Description
Sonar is the connotation used for sound navigation as well as ranging. The technology makes use of sound propagation to navigate, communicate, measure distances and detect objects on or under the sea. The term SONAR essentially means to send and receive sound/ acoustic waves. Very low infrared to very high ultrasonic frequency can be detected via the use of Sonar.
There are two primary kinds of Sonar, i.e. Active and Passive Sonar. Active Sonar as the name suggests involves the active emitting of sonar waves, the waves are then reflected off surfaces and the received signal is interpreted to gather information about the coming obstruction/ naval vessel placed underwater. Modern active sonar systems utilize an acoustic transducer for the generation of sound waves that are reflected from target objects. While, passive sonar can be commonly explained as listening, i.e. deciphering signals obtained from moving vessels on or underwater bodies. Underwater acoustics or hydro acoustics is noted to be the field of study for underwater sound propagation.
Sonar can be used to locate objects in the water by sound and to measure their echo characteristics. Before the invention of radar, acoustic locating in the air was used. The technology, Sonar can also be used for robot navigation, while SODAR (upward looking, in–air SONAR) is noted to be used for in-air navigation-based technologies. The very first usage of sonar was noted to be in the year 1490 by Leonardo da Vinci, he made use of a tube to detect vessels by ear, i.e. the displacement of the ships was studied using the relayed acoustic signals. The use of passive Sonar was seen to become prominent during World war I, it was devised to counter the threat of growing technological advancements in the submarine segment.
Major factors driving the growth of the market
On studying the overall market dynamics, it is noted that the steady delivery of military vessels is noted to be one of the key factors that bolster the growth associated with the Sonar market. In terms of commercial applications, it is noted that roughly 90% of maritime trade is dependent on the sea as the primary route. In the military segment, increased adoption of UUVs is another factor that facilitates the demand for SONAR technology. The use of unmanned vessels for surveillance in underwater operations and the rise in usage of submarines is another factor that drives the growth associated with the SONAR Market.
Trends influencing the growth of the market
As stated earlier, the increased geo-political conflicts across the global markets are noted to be one of the primary drivers for this market. For instance, the geo-political crisis within the South China Sea has led to increased induction of naval vessels across both China as well as Japan. China was noted to have revealed its new Type -100 Class nuclear submarine that can be armed with 48 submarine-launched ballistic missiles as of 2021. Hence, the increasing demand for anti-submarine capabilities is noted to be one of the main factors that promote the demand for SONAR.
Market Dynamics
On studying the regional dynamics for the SONAR Systems market, it is noted that the Asia Pacific is seen to be the fastest growing market. The brewing geopolitical conflicts associated with the South China Sea, and the conflicts between India and China have led to increased procurement of naval armaments. In the year 2022, it was noted that India’s defense budget increased by a value of roughly 45% as compared to the previous FY. The Navy’s fleet, which consists of ships, submarines, and other equipment, has been allocated USD 4.7 billion (INR 35,452 crore) for the 2022–23 fiscal year, or nearly 75% of the capital expenditure.
Developments
Military-developed SONAR has a range of thousands of miles. With just four vantage points, the system’s sweeping range enables it to cover 80% of the ocean floor. Only SONAR aids in producing seafloor maps, developing nautical charts, predicting hazards, and finding shipwrecks, despite the efficiency of light and the better velocity of RADAR. It is noted that several technologies like Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse or CHIRP sonar tool are used for applications such as fish finding and bottom tracking. Chirping devices emit a range of frequencies instead of emitting a single frequency as in the case of 2D SONAR. The transducer begins vibrating at a low frequency with each pulse and gradually increases its frequency throughout the pulse to a high frequency.
