Unmanned Sea System Market Growth Analysis

Market Insights

The Unmanned Sea System Market was estimated at US$ 11.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% during 2022-2028 to reach US$ ~15.3 billion in 2028.

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What are Unmanned marine systems?

Unmanned marine systems are essential for maritime surveillance and assist naval forces in stopping piracy, illegal immigration, and smuggling as well as in resolving issues with fisheries protection, EEZ patrol, and national security. Unmanned marine systems are able to operate for extended periods of time in difficult environments with remote recharge capabilities and with little to no assistance from humans. Providing maritime surveillance is the unmanned marine systems' primary goal. Unmanned maritime systems are also more cost-effective to run than traditional ones.

Market Dynamics

The result of technological change is the ability to fulfill the sophisticated needs of unmanned maritime systems. Additionally, autonomous capabilities offered by USVs and UUVs, such as underwater wireless charging, serve as a catalyst for the market's expansion. For instance, WiBotic offers wireless underwater power and intelligent battery solutions. Due to its underwater charging capability, Kongsberg Maritime's EELUME AUV may be permanently deployed and used on the seafloor. Therefore, it is projected that ongoing developments in autonomous technologies to boost the productivity of unmanned vehicles would fuel demand for unmanned maritime systems.

Defence agencies may track and retaliate against enemy forces with the use of stealth platforms without being seen. Defense organizations have improved monitoring capacity in distant places thanks to stealth platforms' ability to operate undetected. For instance, the U.S. Navy and L3Harris Technologies agreed to a $34 million contract in December 2020 to purchase medium unmanned surface boats (MUSV). The military wants 40 MUSVs with 500 tonnes of displacement and lengths ranging from 45 to 190 feet to be built. The market for unmanned marine systems is anticipated to expand due to an increase in demand for stealth platforms.

Several investments/guidelines in the industry have been directed in recent years, which would boost the overall market. Some of them are:

• The unmanned marine systems industry is extremely fragmented, with many start-ups and regional businesses meeting the demands of both civilian and military clients for unmanned surface and underwater systems. Some of the major competitors in the industry are General Dynamics Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Thyssenkrupp AG, BAE Systems PLC, and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. A number of businesses have been working together to build advanced acoustic and imaging sensors (such as cameras, radar, sonar, and GPS) and autonomous features that will reduce the need for a pilot to operate the systems in challenging, unpredictable, and communication-limited conditions. In order to access the market under study, prominent worldwide shipbuilding and technology corporations have been investing in purchasing interests in UUV/USV manufacturers. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) made investments in two businesses that develop unmanned marine systems in 2020: Hydroid Inc. and Sea Machines Robotics Inc. The investments are a part of the business's strategy to increase its market share in the market for autonomous and unmanned marine technologies. In the upcoming years, it is projected that these advances will promote the expansion of the USV/UUV manufacturers.

Covid-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic's strict lockdown, which was enacted internationally, had a negative impact on the income of service companies serving the unmanned maritime system business. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's reduced staffing and limited manufacturing, payload suppliers and distributors in the unmanned marine system industry encountered delays in their anticipated deliveries. The market for unmanned marine systems had negative economic growth as a result of the decrease in demand for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations during the pandemic. Governments all over the globe have cut their defence spending in order to put more emphasis on healthcare systems, which has an impact on the market for unmanned maritime systems' development prospects.

Segments Analysis

The worldwide market is segmented in this study based on type, capability, system, applications, and geography. The market is split into two categories based on type: unmanned surface vehicles (USV), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV).

The market is further segmented into autonomous vehicles and remotely operated vehicles based on capability.

By Application Type

The market can be divided into categories such as defense, scientific research, commercial, and others.

Regional Analysis

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America are the regions that are covered in the study. Additionally, Asia-Pacific is expected to see the largest growth throughout the projected period, mostly as a result of significant expenditures made on unmanned systems by nations like China, India, and Japan. The region's navies are making investments in the creation and acquisition of cutting-edge unmanned maritime systems for defensive surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. For instance, the Japanese MoD requested the creation of a 10-m long UUV in accordance with the most recent National Defense Program Guidelines in order to undertake surveillance missions at the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China is illegitimately claiming.

Key Players

The following are the major players in the unmanned sea system market:

• BAE Systems(U.K.)
• General Dynamics(U.S.)
• Balt Robotics(Poland)
• Bluefin Robotics(Massachusetts)
• Kongsberg(Norway)
• Atlas Elektronik(Germany)
• Boston Engineering Corporation(MA)
• Gate Elektronik(Yenimahalle)
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries(Japan) and Raytheon(U.S.)
• Thyssenkrupp AG
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
• Saab AB
• L3Harris Technologies Inc.
• Maritime Robotics AS
• The Boeing Company
• Groupe Gorge SA
• Elbit Systems Ltd.

There is stiff competition in the unmanned sea system market. The growth of the companies is directly dependent on industry conditions and government support. These companies differentiate their unmanned sea system based on their quality and penetration in the target and emerging markets. Also, some major mergers and acquisitions in the industry recently have significantly influenced the competitive dynamics. For example:

• Elbit Systems Ltd. revealed in September 2021 that it has received contracts for over USD 56 million to provide Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities to the Navy of a nation in the Asia-Pacific region. In accordance with the contracts, Elbit Systems will provide the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) systems and Seagull USVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels) outfitted for ASW operations. It was intended for the contracts to be finished within a year.
• For the Littoral Battlespace Sensing-Glider (LBS-G) program, the US Navy awarded Teledyne Technologies Incorporated's subsidiary, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., an indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery contract with a maximum base value of USD 27.4 million in July 2021. According to the agreement, Teledyne will deliver its Slocum gliders, which are buoyancy-driven, long-range autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that offer a very persistent way to sample and describe the features of the ocean water column.
• Alpha Hydraulic Engineering Consultants Co. Ltd. of Japan received Otter equipped with a NORBIT iWBMS multibeam echosounder, according to a May 2021 announcement from Maritime Robotics (AHEC). From site exploration, analysis, design, and execution to the Global Information System (GIS) of coastal and engineering structures, the USV is anticipated to improve the company's project management capabilities.
• ECA GROUP announced in April 2021 that it has provided Terminales Maritimas Patagonicas with the H800 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) (Termap). In lieu of dry-docking, Termap will support underwater inspections (UWILD).

The overall competitive landscape has been affected due to these mergers and acquisitions. 

Research Methodology

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

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