Global Unmanned Sea System Market Overview
Unmanned Sea System Market Size was valued at USD 10.7 billion in 2023. The unmanned sea system market industry is projected to grow from USD 11.3741 Billion in 2024 to USD 17.5 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.53% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Increasing demand for unmanned vehicles for ocean cleaning and expansion of distribution network are the key market drivers enhancing the market growth.
Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Unmanned Sea System Market Trends
- Defense industry demands technical breakthroughs, which will boost market growth.
The defense industry's quest for technological advances drives the market CAGR for unmanned sea system. As modern military establishments become obsolete, innovative combat techniques and strategies will take control. Defense agencies are heavily investing in improving the combat and surveillance capabilities of their naval platforms, with a prominent trend being the deployment of smaller, lighter next-generation sensors that require less energy. As vendors focus on boosting sensor payload and communication capabilities, the demand for upgrades and replacements rises.
Additionally, maritime security is vital to international trade and political stability, and ports and critical infrastructure must be protected. As a result, there is an increasing demand for maritime enforcement, including the deployment of unmanned marine systems, which are extremely useful for surveillance applications. These technologies will be used to protect maritime interests, fight piracy and international terrorism, combat illegal immigration and smuggling, and patrol exclusive economic zones.
Naval authorities are developing and deploying versatile surface warships to combat emerging maritime threats. As a result, the unmanned sea systems market revenue is predicted to expand throughout the forecast period.
Unmanned Sea System Market Segment Insights
- Unmanned Sea System Type Insights
The unmanned sea system market segmentation, based on type includes unmanned underwater vehicle, unmanned surface vehicle. The market is dominated by unmanned underwater vehicles. An autonomous underwater vehicle (UUV) is an unmanned submersible vehicle that functions autonomously since it does not require real-time input or control from a human operator or driver. AUVs are pre-programmed robotic vehicles that are sent into the water with mission parameters.
- Unmanned Sea System Capability Insights
The unmanned sea system market segmentation, based on capability, includes remotely operated vehicles, autonomous vehicles. Remotely operated vehicles had the biggest market share and are expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 11.35% during the forecast period. Many of the benefits of autonomous control are available through remote control, but with individuals on the other end of a network connection in the loop. Despite ethical concerns that remote control technologies desensitize operators to violence and inflict unwanted collateral damage, this current use case establishes a good precedent for how remote control may be used at sea. Remote control, on the other hand, requires a stable, durable link, which may be unavailable in an electromagnetic (EM) contested environment where communication signals may be suppressed or betray the ship's location. In this circumstance, the system would either have to revert to autonomous controls or become a floating husk.
Figure1: Unmanned Sea System Market, by Capability, 2022 & 2032 (USD billion)
Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
- Unmanned Sea System Regional Insights
By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. North America held the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.75% over the forecast period. North America had the greatest share of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) market in 2022. The USV market will be primarily driven by government, corporate sector, and academic investment in innovation and R&D on maritime system technology exploration.
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.
Figure2: Unmanned Sea System MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)
Source Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Europe’s unmanned sea system market accounts for the second-largest market share because of the increased offshore oil and gas exploration activity. Further, the German unmanned sea system market held the largest market share, and the UK unmanned sea system market was the fastest growing market in the European region.
The Asia-Pacific Unmanned Sea System Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Several countries are expanding their focus on strengthening marine defense and surveillance capabilities, in the APAC region. Moreover, China’s unmanned sea system market held the largest market share, and the Indian unmanned sea system market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
For instance, China's state-owned offshore oil and gas corporation, CNOOC, has projected a $ 12.3 billion increase in capital spending by 2020. The company intends to dig 227 investigation bores and acquire 27,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data in the same year. Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) technical developments, such as greater communication and depth availability, are projected to continue to boost the usage of UUVs in the oil and gas sector.
Unmanned Sea System Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Leading market players are extensively spending on R&D in order to extend their product lines, which will help the unmanned sea system market grow even more. Market participants are also engaging in a variety of strategic initiatives to grow their worldwide presence, with significant market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, greater investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and expanding market environment, the unmanned sea system industry must provide cost-effective products.
