SONAR System Market Insights, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast, 2022–2029
- Rishika Chavan
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
According to Fortune Business Insights™, the global SONAR System Market Size was valued at USD 2.09 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 2.20 billion in 2022 to USD 3.76 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.96% during the forecast period. The market growth is driven by increasing demand for advanced naval surveillance, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and the growing use of SONAR technology across defense and commercial maritime operations.
North America dominated the market in 2021, accounting for a market share of 31.84%, owing to extensive investments in naval shipbuilding and technological modernization by the United States Navy.
Key Market Players:
ASELSAN A.Ş. (Turkey)
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK INDIA Pvt. Ltd. (India)
DSIT Solutions Ltd. (Israel)
EdgeTech (U.S.)
FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (Japan)
Japan Radio Co. (Japan)
KONGSBERG (Norway)
Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (U.S.)
NAVICO (Norway)
Raytheon Technologies Corporation (U.S.)
SONARDYNE (U.K.)
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S.)
Thales Group (France)
Ultra (U.K.)
Source:
Market Segmentation:
By Product Type:
Hull-Mounted SONAR (Forward-Looking SONAR, Echo Sounders, Omni-directional SONAR)
Stern-Mounted
Sonobuoy
Diver Detection Systems (DDS)
The hull-mounted segment held the largest share in 2021 due to increasing adoption by naval forces for navigation, surveillance, and vessel traffic management.
By Application:
Defense (dominant segment in 2021)
Commercial
The defense segment is driven by increasing use of SONAR systems for mine detection and countermeasure (MCM) operations. The commercial segment is expected to register the fastest growth owing to rising demand for oil & gas surveys, hydrographic mapping, and fisheries.
By Platform:
Ship Type (Defense Ships, Commercial Ships)
Airborne (Sonobuoys, Dipping SONAR)
The ship type segment led the market in 2021, fueled by increased global seaborne trade and demand for SONAR-equipped vessels such as destroyers, gas tankers, and research vessels. The airborne segment is anticipated to experience significant growth during the forecast period.
By Solution:
Hardware (Control Units, Displays, Alarms, Data Storage Devices, Sensors)
Software
The hardware segment dominated the market due to increasing integration of ultrasonic sensors, including ultrasonic diffuse proximity sensors, through-beam sensors, and VME-ADC modules.
By End-User:
Line Fit
Retrofit
The line fit segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, supported by rising demand for advanced naval vessels. The retrofit segment led the market in 2021 due to the modernization of existing naval fleets.
Market Drivers & Restraints:
Driver:The market is primarily driven by increased use of sonobuoys in tactical defense operations. Sonobuoys enable real-time underwater acoustic monitoring and transmission, playing a critical role in submarine detection, environmental monitoring, and anti-submarine warfare.
Restraint:However, the high cost of SONAR system development and integration may hinder the market growth, especially in emerging economies with limited defense budgets.
Regional Insights:
North America held the largest share in 2021, valued at USD 665.5 million, supported by the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding program, which includes the construction of 82 new ships worth USD 147 billion from 2022 to 2026.
Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth, driven by rising defense expenditure and domestic ship production in China, South Korea, and Japan. Integration of automation and growing ship deliveries are further bolstering regional growth.
Europe is also expected to show steady progress, owing to retrofitting initiatives and investments in threat detection systems in naval fleets, especially in the U.K. and Germany.
Competitive Landscape:
The global SONAR system market is moderately consolidated, with leading companies focusing on product innovation and R&D. For instance:
In March 2020, Impact Subsea introduced the ISS360, the world’s smallest imaging SONAR with a range of up to 90 meters, offering high-resolution underwater imaging capabilities.
Key Industry Development:
February 2022 – Leonardo SpA awarded ELAC SONAR a USD 58 million contract to deliver SONAR systems for two submarines constructed by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy.
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