Validated at sea: HISAS2020 delivers on its promise

When KONGSBERG launched HISAS2020 at this year Oceanology International as a platform-agnostic synthetic aperture sonar, the ambition was clear: to make proven, ultra-high-resolution subsea insight available across a much wider range of platforms and missions. Now the first at-sea trials onboard the HUGIN Edge AUV have provided the proof point. 

The results speak for themselves. The trials delivered acoustic imagery with an estimated resolution of approximately 13 mm × 13 mm, showing the exceptional object definition, seabed detail and image clarity that have made the HISAS family a benchmark for synthetic aperture sonar. In other words, the performance is now validated by data: HISAS2020 is not only a strong concept on paper, it is proving its value in real-world subsea conditions. 

This is an important next step in the evolution of a technology already proven through thousands of missions on the HUGIN AUV family. By making HISAS2020 available as a standalone, platform-independent solution, KONGSBERG is opening up centimetre-level subsea insight to operators working with AUVs, UUVs, USVs, ROVs, towfish, submarines, surface vessels and other specialist platforms. 

For subsea situational awareness, this matters. Better awareness starts with better data: the ability to detect smaller objects, classify targets with greater confidence, understand seabed context and turn acoustic returns into actionable insight faster. With compact dimensions, digital transducers, standard underwater cabling and low power consumption, HISAS2020 is designed to bring this capability into operational environments without adding unnecessary integration complexity. 

The relevance spans defence, energy and ocean science. Whether the mission is mine countermeasures, critical underwater infrastructure inspection, harbour protection, target identification, environmental monitoring or detailed seabed mapping, HISAS2020 strengthens the operator’s ability to see, understand and act below the surface. 

HISAS2020 is moving from potential to proof – and strengthening the foundation for next-generation subsea situational awareness.