Can Constellation rely on towed-array sonar?

Is Constellation's lack of hull-mounted sonar a problem?

Not necessarily; carrying a spare towed array helps, though hull sonar offers a useful fallback.

The absence of hull-mounted sonar does not automatically disqualify Constellation. A towed array provides the principal detection capability, and carrying a replacement can reduce the risk of losing that sensor altogether. Hull sonar matters most on a specialist anti-submarine ship that must keep searching after damage or equipment loss. Active transmission also reveals the ship's presence, so the backup carries a tactical cost.