The market size of unmanned surface vehicles is estimated to be USD 0.82 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.59 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 14.1%. The unmanned surface vehicles market is growing steadily, driven by increasing demand for water quality monitoring, ocean data mapping, and the need for enhanced maritime security due to rising asymmetric threats. Additionally, higher investments in offshore oil & gas operations are boosting the use of USVs for inspection and support tasks. However, the market faces restraints such as the availability of cheaper alternatives and the high costs involved in developing and maintaining advanced USV systems, which may limit adoption in cost-sensitive sectors.
Scope of the Report
Years Considered for the Study
2020-2030
Base Year
2024
Forecast Period
2025-2030
Units Considered
Value (USD Million)
Segments
By Application, Type, System, Cruising Speed, Hull Type, Endurance, Size and Region
Regions covered
North America, Europe, APAC, RoW
"The >1,000 hours segment will account for the largest market share in the unmanned surface vehicles market during the forecast period."
The >1,000 hours segment is the largest in the unmanned surface vehicles market because many missions today need vehicles that can work for a long time without stopping. USVs with more than 1,000 hours of endurance can stay in the water for weeks without needing fuel or repairs. This is useful for jobs like watching the ocean, checking borders, studying the environment, or inspecting things far offshore. In defense, they help with spying and patrolling dangerous areas without putting people at risk. These long-lasting USVs save money, need less human help, and finish tough missions more easily. That is why they are in high demand and lead the endurance segment.
"The small segment will be the fastest-growing segment in the unmanned surface vehicles market during the forecast period."
The small (<3 meter) segment is growing the fastest in the unmanned surface vehicles market because these vehicles are low-cost, simple to use, and perfect for short missions. Their small size makes them easy to carry, launch from the shore or small boats, and use in places like rivers, lakes, and ports. They are great for jobs like checking water quality, doing research, or keeping ports safe. Even though they are small, new technology lets them carry smart sensors and work on their own. Because they are affordable, easy to handle, and useful for many tasks, more people in business, research, and government are choosing small USVs.
"Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing market in the unmanned surface vehicles market."
Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the unmanned surface vehicles (USV) market because it has strong shipbuilding industries and growing sea trade. Countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and India build many ships and marine engines, which help in making and using USVs. As the region's economy grows, more goods are moved by sea, so there is a bigger need for smart and safe ways to manage ports, watch coastlines, and study the ocean. USVs help with all these jobs. Because of this, both businesses and governments in Asia Pacific are using more USVs, making it the most active and growing region in the market.
Break-up of primaries
The study contains insights from various industry experts, ranging from component suppliers to Tier 1 companies and OEMs. The break-up of the primaries is as follows:
By Company Type: Tier 1-45%; Tier 2-35%; and Tier 3-20%
By Designation: C Level-50%; Directors-25%; and Others-25%
By Region: North America-52%; Europe-25%; Asia Pacific-14%; Rest of the World-9%.
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (US), Textron Inc. (US), Exail Technologies (France), Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel), MARTAC (US), and Thales (France) are some of the leading players operating in the unmanned surface vehicles market.
Research Coverage
The study covers the unmanned surface vehicles market across various segments and subsegments. It aims to estimate the size and growth potential of this market across different segments based on type, cruising speed, size, application, system, hull type, endurance, and region. This study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to their solutions and business offerings, recent developments undertaken by them, and key market strategies adopted by them.
Key benefits of buying this report:
This report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall unmanned surface vehicles market and its subsegments. The report covers the entire ecosystem of the unmanned surface vehicles market. It will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report will also help stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.
The report provides insights on the following pointers:
Analysis of key drivers and factors, such as high demand for water quality monitoring and ocean data mapping, surge in asymmetric threats and need for maritime security, and growing capital expenditure in offshore oil & gas industries in the unmanned surface vehicles market.
Product Development: In-depth analysis of product innovation/development by companies across various regions.
Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyzes the unmanned surface vehicles market across varied regions.
Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new solutions, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the unmanned surface vehicles market.
Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players like market L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (US), Textron Inc. (US), Exail Technologies (France), Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel), MARTAC (US), and Thales (France), among others in the unmanned surface vehicles market.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 STUDY OBJECTIVES
1.2 MARKET DEFINITION
1.3 STUDY SCOPE
1.3.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION
1.4 YEARS CONSIDERED
1.5 INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
1.6 CURRENCY CONSIDERED
1.7 STAKEHOLDERS
1.8 SUMMARY OF CHANGES
2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.1 RESEARCH DATA
2.1.1 SECONDARY DATA
2.1.1.1 Secondary sources
2.1.2 PRIMARY DATA
2.1.2.1 Primary sources
2.1.2.2 Key data from primary sources
2.2 FACTOR ANALYSIS
2.2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2.2 DEMAND-SIDE INDICATORS
2.2.3 SUPPLY-SIDE INDICATORS
2.3 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION
2.3.1 BOTTOM-UP APPROACH
2.3.1.1 Bottom-up estimation methodology
2.3.2 TOP-DOWN APPROACH
2.4 DATA TRIANGULATION
2.5 RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS
2.6 RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
2.7 RISK ASSESSMENT
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4 PREMIUM INSIGHTS
4.1 ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAYERS IN UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET
4.2 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY ENDURANCE
4.3 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY APPLICATION
4.4 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY HULL TYPE
4.5 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY SIZE
4.6 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY SYSTEM
4.7 UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES MARKET, BY REGION
5 MARKET OVERVIEW
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 MARKET DYNAMICS
5.2.1 DRIVERS
5.2.1.1 High demand for water quality monitoring and ocean data mapping
5.2.1.2 Surge in asymmetric threats and need for maritime security
5.2.1.3 Growing capital expenditure in offshore oil and gas industries
5.2.2 RESTRAINTS
5.2.2.1 Availability of low-cost substitutes
5.2.2.2 High development and maintenance costs
5.2.3 OPPORTUNITIES
5.2.3.1 Advancements in naval technologies
5.2.3.2 Rapid adoption of unmanned surface vehicles in defense operations
5.2.3.3 Rise in defense budgets
5.2.4 CHALLENGES
5.2.4.1 Unclear navigation rules and need for human intervention
5.2.4.2 Absence of robust collision avoidance systems in USVs
5.2.4.3 Cybersecurity threats to autonomous systems
5.3 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS
5.4 ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS
5.4.1 PROMINENT COMPANIES
5.4.2 PRIVATE AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
5.4.3 END USERS
5.5 TRENDS AND DISRUPTIONS IMPACTING CUSTOMERS' BUSINESSES
5.6 PRICING ANALYSIS
5.6.1 AVERAGE SELLING PRICE OF UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES OFFERED BY KEY PLAYERS, BY APPLICATION
5.6.2 INDICATIVE PRICING ANALYSIS OF UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES, BY SIZE