How much does a laser designator cost?

The Army is fielding a laser target designator that incorporates its own GPS to determine its location, along with a digital compass, thermal imager and camera. The new equipment costs $340,000 and weighs about 31 pounds, which is five pounds less than older laser designators.

What does a laser designator do?

Much like the familiar laser pointer, the laser designator is used to “paint” a spot on a target, marking it so that a guided weapon such as a missile can find and destroy it. Laser designators are mounted on planes or tanks, and can be small enough to be carried by hand.

How far can a laser designator work?

Lasers produce beams of light that can be controlled and focused to a width of only a meter across at tactical ranges (2-3 km). These beams can be made to switch on and off in a few billionths of a second.

What are laser codes?

A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser-guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire, or the M712 Copperhead round, respectively.

What is the purpose of a laser designator?

Portable unit directing bombing in Afghanistan, 2001. A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser-guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, Lockheed-Martin ‘s Hellfire, or the Copperhead round, respectively.

What do you call a laser pointer in the military?

We’re going to start with aiming lasers – also called laser pointers, target pointers, or target designators. The US armed forces consider optics, sensors and lasers to be combat multipliers.

What is a lightweight laser designator rangefinder?

Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR) is a crew-served, long-range modular system designed for man-portable, day-and-night and all-weather use.

How does the Northrop Grumman laser designator work?

Northrop Grumman’s LLDR, using an eye-safe laser wavelength, recognizes targets, finds the range to a target, and fixes target locations for laser-guided, GPS-guided, and conventional munitions. This lightweight, interoperable system uniquely provides range finding and targeting information to other digital battlefield systems allowing…