UDT 2026: Gfai Tech unveils HydroVision SeaStar24 passive underwater acoustic imaging system

HydroVision SeaStar24 presented at UDT 2026. #1 (Gfia Tech) (Janes/Kirk Evans)

German sound and imaging company Gfai Tech presented its HydroVision SeaStar24 passive underwater acoustic imaging system at Clarion Defence's Undersea Defence Technologies (UDT) 2026, held in London from 14-16 April.

HydroVision SeaStar24 is intended to support underwater surveillance for use cases such as port and critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) protection.

The system is based on a 24‑channel hydrophone array combined with digital beamforming and phase coherent signal processing. According to Gfai tech HydroVision SeaStar24, “transforms underwater sound into spatial 2D and 3D visualisations — without transmitting any acoustic signals”.

Rather than generating acoustic pulses, the system operates by capturing sound already present in the underwater environment and reconstructing acoustic activity in a spatial layout on screen in real time. This approach allows operators to visualise underwater acoustic sources, supporting interpretation beyond conventional passive monitoring methods that rely primarily on spectral analysis.

Depending on configuration and environmental conditions, HydroVision SeaStar24 may support the localisation of acoustic activity associated with “human underwater movement”, “equipment related acoustic signatures”, “vessel‑related subsea activity”, and interactions near underwater structures, according to Gfai Tech. The system's passive operation enables “situational awareness without acoustic signature”, which may be relevant for discreet monitoring scenarios, added the company.

System parameters, including array configuration, processing architecture, visualisation modes and deployment geometry, are developed “in close cooperation with partners and end users”, said Gfai Tech.

For more, please see: Wavefront, MARSS, Forcys integrate mobile C2, sensor systems for infrastructure protection