there is provided a system for detecting distant seaborne objects by an airborne vehicle , including a seeker head having an axis in the direction of flight , a sensor mounted on the seeker &# 39 ; s head , the sensor being operative to transmit towards the sea surface a laser radiation beam of selected wavelength and to receive from the sea water surface radiation reflected from the sea water surface and from a seaborne object , and a computing unit for differentiating between the reflection received from the sea water surface and from the seaborne object . a method for detecting distant seaborne objects by an airborne vehicle is also provided .