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'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.