Page 18 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023 Online Magazine

define demonstration system objectives and waters, encouraging them to develop low-frequency sonars to accu-
identify enabling technologies needed for future rately detect the presence of UUVs with lower acoustic signature
systems. levels.

UUV technology is a force multiplier to manned In 2019, Asia-Pacific region was the largest market for sonar sys-
platforms and is essential to meet critical tems. The region currently has the highest share in the market and
oceanography requirements. is expected to register the highest CAGR in the next five years. This
is primarily due to the increasing procurement of new naval ships
and submarines, along with the upgradation of existing fleets.
The objective of oceanographic missions’
ranges from broad reconnaissance of large
littoral undersea areas to detailed characteri- With the increasing tensions in the South China Sea and the Indian
sation of specific battle-space areas collecting Ocean along with the growing naval fleet of China, countries in
high quality, accurately positioned data. The Asia-Pacific are all developing their anti-submarine warfare capa-
focus is on the littoral, but a deep-water survey bilities. These countries are increasing their investments into ASW
capability is required for bottom characterisa- equipment like sonar systems and others to enhance their situational
tion to accomplish cable route pre-installation awareness in the sea.
and inspection
For instance, in 2017, Japan became the first nation to conduct
An Emerging Class large-scale experimental mining of a dead hydrothermal vent off
the coast of Okinawa, inside Japan’s national waters, by dispatching
Unmanned underwater vehicles are an emerg- a torpedo-shaped underwater drone equipped with special sonar
ing class of unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs) to map it. With such developments in terms of both vessel building
with the potential to transform anti-submarine and the upgradation of sonar systems, Asia-Pacific is expected to
warfare (ASW) through new capabilities for generate the highest demand for sonar systems.
sensing in the sea domain. These technologies—
also known as “submarine drones”— employ
active sonar to detect, characterize, and track Competitive Landscape
adversary submarines via an unmanned mobile The sonar systems market is highly fragmented with a wide range
platform under the sea.
of players providing various types of systems, such as single-beam
sonar systems, multi-beam sonar systems, full-circle scanning
The UUV system allows access to shallow or systems, etc., for applications, like fishing, deep-sea exploration,
previously difficult-to-penetrate waters and shallow water detection, enemy detection, tracking and for detect-
provides a dynamic platform for observation ing attacking torpedoes and missiles.
and detection. The unmanned characteristic of
UUVs and potential for autonomous use sepa- Companies, such as Aselsan AS, General Dynamics Corporation,
rate them from existing ASW technologies.
Thyssenkrupp AG, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, and Thales Group are
some of the prominent players in the market.
Now, UUVs have evolved into viable tools capa-
ble of revolutionising and transforming ASW Latest in the market is Turkish company Aselsan’ s FERSAH hull-
through their advanced sensing capabilities. mounted sonar system. Few years back, Aselsan unveiled the FERSAH
hull-mounted sonar system, designed to provide frigates and cor-
In a bid to capitulate on the increasing demand
for anti-submarine capabilities and sonar sys-
tems, various companies are engaged in the
manufacturing of sophisticated sonar systems,
such as diver detection, towed, hull-mounted,
dunking sonars, sonobuoys, and other sonar-
based surveillance systems for the global naval
forces.

These UUVs feature active sonar systems that
are highly beneficial for the collection of data
to detect, characterize and track adversary/
enemy submarines at long ranges. Moreover,
several nations have realized the potential
security threats caused by foreign UUVs in their

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