The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Surveillance/Reconnaissance and Targeting Systems, Part II

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

In the world of war, weapons and technology are ever changing, each war is characterized by the weapons and tactics used to fight it. As new environments and enemies are encountered, the parties to those wars develop new - more effective tactics, technologies, and weapons to counter and defeat their adversaries. The ingenuity seen in war has existed since (and most certainly before) the first wars of recorded history and continue to this very day.

Keeping with that theory, let’s take a look at the weapons that have characterized the wars and conflicts that the United States has been a party to over the course of it’s history. During the course of this series, I aim to breakdown the weapons used in each conflict by their classification, and to which party they were employed by. Having served in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, I would like to start our series with the War in Afghanistan.

For our twentieth installment let's take a look the most common Surveillance/Reconnaissance and Targeting Systems used in the War in Afghanistan.

ELITE TACTICAL SYSTEMS AR-15 30 ROUND MAGAZINE w/ COUPLER

Part II - The United States

Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinders

The Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR) is a crew-served, Soldier-portable, long-range, modular target locator and laser designation system. The primary components are the Target Locator Module (TLM) and the Laser Designator Module (LDM). The AN/PED1A (LLDR-2) reduced system weight by more than five pounds and reduced power consumption. The AN/PED-1B (LLDR 2H) improves target location performance.

The TLM incorporates a thermal imager, day camera, laser designator spot imaging, electronic display, eye-safe laser rangefinder, digital magnetic compass, Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module Global Positioning System (SAASM GPS) and digital export capability.

The original LLDR 1 (AN/PED-1) operates on one BA-5699 battery, but it can also use a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) battery when laser designation is not required.

A new compact laser designator is being fielded with the LLDR 2 (AN/PED1A). It requires less power and operates on one common SINGARS battery (BA-5390 or BA-5590).

To provide a precision targeting capability to the dismounted Soldier, PM SPTD developed the LLDR 2H (AN/PED-1B). It integrates a celestial navigation system with the digital magnetic compass in the TLM. The LLDR 2H provides highly accurate target coordinates to allow the Soldier to call for fire with precision GPS guided munitions. A Modification of in Service Equipment program will retrofit fielded LLDR 1 and 2 systems with the LLDR 2H precision targeting capability beginning in FY13.

The TLM operates as a stand-alone device or in conjunction with the LDM. At night and in obscured battlefield conditions, the operator can recognize vehiclesized targets at more than three kilometers. During day operations, soldiers can recognize targets at more than seven kilometers. The LDM emits coded laser pulses compatible with DoD and NATO laser-guided munitions. Soldiers can designate stationary targets at ranges greater than five kilometers.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Weight (total system including batteries for a 24-hour mission):

LLDR 1: 35 pounds
LLDR 2: 29.5 pounds
LLDR 2H: 31.5 pounds

Target Recognition Range:

LLDR 1: > 6.5 kilometers day, > 2.5 kilometers night (to a NATO standard vehicle target)
LLDR 2 & LLDR 2H: > 7 kilometers day, > 3 kilometers night (to a NATO standard vehicle target)

Target Location Error:

LLDR 1 & LLDR 2: > 20 meters at 2.5 kilometers range (In a magnetically benign environment)
LLDR 2H: < 10 meters at 2.5 kilometers range (when celestial is available)

Laser Designation: