Search and Rescue Robots Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Land, Marine, Airborne), By End User (Defense, Homeland Security), By Operation Type (Autonomous, Remotely Operated), By Application (Fire-Fighting Robots, Medical Robots, Military Robots, Path Opening Robots, Snake Robots, Swarm Robots), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 19.32 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	18.89%
Fastest Growing Segment	Airborne
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 54.56 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Search and Rescue Robots Market will grow from USD 19.32 Billion in 2025 to USD 54.56 Billion by 2031 at a 18.89% CAGR. Global Search and Rescue (SAR) robots are specialized unmanned systems, comprising aerial, ground, and marine vehicles, engineered to locate and aid distressed individuals in hazardous or inaccessible environments. The primary drivers fueling the expansion of this market include the increasing frequency and severity of natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes and floods, which necessitate rapid response capabilities that exceed human physical limits. Furthermore, the critical imperative to minimize risk to human emergency personnel by deploying machines into dangerous zones acts as a substantial catalyst for the adoption of these solutions.

Despite the operational benefits, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high development and deployment costs associated with ruggedized technology capable of navigating unstructured terrains. This financial barrier can limit procurement by smaller agencies and developing nations, restricting widespread implementation. Providing evidence of the sector's specific activity, according to the International Federation of Robotics, in 2024, the application group of search and rescue and security robots recorded a total of 3,100 units sold worldwide.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating frequency and severity of global natural disasters serves as a paramount driver for the Global Search and Rescue Robots Market. As climate change intensifies the volatility of weather patterns, the window for successful recovery in the aftermath of catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods shrinks, necessitating the deployment of resilient robotic systems. These machines are essential for penetrating hazardous zones where human entry is perilous, thereby enhancing survival rates through rapid localization. Underscoring the magnitude of this challenge, according to Munich Re, August 2024, in the 'Natural disaster losses in the first half of 2024' report, global overall losses from natural catastrophes reached US$ 120 billion during the first six months of the year alone.

Concurrently, rising government investment in disaster preparedness and civil defense is significantly accelerating market growth. National defense agencies are increasingly prioritizing the modernization of their emergency response fleets with autonomous systems to minimize human risk during complex operations. This strategic shift is supported by substantial budgetary allocations aimed at rapidly fielding unmanned capabilities. For instance, according to DefenseScoop, May 2024, in the 'Pentagon secures $500M for first tranche of Replicator systems' article, the U.S. Department of Defense secured US$ 500 million to accelerate the fielding of autonomous systems. Highlighting specific market activity resulting from such initiatives, according to Teledyne FLIR, September 2024, in a company press release, the firm received contracts worth up to US$ 47 million to provide ruggedized ground robots to the U.S. government.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The high development and deployment costs associated with ruggedized technology present a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Search and Rescue Robots Market. Engineering machines capable of navigating unstructured terrains requires significant investment in advanced materials, robust sensor suites, and complex navigation software. These financial demands result in an elevated price point that often exceeds the budgetary constraints of smaller emergency response agencies and developing nations, directly restricting their ability to procure these critical assets. Consequently, the market struggles to achieve the economies of scale necessary to drive prices down, creating a cycle that hampers widespread adoption.

This economic hurdle is evident in the disparity between the adoption of general security robots and specialized rescue systems. According to the International Federation of Robotics, in 2024, three out of four robots sold within the combined search and rescue and security application group were utilized for security services rather than rescue missions. This data indicates that while the broader sector is active, the specific market for search and rescue robots remains constrained by high capital requirements, limiting its growth potential compared to less complex alternatives.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Decision-Making is fundamentally reshaping the market by enabling robotic systems to operate independently in communication-denied or unstructured environments. This technological shift allows unmanned platforms to process complex sensor data on-board, facilitating real-time obstacle avoidance and path planning without reliance on continuous human telemetry, which is critical for locating survivors in unstable disaster zones. Validating the substantial investment in these autonomous capabilities, according to the United States Coast Guard, June 2024, in the 'Coast Guard awards contract to procure cutter-based unmanned aircraft system capability' press release, the service awarded a contract with a potential value of US$ 198.1 million to Shield AI to deploy V-BAT systems equipped with fully automated flight operations for intelligence and search missions.

