Abstract: The towed cable movement model established by Burgess is modified according to the hydrodynamic char- acteristics. Moreover, a real-time model-related parameters estimation method is proposed grounded upon the finite difference and Newton iteration method. At the same time, an applicable target detection algorithm to deformed flexible array is put forward based on the array shape estimation and adaptive broadband focused beam-forming theory. The real-time hydrophone location information is introduced into the adaptive broadband focused beam-forming algorithm in order to detect target. The sea trial was carried out. The proposed method was accurately detected the target in the case of the conventional method invalid during the sea trial. The data analysis shows that, compared with the conventional processing technique, the output signal to noise ratio (SNR) of proposed method improves by 15 dB. The problem that performance deterioration leads to no valid detection during the maneuvering or steering operations is resolved, which verifies the proposed method's effectiveness.