Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Research Report Information By Type (Semi-Autonomous Surface Vehicles and Autonomous Surface Vehicles), By Solution (Propulsion System, Payload, Chassis Material, Communication System, and Other Solutions), By Application (Commercial and Defense), By Size (Small, Medium, Large, and Extremely Large), By Hull Type (Single, Twin, Triple, and Rigid Inflatable), By Endurance (<100 Hours, 100-500 Hours, 500-1,000 Hours, and >1,000 Hours), By Crushing Speed (Up to 10 Knots, 10-30 Knots, and More than 30 Knots

Global Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Overview

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Size was valued at USD 0.9 Billion in 2023. The unmanned surface vehicles market industry is projected to grow from USD 1.04 Billion in 2024 to USD 2.610 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.00% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Various market drivers, such as the growing need for autonomous solutions in the marine industry, higher investment in unmanned technologies, and the requirement for effective and affordable solutions for oceanographic research and exploration, are driving the market for unmanned surface vehicles.

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

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Trends

• The growing need for maritime monitoring and security is driving the market growth

One of the main factors propelling the growth of the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market CAGR is the increasing importance of maritime security and surveillance. The limitations of conventional monitoring techniques have been made clear as countries struggle to protect their marine borders, combat illegal activities like piracy and smuggling, and handle environmental hazards. By autonomously patrolling large marine areas, gathering data in real-time from a variety of sensors and cameras, and sending information to command centers for quick decision-making, unmanned surface vehicles provide a reliable option. This increased situational awareness lowers dangers to human people while also speeding up response times. For instance, as part of its Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS), the U.S. Navy deployed the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) Sea-Hunter in December 2021. Regular training drills were carried out as part of the deployment close to the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Through their effective detection and interception of unlawful vessels, these USVs demonstrated their critical role in strengthening maritime security while remaining present at all times under difficult circumstances.

The poisoning of seas, often known as marine pollution, has increased over time. Not only that, but water covers around 75% of Earth's surface, with freshwater making up 2.5% and the oceans accounting for 97.5%. There is an increasing need for fresh water for drinking and other uses due to the population's rapid growth. On the other hand, water pollution has increased dramatically as a result of growing industrialization and globalization. The ocean is becoming contaminated by the massive amount of plastic debris that is being dumped there. A number of oil spills that have ruined aquatic life and water quality have also occurred during the history of oil and gas exploration and transportation. In addition, chemical contamination poses a risk to human health, the environment, and the economy, which has increased the need to clean these water sources.

Over the past few years, unmanned surface vehicles have undergone a revolutionary transformation for the Navy. These vehicles started as multipurpose tools but have now developed into highly autonomous systems. Furthermore, because various military ministries have developed distinct methods, the majority of nations are dealing with asymmetric warfare. Still, battles can be described as asymmetric warfare. Unconventional warfare techniques and strategies are frequently used in such confrontations. The attack by people, groups, or countries against any government, military, or valuable asset with the intention of obtaining the asset or destroying the state is known as the resources of asymmetric threats. In order to safeguard these attacks from any kind of attack or other applications, such as payload delivery, air accident investigation, maritime search and rescue, illegal drug trafficking, and many more, countries must regularly monitor these attacks. Thus, driving the unmanned surface vehicles market revenue.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Segment Insights:

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Type Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on type, includes Semi-Autonomous Surface Vehicles and Autonomous Surface Vehicles. In 2023, the autonomous surface vehicles segment dominated the market because of the overuse of these vehicles for defense and commercial purposes. These vehicles are appealing because they can operate continuously for both military and commercial purposes without the need for human involvement.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Solution Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on solution, includes Propulsion System, Payload, Chassis Material, Communication System, and Other Solutions. The payload category generated the most income in 2023 because there is an increasing demand for specialized mission capabilities. USVs are useful for surveying the seafloor and carrying out ocean research since they have the ability to carry payloads and sensors. The USV system sector, which combines and deploys a variety of payloads, is expanding at a never-before-seen rate as more and more companies recognize the value of specialized systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, and data collection.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Application Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on application, includes Commercial and Defense. The defense category generated the most income in 2023, mainly as a result of increased concerns about global security. Governments prioritize using unmanned surface vehicles for tasks including intelligence collection, surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine countering. Growing demand for autonomous systems to protect maritime interests is one of the primary drivers propelling the industry's leadership position in the market and boosting demand for defense applications.

