sonobuoy

A sonobuoy is a small, expendable sonar transmitter and receiver that is dropped from an aircraft or ship. It is primarily used for detecting and tracking submarines. Once deployed in the water, a sonobuoy floats on the surface and transmits acoustic data to a receiving station, typically on board the launching aircraft or ship. Sonobuoys can be equipped with various types of sonar, including active and passive systems. Active sonobuoys emit a sound pulse and listen for the echo, while passive sonobuoys simply listen for sounds generated by submarines. The data collected by the sonobuoy is processed to identify and locate potential threats. There are different types of sonobuoys designed for various purposes, such as detecting submarines at shallow depths or in noisy environments. They are a crucial component of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.