A sonar system and method enable performing angled-looking sonar (ALS) by emitting sonar waves in a forward and downward direction from sonar transducers located at an underwater vessel. The sonar waves may be received by sonar transducers located al the underwater vessel. Additionally, a variable geometry sonar system and method enable performing side scan sonar (SSS) and ALS by moving al least one sonar transducer to perform both SSS and ALS. The variable geometry sonar system may be used with an underwater vessel to perform mine countermeasure (MCM) missions by using ALS for a homing phase on a target.