Sonar Systems Market Report 2025

This Sonar Systems report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The sonar systems market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.24 billion in 2024 to $4.61 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to naval defense investments, underwater resource exploration, autonomous underwater vehicles (auvs), commercial fishing industry, environmental monitoring.

The sonar systems market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.99 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing number of solar power projects, increasing popularity of off-grid solar tracker for power generation, rising demand for energy, growing awareness aboutThe environmental benefits of solar power, favorable government policies and initiatives. Major trends in the forecast period include artificial intelligence (ai) and machine learning (ml), 3D sonar imaging and mapping, counter-submarine warfare (asw), sensor fusion and data integration, smart inverters.

The increasing frequency of terrorist attacks is playing a significant role in the expansion of the sonar systems market. Terrorism, characterized by violence in asymmetrical conflicts aimed at instilling terror and psychological fear, necessitates the use of sonar systems for detecting and addressing potential threats such as bombings, underground explosive devices, unidentified submarines in oceans, and more. As of March 2023, the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) reported that the number of deaths more than doubled, though from a low base, rising from nine deaths in 2021 to 19 in 2022, with 11 of these occurring in the US during terrorist attacks. Hence, the escalating instances of terrorist attacks are a driving force behind the demand for sonar systems.

The growth of seaborne trade activities is expected to drive the expansion of the sonar systems market. Seaborne trade encompasses the exchange of goods and commodities conducted through maritime transportation across oceans and seas. Sonar systems play a crucial role in enhancing navigation safety, protecting against potential threats, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, and improving the overall efficiency of maritime logistics. For example, according to Eurostat, the Luxembourg-based statistical office of the European Union, sea transportation accounted for 47% of goods traded between the EU and the rest of the world in 2023, with a significant 74% share in terms of volume. This represents an increase from 2022, highlighting a growing dependence on maritime transport for international trade. Therefore, the rise in seaborne trade activities will contribute to the growth of the sonar systems market.

Major companies in the sonar systems market are increasingly focusing on establishing sonar systems test and evaluation facilities to enhance performance, reliability, and competitiveness within the industry. These facilities represent specialized centers dedicated to assessing and improving the functionality, accuracy, and quality of sonar technology. For instance, in April 2024, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), an agency under the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, inaugurated the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala. Developed by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, this advanced facility is designed to serve as a critical testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems intended for the Indian Navy, thereby reinforcing the country’s maritime defense strategy.

Major players in the sonar systems market are focusing on establishing test and evaluation facilities for sonar systems to improve performance, reliability, and competitiveness in the industry. These specialized facilities are dedicated to assessing and enhancing the functionality, accuracy, and quality of sonar technology. For instance, in November 2022, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), based in India, launched the sonar systems test and evaluation facility for the Indian Navy, known as the hull module of the submersible platform for acoustic characterization and evaluation (SPACE). This facility is designed to test and evaluate sonar equipment across various types of navy vessels, including submarines, warships, maritime aviation, and helicopters.

In July 2022, Thales Defense & Security, Inc., a US-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products, completed the acquisition of Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Thales Defense & Security Inc. aims to strengthen its support for the US Department of Defense (DOD) by enhancing skills and experience in surface ship Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), airborne ASW, and mine countermeasures. Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) is a US-based provider of innovative solutions for sonar detection.

Major companies operating in the sonar systems market include Ultra Electronics Holdings plc, Thales Group, Navico Holding AS, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Sonardyne International Ltd, Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., Japan Radio Co. Ltd., DSIT Solutions Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Nautel Limited, Mistral Solutions Pvt. Ltd., thyssenkrupp AG, Western Marine Electronics Inc., Koç Bilgi ve Savunma Teknolojileri A.S., SonarTech Underwater Systems LLC, Meteksan Defense Industry Inc., GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc., Koc Bilgi ve Savunma Teknolojileri AS.

North America was the largest region in the sonar systems market in 2024. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the sonar systems market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the sonar systems market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

Sonar systems are based on SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) technology, a technique that utilizes sound waves propagated at a specific frequency for mapping distances and objects. This technology is particularly employed in marine navigation, as sound waves can travel greater distances in water compared to radar and light waves. Sonar systems play a crucial role in various applications, including mapping the seafloor, locating underwater hazards, identifying objects like shipwrecks, and creating nautical charts.

The sonar systems market is categorized by product types, including hull-mounted sonar, stern-mounted sonar, dipping sonar, and sonobuoy. Hull-mounted sonar is utilized in naval platforms as sensors to detect submarines, underwater objects, unmanned underwater vehicles, and seafloors, contributing to the creation of navigation charts for enhanced naval security. The market is further segmented based on installation into fixed and deployable, and by acoustic frequency into ultrasonic and infrasonic. Major applications of sonar systems encompass anti-submarine warfare, port security, mine detection and countermeasure systems, search and rescue, navigation, diver detection, seabed terrain investigation, and scientific research applications.

The sonar systems market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides sonar systems statistics, including global sonar systems market size, regional shares, competitors with sonar systems market share, detailed sonar systems market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the sonar systems industry. This sonar systems market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The sonar systems market consists of sales of active and passive sonar systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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