The invention discloses a system and a method for superheated steam and hot air subsection combined drying of prawns as well as application of the system and the method. The system comprises a steam generator, a steam heater, an overheat steam drying box, a heat exchanger, an electric heater and a hot air drying box. The method comprises the following steps of firstly, pretreating fresh prawns; secondly, performing first-stage drying on the prawns by using overheat steam, and reducing the water content of the prawns to be 45 to 50 percent; finally, performing second-stage drying on the prawns by using hot air until the water content of the prawns is reduced to be 15 to 20 percent. The pretreated prawns are directly dried by using the overheat steam, so that the prawns are quickly dehydrated, the drying efficiency is high, the drying time is greatly shortened, and sterilizing and disinfecting effects are realized; for the prawns dried by the overheat steam, prawn flesh and prawn skins are well separated, so that peeling and eating are easily realized; the prawns are dried by using the hot air with 50 to 55DEG C, so that residual partial water in the prawns is removed until the water content in the prawns is reduced to be 15 to 20 percent. The prawns dried by the method have the advantages of separation of the skins and the flesh, plump individuals, pure color and excellent mouthfeel.