Sonobuoy market seen reaching $690.34M by 2031

Mordor Intelligence projects the global sonobuoy market will rise from $512.23 million in 2026 to $690.34 million by 2031, fueled by anti-submarine warfare spending, naval modernization and underwater surveillance demand. North America leads today, while Asia-Pacific is growing fastest as submarine fleets and defense budgets expand.

Why it matters: - Sonobuoys are a core tool for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance. - The market’s growth reflects rising defense spending on quieter submarine threats and more advanced underwater sensing. - The shift toward digital systems could improve detection speed, classification and fleet-wide data sharing.

What happened: - Mordor Intelligence said the sonobuoy market is projected to grow from $512.23 million in 2026 to $690.34 million by 2031. - The forecast implies a 6.15% compound annual growth rate. - The Hyderabad-based research firm tied growth to anti-submarine warfare investment, naval modernization and adoption of advanced underwater surveillance technologies. - North America remains the largest regional market. - Asia-Pacific is growing the fastest.

The details: - Digital sonobuoy architectures are replacing analog systems, with multichannel data processing and longer-range RF connectivity. - Digital signal processing is improving acoustic data transmission, target classification and integration across multiple sensors. - The report says those changes support quicker decision-making and stronger underwater surveillance. - Demand is also rising as navies field more quiet diesel-electric and air-independent propulsion submarines. - Naval forces are expanding anti-submarine warfare operations and distributed monitoring capabilities in response. - The market is segmented by type into active, passive and special purpose sonobuoys. - The report also breaks the market down by size class, deployment method and application. - Deployment methods include free-fall, cartridge/pneumatic launch and spring launch systems. - Applications include defense and commercial use.

Between the lines: - The forecast points to a procurement cycle shaped by submarine stealth, not just broader fleet growth. - The emphasis on digital architectures suggests buyers want better networking and faster analysis, not only more units. - Asia-Pacific’s faster growth signals a wider push for domestic defense production and maritime domain awareness.

What’s next: - In June 2026, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division issued a solicitation for Sonobuoy Lot Acceptance Testing services. - In March 2026, the U.S. Navy announced continued procurement of advanced sonobuoy systems under fiscal year acquisition programs. - Mordor Intelligence said the report is available in Japanese, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. - The company lists players including Sparton, L3Harris, Thales, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Kongsberg, Leonardo, Saab, Indra Sistemas, Bharat Electronics and Hanwha Systems.

The bottom line: - Sonobuoys are moving from a niche expendable sensor to a strategic enabler of anti-submarine warfare modernization.