Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030

Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market, By Type (Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Hybrid Underwater Vehicle (HUV)), Product Type(Heavy Work Class Vehicle, Work Class Vehicle, High-Capacity Electric Vehicle, Small Vehicles, Man Portable, Light Weight Vehicles, Heavy Weight Vehicles, Large Vehicles), Components (Inertial Navigation Systems, Cameras, Lighting Systems, Sensors, Video Screens, Synthetic Aperture Sonar, Others), Shape (Torpedo, Laminar Flow Body, Streamlined Rectangular Style, Multi hull), Propulsion System (Hybrid Systems, Electric Systems, Non-Electric Systems, Mechanical Systems, Others), Operating Depth (1000-3000m, 200-1000m, less than 200m, more than 3000m), Size Range (HWV (12.75-21), LWV (9-12.75), Man-Portable (3-9), Large (>36)), Application (Army and Defense, ISR, Mine Countermeasures, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Detection, Inspection, Navigation, Accident Investigation, Petroleum and Gas, Environmental Security and tracking, Oceanography, Archaeology and Exploration, Search and Rescue Activities, Commercial Exploration, Scientific Research, Miscellaneous, Other) Technology (Collision Avoidance, Navigation, Communication, Imagery, Propulsion), Payload (Sensors,  Synthetic Aperture Sonar, Cameras, Inertial Navigation Systems , Echo Sounders, Acoustic Doppler Current profilers, Others) – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030.

Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Analysis and Size

The market for defense-related ocean surveillance is driven by unmanned marine vehicles' superior surveillance, identification, and interception capabilities over conventional systems. They can be equipped with stabilized armament, surveillance, and electro-optical tracking systems to track infrared vision during the day and at night. Improved interfaces, platform interoperability, and sensors would greatly decrease costs. The need for unmanned marine vehicles will be driven by a greater emphasis on identifying the various steady states of earth's systems, learning what causes evolution from one stable state to another, and discovering connections between the states of seemingly unrelated systems, such as climate and tectonic activity.

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the underwater unmanned vehicle market, valued at USD 4,967.45 million in 2022, will reach USD 15,408.24 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.2% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2030. In addition to the market insights such as market value, growth rate, market segments, geographical coverage, market players, and market scenario, the market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team includes in-depth expert analysis, import/export analysis, pricing analysis, production consumption analysis, and pestle analysis.

Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Scope and Segmentation      

Market Definition

An underwater vehicle that can operate remotely or autonomously without human input is an unmanned underwater vehicle (UVV). These are essential for underwater exploration activities because manual exploration presents numerous challenges. These vehicles are equipped with sensors for sonar, thrusters, cameras, and other equipment. Autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs, are self-propelled, unmanned, untethered underwater vehicles capable of carrying out simple tasks without the assistance of a human. In order to map the seafloor or describe the water's physical, chemical, or biological properties, AUVs are frequently used as survey platforms.

Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Smart devices promote the development of operational and risk management

The introduction of smart devices has altered operational and risk management. Modern imaging and navigation systems are built to function safely under challenging conditions.  Government spending increases on ocean exploration and military research and development are expected to hasten market expansion. The rapid advancement of technology is also anticipated to spur market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in October 2021, Water Linked will collaborate with QYSEA Technology Co., Ltd., a producer of remotely operated vehicles, to outfit QYSEA's ROV with advanced underwater positioning sensors. During the forecast period, these factors are anticipated to impact the market positively.

• Rising demand through oil and gas sector

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) have developed into a practical option for marine drilling operations due to their independence from surface vessels. Over the past five years, small, transportable unmanned underwater vehicles have become more common in the oil and gas industry. For instance, the ECA Firm has a contract to provide an A18D AUV for inspection and surveying facilities with Petrus Resources, a global supplier of oil and gas facilities. Oil and gas producers are anticipated to significantly increase their demand for unmanned underwater vehicles during the forecast period, fostering industry expansion.

• Rising worries about maritime security and cross-border naval operations create demand.

Terrorism and maritime privacy are severe issues for shipping and have high human and financial costs. Port security, drug trafficking on ships, and undocumented migrants are all rising. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are being used by the Navy and Defense departments for more missions and applications. In addition to being used for mine countermeasure, (MCM) operations and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are frequently built to be deployed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations thus creating a market expansion for such products.

Opportunities

• Growing demand caused by improvements in battery life and operation capability surge market growth

Unmanned underwater vehicles are expected to gain more traction in the commercial market as their operating range and battery life improve. Because thrusters use up most of the power in UUVs, their battery life is less than 24 hours, which is significantly reduced if they must operate in deep waters. These technologies can assist UUV operators in reducing the time and effort required to change out old batteries for new ones while conducting ongoing underwater operations. Unmanned underwater vehicles may easily manipulate objects, changing their procedures as necessary throughout underwater missions. As a result, NiMH batteries are used more frequently by fast unmanned underwater vehicles.

• With on-board sensors, they are better at transporting electrical equipment.

The sensors on-board increase the ability of unmanned underwater vehicles to transport electrical equipment for imaging and monitoring. Additionally, they lower the on-board electronic components' power requirements, paving the way for innovations such as underwater AUV recharge. For instance, battery intelligence and underwater wireless power solutions are provided by WiBotic (US). The EELUME AUV, which can be permanently installed on the seabed and can be charged underwater, is made available by Kongsberg Maritime (Norway).

