Sonar Systems Market Report 2026

Sonar Systems Market Overview

• Sonar Systems market size has reached to $4.58 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $6.15 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% • Growth Driver: Terrorism Threat Drives Sonar Systems Market Growth • Market Trend: Focus On Test And Evaluation Facility To Enhance Performance • North America was the largest region in 2025 and Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Sonar Systems Market?

The sonar systems refer to systems based on the SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) technology. Sonar is a technique in which sound waves are propagated at a certain frequency for mapping distances and objects, especially in marine navigation, since sound waves can travel a longer distance in the water than radar and light waves. Sound waves emitted or reflected by an object are detected by sonar apparatus and analyzed by software to develop nautical charts, locate underwater hazards, map objects on the seafloor such as shipwrecks, and map the seafloor itself. The sonar systems market is segmented by product into hull-mounted sonar, stern-mounted sonar, dipping sonar, and sonobuoy. Hull-mounted sonar refers to sound navigation and ranging systems used in naval platforms as sensors to detect submarines, underwater objects, unmanned underwater vehicles, seafloors, and others to create navigation charts to enhance naval security. By Installation, the market is segmented into fixed, and deployable. The market is segmented by acoustic frequency into ultrasonic and infrasonic. The major applications of sonar systems are anti-submarine warfare, port security, mine detection and countermeasure systems, search and rescue, navigation, diver detection, seabed terrain investigation, and scientific applications.

What Is The Sonar Systems Market Growth Forecast?

The sonar systems market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.15 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for advanced sonar solutions to support unmanned underwater vehicles, increasing integration of high-frequency and multi-beam sonar for detailed seabed imaging, development of low-noise sonar technologies to enhance stealth operations, expanding maritime security initiatives requiring continuous underwater monitoring, advancements in software analytics enabling real-time data interpretation for sonar-based applications. Major trends in the forecast period include development of multi-frequency sonar systems, integration of sonar with uavs and autonomous underwater vehicles, advanced signal processing and noise reduction technologies, miniaturization and portable deployable sonar solutions, enhanced seabed mapping and underwater object detection capabilities.

Global Sonar Systems Market Segmentation

1) By Product: Hull-Mounted Sonar, Stern-Mounted Sonar, Dipping Sonar, Sonobuoy 2) By Installation: Fixed, Deployable 3) By Acoustic Frequency: Ultrasonic, Infrasonic 4) By Application: Anti-Submarine Warfare, Port Security, Mine Detection and Countermeasure Systems, Search and Rescue, Navigation, Diver Detection, Seabed Terrain Investigation, Scientific Subsegments: 1) By Hull-Mounted Sonar: Active Hull-Mounted Sonar, Passive Hull-Mounted Sonar, Multibeam Hull-Mounted Sonar 2) By Stern-Mounted Sonar: Active Stern-Mounted Sonar, Passive Stern-Mounted Sonar, Side-Scanning Stern-Mounted Sonar 3) By Dipping Sonar: Helicopter Dipping Sonar, Shipborne Dipping Sonar 4) By Sonobuoy: Active Sonobuoys, Passive Sonobuoys, Directional Sonobuoys

What Is Driver Of The Sonar Systems Market?

The rising number of terrorist attacks is significantly contributing to the growth of the sonar systems market. Terrorism is defined as violence in an asymmetrical conflict that is designed to induce terror and psychic fear. Sonar systems can be used to find and tackle terror plans such as bombing, underground bomb fixing, unknown submarines in oceans, and others. For instance, in March 2023, according to Global Terrorism Index (GTI), in 2023, the number of deaths more than doubled, albeit from a low base from nine deaths in 2022, with 11 of these occurring in the US during terrorist attacks. Therefore, the rising number of terrorist attacks is driving the market for sonar systems.

Key Players In The Global Sonar Systems Market

Major companies operating in the sonar systems market are 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

Global Sonar Systems Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the sonar systems market are focusing on establishment of sonar systems test and evaluation facilities, to enhance performance, reliability, and competitiveness in the industry. Sonar systems test and evaluation facility signify the establishment of a specialized center for assessing and improving the functionality, accuracy, and quality of sonar technology. For instance, in November 2023, DRDO, an India-based Ministry of Defense, launched 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). The SPACE facility will primarily test and evaluate sonar equipment aboard various types of navy vessels, including submarines, warships, maritime aviation, and helicopters.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Sonar Systems Market? Thales Group And Exail SA Partner To Deliver Next-Generation AUV Mine Detection For French Navy

In November 2024, Thales Group, a France-based technology company specializing in defence, aerospace, and cybersecurity, partnered with Exail SA, to deliver next-generation autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) mine detection capabilities for the French Navy’s SLAMF Mine Countermeasures programme. With this partnership, Thales Group and Exail SA aim to enhance the French Navy’s mine countermeasure operations by integrating the SAMDIS 600 sonar with Exail’s A18-M AUV, improving detection efficiency, operational safety, and autonomous naval capabilities. Exail SA is a France-based high-tech company specializing in maritime robotics.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest region in the sonar systems market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Sonar Systems Market?

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.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

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.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Sonar Systems Market Report 2026?

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