Stavanger, Norway — Kongsberg has launched Aegir SSA (Subsea Situational Awareness), a new family of sonar systems designed to provide continuous underwater awareness for maritime security, safety and navigation. The system was unveiled at the ONS 2026 conference in Stavanger and is aimed at ports, critical infrastructure, coastal areas and offshore assets.
Aegir SSA builds on more than 80 years of Kongsberg sonar experience and combines acoustic technology with compact designs and scalable deployment options. The systems can be installed on small uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), buoys, fixed offshore sites and larger maritime platforms.
The system is designed to detect, classify and track underwater objects and activity, while supporting navigation and operational decision-making. Kongsberg also offers an AI-powered virtual sonar operator that can support continuous operation without constant human supervision. Customers can configure the AI for specific missions, while their own operators can train the system to retain and apply mission-specific operational knowledge.
Kongsberg said underwater monitoring is becoming increasingly important as maritime infrastructure supports energy security, global transportation, offshore operations and national resilience. Ports and coastal areas can present challenges because of dense traffic, shallow waters, drifting objects and unauthorised activity that may not be detected by conventional surface monitoring systems.
One system in the family, Aegir57, is a compact 57 kHz omnidirectional sonar providing 360-degree coverage and a detection range of up to 2,000 metres, depending on acoustic conditions. It is intended for applications including port and harbour security, offshore asset monitoring, obstacle detection and autonomous vessel operations.
Before the commercial launch, Kongsberg partnered with Fugro to test Aegir SSA in real-world conditions. The system was integrated with Fugro’s SEAWATCH buoy platform and connected to the Oslofjord Testbed. Visitors at ONS 2026 can view a live data feed from the Oslofjord installation, demonstrating persistent monitoring, real-time data delivery and subsea sensing.
Helge Andre Sundt, Vice President of Subsea Awareness at Kongsberg, said the underwater domain has become a critical operational environment for commercial and government operators and that Aegir SSA is designed to improve security, safety and operational awareness.
Hompe Heijmerink, Fugro’s Director of Maritime Security and Surveillance for Europe and Africa, said combining the Aegir SSA sonar with the SEAWATCH buoy provides an “always-on” monitoring solution and actionable real-time intelligence for protecting critical maritime assets.
Kongsberg also highlighted two major contracts announced earlier this year. One covers surveillance of Princess Elisabeth Island in the North Sea, including drone detection radar and vessel traffic services. The second involves underwater surveillance and protection for an undisclosed international customer.
With Aegir SSA, Kongsberg is adding a dedicated subsea surveillance layer to its wider maritime portfolio for persistent detection, classification and tracking around ports, offshore assets and other critical maritime sites.
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