Figure 1: Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market, by Application, 2023 & 2032 (USD Billion)

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

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Size Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on size, includes Small, Medium, Large, and Extremely Large. The small category generated the most income in 2023. The quantity of survey coverage can be doubled and the amount of time spent on site can be decreased by using small USVs as a "force-multiplier" in addition to traditional survey vessels. For instance, in December 2020, a British USV named Maxlimer conducted an unmanned seabed survey covering more than 1,000 square kilometers in the Atlantic Ocean east of the English Channel.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Hull Type Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on hull type, includes Single, Twin, Triple, and Rigid Inflatable. The single category generated the most income in 2023. The environmental factors that kayak (single hull) USVs may measure in shallow coastal marine environments include bathymetry, benthic properties, water column components, and hyperspectral radiometry. Over the projection period, there will be a continued increase in maritime exploration operations, which will drive up demand for kayak (single hull) USVs.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Endurance Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on endurance, includes <100 Hours, 100-500 Hours, 500-1,000 Hours, and >1,000 Hours. The <100 hours category generated the most income in 2023 due to the critical demand for short endurance USVs in mapping, resource exploration, and environmental and meteorological monitoring.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Crushing Speed Insights

The Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market segmentation, based on crushing speed, includes Up to 10 Knots, 10-30 Knots, and More than 30 Knots. The up to 10 knots category generated the most income in 2023 due to its perfect balance between adaptability and efficacy. These kinds of boats offer cost-effective operations, extended mission times, and adaptability for a variety of applications, such as environmental research, surveillance, and monitoring. They are the preferred choice in many maritime businesses due to their capacity to continue operating at maximum efficiency for prolonged periods.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Regional Insights

By region, the study provides the market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. The North American unmanned surface vehicles market area will dominate this market. The rising number of violent incidents in nations and the rapid advancement of technology are credited with the market's expansion in this area. Additionally, the United States is thought to be the biggest USV operator, developer, and developer, which is propelling the unmanned surface vehicle market's expansion.

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

Figure 2: UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2023 (USD Billion)

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

Europe unmanned surface vehicles market accounts for the second-largest market share because there is a high demand for mapping ocean data and water quality monitoring. The unmanned surface vehicle market in this region is also expanding because of the navies' widespread need for autonomous surface vehicles for ISR missions and oceanographic research. Further, the German unmanned surface vehicles market held the largest market share, and the UK unmanned surface vehicles market was the fastest growing market in the European region

The Asia-Pacific Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2024 to 2032, propelled by an increasing need for durable Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) in the defense and commercial domains, covering uses such as cargo transportation and combat. It is anticipated that the growing use of USVs in India will aid in market growth. Moreover, China’s unmanned surface vehicles market held the largest market share, and the Indian unmanned surface vehicles market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles 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 unmanned surface vehicles market, grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their global 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 unmanned surface vehicles industry must offer cost-effective items.

Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the global unmanned surface vehicles industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the unmanned surface vehicles industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to surveillance. Major players in the unmanned surface vehicles market are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations, including Atlas Elektronik GmbH, ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD., Kongsberg Maritime AS, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Maritime Robotics, Israel Aerospace Industries, SeaRobotics Corp., ECA Group., and Liquid Robotics.

L3Harris Technologies Inc. (L3Harris) offers technologies and products in the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains. The company provides aviation, space and airborne, communication, and integrated mission solutions. Additionally, it offers networking and communications solutions for mission-critical infrastructure as well as pilot training for both military and commercial pilots. It provides services to a wide range of commercial and government clients, such as the US Department of Defense (DoD), US Navy, US Army, US Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Marine Corps, US Department of Defense, US commercial airlines, US military agencies, and significant aerospace and defense prime contractors.

For the military and commercial markets, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) supplies aerospace and defense technology. The company creates, develops, produces, and distributes fighter aircraft, business jets, helicopters, radar systems, hydraulic systems, and their components. It produces satellite launchers, ground control stations, communication satellites, research satellites, observation satellites, and space components. In addition, it provides maritime radars, C4I systems, naval weapons systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and anti-ballistic defense systems. Precision weaponry, autonomous and robotic systems, defense suppression systems, and ground surveillance radars are all provided by IAI.

Key companies in the unmanned surface vehicles market include

• Atlas Elektronik GmbH


• ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.


• Kongsberg Maritime AS


• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.


• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated


• Maritime Robotics


• Israel Aerospace Industries


• SeaRobotics Corp.


• ECA Group.


• Liquid Robotics

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Industry Developments

June 2023: Unmanned Surface Vessel, or Thales Apollo, cleared the path for autonomous mine hunting operations in the Royal Navy and the industry by successfully completing a demanding series of autonomous MCM trials. Apollo, a Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) constructed by Thales, successfully finished a number of open water assurance tests.

February 2023: The first electric remotely operated vessel (eROV) in the United Kingdom is Fugro's Blue Essence (USV). The Blue Essence is the first USV in UK waters to be outfitted with an eROV, having received approval from the MCA.

October 2022: Critical Design Review was created by ECA GROUP to support autonomous robotic systems in the third-generation MCM program. This product has aided the business in growing its line of products and improving what it offers to clients.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Market Segmentation:

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Type Outlook

• Semi-Autonomous Surface Vehicles


• Autonomous Surface Vehicles

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Solution Outlook

• Propulsion System


• Payload


• Chassis Material


• Communication System


• Other Solutions

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Application Outlook

• Commercial


• Defense

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Size Outlook

• Small


• Medium


• Large


• Extremely Large

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Hull Type Outlook

• Single


• Twin


• Triple


• Rigid Inflatable

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Endurance Outlook

• <100 Hours


• 100-500 Hours


• 500-1,000 Hours


• >1,000 Hours

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Crushing Speed Outlook

• Up to 10 Knots


• 10-30 Knots


• More than 30 Knots

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


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


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


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