What is a sonobuoy and how is it used?

• A. A buoy deployed by aircraft or ships containing sonar sensors to detect submarines.
• B. A buoy for meteorological data.
• C. A buoy used to anchor submarines.
• D. A navigation beacon for ships.

Answer: (A)

A sonobuoy is a small, self-contained buoy dropped from aircraft or ships that carries sonar sensors and related electronics. It is used to detect submarines by either listening passively for submarine noise or actively emitting a short sonar ping and listening for the echoes. The collected acoustic data is sent back to the launching platform for analysis, helping operators locate and track a submarine and guide anti-submarine warfare actions. Other buoy types serve weather data, anchoring, or navigation purposes, which are different functions and not about detecting submarines.