Underwater Drone Market By Type (ROV, AUV), By Application (Commercial Exploration, Defense, Scientific Research, Others), By Component (Sensors, Synthetic Aperture Sonar, INS, Imaging Systems, Lighting Systems, Others), By Propulsion System (Electric System, Mechanical System, Hybrid Systems), Industry Trends, Estimation & Forecast, 2023-2030

Market Overview

Underwater drones are also known as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), which are capable of conducting underwater operations without human presence. These vehicles are remotely operated or fully autonomous. The underwater drones were used by the military and defense earlier, but the application of underwater drones has expanded to Commercial Exploration, Scientific Research, Other activities. They are equipped with various cameras and sensors.

Underwater Drone market is estimated to reach $9.4 billion by 2030; growing at a CAGR of 12.1% till 2030

Underwater Drone Market Revenue By, 2022-2030

Market Dynamics

Growth in demand across end-user verticals, Rise in offshore construction and drilling activities are key driving factors of the market. For instance, work class ROVs play an essential role in offshore construction because they are useful for deep-water oil production. According to ERC analysis and secondary data, U.S. drilling activities increased by 27.1% in 2017, to 18,552 operational wells. The U.S. Gulf of Mexico E&P activity focused on deep-water projects, went up approximately 9.5% in 2017, with increasing well depths and footage. Global drilling increased to 39,742 wells, for a 6.1% pick-up in the same year. The product benefits of ROVs and AUVs with regards to deep-water oil & gas exploration, such as extended dive duration, quick vehicle deployment, and minimal maintenance, would fuel the growth in demand for underwater drones, boosting the overall market growth. However, Issues and complexities during drone operation might hamper market growth. For instance, Underwater drones are controlled by either software or a human operator. They are equipped with different payloads, sensors, manipulators, and cameras, which are used to perform a variety of functions. However, the systems might face problems owing to software crashes and sensor failures, resulting in the loss of AUVs at sea. Rapid technological development to increase production capabilities would provide lucrative opportunities for the market in the coming years.

Market Segmentation

The global Underwater Drone market is classified based on Type, Application, Component, Propulsion System. Type is further segmented into ROV, AUV. Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) has shown significant growth in 2019, due to the increasing commercialization of new products and facility expansion to develop and sell Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). For instance, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. has expanded by introducing Kawasaki Subsea (UK) Limited, its new subsidiary in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Kawasaki Subsea (UK) Limited, specialized in the production, sale, and post-sale servicing of AUVs, with a focus to grow the demand for pipeline maintenance in offshore oil and gas fields, Kawasaki has been developing an AUV equipped with a robot arm for performing subsea pipeline inspections. Global AUV, Underwater Drone market is estimated to reach $2,911 Million; growing at a CAGR of 17.6%.By Application, the market is further divided into Commercial Exploration, Defense, Scientific Research, Others. By Component, the market is segmented into Sensors, Synthetic Aperture Sonar, INS, Imaging Systems, Lighting Systems, Others. By Propulsion System the global Underwater Drone market is divided as Electric System, Mechanical System, Hybrid Systems.

Regional Analysis

Based on geography, the global Underwater Drone market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is further divided in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, whereas Europe consists of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe. Asia-Pacific is segmented into India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific. The South America region includes Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South America, while the Middle East & Africa is categorized into GCC Countries, Egypt, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa.

North America is dominating the global Underwater Drone market due to the continuous exploration activities of shale oil and attempts to discover additional offshore resources in deep depths of the oceans. The rise in deployment of underwater vehicles for the detection of military threats to public safety & security would also improve product application in the region. The companies are thus focused on the formation of strategic collaborations and partnerships in a bid to strengthen business position in the regional market and expand business activities. For instance, Teledyne Instruments, Inc., has received an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center to supply autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and related monitoring and communications acoustic systems. The value of the contract was approximately $5.4 million.

Competitive landscape

Major players operating in the Underwater Drone industry include Kongsberg Maritime, Oceaneering International, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Teledyne Technologies, Inc., Saab AB, Blueye, Aquabotix Technology Corporation, The Boeing Company, Fugro N.V., Subsea 7 S.A.
Design and manufacturing capabilities using new technologies and innovation in the field of unmanned vehicles by companies with a global approach and vast clientele has created competition in the market.Continued focus on product development and formation of strategic partnerships and collaborations are the most followed strategies of key manufacturers and market vendors, intending to maintain competitive advantage over other players. For instance, on July 05, 2018, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced that a basic agreement has been reached with The Underwater Centre (TUC), a marine testing and training facility in Fort William, Scotland, UK, on conducting a verification test of a prototype AUV equipped with a robot arm for subsea pipeline inspection.

Underwater Drone Market Key Segments

By Type
• ROV
• AUV

By Application
• Commercial Exploration
• Defense
• Scientific Research
• Others

By Component
• Sensors
• Synthetic Aperture Sonar
• INS
• Imaging Systems
• Lighting Systems
• Others

By Propulsion System
• Electric System
• Mechanical System
• Hybrid Systems

By Geography

• North America
o The U.S.
o Canada
o Mexico

• Europe
o U.K
o Germany
o France
o Italy
o Rest of Europe

• Asia Pacific
o India
o China
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia Pacific

• South America
o Brazil
o Argentina
o Rest of South America

• Middle East & Africa
o GCC Countries
o Egypt
o South Africa
o Rest of Middle East & Africa

Key Global Underwater Drone Industry Players

• Kongsberg Maritime
• Oceaneering International, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Teledyne Technologies, Inc.
• Saab AB
• Blueye
• Aquabotix Technology Corporation
• The Boeing Company
• Fugro N.V.
• Subsea 7 S.A.

