Defense and Security Side Scan Sonar Market Report 2026

The defense and security side scan sonar market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $0.8 billion in 2025 to $0.88 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to adoption of dual-frequency side scan sonar in naval fleets, early deployment of synthetic aperture sonar (sas) systems, rising military investment in underwater reconnaissance, technological advances in sonobuoy-compatible modules, increasing demand for seabed threat detection.

The defense and security side scan sonar market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.21 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to development of next-generation high-resolution sonar systems, integration with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), expansion of defense surveillance contracts, adoption of AI-driven sonar data analysis, rising demand for portable and handheld sonar devices. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of synthetic aperture sonar (sas) for ultra-high-resolution seabed imaging, growth in portable and modular side scan sonar units for rapid mission deployment, expansion of sonar integration with uuvs for deep-sea reconnaissance and threat detection, rising demand for long-range, high-frequency dual-band sonar for mine countermeasures, advancement in ruggedized sonar hardware for challenging military underwater environments.

Rising geopolitical tensions are expected to drive the growth of the defense and security side scan sonar market. Geopolitical tensions refer to strained relations or conflicts between nations due to political, territorial, economic, or security disagreements. These tensions are increasingly fueled by competition for critical resources, as countries vie for access to energy, minerals, and other strategic assets. Defense and security side scan sonar systems help manage these tensions by providing advanced underwater surveillance, detecting threats such as submarines and mines, and enabling nations to monitor and secure strategic maritime zones, thus reducing the risk of conflicts. For example, in December 2024, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), a US-based non-profit organization, projected that violent incidents worldwide would approach 200,000 by the end of the year, a nearly 25% increase from the previous year. As a result, the growing geopolitical tensions are propelling the growth of the defense and security side scan sonar market.

Companies operating in the defense and security side scan sonar market are focusing on developing advanced solutions such as synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) to improve underwater imaging resolution, target detection, and maritime situational awareness. Synthetic aperture sonar uses the movement of the sonar platform to simulate a larger aperture, creating high-resolution, detailed images of the seafloor and underwater objects. For instance, in June 2025, Wavefront Systems Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer, introduced two advanced deep-sea variants of its Solstice Multi-Aperture Sonar (MAS) system, designed for operations at depths of 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters. These systems, built for deepwater autonomous underwater vehicles, provide ultra-high-resolution seafloor imaging with exceptionally low power consumption. With a 200-meter swath, high-speed data acquisition, and onboard real-time processing, they enable rapid detection of mines, leaks, and other subsea anomalies, improving mission efficiency and situational awareness. These innovations expand Solstice MAS applications to defense, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and subsea infrastructure inspection, further solidifying Wavefront’s position as a leader in next-generation underwater sensing technology.

In July 2025, Deep Ocean Search Ltd., a Mauritius-based deepwater survey and salvage company, partnered with Deep Sea Vision to provide integrated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services. This collaboration leverages advanced side-scan sonar capabilities to enhance subsea defense and security operations through precise underwater detection, mapping, and monitoring. The combined AUV and ROV platforms can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters, offering high-resolution data for critical missions in defense, security, and deep-sea exploration. Deep Sea Vision, a US-based marine robotics company, specializes in defense and security side-scan sonar solutions.

Major companies operating in the defense and security side scan sonar market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems plc., Thales S.A., SAAB AB, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Teledyne Instruments Inc., Exail, General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Sonardyne International Limited, Tritech International Limited, Ultra Electronics Holdings plc., Edgetech Instruments Inc., Imagenex Technology Corp., Deepvision AB., JW Fishers Mfg Inc., Klein Marine Systems Inc., Marine Sonic Technology Ltd., Meteksan Savunma Sanayii A.Ş., OceanServer Technology Inc.

North America was the largest region in the defense and security side scan sonar market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the defense and security side scan sonar 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 underwater acoustic components, marine electronics, rare-earth materials, and precision manufacturing equipment have increased production costs for defense and security side scan sonar systems, slowing procurement in naval and maritime security programs. Segments such as multi-beam sonar, synthetic aperture sonar, and UUV-mounted systems face the highest impact due to reliance on imported high-spec sensors and transducers. Regions with large naval modernization programs in Asia-Pacific and Europe are particularly affected. However, tariffs are also stimulating domestic manufacturing, strategic supplier diversification, and innovation in cost-efficient sonar technologies.

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

Defense and security side scan sonar refers to a specialized type of sonar system used mainly in military, defense, and security applications to map and detect objects or threats on or near the seabed. It works by emitting acoustic pulses sideways from a ship or underwater vehicle and capturing the reflected signals to generate detailed images of the seafloor and any objects present.

The primary types of defense and security side scan sonar are single-beam and multi-beam. Single-beam systems emit a single acoustic pulse to measure depth along a narrow line. These systems are deployed on platforms such as surface vessels, submarines, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and can operate through on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid systems. Their applications include underwater object recovery, missing person searches, obstruction assessment, change detection, and high-speed or long-range surveys, serving end-users across defense, commercial, research, and other sectors.

The countries covered in the defense and security side scan sonar market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The defense and security side scan sonar market consists of sales of dual-frequency side scan sonar, synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), sonobuoy-compatible side scan modules, and handheld sonar devices. 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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