Key Players
Competitive Landscape
Four supplier types compete in the Sonar Systems Market: integrated naval systems groups, dedicated anti-submarine warfare specialists, commercial hydrographic and fisheries electronics manufacturers, and autonomous underwater sensor companies. Their business models differ in security clearance, platform responsibility, service coverage and dependence on recurring fleet programs.
Investment has moved in two directions since 2025, toward consolidation of complementary subsea portfolios and platform-independent sonar payloads. Kraken Robotics completed the Covelya acquisition in July 2026 and brought Sonardyne with five related underwater-technology businesses into one group. Kongsberg Discovery released HISAS2020 as a standalone synthetic-aperture sonar in February 2026. Price remains part of tenders, yet operators screen providers first for qualification history, interface control and lifecycle support.
Company developments mapped to drivers, trends and opportunities (2026-2036)
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken Robotics completed the Covelya Group acquisition in July 2026, bringing Sonardyne and five related underwater-technology businesses into the group. | Naval integrators prefer fewer interfaces across sonar, positioning, communications, imaging and vehicle payloads. | Specialist subsea portfolios are consolidating under larger platform-neutral technology groups. | Combined payload packages and lifecycle support for autonomous and crewed underwater platforms. |
| Kongsberg Discovery launched platform-independent HISAS2020 synthetic-aperture sonar in February 2026 after prior use within HUGIN payloads. | Vehicle builders need high-resolution sonar that fits more than one proprietary autonomous platform. | Advanced imaging sonar is moving from closed vehicle packages toward standalone payload sales. | Sensor sales, integration engineering and processing support across AUVs, USVs, ROVs and towed assets. |
| Thales recorded its 100th CAPTAS variable-depth sonar order in October 2025 across 17 navies and 17 platform types. | Navies seek proven long-range anti-submarine sensing with documented integration history. | Installed-base evidence is becoming a stronger filter in frigate and destroyer sonar competitions. | Fleet upgrades, training, spares and through-life support across existing CAPTAS users. |
Ultra Maritime, L3Harris Technologies, Teledyne Marine, Furuno Electric, TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK and General Dynamics Mission Systems also compete through naval production, commercial sonar coverage or platform integration. Their dated activity is not repeated in this three-row map.
Source: Future Market Insights, Sonar Systems Market and Underwater Acoustic Communication Market Reports, 2026-2036.
Kongsberg Discovery and Thales together cover hull-mounted, variable-depth, synthetic-aperture and survey sonar. Kraken Robotics adds positioning, communications, imaging and autonomous-platform integration through Sonardyne and related businesses.
Who has the strongest public scale in naval sonar systems?
Thales has the clearest public installed-base evidence after recording its 100th CAPTAS order in October 2025 across 17 navies and 17 platform types. Kongsberg Discovery competes across defense and commercial missions, while L3Harris and Ultra Maritime hold deep positions in allied towed arrays or sonobuoys.
Which suppliers document acceptance or production continuity?
Ultra Maritime reported the 50th sea acceptance test for its surface-ship torpedo-defense system in September 2025. L3Harris secured USA Navy towed-array production through 2029 in April 2026, while Australia's November 2025 Hunter-class factory test documented acceptance of Thales Sonar 2087 handling equipment.
Which companies provide commercial survey and fisheries sonar?
Kongsberg Discovery, Teledyne Marine, Furuno Electric and Kraken Robotics cover multibeam mapping, fish finding, synthetic-aperture imaging, positioning and subsea communications. Their commercial competition depends on data quality, installation support, vessel interfaces and service reach rather than naval security clearances.
Which suppliers serve North America and Europe?
Kongsberg Discovery serves North America through Sonatech and operates across European commercial and defense programs. Kraken Robotics combines Canadian operations with Sonardyne and other European businesses. Thales, Ultra Maritime and TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK support European naval programs, while L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems focus on North American and allied fleets.
Representative Company Overview
| Company | Positioning | Verified market-relevant capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Kongsberg Discovery | Global defense and commercial markets | Hull, synthetic-aperture, multibeam, fisheries and positioning systems. HISAS2020 launched as a standalone payload in February 2026. |
| Thales Group | Global naval programs | CAPTAS variable-depth, hull and submarine sonar. The 100th CAPTAS order was recorded in October 2025. |
| L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | North America and allied naval markets | TB-29C and TB-34A towed arrays with production continuity secured through 2029. |
| Ultra Maritime | Five Eyes and allied markets | Hull arrays, towed arrays, sonobuoys and torpedo defense. The first MSARS deployment occurred in June 2026. |
| TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH | Europe and global naval programs | Hull and towed sonar, mine warfare and autonomous underwater integration. BlueWhale was handed over in February 2026. |
| Teledyne Marine | Global commercial and selected defense markets | Multibeam, imaging and survey sonar. A SeaBat and BlueView protection update was announced in January 2025. |
| Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. | Global fisheries and commercial markets | Scanning sonar, fish finders, echosounders and bridge electronics. CSH-10 was showcased in March 2025. |
| Kraken Robotics Inc. | Global defense, offshore and ocean-science markets | Synthetic-aperture sonar, subsea power, positioning, communications and imaging. The Covelya acquisition closed in July 2026. |
| General Dynamics Mission Systems | North America and allied markets | Sonobuoy processing and undersea mission integration. The company is primarily a systems integrator rather than a full wet-end sonar manufacturer. |
Competitive Landscape Research Methodology
The companies illustrate supplier structure rather than a ranking. A company appears where current evidence shows sonar hardware, processing, integration or support for naval, fisheries, survey or autonomous underwater applications. Evidence comes from official company releases, annual reports, government program records and dated acceptance announcements. Ownership follows the legal entity in force during July 2026, including Kraken Robotics' completed acquisition of Covelya and Sonardyne. Market shares remain FMI estimates for 2026 and do not follow from company disclosures.
