Unmanned Sea System Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV)), By Capability Type (Remotely Operated Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicle), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 7.05 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.71%
Fastest Growing Segment	Autonomous Vehicle
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 9.84 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Unmanned Sea System Market will grow from USD 7.05 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.84 Billion by 2031 at a 5.71% CAGR. The Global Unmanned Sea System Market is defined by the development and deployment of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vessels (UUVs) that operate without onboard crew to perform diverse maritime missions. The market is primarily driven by the escalating necessity for maritime domain awareness and the operational cost reductions sought by the offshore energy and defense sectors for hazardous, long-endurance tasks. According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, in 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense requested nearly $2 billion specifically for maritime uncrewed platforms, underscoring the substantial capital investment fueling this sector's advancement.

However, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the lack of a globally harmonized regulatory framework for autonomous navigation. The current ambiguity regarding collision regulations and liability standards creates considerable legal and operational uncertainty, which delays the full integration of these systems into commercial shipping lanes and complex naval environments.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Government Investments in Naval Modernization and Defense Capabilities act as a primary catalyst for the Global Unmanned Sea System Market. Naval forces worldwide are increasingly integrating Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vessels (UUVs) to enhance asymmetric warfare capabilities and conduct high-risk Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions without exposing crew to danger. This strategic shift is heavily supported by substantial funding aimed at rapidly fielding autonomous systems to counter emerging maritime threats. For instance, According to DefenseScoop, May 2024, the U.S. Pentagon secured $500 million in funding for the first tranche of the 'Replicator' initiative, which specifically targets the accelerated deployment of attritable maritime drones and autonomous systems for the fiscal year.

Simultaneously, the Expansion of Offshore Oil, Gas, and Renewable Energy Infrastructure is fueling widespread adoption of unmanned maritime technologies. Commercial operators are utilizing autonomous systems for cost-effective seabed mapping, pipeline inspection, and wind farm maintenance, significantly lowering carbon emissions compared to traditional manned support vessels. This commercial demand is evident in the financial performance of key industry players. According to Fugro, August 2024, in the 'Half-year 2024' report, revenue for the company's Marine business segment increased by 10.9%, driven largely by fleet expansion for offshore wind projects. Reflecting the broader market surge for enabling subsea technology, According to Kraken Robotics, in August 2024, consolidated revenue for the second quarter increased by 67% year-over-year, underscoring the critical growing requirements for advanced subsea power and sensor solutions.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The absence of a globally harmonized regulatory framework constitutes a significant impediment to the Global Unmanned Sea System Market. Current international maritime laws largely assume human presence for decision-making, creating a legal vacuum regarding liability and collision avoidance for autonomous vessels. This ambiguity makes it difficult for marine insurers to assess risk accurately, thereby restricting the availability of coverage essential for commercial operations. As a result, operators are forced to limit unmanned surface and underwater vessels to restricted test zones rather than deploying them in complex, high-traffic international shipping lanes where they would generate the most value.

This regulatory fragmentation creates a bottleneck that prevents the industry from capitalizing on its full economic potential. Without clear, standardized rules, the transition from prototype testing to full-scale commercial fleet integration is effectively stalled. The magnitude of this restricted potential is considerable. According to Maritime UK, in 2024, the maritime engineering, science, and technology sector contributed £35 billion to the UK economy, a figure that underscores the massive financial scale of the industry currently hampered by these operational and legislative constraints.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs) represents a transformative shift in maritime strategy, moving beyond small, tactical drones to strategic platforms capable of long-endurance, autonomous missions. These large-displacement vessels are designed to operate independently for weeks, carrying diverse payloads for intelligence, surveillance, and undersea warfare without risking human crews. This trend toward high-capability, long-range autonomy is exemplified by major defense acquisitions aimed at bolstering subsea deterrence. For instance, According to Naval News, September 2025, the Australian Government formalized this strategic priority by signing a contract worth A$1.7 billion with Anduril Australia to manufacture and supply the Ghost Shark XLUUV fleet, underscoring the rapid transition of these assets from prototypes to programs of record.

