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Norwegian technology group KONGSBERG has expanded its Aegir Subsea Situational Awareness family with two new sonars and partnered with automation specialist Viam to introduce an AI-driven virtual operator for continuous maritime surveillance.
The launch brings all three models in the Aegir SSA portfolio to commercial availability, following the initial introduction of the Aegir57 at ONS 2026 in August, with first deliveries scheduled for November. Building on 80 years of commercial sonar manufacturing, the product line adapts commercial acoustic technology and existing supply chains to protect critical maritime infrastructure and assist navigation.
Tonny Algroy, Sales Director Subsea Awareness, KONGSBERG, said, “The market for subsea awareness is changing and the introduction of the Aegir SSA sonars responds to that. When we combine the performance and efficiencies of scale from the commercial sonars with modern AI-fuelled sonar operation, we truly have a unique offering.”
The newly launched Aegir17 provides 360-degree long-range coverage for larger maritime vessels and platforms. Utilizing a lower acoustic frequency and a larger transducer than the Aegir57, the system delivers extended detection range and higher definition to provide crews with more time to assess subsea hazards and potential threats.
The second addition, the Aegir57N, is a compact matrix sonar engineered to combine navigation and security by directing acoustic beams toward selected sectors. The system outputs high-definition data on the water column and seabed to aid forward-looking navigation through poorly charted areas and detect obstacles, while matching or exceeding the range performance of comparable systems. In security roles, it can complement omnidirectional sonars by concentrating surveillance on high-priority approaches. Its compact envelope and Ethernet interface allow integration onto unmanned surface vessels, fixed structures, and space-limited installations.
These models join the baseline Aegir57, an omnidirectional unit with detection ranges up to 2,000 metres. Engineered for buoys, small vessels, and fixed assets, it delivers continuous underwater tracking without the size, weight, and power footprint of conventional large systems.
To manage the continuous data generated by round-the-clock monitoring, KONGSBERG is collaborating with US-based physical AI platform Viam to supply an automated virtual operator. The system adapts technology initially developed for Simrad commercial fishing sonars to detect and track subsea objects automatically on uncrewed platforms and remote stations. Operators can run pre-configured algorithms or implement custom models designed for specific operational environments.
Eliot Horowitz, Founder and CEO of Viam, commented, “Fish-finding and infrastructure protection are very different applications, but the challenge is similar: turning the constant flow of data that sonar generates into clear, actionable information about what’s happening underwater. This will allow operators to oversee multiple remote installations and focus their attention on detections that require further investigation.”
The expanded sonar family also connects into KONGSBERG’s layered surveillance infrastructure. Data from subsea acoustic sensors can be fused with coastal radar, drone detection systems, passive acoustics, and satellite feeds to provide a unified operational view above and below the waterline, with long-range HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles available for subsequent inspection and investigation.
