AI Sonar Breakthrough: How KONGSBERG’s Aegir Shields Underwater
KONGSBERG unveils AI-powered Aegir sonar family at ONS 2026 to detect threats beneath the waves in real time.
KONGSBERG has launched the Aegir sonar family, a new generation of AI-powered commercial sonar solutions designed to provide real-time underwater situational awareness for ports, offshore assets, and critical maritime infrastructure.
The system, unveiled at ONS 2026 in Stavanger, combines high-performance acoustic technology with compact form factors and scalable deployment options, from small uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to fixed installations and larger maritime platforms. At the heart of the Aegir range is the SSA concept, which includes an AI-powered virtual sonar operator capable of autonomous detection, classification, and tracking without continuous human oversight.
“The underwater domain has become a critical operational environment for both commercial and government operators,” said Helge Andre Sundt, VP Subsea Awareness at KONGSBERG. “With Aegir SSA, we are bringing our sonar expertise into a purpose-built product family designed to enhance security, safety, and operational awareness in demanding maritime environments.”
“The underwater domain has become a critical operational environment for both commercial and government operators. With Aegir SSA, we are bringing KONGSBERG sonar expertise into a purpose-built product family designed to enhance security, safety and operational awareness in demanding maritime environments.”
Helge Andre Sundt·VP Subsea Awareness, KONGSBERG
AI AI That Learns from Human Operators: Aegir
The Aegir SSA’s AI can be configured for specific missions and trained by customers’ own operators, allowing it to retain and apply their operational knowledge. This adaptability makes it particularly suited for high-traffic environments such as ports and harbours, where shallow waters, drifting objects, and unauthorised activity pose hidden risks.
“Ports, harbours, and coastal environments present unique challenges,” Sundt noted. “High traffic density and potential unauthorised activity create risks that often remain hidden from conventional monitoring systems.” The Aegir family addresses these gaps by adding a dedicated subsea layer for persistent detection and tracking around critical sites.
At ONS 2026, visitors could view a live data feed from an operational Aegir SSA sonar installed in the Oslofjord, integrated on Fugro’s SEAWATCH® buoy platform and connected to the Oslofjord Testbed. This collaboration between KONGSBERG and Fugro demonstrates how fixed monitoring infrastructure can provide continuous protection for maritime assets.
“As the need to protect critical undersea infrastructure continues to grow, operators need reliable and scalable monitoring solutions,” said Hompe Heijmerink, Fugro’s Director of Director of Maritime Security and Surveillance for Europe and Africa. “Combining KONGSBERG’s new Aegir SSA sonar with Fugro’s proven SEAWATCH® buoy platform creates an always-on monitoring solution that provides actionable real-time intelligence for faster decision-making.”
“As the need to protect critical undersea infrastructure continues to grow, operators need reliable and scalable monitoring solutions that provide continuous situational awareness. Combining KONGSBERG’s new Aegir SSA sonar with Fugro’s proven SEAWATCH® buoy platform creates an always-on monitoring solution that helps safeguard critical maritime assets while providing operators with actionable real-time intelligence for faster decision-making.”
Hompe Heijmerink·Director of Director of Maritime Security and Surveillance for Europe and Africa, Fugro
The Aegir range’s scalable deployment options make it adaptable to a wide range of maritime security needs.
For governments and defence agencies, it offers enhanced protection for critical infrastructure such as undersea cables, pipelines, and energy installations. The system’s AI-driven autonomy also reduces the need for constant human oversight, lowering operational costs while improving response times.
The launch of Aegir comes at a time when underwater security is increasingly under threat. From sabotage of undersea cables to unauthorised surveillance of offshore energy sites, the risks to maritime infrastructure have never been higher. KONGSBERG’s solution provides a proactive approach to mitigating these threats, ensuring that operators can maintain situational awareness even in the most challenging environments.
With its proven technology and real-world demonstrations, the Aegir sonar family is set to become a cornerstone of underwater maritime security, offering a new level of protection for ports, offshore assets, and critical infrastructure worldwide.
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