Built on more than 80 years of Kongsberg sonar experience, Aegir combines acoustic technology with compact form factors, simplified integration and scalable deployment options. The systems can be installed on small uncrewed surface vessels, buoys, fixed sites and larger maritime platforms.
The Aegir SSA concept also includes an AI-powered virtual sonar operator service intended to reduce the need for continuous human involvement. Kongsberg said the AI can be configured for specific missions and trained by customers’ own operators to retain and apply their operational knowledge.
Kongsberg said maritime operators need greater visibility below the waterline as infrastructure plays an increasingly important role in energy security, transportation, offshore operations and national resilience. Ports, harbors and coastal areas can present challenges including dense traffic, shallow water, drifting objects and potential unauthorized activity that may remain outside conventional monitoring systems.
“The underwater domain has become a critical operational environment for both commercial and government operators,” said Helge Andre Sundt, VP Subsea Awareness, Kongsberg. “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.”
The Aegir family is designed to detect, classify and track underwater objects and activity while supporting navigation and operational decision-making. Visitors to ONS will be able to view a live data feed from an operational Aegir SSA installation in the Oslofjord.
The system is integrated on Fugro’s SEAWATCH buoy platform and connected to the Oslofjord Testbed, combining persistent offshore monitoring, real-time data delivery and subsea sensing. Kongsberg and Fugro deployed the system ahead of the commercial launch to demonstrate how fixed monitoring infrastructure can support continuous protection of critical maritime assets.
“As the need to protect critical undersea infrastructure continues to grow, operators need reliable and scalable monitoring solutions that provide continuous situational awareness,” said Hompe Heijmerink, Fugro’s 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 helps safeguard critical maritime assets while providing operators with actionable real-time intelligence for faster decision-making.”
Kongsberg also cited two major contracts announced earlier this year that reflect demand for integrated monitoring and protection of critical maritime infrastructure. One covers surveillance of Princess Elisabeth Island in the North Sea, while the other focuses on underwater surveillance and protection for an unnamed international customer.
For Princess Elisabeth Island, Kongsberg will provide technologies including drone detection radar and vessel traffic services. The company said Aegir adds a dedicated subsea layer to its wider portfolio for persistent detection, classification and tracking around ports, offshore assets and other critical maritime sites.