Restraints/Challenges

• Underwater surveying at a slow pace may restrict growth

The slow underwater survey speeds that UUVs can travel at are one of their difficulties. Electromagnetic (EM) waves cannot function appropriately in underwater environments deeper than 200 meters due to saltwater's high conductivity. Unmanned underwater vehicles use these slowly moving acoustic waves to conduct deep-water surveys. Unmanned underwater vehicles do not use FSO waves because of their short range. The water's refraction, absorption, and scattering further affect the signals from unmanned underwater vehicles, which limits the market for these devices.

• The lack of an efficient communication system restricts market expansion

Unmanned underwater vehicles are cutting-edge naval technologies with high-tech parts that can be operated autonomously for various underwater applications. The UV is equipped with sensors and navigation systems connected via signal transmission for real-time communication control of speed, direction, and data gathering. Through the information being distorted underwater, communication and signal transmission are one of the main issues with unmanned underwater vehicles.

This underwater unmanned vehicle market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the underwater unmanned vehicle market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Recent Developments

• In 2021, the next-generation Utility Class ASV, the SR-Utility 3.0, was unveiled by SeaRobotics Corporation. By giving expert surveyors a configurable platform that supports swappable payloads and sensors and incorporates existing instrumentation, the newest addition to the SRC portfolio aims to increase the scope and versatility of unmanned coastal marine survey activities.
• In 2021, under a contract given by the Navy on August 26, 2019, General Dynamics Mission Systems delivered the Knifefish surface mine countermeasure unmanned underwater vehicle system. The five Knifefish systems (10 total UUVs) and support equipment are to be purchased under the terms of the contract, which was immediately given after a successful Milestone C decision and approval to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP).
• In 2021, the Navy and the Marine Corps published the Unmanned Campaign Framework to direct their investments in and integration of unmanned platforms in the US. The demand for unmanned marine vehicles for defense will also grow as investments in the navy and the nation's defense systems increase.

Middle East and Africa Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Scope

The underwater unmanned vehicle market is segmented on the basis of type, product type, component, propulsion system, operating depth, size range, application, technology, and payload. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

Type

• Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
• Shallow
• Medium
• Large
• Hybrid Underwater Vehicle (HUV)

Product Type

• Heavy Work Class Vehicle
• Work Class Vehicle
• High-Capacity Electric Vehicle
• Small Vehicles
• Man Portable
• Light Weight Vehicles
• Heavy Weight Vehicles
• Large Vehicles

Components

• Inertial Navigation Systems
• Cameras
• Lighting Systems
• Sensors
• Video Screens
• Synthetic Aperture Sonar
• Others

Shape

• Torpedo
• Laminar Flow Body
• Streamlined Rectangular Style
• Multi hull

Propulsion System

• Hybrid Systems
• Electric Systems
• Non-Electric systems
• Mechanical Systems
• Others

Operating Depth

• 1000-3000m
• 200-1000m
• less than 200m
• more than 3000m

Size Range

• HWV (12.75-21)
• LWV (9-12.75)
• Man-Portable (3-9)
• Large (>36)

Application

• Army and Defense
• ISR
• Intelligence
• Surveillance
• Reconnaissance
• Mine Countermeasures
• Anti-submarine warfare
• Detection
• Inspection
• Navigation
• Accident Investigation
• Petroleum and Gas
• Environmental Security and tracking
• Oceanography
• Archaeology and Exploration
• Search and Rescue Activities
• Commercial Exploration
• Scientific Research
• Miscellaneous
• Other

Technology

• Collision Avoidance
• Navigation
• Communication
• Imagery
• Propulsion

Payload

• Sensors
• Synthetic Aperture Sonar
• Cameras
• Inertial Navigation Systems
• Echo Sounders
• Acoustic Doppler Current profilers
• Others

Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The underwater unmanned vehicle market is analysed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, type, product type, component, and shape, propulsion system, operating depth, size range, application, technology and payload as referenced above.

The countries covered in the underwater unmanned vehicle market report are Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA).

Israel dominates the market and will continue to flourish its trend of dominance during the forecast period in Middle East and Africa. The major factor attributable to the region’s dominance is the availability of many underwater unmanned vehicle manufacturers in the region.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Competitive Landscape and Underwater Unmanned Vehicle Market Share Analysis

The underwater unmanned vehicle market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to underwater unmanned vehicle market.

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

• ORPC, Inc. (U.S.)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)
• Saab AB (Sweden)
• Kongsberg Maritime (Norway)
• Boeing (U.S.)
• Northrop Grumman (U.S.)
• BAE Systems (U.K.)
• ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH (Germany)
• International Submarine Engineering Limited (Canada)
• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated. (U.S.)
• Oceaneering International, Inc. (U.S.)
• SUBSEA7 (U.K.)
• Boston Engineering (U.S.)
• ECA GROUP (France)
• HII (U.S.)
• Modus Subsea Services (U.K.)
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.)
• EchoBlue Ltd (U.K.)
• Unique Group. (U.A.E)
• Thales (France)