Oceans are becoming a data frontier, and underwater drones are leading the charge. The global underwater drone market is forecast to surge from $5.13 billion in 2024 to about $27.5 billion by 2035, signaling a durable shift in how nations and companies explore and operate below the waves.

The growth story is driven by leaps in sensors, imaging, and battery technology. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) continue to dominate due to their robustness for offshore inspections, underwater construction, and scientific sampling. As batteries get lighter and more capable, endurance and payloads keep expanding, enabling longer missions without frequent surface returns. In short, the underwater drone market is shifting from niche tools to essential platforms for industry and science.

According to DataM Intelligence via OpenPR coverage, North America led the global market in 2024 with more than 45% share, propelled by defense modernization programs and strong private-sector R&D funding. The report also highlights a robust defense and security segment and ongoing investments in marine research and climate monitoring as key growth engines. For readers, the implication is clear: the market tailwinds favor advanced systems that pair sensing with autonomy and data analytics.

Market Drivers and Segments

Advancements in AI, imaging, and battery technologies are sharpening the efficiency and autonomy of underwater drones. Operators now demand drones that can autonomously navigate cluttered wrecks, map reefs, or monitor subsea infrastructure with minimal human intervention. The rising need for cost-effective, safer marine operations helps explain why the market is expanding beyond traditional offshore oil and gas roles into environmental science and underwater archaeology as well.

The report notes that the ROV (remotely operated vehicle) segment holds the largest share due to offshore maintenance, inspection, and repair tasks. Electric propulsion systems also drive growth by delivering longer missions and reducing emissions—an increasingly important consideration for energy and research clients. Light work-class drones, prized for versatility in inspection, environmental studies, and underwater construction, round out the dominant product mix.

Why the numbers matter

Global market value is rising against a backdrop of intensified marine research and defense needs. In 2024, the defense and security segment accounted for about a third of total revenues, underscoring how navies and security agencies view underwater drones as force multipliers for surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine detection. Analysts expect this trend to continue as budgets grow and missions become more data-driven.

As real-world examples, major players have expanded capabilities in recent years. The Boeing Company expanded its unmanned underwater system offerings for naval reconnaissance in 2024, while TechnipFMC introduced an upgraded ROV platform with AI-enhanced navigation and energy efficiency in 2025. These moves illustrate a broader trajectory: integrated systems that combine sensing, autonomy, and smart energy to operate longer, safer, and more independently in challenging marine environments.

From a procurement standpoint, buyers are weighing upfront costs against long-term gains in safety, uptime, and data quality. For defense planners, the message is unmistakable: reliable, data-rich underwater ops are becoming essential rather than optional. For researchers and port authorities, the ability to monitor ecosystems and infrastructure with high-resolution data is creating new pathways for grant funding and regulatory pilots.

Regional Outlook and Industry Impact

Geography matters in this market. Europe remains a strong incubator for marine tech with deep ties to port management and offshore energy, while the Asia-Pacific region is expected to record the fastest growth as defense spending and resource exploration accelerate. Across regions, increased collaboration between defense, industry, and academia is accelerating standards development, interoperability, and shared data models—key steps for scaling production and reducing risk.

For operators, this means a growing ecosystem of suppliers, service providers, and integrators. It is not just about buying a drone; it is about building a mission-ready system that can integrate sensors, data streams, and analytic software. The market is moving toward turnkey solutions that shorten deployment cycles and deliver actionable insights quickly.

What This Means for the Industry

The underwater drone market’s expansion will reshape supply chains, with more components designed for subsea durability and longer life cycles. It will also push regulators to streamline approvals for commercial and defense uses, especially in shared waterways and protected ecosystems. Companies should monitor AI breakthroughs, battery chemistry advances, and sustainable propulsion options as they plan product roadmaps and capital investments.

For service providers, there is a growing appetite for end-to-end capabilities—from undersea data collection to onshore analytics—that can turn complex field data into clear, decision-grade intelligence. The winners will be firms that fuse robotics with data science, offering reliable performance and measurable outcomes for clients across defense, energy, research, and environmental monitoring.

Conclusion

The underwater drone market is crossing a pivotal threshold. With anticipated growth to $27.5 billion by 2035, the sector is reshaping how agencies and industries explore and protect the marine environment. Autonomy, AI-enabled sensing, and smarter energy systems will define the next wave of products and contracts, expanding use cases from offshore inspection to climate science. The result is a more capable, data-driven underwater economy that promises safer operations and deeper insights beneath the waves.