- Capability group
- Sensing, Timing & Navigation
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/T1BEM91Z0C
- Reference
- Sonar Wikipedia
Papers
15.9k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+8%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
16.3k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
27%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers acoustic and undersea sensing technology; undersea warfare and surveillance operations belong to National Security's maritime capabilities, and ocean-observing infrastructure to Strategic Infrastructure.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Sonar and acoustic sensors) with the same identifier; rewritten from a definition of sonar to the undersea sensing capacity.
Indicators
- research publication share in acoustic sensingResearch
- sonar systems in productionPending
- seabed sensing arrays deployedPending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topic Sonar and acoustic sensors.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 24% have none and are left out.
- 1China32.9%4,714 papers
- 2United States18.3%2,632 papers
- 3India4.3%622 papers
- 4United Kingdom4.0%576 papers
- 5Canada3.2%457 papers
- 6Russia3.1%448 papers
- 7France2.9%420 papers
- 8Japan2.6%373 papers
- 9South Korea2.4%342 papers
- 10Germany2.3%336 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Harbin Engineering University389fractional papers
- 2Northwestern Polytechnical University353fractional papers
- 3Zhejiang University158fractional papers
- 4National University of Defense Technology131fractional papers
- 5Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution123fractional papers
- 6Ocean University of China118fractional papers
- 7Chinese Academy of Sciences117fractional papers
- 8Institute of Acoustics116fractional papers
- 9University of Washington106fractional papers
- 10Hangzhou Institute of Applied Acoustics106fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
5,541 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 8% of families (HHI 26 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China58.5%9,526 families
- 2United States8.6%1,399 families
- 3Japan8.3%1,345 families
- 4South Korea7.7%1,253 families
- 5Germany7.2%1,178 families
- 6France1.7%270 families
- 7Netherlands0.8%136 families
- 8Canada0.8%132 families
- 9Norway0.8%127 families
- 10United Kingdom0.7%117 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1BOSCH GMBH ROBERT373international families
- 2KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV267international families
- 3VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH207international families
- 4DENSO CORP167international families
- 5SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD146international families
- 6PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS113international families
- 7HUAWEI TECH CO LTD106international families
- 8FURUNO ELECTRIC CO102international families
- 9MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP102international families
- 10ROBERT BOSCH CO LTD100international families
Classification read
- G01S15/00 Sonar systems · 127.2k documents
- G01S7/52 Sonar components and signal processing · 57.9k documents
- G01S3/80 Acoustic direction finding · 15.2k documents
- G01S5/18 Position fixing by sound · 21.3k documents
- H04R1/44 Hydrophones and underwater transducers · 3.7k documents
- G01H3/00 Measuring vibration with detectors in a fluid · 13.9k documents
- G01V1/38 Marine seismic and acoustic surveying · 33.6k documents
- B63G8/39 Sonar installations on submarines · 1.6k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Radar & Radiofrequency Sensing2,007 families · 0.063
- Advanced Imaging & Photonic Sensing1,794 families · 0.028
- Autonomous Systems & Trusted Autonomy1,113 families · 0.017
- Uncrewed & Collaborative Systems313 families · 0.012
- Resilient & Infrastructure-Independent Networks183 families · 0.010
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 20 nations across 6 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high5 companies
- 1Very highSystems integrationParisFrance189383kHO
World's largest naval sonar house, supplying hull, towed-array (CAPTAS), submarine (Sonar 2076) and mine-hunting sonars plus FLASH dipping sonar to dozens of navies.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · France, Paris · founded 1893 · 83k staff
- 2Very highSystems integrationBethesdaUnited States1995121kLMT
Prime for the US Navy AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ASW combat system and submarine acoustic systems, and agreed in July 2026 to buy sonar maker Ultra Maritime for $3.45bn.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Bethesda · founded 1995 · 121k staff
- 3Very highSystems integrationArlingtonUnited States1922186kRTX
Raytheon builds the AN/SQS-53 hull sonar family for US destroyers, the AN/AQS-20 mine-hunting sonar and export hull-mounted sonars.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Arlington · founded 1922 · 186k staff
- 4Very highHardware & devicesBraintree, MassachusettsUnited States20222,300Private
Leading supplier of US and allied Navy sonobuoys, ship towed arrays and hull sonars; Advent-owned and being acquired by Lockheed Martin (deal announced July 2026, pending).
