What navigation aid provides distance and bearing information?

The correct choice, LORAN (Long Range Navigation), provides distance and bearing information through the use of radio signals transmitted from a network of fixed ground stations. LORAN systems work by measuring the time it takes for signals to travel from the transmitter to the receiver. By calculating the difference in arrival times of the signals from multiple stations, a user can determine their position in terms of both distance and direction relative to those stations. This makes LORAN particularly useful for maritime and aerial navigation, ensuring that users can navigate effectively over long distances.

In contrast, while VOR primarily offers bearing information to pilots by creating a radial system, it does not provide direct distance measurements. NDB is another type of navigation aid that broadcasts signals, but it also lacks the capability to give precise distance information; it only helps in determining direction. GPS, while an advanced and widely-used navigation system that gives precise location data, operates on entirely different technology utilizing satellite signals rather than ground-based transmissions. Its main function is to provide latitude and longitude, and while it can calculate distance and track movement over time, it is not directly comparable to LORAN in the specific context of providing distance and bearing information through radio signals.