The Australian Armed Forces will procure additional Type 163 Laser Target Designators from Leonardo as part of the LAND 17 Phase 2 Digital Terminal Control System – Capability Assurance program. Leonardo Australia has signed the contract for the delivery, which is a follow-up order, with Collins Aerospace Australia, according to a statement from Leonardo’s Australian subsidiary. According to the company, delivery should take place in the second quarter of 2022.
Target markers, like the Type 163, are an indispensable tool for assigning targets in close air support and fire control. With the so-called laser designator, the targets are illuminated by laser and thus marked. The precision weapons of the aircraft recognize this marking thanks to the laser seeker heads (SAL Seeker) and thus find the right target.
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To date, more than 800 Type 163 LTD systems have been delivered to 27 countries including the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand, as well as NATO members such as Italy, France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and most recently Germany and Norway.
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The Type 163 LTD is developed and built by Leonardo in Edinburgh (Scotland). It is a lightweight, compact, high-energy laser product for use by ground forces. It combines compactness, light weight and high performance and reliability. The Type 163 Laser Target Marker was specifically designed to meet the needs of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) of special and conventional forces using semi-active air-to-surface weapons with a range of up to 10 km mark and steer precisely to the target.
According to the manufacturer, the development of the Type 163 LTD benefits from Leonardo’s experience in the development of high-energy target lasers for aircraft such as the F-35 and the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, where space, weight and performance play a decisive role.
The product produces a high energy laser with narrow beam divergence. Designed with a focus on JTAC and JFO engagements, the system’s features include instant laser availability after power-up and the ability to remain lit. With a weight of only 2.5 kg including the battery and an output power of 80 mJ, the Type 163 Laser Traget Designator has a range of more than 10 kilometers. A battery charge enables the laser to be used continuously for a period of approx. 45 minutes without a cooling phase. The beam divergence of just <200 μRad ensures that even at target distances of more than ten kilometers, enough energy hits the target so that the sensor or the targeting pod reliably detects the target even in bad weather and very bright ambient light.
For example, the 10X optic uses the same viewing channel as the laser to eliminate aberrations caused by temperature changes. A range finder allows the user to safely determine the distance to the target. A Picatinny rail offers the possibility to mount different See-Spot devices. With a volume requirement of two liters (322 x 142 x 87 mm), the compact design allows it to be stowed away and easily transported in a backpack. A remote control allows the target marker to be used from cover, eg on a tripod.
André Forkert
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