Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market - By Endurance (<100 Hours, 100-500 Hours, 500-1,000 Hours, >1,000 Hours), By Type, By Operations (Remote Operated, Autonomous), By System (Propulsion, Payload, Component, Software, Communication), By Hull Type & Forecast, 2023 - 2032

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Size

Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Market size surpassed 500 million in 2022 and is estimated to record over 5% CAGR between 2023 and 2032. The increasing use of solar batteries that offer renewable & sustainable energy to USVs is accelerating their growth. The increasing demand for water quality monitoring due to increased pollution levels and ocean data mapping that allows scientists to study past climatic conditions are driving the demand for unmanned surface vehicles.
 

Furthermore, rising maritime security threats are prompting global navies to incorporate autonomous surface vehicles into their fleets, propelling the global unmanned surface vehicle market growth. These unmanned vehicles are widely used in disaster management services, particularly in search & rescue operations, preventive maintenance, and preservation of territorial and enclosed water areas.
 

The limited range and endurance of USVs can limit their operational effectiveness, in turn, hampering the market. The lack of skilled operators is another factor that may limit the USV market growth. While autonomous & semi-autonomous USV technology is rapidly evolving, skilled operators are still required to ensure that these vessels are used safely and effectively.
 

COVID Impact

COVID-19 had significant impacts on the unmanned surface vehicle market due to the abrupt closure of manufacturing facilities in all sectors. After the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the use of USVs for ocean mapping. Manufacturers and solution providers are making several strategic decisions to improve their products in the post-COVID-19 environment. The participants are working on a variety of research & development projects to advance USV technology.
 

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Trends

USVs are used in various domains such as oceanographic research, maritime security & surveillance, oil & gas exploration, and defense & military operations. The increasing demand for USVs in the defense and military sectors is one of the key drivers of market growth. They are used in military missions such as surveillance & reconnaissance, mine detection & clearance, and anti-submarine warfare. USVs have several advantages over manned vessels including lower personnel risks and increased operational flexibility, which are important for oceanographic research & exploration. USVs gather information about ocean currents, temperatures, and salinity. They can be outfitted with a variety of sensors to collect data on marine life, underwater topography, and environmental conditions.
 

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Analysis

Based on application, the defense sector segment held approximately 55% of the unmanned surface vehicle market share in 2022 and is expected to grow at a lucrative pace by 2032. The increasing demand for USVs in anti-submarine warfare and special operations by forces in critical missions, naval gunnery training, and firefighting & rescue operations will drive their adoption in the application areas. Market vendors are incorporating features that allow for real-time image transmission as well as remote visual verification and recording of evidence.
 

Based on system, the unmanned surface vehicle market is segmented into propulsion, chassis material, payload, component, software, and communication. The communication segment accounted for 100 million in 2022 and expected to grow a fastest rate. A communication system is an important component in a USV. The communication system helps USVs to collect and transmit real-time data enables authorities to make timely and informed decisions, increasing their popularity for maritime surveillance.
 

As a result, rising demand for maritime surveillance is propelling the segment forward, as USVs provide a cost-effective, efficient, and safe solution for monitoring and surveillance in the maritime industry. This increases the versatility and effectiveness of USVs for a wide range of applications including defense, scientific research, and environmental monitoring. A more efficient communication system allows the USVs to perform a broader range of tasks and missions.
                   

Based on operation, the remote operated surface vehicle segment captured around 50% of the unmanned surface vehicle market share in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a 5% CAGR through 2032. Remote-operated surface vehicles provide operators the ability to monitor them from remote locations. This ability helps operators to perform surveillance tasks at sea. Remote control, on the other hand, requires a stable, robust connection, which may be unavailable in an Electromagnetic (EM) contested environment, where communication signals may be blocked or reveal the ship's location. In this case, the system would either revert to autonomous controls or become a floating husk.
 

Asia Pacific unmanned surface vehicle market is poised to register gains at over 10% up to 2032, propelled by automation and robotics become more prevalent in various end-use industries. USVs are gaining popularity in the region due to their advantages, which include increased safety, lower operating costs, and the ability to operate in harsh environments. They are being used in a variety of industries including defense, oil & gas, transportation, and oceanographic research. The applications of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, are also propelling market growth in the Asia Pacific region.
 

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Share

Some of the major players operating in the unmanned surface vehicle market are:

• 5G International Inc.
• BAE Systems
• ECA GROUPE
• lbit Systems Ltd.
• Fugro
• Kongsberg Maritime
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Liquid Robotics, Inc.
• Maritime Robotics AS
• OceanAlpha
• SAAB AB
• Sagar Defence Engineering
• Teledyne, Inc.
• Textron Systems
•  Thales

These players focus on strategic partnerships and new product launches for market expansion. Furthermore, these players are heavily investing in research, allowing them to introduce innovative products and garner maximum revenue in the market.
 

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Industry News:

• In October 2022, ECA GROUP created Critical Design Review to support autonomous robotic systems in the third generation MCM program. This product assisted in expanding its product line and improving the services provided to customers.
   
• In January 2022, XOCEAN launched the X-16, a new XO-450 USV. The XO-450 USV model has two direct current drives, differential steering and a hybrid power system that includes a solar deck, lithium-ion batteries, and a micro diesel generator.
   

This unmanned surface vehicle market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments:

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By Type

• Surface
• Sub-surface

By Application

• Defense
• Commercial

By Endurance

• 100 hours
• 100-500 hours
• 500-1,000 hours
• >1,000 hours

By Operation

• Remote operated surface vehicle
• Autonomous surface vehicle

By System

• Propulsion
• Chassis material
• Payload
• Component
• Software
• Communication

By Hull Type

• Catamaran
• Kayak
• Trimaran
• Rigid Inflatable Hull

By Size

• Medium
• Small
• Large
• Extra-large

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • ANZ
  • Singapore
  • India 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Israel
  • South Africa