Abstract: The features and limitations of the acoustic vector sensor (AVS) in practical application are discussed. The measurement model of acoustic vector sensor is introduced, and then its performance is further analyzed. The detection capability and array gain of the AVS array are compared with those of the pressure sensor array when they work in the buoy-submerged buoy system, the towed array sonar system and autonomous underwater vehicles. The results show that the AVS suits to detect targets of low frequency owing to the isotropic ambient noise being suppressed by the unit vector sensor’s directivity, which decreases the array aperture. Due to the influence of flow noise and radiation noise of underwater vehicles, the superiority of AVS performance is limited when it works in towed array and autonomous underwater vehicles.