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Braintree, Massachusetts · founded 2022 · 2,300 staff
- 5Very highHardware & devicesKongsbergNorway1814–KOG
Kongsberg Maritime leads the world in multibeam echosounders, hydroacoustic positioning (HiPAP) and HUGIN AUV sonar payloads, alongside naval ASW sonars.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · Norway, Kongsberg · founded 1814
- High8 companies
- 6HighSystems integrationMelbourneUnited States189547kLHX
L3Harris Ocean Systems makes the AN/AQS-22 airborne low-frequency dipping sonar for MH-60R helicopters and hull, towed and UUV sonars.
High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Melbourne · founded 1895 · 47k staff
- 7HighSystems integrationKielGermany2005–TKMS
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (Atlas Elektronik)Through Bremen-based Atlas Elektronik, TKMS supplies integrated submarine sonar suites (CSU-90), ACTAS towed arrays and mine-countermeasure sonars to many navies.
High relevance · Systems integration · Germany, Kiel · founded 2005
- 8HighSystems integrationRestonUnited States1952112kGD
General Dynamics Mission Systems develops undersea sensing, acoustic processing and submarine combat/sensor integration, while Electric Boat integrates sonar on US submarines.
High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Reston · founded 1952 · 112k staff
- 9HighHardware & devicesThousand OaksUnited States196015kTDY
Teledyne Marine (RESON, BlueView, RD Instruments, Benthos) is a top maker of multibeam sonars, ADCPs, hydrophones and acoustic modems for survey and defence.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Thousand Oaks · founded 1960 · 15k staff
- 10HighSystems integrationBeijingChina2019–State-owned
China State Shipbuilding CorporationState group whose 715th Research Institute (Hangzhou Applied Acoustics) is China's principal developer of naval sonar, towed arrays and sonobuoys for PLA Navy ships and submarines.
High relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 2019
- 11HighHardware & devicesParisFrance––EXA
Former iXblue/ECA Group, makes synthetic aperture and sidescan sonars, acoustic positioning and drone-based naval mine-countermeasure systems.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Paris
- 12HighProfessional & data servicesMassyFrance1931–VIRI
Former CGG, whose Sercel unit is a leading maker of marine seismic hydrophone streamers, ocean-bottom nodes and acoustic positioning.
High relevance · Professional & data services · France, Massy · founded 1931
- 13HighHardware & devicesYateleyUnited Kingdom1971–Private
Leading maker of acoustic positioning (USBL/LBL), subsea acoustic communications and seabed monitoring sensors for offshore energy, science and defence.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United Kingdom, Yateley · founded 1971
- Moderate19 companies
- 14ModerateSystems integrationFalls ChurchUnited States193997kNOC
Makes the AN/AQS-24 towed mine-hunting sonar and undersea sensing payloads for US Navy mine countermeasures.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United States, Falls Church · founded 1939 · 97k staff
- 15ModerateSystems integrationStockholmSweden193726kSAAB-B
Supplies submarine sonar and combat systems, Double Eagle/Sabertooth underwater vehicles and ASW sensor integration for Sweden and export customers.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Sweden, Stockholm · founded 1937 · 26k staff
- 16ModerateSystems integrationRomeItaly194860kLDO
Its Underwater Armaments & Systems unit (ex-WASS) supplies ASW suites, torpedo countermeasures and acoustic sensors, including the UAE Navy ASW suite.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Italy, Rome · founded 1948 · 60k staff
- 17ModerateProfessional & data servicesTokyoJapan1899105k6701
Principal supplier of submarine and surface-ship sonar systems to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and builder of undersea cable-based acoustic sensing.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1899 · 105k staff
- 18ModerateSystems integrationHaifaIsrael196620kESLT
Supplies hull and towed sonars, Seagull USV ASW/mine payloads and, via Canadian subsidiary GeoSpectrum, low-frequency acoustic sources and towed arrays.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Haifa · founded 1966 · 20k staff
- 19ModerateProfessional & data servicesOsloNorway1981–TGS
