Sonar Systems Market Report 2026

The sonar systems market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.58 billion in 2025 to $4.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expanding use of active and passive sonar systems in naval defense operations, increasing deployment of sonar technologies for underwater mapping and hydrographic surveys, advancements in acoustic signal processing improving detection accuracy, growth in commercial maritime activities requiring enhanced navigation and hazard detection, rising investment in anti-submarine warfare capabilities driving sonar system adoption.

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.

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 intended to create terror and psychological fear. Sonar systems can be used to detect and counteract terrorist activities such as bombing attempts, underground explosive placements, unidentified submarines in oceans, and other threats. For example, in March 2023, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the number of deaths in 2023 more than doubled from a low base - rising from nine deaths in 2022, with 11 of these occurring in the U.S. during terrorist attacks. Therefore, the increasing number of terrorist attacks is driving the demand for sonar systems.

Major companies in the sonar systems market are focusing on the establishment of sonar systems test and evaluation facilities to improve performance, reliability, and competitiveness. A sonar systems test and evaluation facility represents a dedicated center designed to assess and enhance the functionality, accuracy, and quality of sonar technologies. For instance, in November 2023, DRDO, an India-based Ministry of Defense organization, launched a 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 for various naval platforms, including submarines, warships, maritime aircraft, and helicopters.

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

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.

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 the sonar systems market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on sonar system components such as sensors, transducers, and signal processing units have increased manufacturing costs and disrupted supply chains. Asia-Pacific regions, including China and Japan, along with North America and Europe, which are key manufacturing and naval deployment hubs, are most affected. However, these tariffs have driven domestic production initiatives, spurred innovations in multi-frequency and portable sonar technologies, and strengthened local defense capabilities, providing strategic advantages to regional markets.

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.

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 countries covered in the sonar systems market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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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