Sonar

Sonar is a core market that contains military and defense-related equipment that operates underwater and uses sound wave propagation for the purpose of gathering intelligence, performing surveillance and reconnaissance, countering threats, or providing target information. This market contains both sonar sensor and sonar processing-related systems.

This document contains definitions for the market, customer missions, unique market attributes, and market subsystem types.

The Sonar market includes:

Sonars installed or deployed from military platforms, or operated by military organizations, for the purposes of surveillance, detection, tracking, weapon targeting and other military-unique underwater operations (e.g. submarine navigation);
Active, passive and bathythermograph sonobuoys;
Diver detection sonars used in support of homeland defense;
Development (government funded), production, and support programs;
Service and Support contracts.

The Sonar market does not include:

Torpedo sonars (see PGW market);
Sonars integrated into underwater mines (see PGW market);
Sonars installed on self-destructing anti-mine systems (see PGW market);
Fathometers for general navigation;
Ocean bottom mapping (Bathymetric) sonars;
Commercial sonars (e.g. fishing sonars, oil exploration sonars);
Water temperature sensing devices apart from bathythermograph sonobuoys.

Sonar Functional Segmentation

Anti-Mine	Sonars used to detect and identify sea mines and mine-like underwater threats for the purpose of ensuring access and safe transit of naval forces. Typically high frequency active.
Anti-Mine & Navigation	Sonars used for detection of potential underwater threats, including mines and hazards, for the purpose of own vessel safe navigation. Anti-mine and Navigation systems are often in the same frequency regime and can be dual- purpose.
Auxiliary	Sonar systems and associated components providing a supplementary function to enhance platform mission capabilities, including torpedo defense, data recording, and measurements.
Communications	Sonar systems that are designed specifically to provide communication through various media such as voice, data, and CW (Continuous Wave coded transmissions).
Decoys	Expendable or reusable devices that are used for self-defense by concealing, diverting, or defeating systems that are attempting to discover, track, target, or attack friendly forces.
Logistics/Support	Naval auxiliary ships which have the capability to support the fleet with liquids, solid stores, and spares while underway and/or alongside.
Multi-function	Sonars that perform more than one of the functions in this list (of similar priority).
Navigation	Sonars designed to satisfy military-unique navigation requirements.
Port Security	Sonar systems for swimmer detection, underwater inspection and monitoring of harbors, waterways and infrastructure.
Surveillance/Reconnaissance	Sonar systems employed for large-area long-range (e.g. 100+ km) ocean surveillance. Typically passive and low frequency.
Tactical/Attack	Sonar systems used to detect, track and engage submarines and surface ships. This category includes the majority of sonars installed on ships or submarines and includes Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) technology.
Multiple	This category includes any instance when the record involves more than one functional segmentation category.
Other	This category is used when the record cannot be explicitly described by another functional segmentation category.
Research & Technology	Broad based and general sonar technology.
Unidentified R&D	A modeled estimate of R&D Sales not yet identified.

Sonar Attributes

Mode

Mode is an attribute field with four unique selections: Active, Passive, Dual-Mode, and Measurement. This field describes the operating mode of the sonar, where appropriate. Dual-Mode means that the sonar can operate both passively and actively.

Frequency

Frequency is an attribute field with six unique selections that reflect a system’s general operating range within the underwater acoustic frequency band. Markets Forecast uses the following frequency band ranges:

Band Frequency Range

Very Low <1KHZ
Low 1-3KHZ
Medium 3-14KHZ
High 14-100KHZ
Very High >100KHZ
Multi-band Operates in more than one band

Mounting

Mounting is an attribute field with nine unique selections. This attribute specifies where the sonar is mounted.

Bow arrays	Typically the largest and most capable hull mounted sonars found on surface ships. Also found on submarines but here their role as most capable organic sensor is increasingly being taken over by flank arrays.
Dipping arrays	Transmit/receive arrays lowered to depth on a cable from a host platform while stopped. Typically employed by helicopters for ASW missions, although they can be deployed from other platform types.
Distributed arrays	Remotely monitored, and are either fixed or tethered to the ocean bottom, or are suspended/float over a large ocean area.
Flank arrays	Typically installed in panels on the sides of modern submarines as their main hull-mounted acoustic sensor since it usually offers enhanced performance over bow arrays (although still short of a towed array system). Now common on modern submarines and available for retrofit on older boats.
Hull arrays	Ship or submarine arrays other than bow or flank arrays, including fixed and retractable keel-mounted units.
Multi-array	Means that the system encompasses 2 or more mountings, typically involving a mix of hull and towed sensors, e.g. a towed array integrated with a flank array.
Sail arrays	Mounted on the sail/fin of a submarine.
Sonobuoys	Dropped from aircraft or ships and communicate to the monitoring platform via a wireless link.
Towed arrays	Trailed behind the ship or submarine towing platform and are typically composed of many hundreds of meters of tow followed by an array of hydrophones. Typically passive and low frequencies, however some systems with an integrated active transmit capability are noted.
Variable Depth Sonars (VDS)	Sonar arrays deployed from enclosures/towed bodies tethered to the towing platform that are capable of descending to an operator determined depth to operate “below the layer”. VDS can be deployed by a variety of platforms while under way, typical uses include low frequency active and passive systems for ASW and high frequency active systems for mine detection and from helicopters for both missions.
Towed/VDS	Feature an integrated combination of Towed and Variable Depth Arrays where each array has a specific function, i.e.: one active transmit array and one passive receive array. Typically the VDS towed body is used for the active portion.

