Underwater Drone Market Report 2025

The underwater drone market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $4.86 billion in 2024 to $5.36 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to ocean exploration and research, defense and naval applications, oil and gas industry inspections, environmental monitoring, search and rescue operations, aquaculture monitoring, film and media production, commercial fishing operations, mapping and surveying.

The underwater drone market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.98 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of underwater mining activities, monitoring and mitigation of climate change impact, development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), emergency response and disaster recovery, drones as a service (DaaS) models. Major trends in the forecast period include diverse sensor integration, underwater drone swarms, hybrid underwater-air systems, underwater communication technologies, commercial fisheries monitoring, integration of artificial intelligence (ai), miniaturization of underwater drone technology.

The anticipated rise in defense expenses globally to modernize military forces is set to propel the underwater drone market. Military forces, encompassing naval, military, and air forces, are increasingly adopting modernized weapons, including underwater drones, to enhance their capabilities and maintain a dominant position in the global arena. As of April 2023, data from The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a US-based non-profit organization, indicates a $71 billion increase in U.S. defense expenditure between 2021 and 2022. This surge in defense spending across nations is a significant driver fueling the growth of the underwater drone market.

The increasing demand for oil and oil exploration is poised to be a substantial factor driving the growth of the underwater drone market. Underwater drones play a crucial role in the oil and gas industry, performing tasks such as subsea infrastructure inspection, offshore exploration, and pipeline maintenance. Offering cost-effective solutions, real-time data collection capabilities, and enhanced safety in challenging underwater environments, these drones contribute significantly to the evolving needs of the oil industry. Additionally, they play a vital role in environmental monitoring, emergency response, and compliance with regulations. According to the International Energy Agency, a France-based autonomous intergovernmental organization, global oil demand is projected to reach 105.7 million barrels per day (mb/d) by 2028, reflecting a cumulative increase of 6% from 2022. The growing demand for oil and oil exploration is therefore a key driver propelling the underwater drone market.

Technological advancements, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), represent a prominent trend in the underwater drone market. Major companies in the market are leveraging advanced technologies like AI to sustain and enhance their positions. AI, emulating human intelligence, guides drones to perform autonomous operations. For instance, in June 2022, QYSEA Technology, a China-based company specializing in underwater robots and drones, launched a vision platform powered by AI for its FIFISH underwater robots. The AI Vision Lock technology provides precision underwater active visual locking capabilities, allowing the underwater drones to easily and precisely lock onto selected targets in any underwater environment. This technological advancement improves operational efficiency and current resistance, showcasing the ongoing trend of incorporating cutting-edge technologies in the underwater drone market.

Key players in the underwater drone market are actively engaged in developing innovative products, with a notable focus on loitering drones, to gain a competitive advantage. A loitering drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to linger or loiter over a target area for an extended period before being directed to engage a specific target. An illustration of this trend is SpearUAV, an Israel-based defense and homeland security company, launching the Ninox 103 UW Sub-to-Air encapsulated autonomous quadcopter in June 2022. This development marks a significant advancement in underwater drone technology. The Ninox 103 is stored in a capsule, allowing it to remain dormant for up to 24 hours before launching. Once airborne, it offers a 10 km range, 45 minutes of endurance, and a 1 kg payload capacity. The quadcopter design enables it to hover, enhancing its reconnaissance capabilities with Electro-Optical/Infra-Red sensors and an open-architecture artificial intelligence system. This innovation showcases the industry's commitment to pushing the boundaries of underwater drone capabilities.

In a strategic move in February 2022, Anduril Industries, a US-based defense technology company, acquired Dive Technologies for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is aimed at expanding Anduril's portfolio of autonomous systems, extending its unmanned capabilities to the underwater domain. By integrating Dive Technologies, a Boston-based manufacturer of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), into its operations, Anduril Industries has significantly accelerated its strategic growth in the underwater drone market. This acquisition underlines the importance of diversification and technological expansion for major players in the industry.

Major companies operating in the underwater drone market are Saab Seaeye Ltd., Teledyne Marine Group, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bluefin Robotics Inc., Kongsberg Maritime AS, ECA Group SA, Oceaneering International Inc., TechnipFMC PLC, Deep Ocean Engineering Inc., Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Power Vision Technology Group Co. Ltd., Thales Group, General Dynamics Corporation, Terradepth Inc., ecoSUB Robotics Ltd., Eelume AS, Nido Robotics, Neptune Robotics Corporation, OpenROV Inc., SeaDrone Inc., Aquatic Drones, Ocean Infinity Ltd., Ocean Aero Inc., OceanAlpha Inc., Ocean Power Technologies Inc., SeaRobotics Corporation, SeaView Systems Inc., Shark Marine Technologies Inc., Subsea Tech AS, VideoRay LLC, International Submarine Engineering Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the underwater drone market in 2024. The regions covered in the underwater drone market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the underwater drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Underwater drones represent robotic devices capable of submersion, utilized either by divers or operators on land to explore vast bodies of water. These drones serve organizations, agencies, and subsea industries, enabling remote examination, assessment, and monitoring of assets while reducing operational costs and minimizing human risks.

The primary types of underwater drones include remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and hybrid vehicles. Micro underwater drones constitute the smallest category, typically employed for analyzing challenging shallow-depth objects such as pipe networks and underwater infrastructure. These micro underwater drones are extensively utilized in missions involving underwater inspection or sensing tasks. Underwater drone products are categorized into micro, small, and medium, light work-class, and heavy work-class, powered by electric, mechanical, or hybrid propulsion systems. These underwater drones find applications in various sectors, including defense and security, scientific research, commercial exploration, and other relevant fields.

The underwater drone market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides underwater drone market statistics, including underwater drone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a underwater drone market share, detailed underwater drone market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the underwater drone industry. This underwater drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The underwater drone market consists of sales of work classes, observation classes, and micro and mini underwater drones. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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