Abstract: Underwater target detection is facing severe challenges from the improvement of the acoustic stealth capability of targets and the abnormal phenomenon of sound propagation in complex ocean waveguide. Passive sonar that relies on the self-radiated noise of targets, although having concealment, has a sharp decrease in the detection range for “quiet” targets. Active sonar completing target detection by actively emitting sound waves has a large detection range, but is limited by reverberation interference, detection blind areas, and at risk of exposure. This paper expounds the development of key technologies for active/passive sonar detection and the existing problems, combinations with the development trend of submarine stealth noise reduction technology. An active-passive joint detection system is constructed by combining active multi-base detection and distributed passive receiving networks. The “daily alert-critical detection” active and passive joint detection strategy is proposed, and the collaborative architecture and implementation methods of active and passive joint detection are discussed. The paper aims to provide theoretical and technical reference for the multimodal collaborative design of underwater detection systems, and promote the evolution of underwater acoustic detection technology towards high efficiency, intelligence and sustainability.