The impressive results of applying the synthetic aperture concept in radard has stimulated interest in employing it for mapping the seabed and the seismic structure beneath it. In sonar, several studies have proposed modifications of side scan systems to implement this concept; and in seismics, it is embodied in the operation of migration. These two applications have evolved independently; nevertheless, it appears that each could benefit from the other in solving related problems, particularly with regard to the signal processing. In this presentation we indicate areas of mutual interest in the signal processing of these two applications of the synthetic aperture concept by exploring the similarities and differences from a general array processing perspective.