Underwater Drone Market Trends

Global Underwater Drone Market Overview

Underwater Drone Market Size was valued at USD 3.8 Billion in 2022. The Underwater Drone market industry is projected to grow from USD 4.4 Billion in 2023 to USD 15.0 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.50% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). Increased demand for marine research, oil and gas industry, defense and security, commercial fishing and aquaculture, infrastructure inspection and maintenance, environmental monitoring and conservation, technological advancements, miniaturization and portability, search and rescue operations, and connectivity are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Underwater Drone Market Trends

Increased demand for marine research is driving the market growth.

The market for underwater drones is expanding significantly due to the rising demand for marine research. There are a number of reasons for this increase in demand, all of which highlight how important underwater drones are to improving our knowledge of the seas and its ecosystems.

Due to growing worries about the condition of our oceans and the necessity for sustainable management of marine resources, marine research has become more and more important. More than 70% of the surface of the Earth is covered by oceans, which also support a wide variety of ecosystems, including coral reefs and deep-sea trenches. These ecosystems offer vital services like regulating the climate of the planet and producing enough food for billions of people. However, a number of things, like habitat destruction, overfishing, pollution, and climate change, pose a threat to them.

Marine researchers need a deeper understanding of ocean processes and ecosystems to address these problems and create efficient conservation and management solutions. Drones that operate underwater are an essential part of this project. They make it feasible for scientists to do experiments, gather data, and explore the ocean's depths in ways that were previously prohibitively expensive, logistically difficult, or perhaps impossible. Researchers can monitor temperature, salinity, acidity, marine life, and other crucial characteristics thanks to the drones' array of sensors, cameras, and sample tools.

The ability of underwater drones to access tough and isolated environments is one of its main advantages in marine research. Traditional research techniques frequently entail perilous and expensive human or manned submarine missions to the ocean's depths. Drones that operate underwater can go to great depths, resist great pressure, and maneuver through small areas all while being controlled remotely from the surface. This improves safety while also bringing down the price of research missions.

Additionally, because underwater drones can be used for lengthy deployments, researchers can collect continuous data throughout time. For tracking changes in marine ecosystems and comprehending the long-term effects of environmental stressors such ocean warming and acidification, longitudinal data collecting is essential. Such knowledge is essential for creating conservation plans and laws that will effectively save threatened species and their ecosystems.

Drones that operate underwater make it easier to investigate marine biodiversity. They can be used to investigate and catalog as yet unidentified species in the deep water, offering important insights into the variety of life on Earth. This information can help guide conservation initiatives and aid in the preservation of fragile and distinctive marine habitats.

Additionally, underwater drones are essential for researching and managing marine pollution. They help authorities and groups respond to environmental disasters effectively and gauge the amount of damage by surveying and mapping regions affected by oil spills, plastic trash, and other pollutants.

Not just governmental organizations and academic institutions are in need of marine research. Marine research is becoming more and more important, and conservation groups, academic institutions, and even commercial businesses are investing in underwater drone technology to promote their goals and missions. This market's growing user base is spurring innovation, resulting in increasingly sophisticated and specialized equipment designed specifically to meet the needs of maritime researchers. Thus, driving the Underwater Drone market revenue.

Underwater Drone Market Segment Insights

Underwater Drone Application Insights

The Underwater Drone market segmentation, based on application includes defense and security, scientific research, commercial exploration, others. The defense and security segment dominated the market, accounting for 35.45% of market revenue. Detecting and neutralizing underwater mines is a high-priority task for navies worldwide. Underwater drones equipped with specialized sonar and imaging systems can identify and clear underwater mines safely, reducing the risk to human divers and naval vessels.

Underwater Drone Type Insights

The Underwater Drone market segmentation, based on type, includes remotely operated vehicle (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), hybrid vehicles. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) category generated the most income. The offshore oil and gas sector relies heavily on ROVs for various tasks, including pipeline inspection, wellhead maintenance, and subsea equipment installation and retrieval. As the demand for energy resources continues and offshore operations expand, the need for ROVs in this industry remains robust.

Figure 1: Underwater Drone Market, by Distribution channel, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Underwater Drone Propulsion System Insights

The Underwater Drone market segmentation, based on propulsion system, includes electric system, mechanical system, and hybrid system. The electric system category generated the most income. Electric propulsion systems are known for their high energy efficiency compared to traditional internal combustion engines. They are capable of converting a larger portion of the energy from the power source into thrust, which means longer mission durations and reduced operational costs.

Underwater Drone Product Type Insights

The Underwater Drone market segmentation, based on product type, includes micro, small and medium, light work-class, heavy work-class. The light work-class category generated the most income. Light Work-Class underwater drones are designed to handle a variety of tasks, from inspection and maintenance of underwater infrastructure to marine research and environmental monitoring. Their versatility appeals to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, defense, research institutions, and commercial enterprises.

Underwater Drone Regional Insights

By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The North America Underwater Drone Market dominated this market in 2022 (45.80%). North America, particularly the United States, has a significant defense and security budget. This drives the demand for underwater drones for military applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine detection. Further, the U.S. Underwater Drone market held the largest market share, and the Canada Underwater Drone market was the fastest growing market in the North America region.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2: UNDERWATER DRONE MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)

Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Europe Underwater Drone market accounts for the second-largest market share. Europe has a strong maritime trade industry, with numerous ports and shipping routes. Underwater drones are used for port security, ship inspections, and monitoring underwater infrastructure. Further, the German Underwater Drone market held the largest market share, and the UK Underwater Drone market was the fastest growing market in the European region.

The Asia-Pacific Underwater Drone Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region are increasing their defense spending, leading to higher demand for underwater drones in naval and maritime security applications. Moreover, China’s Underwater Drone market held the largest market share, and the Indian Underwater Drone market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Underwater Drone Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development in order to expand their product lines, which will help the Underwater Drone market grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, the Underwater Drone industry must offer cost-effective items.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Underwater Drone industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Underwater Drone industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to medicine. Major players in the Underwater Drone market, including ECA Group, The Boeing Company, Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., TechnipFMC plc, Saab Seaeye Ltd, Oceaneering International, Inc., Kongsberg maritime, Bluefin Robotics Corporation, Teledyne marine, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

The Boeing Co. (Boeing) creates, develops, and produces military and commercial aircraft, as well as technologies for space, defense, and security. For commercial use, the corporation offers different models of aircraft, including business jets, and for military use, trainer aircraft, rotorcraft, tilt-rotor aircraft, tanker aircraft, anti-submarine aircraft, and other assault aircraft and helicopters. Additionally, it develops, produces, integrates, and designs satellites, launch vehicles, and military systems. The organization additionally offers information-based services, maintenance, training, revisions, data analytics, and support for logistics. It provides services to both commercial and governmental clients everywhere. Across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, the corporation has operations. In the US, Arlington, Virginia, serves as the home of Boeing.

A supplier of technologies, systems, and services for the oil and gas industry is TechnipFMC Plc (TechnipFMC). The business focuses on surface and subsea technologies. Drilling, asset management, installing oil and gas fields, remotely operated vehicle and manipulator system services, among others, are all included in its offering of subsea services. For both onshore and offshore projects, it also provides technical, project management, installation, maintenance, and consulting services. The business provides integrated platform solutions for, among other things, flow metering products and systems, flow-treatment systems, surface wellhead systems, and oil and gas production and measurement systems. Greater London is where TechnipFMC's headquarters are located in the UK.

Key Companies in the Underwater Drone market include.

• ECA Group


• The Boeing Company


• Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc.


• TechnipFMC plc


• Saab Seaeye Ltd


• Oceaneering International, Inc.


• Kongsberg maritime


• Bluefin Robotics Corporation


• Teledyne marine


• Lockheed Martin Corporation

Underwater Drone Industry Developments

For Instance, September 2020 In order to carry out oil and gas exploration and inspection, Kraken Robotic Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Kraken Robotics Inc., has begun the first stage of its Ocean Vision project. Kraken will use its underwater technology to map and photograph the seafloor off the coast of Atlantic Canada, including the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The ROV and AUV manufacturers now provide systems with extended underwater uptimes due to the oil and gas industry's increasing need for underwater drones.

Underwater Drone Market Segmentation

Underwater Drone Application Outlook

• Defense and Security


• Scientific Research


• Commercial Exploration


• Others

Underwater Drone Type Outlook

• Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)


• Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)


• Hybrid Vehicles

Underwater Drone Propulsion System Outlook

• Electric System


• Mechanical System


• Hybrid System

Underwater Drone Product Type Outlook

• Micro


• Small and Medium


• Light Work-Class


• Heavy Work-Class

Underwater Drone Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • U.S.
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  

• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  

• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  

• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America