Powering the Future of Underwater Acoustics with Precision Components

From ocean exploration to naval defense, underwater acoustics plays a critical role in how we detect, communicate, and navigate beneath the surface. Sound travels further and faster in water than in air, making it the most effective tool for underwater sensing and communication. Whether it’s tracking submarines, mapping the ocean floor, or monitoring marine life, underwater acoustic technologies rely on one key element: precise signal amplification.

At the heart of these systems are operational amplifiers (op amps) and JFETs—components where Linear Systems specializes in delivering unmatched precision and low-noise performance.

Why Amplification Matters in Underwater Acoustics

All underwater acoustic systems—whether passive (listening for sound) or active (emitting a signal and analyzing the response)—require one common step: amplifying the signal.

• Without amplification, sonar echoes would be too faint to interpret.

• Hydrophones wouldn’t be able to detect the subtle calls of marine life.

• Underwater modems couldn’t transmit reliable communication signals.

That’s why every sonar, hydrophone, or acoustic modem must contain an amplifier circuit. And for decades, op amps and JFETs have been the proven building blocks of those circuits.

Applications Driving the Market

Underwater acoustics encompasses a wide range of technologies:

• Sonobuoys – Small, expendable sonar devices deployed from aircraft or ships for anti-submarine warfare and acoustic research.

• Towed Arrays – Long cables lined with hydrophones, pulled behind submarines or ships for wide-area detection.

• Hydrophones – Specialized underwater microphones used in defense, oil & gas exploration, environmental monitoring, and research.

• Sonar Systems – Active detection systems emitting sound pulses to map, navigate, or locate underwater targets.

• Underwater Modems – Acoustic communication systems enabling data transfer between autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and control stations.

• Underwater Transducers – Converters of electrical energy into acoustic signals (and vice versa) that power sonar, navigation, and communication.

Each of these systems depends on precision analog circuitry to interpret faint underwater signals.

Where Linear Systems Fits In

Linear Systems manufactures ultra-low-noise JFETs, precision op amps, and high-reliability small-signal semiconductors that are designed for demanding applications like underwater acoustics.

• JFETs (e.g., LSK170, LSK389, LSJ74)

  Ideal for front-end amplification in hydrophones and sonar systems, where ultra-low noise and high input impedance are critical.

• Op Amps (e.g., LS358, LS844)

  Deliver stable, low-distortion amplification essential for processing weak underwater signals in both defense and industrial applications.

• Custom Analog Solutions

  With decades of expertise in analog semiconductor design, Linear Systems partners with engineers developing advanced sonar, modem, and transducer systems to provide optimized component solutions.

Trusted Across Industries

Defense contractors, marine research institutes, oil & gas exploration firms, and communications innovators depend on high-performance underwater acoustic systems. Leading manufacturers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia are advancing the field—but all rely on one common foundation: the ability to process faint underwater signals with precision.

That’s where Linear Systems parts make the difference.

Explore More

Whether you’re designing the next-generation sonobuoy or developing a low-noise hydrophone array, Linear Systems’ analog semiconductor portfolio provides the performance and reliability needed for the underwater acoustic market.

👉 Explore our full line of JFETs, op amps, and precision semiconductors at www.linearsystems.com.