The Ministry of Defence has awarded Leonardo UK a £18.3 million contract to deliver the SONUS acoustic weapon‑locating system five years ahead of plan, with the Army stating the capability will reach frontline soldiers within 12 months. The department says the contract sustains employment and advances equipment modernisation on an accelerated timetable. (gov.uk)
SONUS detects acoustic pressure waves from gunfire, mortars and explosions. As a passive acoustic system it does not emit an electronic signature, supporting covert operation. MOD materials say the new kit is 70% lighter than its predecessor and can be deployed in under three minutes, enabling faster target identification and response. (gov.uk)
Initial fielding is planned for 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, the Army’s Surveillance and Target Acquisition regiment responsible for counter‑fires and target acquisition. The unit’s role positions it to integrate acoustic detection into established deep‑find and strike processes. (gov.uk)
MOD states the award sustains around 250 jobs across the UK, with activity notably at Leonardo’s Basildon site, and involves 29 UK SMEs in the supply chain. Ministers present the programme as part of efforts to make defence an engine for growth alongside capability uplift. (gov.uk)
Officials attribute the schedule gain to the Land ISTAR Team working with Defence Equipment and Support and Task Force RAPSTONE, which is tasked with rapid, novel delivery to close critical capability gaps. RAPSTONE’s remit within the Field Army is to accelerate procurement in‑year where it can mitigate shortfalls. (gov.uk)
The announcement sits within the government’s commitment to increase defence outlays, with parliament’s researchers noting a move to 2.5% of GDP on core defence by 2027 and an updated definition that would take the wider defence total, including parts of the Single Intelligence Account, to around 2.6% from 2027. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk)
MOD frames SONUS as delivering on the Strategic Defence Review 2025 and the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025, which prioritise warfighting readiness, procurement reform and growth in the UK defence industrial base. Both documents set expectations for faster acquisition cycles and tighter industry‑government collaboration. (gov.uk)
The award also lands under the new Procurement Act 2023 regime, which took effect on 24 February 2025. Cabinet Office guidance highlights simpler procedures, greater flexibility and improved access for SMEs-changes relevant to defence programmes seeking to compress timelines and broaden supply chains. (gov.uk)
On operations, a lighter, rapidly deployable and covert sensor allows frequent displacement, reducing exposure to counter‑battery fire and shortening sensor‑to‑shooter timelines. The approach complements recent Army investment in AI‑enabled tactical communications intended to push reconnaissance and intelligence data to commanders faster. (electronics.leonardo.com)
For 5th Regiment RA, SONUS is expected to mesh with existing ‘find’ assets such as the TAIPAN artillery‑hunting radar, already exercised alongside NATO partners, to tighten the find‑strike chain. This aligns with the SDR’s objective to build a more lethal, integrated force at pace. (army.mod.uk)