In recent years, a number of systems have entered the battlespace, and more than 40 countries will operate unmanned surface vessels (USVs) by 2034. The proliferation of unmanned systems in the global defence market continues to have a growing impact on the future of naval warfare, following Ukraine’s successful campaign against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Against this backdrop, the size of the global USV market is forecast to rise from $1.1 billion in 2024 to $2.5 billion by 2034, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest report, “Unmanned Maritime Vehicles – Strategic Intelligence” reveals that interest in the wartime role of USVs has increased, especially since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The USV market is forecast to experience a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% between 2025 and 2029, as military leaders continue to express a need for such new technologies.
In the coming years, major spending changes are set to occur within the USV market. Although Turkey is the current leader in this segment, the US is nearly tripling its spending from $176.0 million to $469.3 million by 2034, which could help it surpass Turkey. In contrast, Turkey’s spending is expected to increase from $214.1 million to $459.9 million in 2034. Other major players in the USV market include China, France, South Korea, and Russia.
Fox Walker, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although Turkey will continue to be a major player in the USV market, the US is focused on modernising its navy to remain competitive with China. To be sure, the Black Sea is an important geographic area for USV deployment, yet such drones will become increasingly important for countries focused on the Indo-Pacific region. The development of larger, more versatile USV platforms has become both an economic and strategic imperative for the US Navy as it continues its strategic competition with Russia and China.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought increased attention to the USV market because Ukrainian fighters were able to destroy a significant part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, often using such drones to do so. Indeed, Ukrainian Defence Intelligence claims that advancements in their maritime drone technology, particularly the Magura V5, have compelled the Russian Black Sea Fleet to retreat from the region. The Magura V5 is a 5.5 meter (sUSV) weighing less than 1,000 kilograms. The drone has an operational range of up to 800 km and a top speed of 78 km per hour.
Walker concludes: “The rapidly expanding USV market underscores the focus of great and regional powers, who are working to safeguard their maritime interests and maintain a robust defense stance, especially in the South China Sea and Black Sea. The success of the Magura V5 and the retreat of the Russian Black Sea Fleet highlight the growing role of unmanned vehicles in the future of warfare.”
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