Concurrently, the Proliferation of Armed Unmanned Surface Vessels for Combat Operations is reshaping naval force structures, prioritizing low-cost, attritable lethality over expensive, manned combatants. Naval forces are increasingly seeking modular, mass-producible surface drones equipped with kinetic capabilities to overwhelm adversaries and extend the reach of traditional fleets. This operational pivot is driving expedited procurement cycles for systems that can be rapidly integrated with lethal payloads. According to Breaking Defense, July 2025, the U.S. Navy accelerated this initiative by issuing a solicitation for the "Modular Attack Surface Craft" (MASC), explicitly demanding a vessel design capable of embarking containerized weapons that could be fielded within just 18 months of a contract award, highlighting the urgent demand for combat-ready autonomous mass.

Segmental Insights

The Autonomous Vehicle segment is currently the fastest-growing category within the Global Unmanned Sea System Market, driven by a strategic shift toward naval modernization and maritime security. Defense forces, such as the United States Navy, are prioritizing the deployment of these systems to conduct high-risk operations, including mine countermeasures and anti-submarine warfare, without endangering personnel. Unlike remotely operated alternatives, fully autonomous vehicles utilize advanced navigation software to operate independently of constant human intervention, significantly reducing communication constraints and operational costs. This capability for sustained, covert surveillance in contested environments establishes the segment as a critical area of development for future maritime strategies.

Regional Insights

North America currently holds the leading position in the Global Unmanned Sea System Market, driven largely by significant investments from the United States defense sector. The United States Navy actively prioritizes the development and integration of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles to strengthen maritime intelligence and mine countermeasure operations. This regional dominance is reinforced by a strong industrial base of manufacturers working closely with government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, to accelerate fleet modernization. These strategic efforts to reduce operational risks and enhance naval capabilities sustain North America’s established market leadership.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Naval Group introduced the Seaquest S, a new unmanned surface vessel developed by its subsidiary Sirehna and produced in collaboration with Couach Shipyard. The 9.3-meter drone was designed to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions while operating as an integrated extension of manned warships, such as frigates. The vessel features a modular payload system and secure data links, enabling it to be deployed and recovered directly from a host ship during naval operations. This launch marked the entry of a broader product line intended to provide navies with scalable autonomous solutions for modern maritime combat environments.
• In June 2024, Anduril Industries announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in Rhode Island dedicated to the mass production of its Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicles. The company outlined a strategy to scale its operations to produce up to 200 vehicles annually, responding to increasing demand from the U.S. Navy and other maritime partners. This expansion followed a $18.6 million contract award and aims to support distributed maritime deterrence strategies through affordable, mass-producible systems. The facility will leverage advanced manufacturing techniques to deliver long-range, autonomous capabilities for undersea sensing and battlespace awareness.
• In May 2024, Northrop Grumman unveiled the Manta Ray, a prototype extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle developed in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The vehicle utilizes buoyancy-driven gliding propulsion and energy-harvesting technologies to achieve extended endurance and range without the need for on-site human logistics or refueling. Designed to support long-duration missions in ocean environments, the platform features a modular construction that allows for transportation in standard shipping containers and rapid field assembly. This development addresses the growing demand for autonomous systems capable of carrying heavy payloads over vast distances for defense applications.
• In March 2024, HII launched the REMUS 130, a third-generation unmanned underwater vehicle designed to enhance operational flexibility for defense and commercial customers. The system was engineered with a compact, two-person portable form factor that retains the ability to operate at depths of up to 100 meters. Featuring an extended battery life of up to 10 hours, the vehicle supports sustained missions such as mine countermeasures, search and recovery, and hydrographic surveys. HII developed this model using internal funding to provide a cost-effective solution with an open architecture, facilitating efficient payload integration and upgrades for diverse maritime requirements.

Key Market Players

• Unique Group
• BAE Systems plc
• General Dynamics Mission Systems
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
• L3Harris Technologies Inc.
• ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH
• The Boeing Company
• Boston Engineering Corporation
• Elbit Systems Ltd.

By Type	By Capability Type	By Region
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV)	Remotely Operated Vehicles Autonomous Vehicle	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Unmanned Sea System Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Unmanned Sea System Market, By Type:

• Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV)
• Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV)

• Unmanned Sea System Market, By Capability Type:

• Remotely Operated Vehicles
• Autonomous Vehicle

• Unmanned Sea System 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