The Emergence of Coordinated Drone Swarm Technology represents a second pivotal trend, transitioning the sector from reliance on solitary, high-value assets to the utilization of collaborative networks of cost-effective units. This approach allows single operators to control heterogeneous teams of robots simultaneously, significantly expanding search area coverage and ensuring mission redundancy if individual nodes are compromised. Highlighting the growing commercial adoption of such multi-vehicle capabilities, according to Red Cat Holdings, March 2024, in the 'Red Cat Announces $2.5 Million in Contract Awards for Two NATO Allied Countries' press release, the company secured contracts totaling US$ 2.5 million to supply NATO allies with Teal 2 systems, which feature advanced multi-vehicle control and artificial intelligence designed for collaborative tactical operations.

Segmental Insights

The airborne segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Search and Rescue Robots Market, driven by the increasing adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles for disaster management. These platforms offer superior operational capabilities, allowing rapid surveillance of vast and inaccessible terrains during emergencies such as earthquakes or floods. Growth is further accelerated by favorable policy frameworks from regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, which facilitate the integration of aerial systems into public safety operations. Consequently, defense and civil authorities prioritize these robots for their ability to enhance situational awareness while minimizing risk to human personnel.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Search and Rescue Robots Market, supported by extensive funding from federal bodies such as the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. These organizations prioritize the deployment of autonomous systems to enhance disaster management and personnel safety. The region features a robust manufacturing ecosystem that rapidly integrates artificial intelligence and sensor technologies into functional platforms. This strong collaboration between government agencies and private industry fosters high adoption rates, establishing North America as the central driver of global market activity.

Recent Developments

• In May 2025, DEEP Robotics launched the LYNX M20, a mid-sized wheeled-legged robot engineered to navigate unstructured and hazardous environments. This industrial-grade robot combines the speed of wheels with the obstacle-crossing agility of legs, allowing it to traverse rugged mountain trails, debris-strewn ruins, and muddy wetlands that are typically inaccessible to traditional machines. The company positioned the LYNX M20 as a robust solution for emergency response and firefighting applications, capable of operating continuously for extended periods under load to support complex rescue operations.
• In January 2025, Teledyne FLIR Defense announced that it had been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract worth up to $74.2 million to modernize surveillance systems for the United States Coast Guard. Under this agreement, the company will deliver over 125 Electro-Optic Sensor System-Modernized (ESS-M) units for integration into the Coast Guard's MH-60 and MH-65 rotary-wing aircraft. These advanced systems are designed to provide high-definition imagery in daylight, low-light, and infrared conditions, significantly enhancing the fleet's capabilities in critical missions such as search and rescue, law enforcement, and coastal security.
• In August 2024, Unitree Robotics introduced the Go2-W, a new wheeled version of its quadruped robot designed to enhance mobility across diverse terrains. This model features 7-inch pneumatic tires that enable it to move efficiently on flat surfaces while retaining the ability to climb obstacles and stairs using its articulated legs. The robot is equipped with a 4D LiDAR recognition system and wide-angle cameras, facilitating autonomous navigation for tasks such as industrial inspection and search and rescue. The hybrid design aims to address the limitations of traditional legged robots by offering improved speed and energy efficiency.
• In May 2024, DJI released the Zenmuse H30 Series, a new line of all-weather, multi-sensor aerial payloads designed for its enterprise drone platforms. The flagship H30T model integrates five modules, including a wide-angle camera, a zoom camera, an infrared thermal camera, a laser rangefinder, and a near-infrared auxiliary light. These features allow operators to capture clear visuals in both day and night conditions, which is critical for public safety and search and rescue teams identifying heat signatures or missing persons in low-visibility environments. The payload is compatible with the company's Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK drones.

Key Market Players

• Boston Dynamics, Inc.
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
• Hydronalix
• Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
• Pliant Energy Systems
• Saab AB
• Sony Corporation
• Telestar Communications

By Type	By End User	By Operation Type	By Application	By Region
Land Marine Airborne	Defense Homeland Security	Autonomous Remotely Operated	Fire-Fighting Robots Medical Robots Military Robots Path Opening Robots Snake Robots Swarm Robots	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Search and Rescue Robots Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Search and Rescue Robots Market, By Type:

• Land
• Marine
• Airborne

• Search and Rescue Robots Market, By End User:

• Defense
• Homeland Security

• Search and Rescue Robots Market, By Operation Type:

• Autonomous
• Remotely Operated

• Search and Rescue Robots Market, By Application:

• Fire-Fighting Robots
• Medical Robots
• Military Robots
• Path Opening Robots
• Snake Robots
• Swarm Robots

• Search and Rescue Robots Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE