Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Size Type (Less than 11 Meters, 11- 26 Meters, More than 26 Meters), By Application Type (Defense, Commercial), By Mode of Operation Type (Autonomous Surface Vehicle, Remotely Operated Surface Vehicle), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.45 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	11.46%
Fastest Growing Segment	Commercial
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 2.78 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market will grow from USD 1.45 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.78 Billion by 2031 at a 11.46% CAGR. The Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Market consists of autonomous or remotely operated vessels designed to execute maritime tasks without an onboard crew. Key drivers fueling this sector include the critical need to reduce operational costs by removing complex life support requirements and the imperative to protect personnel by deploying unmanned assets in hazardous environments. Additionally, the growing demand for persistent maritime domain awareness for defense and oceanographic data collection supports sustained market expansion.

However, the lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks for autonomous navigation in shared waters remains a significant challenge impeding broader commercial adoption. Ensuring compliance with international collision regulations continues to complicate the seamless integration of these systems with manned traffic. Highlighting the sector's continued strategic importance, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, in 2024, the U.S. Navy’s fiscal year 2025 budget request allocated $54.0 million in research and development funding for the Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle program.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating need for asymmetric warfare capabilities and maritime security is a primary force propelling the Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market. Navies are prioritizing low-cost, expendable autonomous systems to counter conventional fleets and execute Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in contested waters. This strategic shift is driving substantial defense contracts for rapidly deployable assets. For instance, according to DefenseScoop, August 2025, in the 'Navy moves to buy autonomous maritime drones from Saronic via $392M OTA' article, the U.S. Navy formalized an agreement worth more than $392 million with Saronic Technologies to produce autonomous maritime drones. Such investments underscore the military pivot toward hybrid fleets to mitigate human risk.

Simultaneously, the expansion of hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research is stimulating commercial growth. USVs provide a cost-effective solution for deep-water mapping, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to crewed vessels. These platforms are demonstrating unprecedented endurance for data collection. According to Naval News, June 2025, in the 'Saildrone and Meta Complete First Unmanned, Autonomous Deep-Water Route Survey in the North Atlantic' report, the Surveyor USV mapped over 4,500 km of seabed autonomously. Further highlighting the trend toward larger platforms, according to Baird Maritime, December 2024, in the 'Ocean Infinity takes delivery of first in new series of robotic vessels' article, Ocean Infinity received the first of its new 85-metre robotic vessels designed for remote operations.

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Key Market Challenges

The absence of comprehensive regulatory frameworks for autonomous navigation constitutes a formidable barrier to the widespread commercialization of the Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Market. Current international maritime laws are largely predicated on human judgment and physical presence, creating significant legal ambiguity for crewless vessels attempting to operate in shared waters. This legislative void creates substantial liability risks, making it difficult for operators to secure necessary insurance and for manufacturers to certify that their navigation algorithms satisfy the strict safety standards required for interaction with manned traffic.

Consequently, this uncertainty forces potential adopters to limit USV deployment to segregated test zones or restricted military applications, thereby negating the operational cost savings promised by full autonomy. The inability to seamlessly integrate with standard shipping lanes restricts the scalability of commercial fleets for logistics and oceanographic tasks. Highlighting the significant capital investment currently facing these deployment hurdles, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, in 2024, the U.S. Navy requested $101.8 million in research and development funding for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle program. Without clear legal definitions to govern such assets, the translation of this substantial financial commitment into operational capability remains stalled.

Key Market Trends

The Shift Toward Modular and Multi-Mission Payload Architectures is enabling navies and commercial operators to maximize fleet utility by allowing single platforms to adapt rapidly to varying operational requirements. This architectural flexibility reduces the need for specialized vessels, as operators can swap sensor suites for mine countermeasures, surveillance, or electronic warfare depending on the immediate mission profile. Validating this focus on versatile systems, according to Naval News, April 2025, in the 'Textron Systems awarded contract to support MCM USV craft' article, Textron Systems received a contract valued at up to $100 million to provide payload integration and software support for the U.S. Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle program.

Simultaneously, the Adoption of Green Hybrid and Solar Propulsion Systems is gaining traction as operators seek to extend mission endurance while complying with increasingly stringent environmental standards. These renewable energy configurations allow unmanned vessels to operate silently for months without refueling, a critical capability for long-term oceanographic data collection and acoustic monitoring. Highlighting the environmental benefits of this propulsion shift, according to Hydro International, June 2025, in the 'Autonomous survey sets new benchmark in deep-water cable mapping' report, a mission conducted by the Saildrone Surveyor in the North Atlantic avoided an estimated 243 tons of CO2 emissions compared to traditional crewed survey ships.

Segmental Insights

The Commercial segment is currently the fastest-growing category in the Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market due to the rising demand for efficient hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection. This expansion is largely driven by the offshore energy sector, which increasingly utilizes these vehicles for remote infrastructure inspection and seabed mapping to reduce operational costs. Furthermore, the International Maritime Organization is actively developing regulatory frameworks for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, which supports the integration of these systems into global logistics and cargo transportation networks, thereby accelerating adoption rates across the industry.

Regional Insights

North America holds a dominant position in the Global Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) market, driven primarily by substantial capital allocation from the United States defense sector. The U.S. Navy actively incorporates these autonomous systems for strategic missions, including mine countermeasures and intelligence gathering, to support fleet modernization efforts. Furthermore, civilian agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) increasingly leverage USVs for hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection, expanding the market beyond purely military applications. This dual-sector adoption, reinforced by a strong ecosystem of domestic manufacturers, solidifies the region’s status as the central hub for USV development.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Lockheed Martin announced a strategic collaboration with Saildrone to develop and manufacture a new class of defense-focused Unmanned Surface Vehicles. As part of this partnership, the company agreed to invest $50 million in the drone manufacturer to accelerate the integration of advanced sensors and weapon systems onto the platforms. The collaboration aims to deliver commercially available vessels equipped for mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare. The companies revealed plans to conduct live-fire demonstrations in the coming year, combining proven defense technologies with long-endurance autonomous maritime platforms to enhance fleet capabilities.
• In May 2025, Fugro deployed its Blue Eclipse Uncrewed Surface Vessel to support the MAREANO seabed mapping program for the Norwegian Hydrographic Service. This initiative marked the first time the program utilized uncrewed technology to acquire data, aiming to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining high-quality data acquisition. The 18-meter vessel, the largest in the company's uncrewed fleet, was equipped with high-resolution multibeam echo sounders to survey complex seabed topography in the North Sea. The deployment demonstrated the commercial viability of using advanced remote operations for large-scale hydrographic and scientific surveys in challenging marine environments.
• In April 2024, L3Harris Technologies collaborated with Qatari shipbuilder Performance Marine to debut a new autonomous Unmanned Surface Vehicle named 'Suhail' at a defense exhibition in Doha. The 39-foot vessel was locally manufactured and integrated with advanced control system technology that enables remote operations from shore or sea-based stations. This collaboration highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to execute pre-planned missions or adapt to dynamic maritime conditions. The partnership aimed to deliver interoperable solutions that strengthen maritime security and meet the growing demand for autonomous capabilities in the region.
• In March 2024, Exail unveiled the DriX 0-16, a new transoceanic Uncrewed Surface Vessel designed to withstand severe ocean conditions for operations lasting up to 30 days. The vessel features a hybrid propulsion system, redundant architecture, and AI-powered obstacle detection capabilities to ensure high reliability. It was specifically developed to launch and recover various subsea assets, such as Remotely Operated Towed Vehicles and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. The company stated that this platform facilitates collaborative autonomy between surface and subsea drones, thereby pushing the boundaries of ocean exploration and addressing the need for low-carbon solutions for scientific surveys and infrastructure inspections.

Key Market Players

• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Fugro
• Textron Inc.
• ECA Group
• Thales S.A.
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
• Elbit Systems Ltd
• Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
• QinetiQ Group
• Saab AB

By Size Type	By Application Type	By Mode of Operation Type	By Region
Less than 11 Meters 11- 26 Meters More than 26 Meters	Defense Commercial	Autonomous Surface Vehicle Remotely Operated Surface Vehicle	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market, By Size Type:

• Less than 11 Meters
• 11- 26 Meters
• More than 26 Meters

• Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market, By Application Type:

• Defense
• Commercial

• Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV Market, By Mode of Operation Type:

• Autonomous Surface Vehicle
• Remotely Operated Surface Vehicle

• Unmanned Surface Vehicle USV 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