Europe is finally learning to watch its seabed
Apr 12
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Kiel, GermanyKiel, Germany
E
ELAC SONAR
Designs and manufactures submarine sonar suites, anti-submarine warfare systems and seabed surveillance technology for navies worldwide, with nearly 100 years of hydroacoustic expertise from Kiel, Germany.
Founded 192651-200 employeesKiel, Germany5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Naval & MaritimeSensors & EW
Products & Solutions
Sphere® Passive Surveillance (KaleidoScope 2.0)
An open sonar suite designed for conventional submarines, providing full spatial, spectral and temporal acoustic coverage. It combines narrowband and broadband passive sonar for contact detection, tracking and classification, with acoustic intercept and analysis tools. The system is built on MOTS hardware with fully in-house designed and manufactured hydrophone arrays, and its modular architecture supports upgrades and future capability growth with reduced lifecycle costs. ELAC SONAR's Sphere®-based KaleidoScope 2.0 is the sonar suite selected for Italy's U212 NFS submarine programme.
HUNTER 2.0
A hull-mounted sonar for anti-submarine warfare carrying out active and passive surveillance in shallow and deep waters for panoramic detection of submarines and other underwater objects. The system also features a forward-looking mine avoidance mode. HUNTER 2.0 has been delivered to the Philippine Navy for its three Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels, completing sea acceptance tests in 2025.
ENLITOR®
A persistent seabed surveillance and monitoring product designed to protect critical underwater infrastructure. It collects and processes acoustic data from Underwater Detection Nodes, integrates data in real time with partner platforms and enables continuous monitoring without communication blackouts. ELAC SONAR has demonstrated ENLITOR® in cooperation with the German Navy at SeaSEC Data2Sea 2026.
PILOS 2.0
A passive sonar system for submarine distress localisation, supporting submarine rescue operations. Part of the Sphere® platform, PILOS 2.0 is designed to detect and track submarines in distress, enabling rescue coordination in scenarios where a submarine cannot communicate.
UT3000
A digital underwater communication system for naval platforms. The UT3000 provides voice and data communications between submarines and surface vessels using underwater acoustic channels, supporting both operational coordination and search and rescue.
About
ELAC SONAR GmbH is a Kiel-based specialist in naval hydroacoustic systems, tracing its roots to 1926 when it was founded as Electroacustic GmbH (ELAC). Over nearly a century the company has supplied sonar and underwater communication systems to the German Navy and allied navies across Europe, Asia, the Americas and beyond. In 2020, it became part of Cohort plc, a UK-listed defence group whose six operating subsidiaries serve British, German, Portuguese and international customers.
Offices
Kiel, GermanyCustomers & Partners
Italian Navy (via Leonardo S.p.A. / OCCAR U212 NFS programme)Philippine NavyLeonardo S.p.A.OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation)Gdańsk University of TechnologyEnamor Sp. z o.o.Phi-Stone AGChristian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielGerman Navy (SeaSEC / ENLITOR operational testing)
Timeline
2025-09
Received EUR 2 million in German federal funding (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) for Project NEPTUNE, developing smart underwater transducers for unmanned underwater systems.
2025
HUNTER 2.0 completed sea acceptance tests on all three Philippine Navy Del Pilar-class vessels, validating performance across active and passive ASW modes.
2024
Awarded a €16 million contract by Leonardo S.p.A. for the Italian Navy's U212 NFS submarine programme, supplying Sphere®/KaleidoScope 2.0 integrated sonar suites.
2020-01
Acquired by Cohort plc from Wärtsilä Corporation for €11.25 million and renamed ELAC SONAR GmbH.
2020
Signed contract with the Philippine Navy to deliver HUNTER 2.0 hull-mounted ASW sonars for three Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels.
1926
Founded in Kiel as Electroacustic GmbH (ELAC), one of the first manufacturers of echo sounders and submarine sonars in Germany.
E
ELAC SONAR
Designs and manufactures submarine sonar suites, anti-submarine warfare systems and seabed surveillance technology for navies worldwide, with nearly 100 years of hydroacoustic expertise from Kiel, Germany.
Founded 192651-200 employeesKiel, Germany5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Naval & MaritimeSensors & EW
Products & Solutions
Sphere® Passive Surveillance (KaleidoScope 2.0)
An open sonar suite designed for conventional submarines, providing full spatial, spectral and temporal acoustic coverage. It combines narrowband and broadband passive sonar for contact detection, tracking and classification, with acoustic intercept and analysis tools. The system is built on MOTS hardware with fully in-house designed and manufactured hydrophone arrays, and its modular architecture supports upgrades and future capability growth with reduced lifecycle costs. ELAC SONAR's Sphere®-based KaleidoScope 2.0 is the sonar suite selected for Italy's U212 NFS submarine programme.
HUNTER 2.0
A hull-mounted sonar for anti-submarine warfare carrying out active and passive surveillance in shallow and deep waters for panoramic detection of submarines and other underwater objects. The system also features a forward-looking mine avoidance mode. HUNTER 2.0 has been delivered to the Philippine Navy for its three Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels, completing sea acceptance tests in 2025.
ENLITOR®
A persistent seabed surveillance and monitoring product designed to protect critical underwater infrastructure. It collects and processes acoustic data from Underwater Detection Nodes, integrates data in real time with partner platforms and enables continuous monitoring without communication blackouts. ELAC SONAR has demonstrated ENLITOR® in cooperation with the German Navy at SeaSEC Data2Sea 2026.
PILOS 2.0
A passive sonar system for submarine distress localisation, supporting submarine rescue operations. Part of the Sphere® platform, PILOS 2.0 is designed to detect and track submarines in distress, enabling rescue coordination in scenarios where a submarine cannot communicate.
UT3000
A digital underwater communication system for naval platforms. The UT3000 provides voice and data communications between submarines and surface vessels using underwater acoustic channels, supporting both operational coordination and search and rescue.
About
ELAC SONAR GmbH is a Kiel-based specialist in naval hydroacoustic systems, tracing its roots to 1926 when it was founded as Electroacustic GmbH (ELAC). Over nearly a century the company has supplied sonar and underwater communication systems to the German Navy and allied navies across Europe, Asia, the Americas and beyond. In 2020, it became part of Cohort plc, a UK-listed defence group whose six operating subsidiaries serve British, German, Portuguese and international customers.
Offices
Kiel, GermanyCustomers & Partners
Italian Navy (via Leonardo S.p.A. / OCCAR U212 NFS programme)Philippine NavyLeonardo S.p.A.OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation)Gdańsk University of TechnologyEnamor Sp. z o.o.Phi-Stone AGChristian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielGerman Navy (SeaSEC / ENLITOR operational testing)
Timeline
2025-09
Received EUR 2 million in German federal funding (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) for Project NEPTUNE, developing smart underwater transducers for unmanned underwater systems.
2025
HUNTER 2.0 completed sea acceptance tests on all three Philippine Navy Del Pilar-class vessels, validating performance across active and passive ASW modes.
2024
Awarded a €16 million contract by Leonardo S.p.A. for the Italian Navy's U212 NFS submarine programme, supplying Sphere®/KaleidoScope 2.0 integrated sonar suites.
2020-01
Acquired by Cohort plc from Wärtsilä Corporation for €11.25 million and renamed ELAC SONAR GmbH.
2020
Signed contract with the Philippine Navy to deliver HUNTER 2.0 hull-mounted ASW sonars for three Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels.
1926
Founded in Kiel as Electroacustic GmbH (ELAC), one of the first manufacturers of echo sounders and submarine sonars in Germany.
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