Manufacturing locally to reduce operational costs is one of the primary business strategies adopted by manufacturers in the unmanned sea system industry to serve clients and expand the market sector. In recent years, the unmanned sea system industry has provided some of the most significant benefits to medical. Major players in the unmanned sea system market, such as SeaRobotics Corporation, Saildrone Inc., Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Kongsberg Maritime, Tecnologies, Inc., OCIUS, and others, are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a multinational British armaments, security, and aerospace corporation headquartered in London, England. It is Europe's largest defense contractor and the world's seventh-largest based on relevant 2021 revenues. It is the largest manufacturer in the United Kingdom as of 2017. Its most important operations are in the United Kingdom and the United States, where its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. is one of the six top suppliers to the US Department of Defense. Other significant markets include Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Oman, and Sweden, where Saudi Arabia is consistently one of the top three income generators. In October 2022, BAE Systems Inc. announced that they have introduced its Adaptable Strike Frigate (ASF) concept design to the European naval market at the Euronaval exhibition at Paris Le Bourget with the platform itself centered around modularity and autonomous systems.
Fugro is a worldwide public business based in Leidschendam, the Netherlands. It is primarily a service provider specializing in geotechnical, survey, and geoscience services. Mark Heine is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management, and Harrie L.J. Noy is the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The firm is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. Overall, the organization began by surveying land and doing soil analyses. Subsequently, the firm went to the water as its clients began to explore offshore oil and gas deposits, advancing undersea sonar and robotics, and advancing offshore oil and gas reserves. In April 2020, Fugro has inked a long-term arrangement with Marine Group (GMG) to provide two FCV600 mndels ROVs and a survey support package for GMG's new Normand Clipper vessel.
Key Companies in the unmanned sea system market include
- Balt Robotics (Poland)
- Bluefin Robotics (Massachusetts)
- Boston Engineering Corporation (MA)
- Gate Elektronik (Yenimahalle)
- Kongsberg (Norway)
- Atlas Elektronik (Germany)
- BAE Systams (U.K.)
- General Dynamics (U.S.)
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) and Raytheon (U.S.).
Unmanned Sea System Industry Developments
For Instance, In August 2022: the United States navy announced its plans to develop and procure 3 types of Large Unmanned Surface Vehicles (LUSVs), Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MUSVs), and Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUVs). The Navy’s proposed FY2023 budget requested USD 549.3 million in R&D to design, develop, and build these vehicles.
For Instance, In July 2022: Oceaneering International Ltd. Announced that its Subsea Robotics segment has been awarded a multi-year service contract supporting Petrobras projects off the coast of Brazil. Under the contract, the company will provide survey and ROV services for AKOFS Offshores subsea equipment. The scope of work includes the provision of two work class ROVs, ROV personnel for simultaneous operations, tooling packages for each ROV, and survey equipment and personnel.
For Instance, In February 2020: Lockheed Martin Corporation signed a contract worth USD 12.3 million by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to research and develop and demonstrate extra-large unmanned undersea vehicles.
Unmanned Sea System Market Segmentation
Unmanned Sea System Market Type Outlook
- Unmanned Under Water Vehicle
- Unmanned Surface Vehicle
Unmanned Sea System Market Capability Outlook
- Remotely Operated Vehicle
- Autonomous Vehicle
Unmanned Sea System Regional Outlook
- North America
- 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
Report Attribute/Metric |
Details |
Market Size 2023 |
USD 10.7 billion |
Market Size 2024 |
USD 11.3741 billion |
Market Size 2032 |
USD 17.5 billion |
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) |
5.53% (2024-2032) |
Base Year |
2023 |
Market Forecast Period |
2024-2032 |
Historical Data |
2019- 2022 |
Market Forecast Units |
Value (USD Billion) |
Report Coverage |
Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
Segments Covered |
Type, capability and Region |
Geographies Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World |
Countries Covered |
The U.S., Canada, German, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil |
Key Companies Profiled |
ย Maritime Robotics AS, Elbit Systems Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Boeing, Utek, Seafloor Systems, Inc., SeaRobotics Corporation, Saildrone Inc., Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Kongsberg Maritime, Tecnologies, Inc., OCIUS, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, Clearpath Robotics Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Textron Inc., ECA GROUP and 5G Maritime. |
Key Market Opportunities |
Growing use of unmanned surface vehicles in combat operations. |
Key Market Dynamics |
Increased capital expenditure of companies in offshore oil & gas industry. |
Unmanned Sea System Market Highlights:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :
The unmanned sea system market size was valued at USD 10.7 Billion in 2023.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.53% during the forecast period, 2024-2032.
North America had the largest share of the market.
The key players in the market are SeaRobotics Corporation, Saildrone Inc., Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Kongsberg Maritime, Tecnologies, Inc., and OCIUS.
The unmanned underwater vehicles category dominated the market in 2023.
The Remotely Operated Vehicle had the largest share of the market.