Military

Future Forces will Use Advanced Laser Targeting Systems

A new precision targeting device will help future forces at the battlefield identify personnel as friend or foe at the battlefield. This tool at the platoon level also allows to designate and mark targets for aircraft. The US Field Artillery has been operationally testing the Joint Effects Targeting System Target Laser Designation System (JETS-TLDS) in the rugged Alaska terrain.

The JETS-TLDS is a modular advanced sensor suite of three components: the hand-held target location module (HTLM), precision azimuth and vertical angle module (PAVAM), and laser marker module (LMM).

The teams used the system in a wide spectrum of operations. They used the infrared imager (IRI) and color day imager (CDI) to detect, recognize, and identify vehicles and personnel at various distances to determine whether they are friend or foe. They also used the system in a simulated urban environment, where the soldiers cleared multiple buildings and occupied rooftops and rooms to observe opposing forces in the city, according to army.mil.

One of the benefits of the system is its compact size and light-weight. “Since the system is smaller you don’t have to worry about bumping it around when clearing a building,” said Sgt. Nicholas Apperson. “If you have to switch buildings, disassembling and reassembling the system is much quicker than other targeting devices.”