A new ultrasonic imaging system and apparatus are proposed which use a moving random phase mask placed just behind a coherently illuminated object, and a stationary‐point receiver located in the farfield. The power spectrum of the received signal represents the shadow of an object on the receiver plane and hence gives the image of the object under suitable conditions. The second‐order correlation function of the received signal gives the exact image of the object provided a reference‐point source is located nearby. The system constructed includes a minicomputer for signal processing and real‐time imaging. Experimental results for one‐dimensional objects are presented. It is also demonstrated experimentally that the system has advantages over conventional coherent ultrasonic imaging systems when propagating through a turbulent medium.