Sonar Subsystems

System Integrator	The portion of the program related to integrating all of the subsystems into the forecasted Item and performing program management. This role is typically filled by the Item System/Service Supplier.
Transducer/hydrophone	The sub-system assembly that generates and/or receives acoustic signals in the water and converts them to/from an electrical signal.
Housing	The sub-system that encloses and protects the transducer/hydrophone array from the general ocean environment. For example, for bow or hull mounted sonar arrays, the housing is generally known as the sonar dome.
Array	An arrangement of a number of transducers or hydrophones - appropriately spaced and operated in an integrated fashion - to improve source/signal strength and to provide proper directional characteristics.
Processor	The sub-system equipment and software that executes signal processing, detection and other algorithms to convert the raw signal data into useful information.
Operators Consoles and Displays	The Item’s man-machine interfaces, including hardware, software and embedded processors, if applicable.
Handling Equipment	The sub-system (e.g. cable winches) used to deploy and recover towed devices such as VDS or wire arrays.
Mission Systems (External and Retained)	The portion of the system related to operational mission system payload(s) such as Radar, EO/IR, Communications, C2 and onboard computing. We break this out into the portion of the mission systems provided by the system supplier (retained) and the portion provided by a contractor other than the system supplier (released).
Mission System Integration (MSI)	The portion of the program related to integrating all of the mission electronics into a single functioning suite of sensors and electronics. This type of integrator is most common on very complex platform programs.
Licensor	The portion of the system’s value related to providing raw technology. A Licensor’s role can be compared to a low-value-added integrator.
Sys Eng & Tech Assistance (SETA)	System Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA). The government often needs to supplement its internal Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance capability in order to meet its frequently changing needs and demands. SETA contractors provide analysis and engineering services in a consulting capacity, working closely with the government's own engineering staff members. SETA contractors provide the flexibility and quick availability of expertise without the expense and commitment of sustaining the staff long-term.
Scientific & Engineering Support	Where not specifically stated as SETA, other scientific and engineering support services. The work performed in this area deals with the conduct of analytical, experimental, investigative and other fact finding work in the natural and physical sciences, along with the operation and maintenance of the equipment required for these purposes. Examples would be: engineering related studies, scientific research and support, writing technical manuals, chemical, biological and other testing services; architect-engineer services; environmental planning and engineering services; and other technical services.
Ops-Mgt Services	Operations and management, are generally non-engineering and non-technical services. Examples: operating and managing facilities (Facilities or Warehouse Managers); infrastructure tasks and oversight (Operations or Plant Managers); supervision and management services (Planning Manager; consulting and advisory services; program management; and providing other non-technical professional services. It is along the lines of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency possible within an organization. It concerns itself with converting materials and labor into goods and services as efficiently as possible to maximize the profit of an organization, and will have a focus on streamlining processes.
Maintenance Services	Maintenance, or technician specific servicing and general repairs. Examples: base maintenance and repair; non-specific platform repair and other technician maintenance services; staffing O&R depots; environmental remediation; and decontamination. These services may include, but are not limited to, preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, scheduled servicing, testing, and component replacements.
Training Services	Training activities to include syllabus preparation, manuals, documents, personal, location and facilities, classroom devices and equipment, training simulations, and the successful completion of the training contract statement of work.
Sustainment Services	Sustainment, is the provision of personnel, logistic, and other support required to maintain and prolong operations or combat until successful accomplishment or revisions of the mission or the of the national objective. Examples: food service; fuel storage and shipment; security; supply airlift and sealift; and other storage services.
Scientific & Engineering Support	Where not specifically stated as SETA, other scientific and engineering support services. Examples: engineering related studies, scientific research and support, writing technical manuals, chemical, biological and other testing services; architect-engineer services; environmental planning and engineering services; and other technical services.
Other Work-share Provider	A significant subcontractor whose contribution cannot be categorized in any of the other sections