Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Global Market Report 2025

The surveillance towed array sensor system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $2.41 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the increasing demand for advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the growing need for enhanced maritime situational awareness, the implementation of extensive naval modernization programs, the rising requirement for long-range underwater surveillance systems, and the intensifying competition among naval forces for undersea dominance.

The surveillance towed array sensor system market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.44 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the increasing emphasis on anti-submarine warfare strategies, the expansion of international defense collaborations, the growing use of towed array systems in environmental monitoring and oceanographic research, the rising demand for compact and lightweight sonar systems for unmanned platforms, and the growing focus on interoperability among allied naval forces. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in underwater acoustics, the development of advanced signal processing algorithms, innovations in low-frequency active sonar technology, improvements in environmental noise filtering techniques, and the integration of towed array systems with satellite communication networks.

The increasing geopolitical tensions are expected to drive the growth of the surveillance towed array sensor system market going forward. Geopolitical tensions refer to strained relations between countries or regions due to political, economic, or territorial factors that often result from competition over resources, influence, or security concerns that impact global stability and cooperation. Geopolitical tensions are escalating due to rising power rivalries between nations, which heighten distrust and strategic competition, leading to strained international relations. The surveillance towed array sensor system enhances maritime security and situational awareness, enabling nations to monitor strategic waters and reduce misunderstandings that could escalate geopolitical tensions. For instance, in January 2025, according to the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based international non-profit organization focused on public-private cooperation, in 2023, nearly 60 armed conflicts were ongoing, marking an all-time high, while civilian casualties rose by more than 30% year-over-year between 2023 and 2024. Therefore, increasing geopolitical tensions are driving the growth of the surveillance towed array sensor system market.

Key companies operating in the surveillance towed array sensor system market are focusing on technological advancements such as small waterplane area twin hull form to improve stability, sonar performance, and operational efficiency in challenging maritime conditions. The small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) hull form refers to a specialized ship design that features two slender submerged hulls connected by narrow struts to the upper platform, minimizing the waterplane area. For instance, in February 2025, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a Japan-based manufacturing company, launched the fourth Hibiki-class vessel for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, strengthening its advanced maritime surveillance capabilities and marking a significant milestone in enhancing Japan’s naval defense and anti-submarine warfare operations. The vessel is equipped with towed-array sonar systems, and this launch aims to improve maritime situational awareness, enhance undersea threat detection, and bolster the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s ability to operate effectively in complex and contested naval environments.

In March 2025, Optics11 B.V., a Netherlands-based provider of advanced fiber-optic sensing systems, partnered with Thales S.A. to equip Dutch submarines with advanced sonar technology to enhance underwater surveillance capabilities. Through this partnership, Optics11 B.V. aims to strengthen its position in advanced fiber-optic sensing technologies by leveraging Thales S.A.’s global expertise and market reach to foster innovation and expand its applications. Thales S.A. is a France-based public company that provides services related to the surveillance towed array sensor system.

Major players in the surveillance towed array sensor system market are RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., Wärtsilä ELAC Nautik GmbH, Teledyne Instruments Inc., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Curtiss-Wright Corporation, QinetiQ Group plc, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, Exail Technologies SA, Cohort plc, Sonardyne International Limited, MacArtney A/S, DSIT Solutions Ltd., GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc., Optics11 B.V., and Concept Cables Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the surveillance towed array sensor system market in 2024. The regions covered in surveillance towed array sensor system report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and 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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

The surveillance towed array sensor system market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides surveillance towed array sensor system market statistics, including the surveillance towed array sensor system industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the surveillance towed array sensor system market share, detailed surveillance towed array sensor system market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the surveillance towed array sensor system industry. This surveillance towed array sensor system 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.

A surveillance towed array sensor system is a long, flexible line of hydrophones towed behind a naval vessel to detect and track underwater acoustic signals across extensive distances. It enhances maritime situational awareness by identifying, locating, and monitoring submarines and other underwater threats.

The main types of surveillance towed array sensor systems include passive sensors and active sensors. Passive sensors detect and measure naturally occurring energy or signals, such as sound, heat, or electromagnetic waves, without emitting any energy themselves. Key components of these systems include hydrophones, cables, signal processors, and other elements that facilitate precise underwater detection and monitoring. These systems are deployed on surface vessels, submarines, and other platforms, serving end-users across defense, commercial, and research sectors.

The countries covered in the surveillance towed array sensor system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The surveillance towed array sensor system market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as long-range passive detection services, active sonar capabilities services, real-time data transmission services, environmental impact monitoring services, and mobile surveillance platforms services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The surveillance towed array sensor system market also includes sales of hydrophones, signal processing systems, multiplexers, amplifiers, and power supply 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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