Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA
The KraitArray thin-line towed array sonar solution is a way of providing high technology at lower cost. (Photo: SEA)
Miniaturisation of technology opens up radical sensing technologies to smaller navies under submarine threat, according to SEA sonar expert.
Historically, towed array sonar has been a transformative technology, giving beyond-the-horizon awareness of the undersea environment. But such towed arrays have traditionally been large, bulky pieces of equipment, requiring larger crewed vessels to use them.
Now though, technological miniaturisation is producing towed arrays that are small enough for light crewed vessels and even for the new generation of uncrewed vessels to use.
Chris Tucker, sonar product technical authority at SEA, recently explained the advances in towed array technology at the UDT conference in Oslo. Shephard asked him why navies should be looking into it.
“Towed array sonar has always been a
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort]()
SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort
The US Army Special Operations Command and Naval Special Warfare are accelerating efforts to integrate commercial uncrewed systems, with NSW broadening its solicitation to include USVs and UUVs alongside new requirements for ISR, kinetic operations and swarm technologies.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission]()
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
-
![UK Royal Navy dock build question remains open ahead of Programme Euston tender]()
UK Royal Navy dock build question remains open ahead of Programme Euston tender
The UK MoD’s Programme Euston floating dry dock tender has exposed a question about the UK’s naval industrial base: does Britain still have the depth to sustain its own deterrent without foreign intervention.
