KONGSBERG Launches Two New Sonars, Expands AI Partnership with Viam
KONGSBERG has launched two new underwater surveillance sonars for maritime security and critical infrastructure protection, while expanding its collaboration with Viam to develop an AI-powered virtual sonar operator.
The new Aegir17 and Aegir57N systems expand the company's Aegir SSA (Subsea Situational Awareness) family to three models, KONGSBERG said.
The Aegir17 is a long-range, 360-degree sonar designed for larger maritime platforms, using a lower acoustic frequency and larger transducer to provide greater detection range and definition than the existing Aegir57.
The Aegir57N is a compact matrix sonar designed for navigation and security applications, directing acoustic beams towards selected areas to provide detailed information about the water column and seabed.
The system supports forward-looking navigation in poorly charted waters and obstacle detection, while its compact design and Ethernet interface allow integration with unmanned surface vessels, fixed installations and other platforms.
The two models complement the Aegir57, introduced in August 2026, which provides 360-degree subsea monitoring with detection ranges of up to 2,000 metres.
Alongside the hardware expansion, KONGSBERG is strengthening its collaboration with US-based automation platform Viam to develop an AI-powered virtual sonar operator capable of automatically detecting and tracking underwater objects.
The technology is intended particularly for uncrewed vessels and fixed monitoring installations, reducing the need for continuous human monitoring and allowing operators to oversee multiple remote installations.
"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," said Eliot Horowitz, Founder and CEO of Viam.
The project builds on the companies' existing Sonar AI system developed for Simrad sonars, which automatically detects fish and alerts crews in real time.
KONGSBERG said customers will be able to use existing trained AI models or implement their own models for specific environments and surveillance requirements.
The first commercial delivery of an Aegir sonar is scheduled for November 2026.
KONGSBERG is also integrating its subsea surveillance capabilities with satellite-based monitoring, coastal radar, drone detection and passive acoustic systems, while its HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles provide additional underwater inspection and investigation capabilities.