| Study Period | 2020 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| CAGR | 6.50 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Sonobuoy Market Analysis
The Sonobuoy Market is expected to register a CAGR of greater than 6.5% during the forecast period.
- The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the global sonobuoys market. Government-imposed lockdowns and stringent regulations led to supply chain disruptions, production halts from manufacturers, and a shortage of raw materials, which hindered market growth during the pandemic. Additionally, naval forces postponed military projects that involved sonobuoy installation and upgrading, and a decline in oil and gas exploration activities resulted in reduced demand for sonobuoys, which further hampered the market's growth.
- However, the market has shown a strong recovery post-COVID due to the rising demand from naval forces and commercial applications. A sonobuoy is a portable sonar system used to detect submarines and conduct underwater research. It uses a transducer and a radio transmitter to record and transmits underwater sounds. As cross-border conflicts, warfare situations, and political unrest continue to grow among neighboring countries, there is an increasing demand for advanced communication systems.
- Many countries are now focusing on strengthening their naval capabilities by procuring sonobuoys and other weapons, which is driving the growth of the market.
Sonobuoy Market Trends
The Defense Segment Will Showcase Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
- During the forecast period, the defense segment is expected to experience remarkable growth due to increasing defense expenditures and the growing procurement of advanced sonobuoys by naval forces. This growth is primarily driven by rising spending on enhancing naval capabilities, particularly in response to growing unrest among neighboring countries, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and disputes between China and Taiwan. Sonobuoys are particularly useful in detecting enemy submarines by listening to the sound of their propellers, providing real-time information to the naval forces. As a result, the increasing procurement of advanced sonobuoys by naval forces, along with investments in improving naval infrastructure, is expected to drive the growth of this segment.
- For instance, in September 2022, the United States Naval Air Systems Command awarded a contract worth USD 182 million to Ultra Maritime and Sparton to manufacture and deliver 126,000 sonobuoys for submarine-hunting missions. The contract includes the production of 100,000 AN/SSQ-53, 10,000 AN/SSQ-62 sonobuoys, and 16,000 AN/SSQ-101. These sonobuoys will be used for testing, training, and supporting combat operations and integrated into maritime patrol aircraft such as the MH-60S SeaHawk helicopter and P-8A Poseidon. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. These developments are likely to increase the demand for sonobuoys in the coming years, further propelling the growth of the defense segment.
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North America Dominated the Market During the Forecast Period
- North America is expected to continue dominating the market with the largest share during the forecast period. This growth is mainly attributed to the significant defense expenditure by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the increasing procurement of sonobuoys by the United States Navy. In 2021, the United States was the world's largest defense spender, allocating a budget of USD 801 billion for defense.
- Moreover, in 2022, the United States DoD assigned USD 211 billion to the Navy, while the United States Navy invested USD 44.7 billion in enhancing aviation, ship, and combat support readiness activities. Therefore, the increased expenditure on enhancing military capabilities and the procurement of advanced naval systems will drive market growth across the region.
- For instance, in April 2022, the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland announced that Lockheed Martin Corporation and ERAPSCO in Columbia City, Indiana, would share a contract worth USD 222 million to manufacture 18,000 AN/SSQ-125A multi-static sonobuoys for the United States Navy's airborne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. Furthermore, in October 2022, the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River selected Ultra Sonobuoy Systems as a qualified industry partner to provide next-generation sonobuoys to the United States Navy.
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Sonobuoy Industry Overview
The sonobuoy market is moderately consolidated, with a few players holding significant shares. Some prominent market players include Ultra Electronics, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kongsberg Gruppen, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation. With growing competition, key original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are focusing on introducing next-generation solutions for commercial and defense applications. Additionally, OEMs will enter into long-term contracts with naval forces to provide advanced sonobuoy systems, which will help them expand their business.
For instance, in March 2021, the French Navy signed a contract with Thales Group to provide the SonoFlash, a new generation sonobuoy. It is coupled with the FLASH dipping sonar, which enables an aircraft to expand its coverage area and respond with greater agility to evasive maneuvers by a submarine. The delivery of the SonoFlash sonobuoy will be completed by 2025.
Sonobuoy Market Leaders
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L3Harris Technologies Inc.
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Thales Group
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Sparton
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Lockheed Martin Corporation
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Ultra
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Sonobuoy Market News
- November 2022: UMS SKELDAR entered into a cooperative agreement with Ultra Maritime, which was selected through the Department of National Defence's (DND) Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program. The objective of the partnership is to investigate the development of an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sonobuoy dispensing capability utilizing the SKELDAR V-200 Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
- November 2022: Saab AB was granted the prime contract for the MK39 Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Training Target (EMATT) by the United States Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport. The MK39 EMATT is a sonobuoy-sized device that weighs less than 25 pounds and can be programmed to imitate various ASW training scenarios.
Sonobuoy Industry Segmentation
The sonobuoy is an expandable, sonar system dropped from aircraft or ships to detect underwater submarines. It detects the aircraft, where the radio frequency (RF) transmission is received and processed to detect, locate, and track submarines at sea.
The sonobuoy market is segmented based on type, application, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into active, passive, and special purpose. By application, the market is segmented into commercial and defense. By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.
The market sizing and forecasts have been provided in value (USD million) for all the above segments.
| Type | Active | ||
| Passive | |||
| Special Purpose | |||
| Application | Commercial | ||
| Defense | |||
| Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Europe | United Kingdom | ||
| France | |||
| Germany | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Latin America | Brazil | ||
| Rest of Latin America | |||
| Middle-East and Africa | Saudi Arabia | ||
| United Arab Emirates | |||
| South Africa | |||
| Rest of Middle-East and Africa | |||
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Sonobuoy Market Research FAQs
What is the current Sonobuoy Market size?
The Sonobuoy Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 6.5% during the forecast period (2025-2030)
Who are the key players in Sonobuoy Market?
L3Harris Technologies Inc., Thales Group, Sparton, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Ultra are the major companies operating in the Sonobuoy Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Sonobuoy Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Sonobuoy Market?
In 2025, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Sonobuoy Market.
What years does this Sonobuoy Market cover?
The report covers the Sonobuoy Market historical market size for years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Sonobuoy Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Sonobuoy Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Sonobuoy market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Sonobuoy analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
