laser designator
{{Short description|Invisible light source to identify a target}}
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Image:Laser designator- SOF in Afghanistan.jpg
Image:DHY 307 laser target designator P1220819.jpg
Image:NAVFLIR DAMOCLES P1220870.jpg Damocles target designation pod combined with a NAVFLIR imager]]
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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.
When a target is marked by a designator, the beam is invisible and does not shine continuously. Instead, a series of coded laser pulses, also called PRF codes (pulse repetition frequency), are fired at the target. These signals bounce off the target into the sky, where they are detected by the seeker on the laser-guided munition, which steers itself towards the centre of the reflected signal.{{cite web |author1=U.S. Marine Corps |title=MCTP 3-10F Fire Support Coordination in the Ground Combat Element |url=https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-10F.pdf?ver=2019-03-28-083848-523 |website=Marines.mil |access-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716202303/https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-10F.pdf?ver=2019-03-28-083848-523 |archive-date=16 July 2022 |pages=Appendix K |date=4 April 2018}} Unless the people being targeted possess laser detection equipment or can hear aircraft overhead, it is extremely difficult for them to determine whether they are being marked. Laser designators work best in clear atmospheric conditions. Cloud cover, rain or smoke can make reliable designation of targets difficult or impossible unless a simulation is accessible through available ground data.
Deployment
Laser designators may be mounted on aircraft, ground vehicles, naval vessels, or handheld. Depending on the wavelength of light used by the designator, the designation laser may or may not be visible to the personnel deploying it. This is the case with 1064 nm laser designators used by JTACs as that wavelength of light is difficult to see under standard Gen III/III+ night vision devices.{{cite web |title=Differences between Gen3 and 4G image intensification technology |url=https://www.photonis.com/system/files/2020-10/Difference_Gen3_4G_english_version.pdf |website=Photonis Night Vision |access-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505124344/https://www.photonis.com/system/files/2020-10/Difference_Gen3_4G_english_version.pdf |archive-date=5 May 2021 |date=October 2020}} Other imaging devices with "see-spot" capabilities to "see" the laser spot are often utilized to make sure the target is being correctly designated. These may include FLIR (forward looking infrared) thermal imagers which normally operate in the MWIR or LWIR spectrum{{cite web |title=Thermal Camera Specs You Should Know Before Buying |url=https://www.flir.com/discover/professional-tools/thermal-camera-specs-you-should-know-before-buying/ |website=FLIR.com |access-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407192121/https://www.flir.com/discover/professional-tools/thermal-camera-specs-you-should-know-before-buying/ |archive-date=7 April 2022 |date=18 December 2019}} but have a 1064 nm window in which they can see-spot the laser.{{cite book |last1=Donval |first1=Ariela |last2=Fisher |first2=Tali |last3=Lipman |first3=Ofir |last4=Oron |first4=Moshe |title=Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVIII |chapter=Laser designator protection filter for see-spot thermal imaging systems |editor-first1=Bjørn F. |editor-first2=Gabor F. |editor-first3=Paul R. |editor-last1=Andresen |editor-last2=Fulop |editor-last3=Norton |date=1 May 2012 |series=Proceedings of SPIE |volume=8353 |pages= |doi=10.1117/12.916966 |bibcode=2012SPIE.8353E..24D |s2cid=122190698 }}
=Airborne=
The U.S. Air Force selected the Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) in 2004. It equipped multiple USAF platforms such as the F-16, F-15E, B-1, B-52, and A-10C. It also operates on multiple international fighter platforms. The U.S. Navy currently employ LITENING and ATFLIR targeting pods on a variety of strike aircraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=114 |title=Fact Sheet - LITENING II |date=24 June 2003 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030624084136/http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=114 |archive-date=24 June 2003 }} The Litening II is widely used by many other of the world's air forces. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force uses the Litening III system and the French use the TALIOS (Targeting Long-range Identification Optronic System),:fr:Pod Talios{{Circular reference|date=May 2021}} Damocles and ATLIS II.
=Ground-based=
File:A tactical air controller aims a laser target designator on a simulated target.jpg
Many modern armed forces employ handheld laser designation systems. Examples include the AN/PEQ-1 SOFLAM of the United States, the Russian LPR series of handheld devices.
U.S. Air Force Joint Terminal Air Controllers and Marine Corps Forward Air Controllers typically employ a lightweight device, such as the AN/PED-1 Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR), permitting them to designate targets for Close Air Support aircraft flying overhead and in close proximity to friendly forces. While many designators are binocular-based and may utilize tripods, smaller handheld laser designators, like the B.E. Meyers & Co. IZLID 1000P exist as well.{{cite web |title=IZLID 1000P |url=https://bemeyers.com/izlid-1000p |website=B.E. Meyers & Co. |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519225530/https://bemeyers.com/izlid-1000p |archive-date=19 May 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR) |url=https://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/ANPED1LLDR/Documents/lldr.pdf |website=Northrop Grumman |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805023008/https://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/ANPED1LLDR/Documents/lldr.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2019}} This lightweight, interoperable system uniquely provides range finding and targeting information to other digital battlefield systems{{cite web |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=187249 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325004140/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=187249 |archive-date=2010-03-25 |title=Photo Release -- U.S. Army Awards Northrop Grumman Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinders Delivery Order Valued at $142.7 Million (NYSE:NOC)}} allowing the system to provide targeting information for non-guided munitions, or when laser designation is unreliable due to battlefield conditions.
Gallery
File:MechanizedInfantryExercise2018-05.jpg|The Soviet-era LPR-1 laser designator.
File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (525-34).jpg|The LPR-2 laser designator.
File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (525-35).jpg|The LPR-4 laser designator.
File:Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder, laserowy dalmierz.jpg|The Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder.
File:JGSDF Middle range Multi-Purpose missile laser designator 2.jpg|JGSDF Middle range Multi-Purpose missile laser designator.
See also
References
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Further reading
{{commonscat|Laser designators}}
- [http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/ANPED1LLDR/Pages/default.aspx Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102154258/https://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/ANPED1LLDR/Pages/default.aspx |date=2019-11-02 }}, Northrop Grumman
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