Table of Content

1. Market Introduction
1.1. Executive Summary
1.2. Market Definition
1.3. Market Scope

2. Research Methodology
2.1. Primary Research
2.2. Research Methodology
2.3. Assumptions & Exclusions
2.4. Secondary data sources

3. Underwater Drone Market Overview
3.1. Report Segmentation & Scope
3.2. Key Market Trend
3.3. Drivers
3.3.1. Growth in demand across end-user verticals
3.3.2. Rise in offshore construction and drilling activities
3.4. Restraints
3.4.1. Issues and complexities during drone operation
3.5. Opportunity
3.5.1. Rapid technological development to increase product capabilities
3.6. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
3.6.1. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
3.7. Market Share Analysis

4. Type Overview
4.1. Introduction
4.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
4.2. ROV
4.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
4.3. AUV
4.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

5. Application Overview
5.1. Introduction
5.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
5.2. Commercial Exploration
5.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
5.3. Defense
5.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
5.4. Scientific Research
5.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
5.5. Others
5.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

6. Component Overview
6.1. Introduction
6.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.2. Sensors
6.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.3. Synthetic Aperture Sonar
6.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.4. INS
6.4.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.5. Imaging Systems
6.5.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.6. Lighting Systems
6.6.1. Market Size & Forecast
6.7. Others
6.7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7. Propulsion System Overview
7.1. Introduction
7.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
7.2. Electric System
7.2.1. Market Size & Forecast
7.3. Mechanical System
7.3.1. Market Size & Forecast
7.4. Hybrid Systems
7.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

8. Underwater Drone Market Regional Overview
8.1. Introduction
8.1.1. Market Size & Forecast
8.2. North America Underwater Drone Market
8.2.1. North America Market Size & Forecast, By Country
8.2.2. North America Market Size & Forecast, By Type
8.2.3. North America Market Size & Forecast, By Application
8.2.4. North America Market Size & Forecast, By Component
8.2.5. North America Market Size & Forecast, By Propulsion System
8.2.6. The U.S.
8.2.6.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.2.7. Canada
8.2.7.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.2.8. Mexico
8.2.8.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3. Europe Underwater Drone Market
8.3.1. Europe Market Size & Forecast, By Country
8.3.2. Europe Market Size & Forecast, By Type
8.3.3. Europe Market Size & Forecast, By Application
8.3.4. Europe Market Size & Forecast, By Component
8.3.5. Europe Market Size & Forecast, By Propulsion System
8.3.6. Germany
8.3.6.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3.7. France
8.3.7.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3.8. UK
8.3.8.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3.9. Italy
8.3.9.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3.10. Spain
8.3.10.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.3.11. Rest of Europe
8.3.11.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4. Asia-Pacific Underwater Drone Market
8.4.1. Asia-Pacific Market Size & Forecast, By Country
8.4.2. Asia-Pacific Market Size & Forecast, By Type
8.4.3. Asia-Pacific Market Size & Forecast, By Application
8.4.4. Asia-Pacific Market Size & Forecast, By Component
8.4.5. Asia-Pacific Market Size & Forecast, By Propulsion System
8.4.6. Japan
8.4.6.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4.7. China
8.4.7.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4.8. Australia
8.4.8.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4.9. India
8.4.9.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4.10. South Korea
8.4.10.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.4.11. Rest of Asia-Pacific
8.4.11.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.5. South America Underwater Drone Market
8.5.1. South America Market Size & Forecast, By Country
8.5.2. South America Market Size & Forecast, By Type
8.5.3. South America Market Size & Forecast, By Application
8.5.4. South America Market Size & Forecast, By Component
8.5.5. South America Market Size & Forecast, By Propulsion System
8.5.6. Brazil
8.5.6.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.5.7. Argentina
8.5.7.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.5.8. Rest of South America
8.5.8.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.6. Middle East & Africa Underwater Drone Market
8.6.1. Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast, By Country
8.6.2. Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast, By Type
8.6.3. Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast, By Application
8.6.4. Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast, By Component
8.6.5. Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast, By Propulsion System
8.6.6. GCC Countries
8.6.6.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.6.7. Egypt
8.6.7.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.6.8. South Africa
8.6.8.1. Market Size and Forecast
8.6.9. Rest of Middle East & Africa
8.6.9.1. Market Size and Forecast

9. Company Profile
9.1. Kongsberg Maritime
9.1.1. Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors
9.1.2. Kongsberg Maritime Product Category, Application, and Specification
9.1.3. Kongsberg Maritime Financial Performance (2016-2018)
9.1.4. Main Business/Business Overview
9.2. Oceaneering International, Inc.
9.3. Lockheed Martin Corporation
9.4. Teledyne Technologies, Inc.
9.5. Saab AB
9.6. Blueye
9.7. Aquabotix Technology Corporation
9.8. The Boeing Company
9.9. Fugro N.V.
9.10. Subsea 7 S.A.