Absorbed PGS (a top acoustic-sensing patent applicant, GeoStreamer) in 2024 and operates the largest fleet of marine seismic acoustic survey vessels and data libraries.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Norway, Oslo · founded 1981
- 20ModerateHardware & devicesNishinomiyaJapan19483,3006814
Pioneer of the commercial fish finder and a leading maker of scanning sonars and echosounders for fishing and merchant fleets; top-10 international patent applicant here.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Nishinomiya · founded 1948 · 3,300 staff
- 21ModerateHardware & devicesReadingUnited Kingdom2006–CHRT
Owns Kiel-based ELAC Sonar, which makes submarine and surface-ship sonar systems and underwater communications for German and export navies.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United Kingdom, Reading · founded 2006
- 22ModerateHardware & devicesMount Pearl, NewfoundlandCanada2012–PNG
Makes AquaPix synthetic aperture sonar and KATFISH towed SAS used by NATO navies for seabed and mine-countermeasure survey.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland · founded 2012
- 23ModerateSystems integrationNewport NewsUnited States201144kHII
Builds REMUS autonomous underwater vehicles carrying sidescan and SAS payloads, the US Navy's standard sonar-equipped mine-hunting UUVs.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United States, Newport News · founded 2011 · 44k staff
- 24ModerateHardware & devicesOlatheUnited States198922kGRMN
Market leader in recreational sonar, including Panoptix LiveScope real-time scanning sonar (domiciled in Switzerland, operating HQ in Kansas).
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Olathe · founded 1989 · 22k staff
- 25ModerateProfessional & data servicesLeidschendamNetherlands1962–FUR
World's largest geo-data operator, running multibeam and sidescan sonar seabed surveys from crewed and uncrewed vessels worldwide.
Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · Netherlands, Leidschendam · founded 1962
- 26ModerateHardware & devicesMettawaUnited States1845–BC
Owns Navico Group (Lowrance, Simrad, B&G), a major maker of marine sonar, ActiveTarget live sonar and echosounders.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Mettawa · founded 1845
- 27ModerateHardware & devicesRacineUnited States1970–JOUT
Its Humminbird brand makes side-imaging, down-imaging and MEGA Live sonar systems for the recreational market.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Racine · founded 1970
- 28ModerateHardware & devicesWest Wareham, MassachusettsUnited States––Private
Leading maker of sidescan sonars, sub-bottom profilers and acoustic releases used in seabed survey, search and mine-countermeasures.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, West Wareham, Massachusetts
- 29ModerateHardware & devicesSaint PetersburgRussia––State-owned
Russia's main naval sonar enterprise, designer of the MGK-540 Skat-3 and Irtysh-Amfora submarine and ship sonar complexes.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Russia, Saint Petersburg
- 30ModerateHardware & devicesCosta MesaUnited States2017–Private
Builds Dive-LD/Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicles and Seabed Sentry persistent seabed sensing nodes for US and Australian navies.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Costa Mesa · founded 2017
- 31ModerateHardware & devicesRudNorway1996–Private
Leading maker of acoustic Doppler current profilers, velocimeters and Doppler velocity logs used across ocean science and subsea navigation.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Norway, Rud · founded 1996
- 32ModerateOperations & infrastructureSouthamptonUnited Kingdom2017–Private
Operates fleets of uncrewed vessels and AUVs carrying multibeam and synthetic aperture sonar for deep-ocean seabed search and survey.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Kingdom, Southampton · founded 2017
- Low15 companies
- 33LowHardware & devicesBengaluruIndia19548,900BEL
State firm that manufactures DRDO-NPOL designed sonars (HUMSA-NG hull sonar, USHUS submarine sonar, Nagin towed array) for the Indian Navy.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Bengaluru · founded 1954 · 8,900 staff
- 34LowSystems integrationYonginSouth Korea19764,000079550
South Korea's main naval sonar developer, supplying hull, towed-array and submarine sonar suites for ROK Navy frigates and KSS-III submarines.
