Sonar 2150 passes sea acceptance trials
UK RN Type 23 frigate HMS Portland. (Photo: Ultra.)
Ultra’s 2150 hull-mounted sonar replaces the Sonar Type 2050, which has been in Royal Navy (RN) service since the 1990s.
The Sonar 2150 system from Ultra Electronics completed first-of-class sea acceptance trials in June 2021 aboard the UK RN Type 23 frigate HMS Portland.
Ultra announced on 30 July that the success of the trials represented a ‘further validation’ of the new hull-mounted sonar.
Trials took place over multiple days at sea, detecting and tracking a target and proving its passive and active performance.
The RN will fit the type 2150 sonar onto its Type 23 anti-submarine warfare frigates.
The new sonar features a user interface designed to ‘improve operator effectiveness’ and usability. The outboard array is controlled digitally, minimising cabling requirements and extending the time between maintenance intervals.
Sonar 2150 is part of Ultra’s ‘Sea Searcher’ range of hull-mounted sonar systems. The company has also developed two lighter-weight versions of the type 2150 designed for vessels up to 1,000t and 2,000t.
In addition to installation on the Type 23 frigates, the type 2150 sonar will equip the future Type 26 City-class frigates.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
![As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging]()
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027]()
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
