Underwater Navigation and Positioning Market Report 2026

The underwater navigation and positioning market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.7 billion in 2025 to $1.82 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to widespread use of sonar in subsea mapping, adoption of inertial navigation systems by submarines, growth in offshore construction activities, increasing underwater research operations, integration with autonomous underwater vehicles.

The underwater navigation and positioning market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.41 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to development of hybrid acoustic-inertial systems, expansion in subsea energy exploration, deployment in deep-sea research and mining, integration with ai and machine learning for real-time navigation, increased adoption in unmanned underwater survey missions. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production requiring advanced underwater positioning., expansion of offshore renewable energy projects driving need for precise subsea navigation and survey solutions., increased utilization of underwater navigation systems in marine scientific research and environmental and seabed monitoring., rising adoption of high-precision survey and mapping for subsea telecommunications cables and critical seabed infrastructure., shift toward rugged, compact and modular navigation hardware optimized for harsh subsea conditions and long-duration missions.

The rising incidences of maritime security threats are expected to drive the growth of the underwater navigation and positioning market going forward. Maritime security threats refer to challenges that compromise the safety of vessels, ports, and maritime trade, including piracy, terrorism, trafficking, illegal fishing, and cyber risks. These threats are increasing as heightened geopolitical tensions intensify territorial disputes and elevate the risk of conflict at sea. Underwater navigation and positioning support maritime security by providing accurate location data for vessels and underwater assets, helping monitor suspicious movements, secure ports, and prevent illegal activities at sea. For example, in January 2024, according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a France-based business organization, there were 120 reported incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023, up from 115 in 2022, including 105 vessel boardings, nine attempted attacks, four hijackings, and two instances of gunfire. Therefore, the rising incidences of maritime security threats are fueling the growth of the underwater navigation and positioning market.

Leading companies in the underwater navigation and positioning market are focusing on innovative solutions such as real-time kinematic (RTK)-enabled navigation to enhance positioning accuracy, improve operational efficiency, and support complex subsea operations. RTK-enabled navigation is a satellite-based positioning technique that provides highly accurate, centimeter-level location data in real-time by correcting GPS or GNSS signals using reference stations. For example, in October 2024, Deep Trekker Inc., a Canada-based manufacturer, launched a surface-based GPS navigation system for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This system provides precise real-time positional tracking by recalibrating the vehicle's location when it surfaces, improving mission accuracy and reducing reliance on complex acoustic systems. This approach lowers operational costs and setup time while supporting reliable underwater surveys, inspections, and asset management by linking surface GPS data to underwater navigation paths for enhanced control and data quality.

In March 2024, Teledyne Marine Inc., a US-based technology company, acquired Valeport Limited for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Teledyne Marine to expand its underwater sensor technology portfolio, strengthen its market position, and offer more comprehensive, advanced solutions to global customers in the marine research, energy, and defense sectors. Valeport Limited, a UK-based manufacturer, is known for its underwater navigation and positioning products.

Major companies operating in the underwater navigation and positioning market are Thales Group, Kongsberg Maritime AS, General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Fugro N.V., Nortek AS, Teledyne Marine Inc., Exail, LinkQuest Inc., Sonardyne International Ltd., Advanced Navigation Pty Ltd, Saab Seaeye Ltd, EdgeTech Inc., EvoLogics GmbH, Applied Acoustics Engineering Ltd., Blueprint Subsea Ltd, Desert Star Systems LLC, RJE International Inc., Rowe Technologies Inc., Shark Marine Technologies Inc., Water Linked AS.

North America was the largest region in the underwater navigation and positioning market in 2025. The regions covered in the underwater navigation and positioning 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, precision sensors and subsea-grade materials are increasing production costs for underwater navigation and positioning hardware such as acoustic transponders, IMUs, DVLs and sonar systems, which in turn raises system pricing and can delay deployment across commercial, defense and research projects. Hardware-centric segments and export-oriented suppliers in regions like Asia-Pacific and Europe are most affected, while North American and European defense programs face budget pressure and longer procurement cycles. At the same time, tariffs are encouraging localization of manufacturing, diversification of supply chains and greater investment in design optimization, which can ultimately yield more efficient, regionally produced underwater navigation and positioning solutions.

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

Underwater navigation and positioning refer to techniques used to determine the location and movement of vessels or objects beneath the water surface. These techniques employ methods such as sonar, inertial navigation, and acoustic positioning systems to track positions accurately. Such systems are essential for submarines, underwater vehicles, and research operations where global positioning system (GPS) signals cannot penetrate.

The primary components of underwater navigation and positioning are hardware, software, and services. Hardware includes essential equipment such as sensors, navigation units, and transducers used for underwater positioning. These systems utilize technologies such as acoustic positioning systems, inertial navigation systems, GPS, and others, supporting operations at various depths, including shallow and deep water. Applications span commercial, military, and scientific research sectors, serving end-users in oil and gas, marine, defense, research, and other fields.

The countries covered in the underwater navigation and positioning market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The underwater navigation and positioning market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as surveying and mapping, subsea construction support, and search and recovery operations. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The underwater navigation and positioning market also includes sales of acoustic positioning systems, inertial navigation systems, and sonar 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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