Low relevance · Systems integration · South Korea, Yongin · founded 1976 · 4,000 staff
- 35LowHardware & devicesTokyoJapan1881–6703
Supplies sonar and underwater acoustic systems to the JMSDF and develops hydrophone arrays and acoustic sensing products.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1881
- 36LowHardware & devicesAnkaraTürkiye1990–Private
Turkey's sonar champion: YAKAMOS hull-mounted sonar on MILGEM corvettes (exported to Pakistan), submarine sonar suites and the MILSAS synthetic aperture sonar.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1990
- 37LowSystems integrationSingaporeSingapore196727kS63
Develops underwater sensing, AUVs and naval ASW/mine-countermeasure systems integration for the Republic of Singapore Navy and export.
Low relevance · Systems integration · Singapore, Singapore · founded 1967 · 27k staff
- 38LowHardware & devicesGivatayimIsrael––DSIT
Rafael-affiliated maker of PointShield/AquaShield diver-detection sonars and the Fish family of ASW sonars; listed on TASE in 2026.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Israel, Givatayim
- 39LowSystems integrationAnkaraTürkiye197511kASELS
Builds the HIZIR torpedo countermeasure with towed acoustic array, ZARGANA submarine countermeasures and ARAS diver-detection sonar for Turkish and export navies.
Low relevance · Systems integration · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1975 · 11k staff
- 40LowComponents & subsystemsGerlingenGermany1886418kPrivate
Largest international patent applicant in acoustic sensing, driven by ultrasonic sensors for vehicle parking and driver assistance made in very high volume.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Germany, Gerlingen · founded 1886 · 418k staff
- 41LowHardware & devicesBeijingChina2005442300810Beijing Zhongkehaixun Digital S&T
Listed Chinese supplier of sonar signal-processing platforms, sonar systems and underwater acoustic data systems, sold mainly to military customers.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Beijing · founded 2005 · 442 staff
- 42LowHardware & devicesCartagenaSpain1989–State-owned
Spain's underwater acoustics specialist (owned by Navantia, Indra and Thales) supplying ASW sonar, towed arrays and DDS-03 intruder-detection sonar.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Spain, Cartagena · founded 1989
- 43LowComponents & subsystemsSydneyAustralia2012––
Australian maker of Subsonus acoustic positioning (USBL) and Nucleus/Hydrus subsea sensing and navigation systems.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Australia, Sydney · founded 2012
- 44LowHardware & devicesTokyoJapan1915–Private
Nisshinbo subsidiary making echosounders, fish-finding sonar and Doppler sonar speed logs for commercial shipping.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1915
- 45LowComponents & subsystemsParisFrance1923–FR
Through Valeo Schalter und Sensoren, a top-3 international patent applicant and major mass producer of automotive ultrasonic acoustic sensors.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · France, Paris · founded 1923
- 46LowComponents & subsystemsKariya, AichiJapan1949158k6902
Fourth-largest international patent applicant in acoustic sensing, producing automotive ultrasonic sonar sensors for parking and collision avoidance.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Kariya, Aichi · founded 1949 · 158k staff
- 47LowComponents & subsystemsPort CoquitlamCanada––Private
Maker of compact multibeam, sidescan and mechanical scanning sonars widely fitted to ROVs and small AUVs.
Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Canada, Port Coquitlam
- Very low3 companies
- 48Very lowResearch & IPGdyniaPoland1982–State-owned
OBR Centrum Techniki Morskiej (CTM)PGZ group naval R&D firm that built the SHL-101T/M hull sonar and SHL-300 sonar for Poland's Kormoran II minehunters and supplies Belgian/Dutch MCM equipment.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · Poland, Gdynia · founded 1982
- 49Very lowComponents & subsystemsAnkaraTürkiye––Private
Turkish underwater acoustics firm producing the MELIS 2071 hull-mounted ASW sonar and an indigenous mine-hunting sonar.
Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · Türkiye, Ankara
- 50Very lowHardware & devicesToyohashiJapan1956–Private
Japanese ultrasonic specialist that built the first transistorised fish finder and makes marine sonars and ultrasonic transducers.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Toyohashi · founded 1956
