in preparing naval forces for evolving maritime challenges.

In August 2024, the Australian government partnered with Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace to strengthen national defense by increasing domestic production of advanced weapons. This agreement aims to establish a dedicated facility in Australia for manufacturing and servicing Naval and Joint Strike Missiles. Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, a Norway-based company, produces the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a sea-skimming missile capable of striking both anti-ship and land targets with high accuracy.

Major companies operating in the sea skimmer missile market are RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, BAE Systems, Thales Group, Leonardo, ST Engineering, Israel Aerospace Industries, MBDA, Saab AB, Diehl Defence, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Kongsberg Gruppen, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, BrahMos Aerospace, Adani Defence, LIG Nex1, Hanwha Aerospace, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, Rosoboronexport, Naval Group, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

North America was the largest region in the sea skimmer missile market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the sea skimmer missile 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 advanced electronics, propulsion components, and radar-seeker technologies have increased production costs and slowed supply chains in the sea skimmer missile market, particularly affecting manufacturers in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America that rely on imported avionics and specialty materials. These tariffs have created delays in delivery cycles for both surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missile programs while raising procurement budgets for defense agencies. However, they have also encouraged domestic sourcing, strengthened regional missile production ecosystems, and accelerated investments in indigenous guidance and propulsion innovations.

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

A sea skimmer missile is an anti-ship weapon designed to fly at very low altitudes, usually just above the sea surface. It uses radar altimeters and inertial guidance systems to avoid radar detection and lower the chances of being intercepted by enemy air defenses. These missiles are mainly used in naval combat to strike surface ships with little warning, increasing the effectiveness of surprise attacks.

The primary categories of sea skimmer missiles include surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles. Surface-to-surface sea skimmer missiles are guided weapons launched from land or sea platforms, flying low over water to avoid radar and accurately target maritime threats. These missile types encompass anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, torpedoes, and others, with ranges classified as short (up to 50 km), medium (50-150 km), and long (over 150 km). They are deployed from various platforms such as ships, aircraft, and submarines, serving applications like homeland security and defense.

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

The sea skimmer missile market consists of sales of products such as radar-guided sea skimmer missiles, infrared-guided sea skimmer missiles, active homing missiles, passive homing missiles, dual-mode seeker missiles, and solid propellant missiles. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.