KONGSBERG expands subsea surveillance range with new sonar systems
Norwegian technology group KONGSBERG has introduced two additional sonar systems within its Aegir Subsea Situational Awareness (SSA) family, expanding its range of equipment for underwater surveillance, maritime security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
The new Aegir17 and Aegir57N models complement the existing Aegir57, which was commercially introduced in August 2026. According to KONGSBERG, all three systems are now available to order, offering different configurations for vessels, ports, offshore facilities and other maritime installations.
Alongside the product expansion, the company is extending its collaboration with US-based technology firm Viam to develop an AI-powered virtual sonar operator capable of detecting and tracking underwater objects without requiring continuous manual monitoring.
The development builds on the companies’ existing work involving automated sonar interpretation for commercial fishing applications, adapting similar technology for maritime security and subsea monitoring.
New sonar models target different operational requirements
The Aegir17 is a long-range, omnidirectional sonar designed to provide 360-degree underwater surveillance. Its lower acoustic frequency and larger transducer are intended to extend detection capabilities compared with the smaller Aegir57, making it suitable for larger maritime platforms and installations requiring wider-area monitoring.
The Aegir57N, meanwhile, combines navigation and security applications in a compact matrix sonar. Rather than providing continuous omnidirectional coverage, the system directs acoustic beams towards selected areas to obtain more detailed information about underwater objects, the water column and seabed conditions.
KONGSBERG said the Aegir57N can support forward-looking navigation in poorly charted waters, obstacle detection and targeted surveillance. Its compact dimensions and Ethernet interface also allow integration with uncrewed surface vessels, fixed installations and platforms with limited available space.
The existing Aegir57 provides 360-degree surveillance with a stated detection range of up to 2,000 metres. It is intended for applications including buoys, smaller vessels and stationary underwater monitoring installations.
AI development focuses on automated monitoring
KONGSBERG is also working with Viam on a virtual sonar operator for the Aegir SSA family.
The planned system will use artificial intelligence to support automatic detection and tracking of underwater objects, allowing personnel to focus on events requiring further examination rather than continuously monitoring sonar displays.
The technology is being developed particularly for uncrewed vessels and remotely operated fixed installations, where constant human supervision can present operational challenges.
According to the companies, operators will be able to use existing trained AI models or configure models for individual environments and surveillance requirements.
Viam Founder and CEO Eliot Horowitz said the project addresses the challenge of converting continuous sonar data into information that operators can use when assessing underwater activity.
Applications in maritime infrastructure protection
The expanded sonar family is intended to form part of KONGSBERG’s broader maritime surveillance offering, which also includes coastal radar, satellite-based monitoring, drone detection and passive acoustic systems.
These technologies can be combined to provide information about activity above and below the waterline, supporting the monitoring of ports, offshore assets and other critical maritime infrastructure.
KONGSBERG said the first commercial delivery of an Aegir system is scheduled for November 2026, while further work continues on the virtual sonar operator.
The announcement marks the commercial availability of the expanded three-model sonar family, although the company has not disclosed customer identities, order values or a delivery timetable for the individual new models.
