The AQS-502 is a lightweight echo-ranging dipping sonar capable of detecting and classifying moving and stationary underwater objects. The sonar set will provide information concerning range, bearing and speed, at display ranges of up to 20,000 yards.

A reeling machine, approximately 500 foot long cable, and sonar transducer is located centrally within the cabin allowing the transducer to be lowered through the sonar well.

The sonar set has three modes of operation:

• active, for echo ranging;
• passive, for sonar listening; and
• communicate, for underwater voice communications.

Additionally, it contains built in test (BIT) functionality.

When using active echo ranges, the sonar transmits at either 9.23, 10.00, or 10.77 kHz a 3.5 or 35 millisecond pulse at a power of either 500 or 5,000 watts.

When receiving active echoes or passively, the sonar uses a system of 8 sectors to determine bearing and the elapsed echo time to determine range.