Which is an advantage of active sonar?

• A. Rapid pinpointed position of target
• B. Gives away own position
• C. Covert detection of targets
• D. Long detection ranges without power

Answer: (A)

Active sonar works by sending out a sound pulse and listening for its echo. The time it takes for that echo to return directly translates to the distance to the target, and the way the signal is received across an array helps determine bearing as well. This gives a quick, measured position of the target once the pulse is detected, which is why this is considered an advantage—the information comes fast from the transmitted signal itself.

But emitting a pulse also reveals your own presence to others, so active sonar is not covert. That’s why the option about covert detection doesn’t fit. And active systems require power to transmit; you can’t achieve long detection ranges without expending energy, so the idea of long ranges without power isn’t correct.