British soldiers will soon head into operations with a powerful new advantage: an advanced acoustic system that can pinpoint enemy gunfire, mortars and
explosions—years ahead of schedule.
The British Army is accelerating the rollout of SONUS, a next-generation acoustic weapon detection system, bringing it into the hands of frontline troops five years earlier than planned. The lightweight technology is expected to be operational within the next 12 months, delivering a major boost to battlefield awareness and soldier safety.
Faster, lighter, and covert battlefield protection
SONUS detects the acoustic pressure waves produced by hostile weapons, allowing troops to quickly locate the source of gunfire, mortar rounds, or explosions. Crucially, the system operates passively, meaning it emits no electronic signal that could reveal soldiers’ positions to the enemy.
Compared with earlier systems, SONUS weighs 70% less, can be transported with ease, and can be deployed in under three minutes—a significant upgrade for units operating in fast-moving and high-risk environments. The increased speed and accuracy of detection will help soldiers take evasive action faster or respond decisively when under fire.
£18.3 million contract supports UK jobs and SMEs
The Army has awarded an £18.3 million contract to Leonardo UK, securing around 250 jobs across the country, including at Leonardo’s Basildon site. The deal also supports 29 UK small and medium-sized enterprises, reinforcing the government’s push to make defence a driver of economic growth.
The early procurement aligns with the UK’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with investment set to reach 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
Government: accelerated delivery reflects changing threats
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said: “We’ve accelerated our procurement of this equipment by five years to provide additional layers of safety for our personnel through more durable, lightweight systems in a new era of threat.
Making defence an engine for growth is a key priority for this government and this deal sustains jobs across the UK, benefits multiple SMEs and boosts our Armed Forces”.
Frontline rollout begins within a year
The first SONUS platforms will be delivered over the next 12 months to the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, the British Army’s specialist Surveillance and Target Acquisition regiment.
Brigadier M Birch, Senior Responsible Owner for the Land ISTAR Programme, said: “This investment in Leonardo’s SONUS Acoustic Weapon Locating System demonstrates the Army’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to the front line.
It will significantly enhance our ability to protect our people and respond to emerging threats, ensuring the Army remains ready to meet the challenges of the future”.
Olly Manning, Vice President Mission Systems at Leonardo, said: “Leonardo has over 40 years of experience in passive acoustic weapon-locating technology, with battle-proven systems that have seen operational use with over 13 armed forces – many of whom are NATO members.
We are looking forward to working in partnership with the British Army to ensure SONUS provides them with an accurate, robust and reliable passive detection system that will keep our Armed Forces safe – now and into the future”.
Part of a wider modernisation drive
The SONUS programme supports the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthening warfighting readiness while reinforcing the UK’s defence industrial base. The accelerated delivery was achieved through procurement reforms led by the Army’s LAND ISTAR team, working alongside Defence Equipment and Support and Task Force RAPSTONE.
Together, these efforts underline the Army’s ambition to modernise rapidly—and significantly increase its lethality—by 2027. Photo by I, Celticwarrior3551, Wikimedia commons.