Military use of lasers is growing in the urban warfare theatres around the world. They offer a unique sighting and aiming ability that can also have a tremendous psychological effect on enemy combatants.
Laser sites were first made practical with the invention of the laser diode, prior to that the power requirements and general fragility, kept lasers confined to larger deployments (trucks, tanks, aircraft, ships, etc.). With the advent of the semi conductor laser in 1968, and the subsequent miniaturization, the laser sight became real, no longer science fiction; it still was not the death ray, but then, we don't have flying saucers yet either.
The first laser sights were red in color, poorly collimated (meaning the laser beam would break up after a short distance), and ate batteries like pizza at a Weight Watchers meeting. The beam was nearly round in most cases and bright (laser sights are several times brighter than the sun at their operating color and frequency). Now they come in red, green, blue, and infrared (useful for aiming with night vision).
The first infrared solid state lasers were used in laser printers, were highly collimated, and had low power requirements. They proved an excellent cross-over technology into the military domain. With night vision scarce on the battle field initially, their application wasn't very practical, but over time the IR laser targeting illuminator has become the go-to choice for an “invisible” laser weapons sight.
“I remember how effective my visible laser was to me while conducting sniper over watch on the USS Cole after the suicide bombers killed over a dozen crew and nearly sank the ship. I was set up on the bridge and built a hasty hide to blend in with the ship's superstructure. I had a .50 caliber and three law rockets and orders to shoot to kill anything or person that compromised the perimeter. Not bad ROEs if you ask me. The situation in Aden was tense and we were surrounded by hostiles that had major weaponry trained on the ship. At night I shifted positions and started using my high-powered visible laser to scare the Yemeni weapons crews. After a few sessions of Lasik surgery, all crews shifted their weapons off the Cole. This brought a smile to my face and made the situation a little less tense. I don't care who you are, no one likes guns pointed at them.”
Laser technology is used to range, illuminate, target, and mark targets for following on CAS missions. Infrared laser systems add to our ability in certain environments to “own the night.” Visible lasers, while known to the general public as a favorite of science-fiction and Hollywood, do have some use in combat. They do offer a unique sighting and aiming application, but can also be used as psychological warfare in situations that might not have escalated to the point of no return. No matter who you are, or where you are in the world, seeing an illuminated dot holding on your chest will cause you to rethink any mischief you had in mind. There have been many occasions where the hidden sniper has used visible lasers to disperse crowds, or send some angry, poorly armed youths home to their mothers. One of the more common visible laser systems being used in combat today is the M6X combination tactical flashlight and fully boresightable visible laser. Two of the leading manufacturers of this are Insight and Streamlight, and these combination units can be used on pretty much anything from your pistol to your Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). These tiny lights can be specifically manufactured to mount directly to the frame of your unique sidearm, or when it comes to the rifle, you'll see them attached to the 1913 rail system. Easy on, easy off with the throw of one locking lever, or for more permanent attachment, there are some more fixed options that might involve an Allen wrench or screwdriver at most.
Laser Devices Inc.’s DBAL-A2 is a dual beam aiming laser which has both IR and visible laser pointers in one unit, combined with a focusable infrared laser illuminator (think giant flashlight when on nightvision). The laser targeting is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, but at around 1MOA adjustments, this unit is not designed to go out to extreme distances. In close quarter urban environments, however, enemy beware.
The Insight M6X Laser Tactical Illuminator flashlight shown mounted on the Picatinny rail system. This one is also showing the touch pad activation switch on the vertical grip, which makes for easy on, easy off. During the 20th century, you would have had two separate units to accomplish what this much smaller system can.
Here a U.S. SF operator is using the SOFLAM to mark a target for airstrike in Afghanistan in 2001.
The SOFLAM AN/PEQ-1 can be used for ranging and target designation. It is equipped with a 10 power scope, mounting rails, and weighs about 12 pounds, depending on what you have attached to it. It can be used with or without a tripod and can mark a target up to 20,000 meters away (you'll want it on the tripod for that distance). It can take a hard bounce without damage and is pretty easy to carry. The main “spot” on a target at 5 kilometers is only about 2.3 meters square, so the precision of any ordnance is within that target square. That's why laser guided bombs come through the window sometimes. The SOFLAM AN/PEQ-1 was originally manufactured by Litton, but like most laser products, is now being manufactured by several leading companies. Either way, it is widely used and well known on the battlefield, and provides politicians with the ability to actually get a human intelligence (HUMINT) regarding the effectiveness of the strike along with actual and collateral damage. The laser inside is a Nd:YAG laser, or in human: It's a Neodymium: Yttrium Alumina Garnet Laser (not much better is it?), which is to say that it's a solid laser that uses a laser diode to start the lasing of the main rod of Nd:YAG to create the beam. The beam is fairly efficient and the NiCad battery in the SOFLAM AN/PEQ-1 lasts a reasonable amount of time, and to add in even more cool factor, the unit can be operated remotely, so during a covert operation it could be hidden and left behind to be activated at your leisure from a safe location.
One of the most effective tools of the modern sniper is intimidation; the enemy knows the sniper is out “there” somewhere. It has been proven again and again over the course of history that trained snipers can crush the morale of entire armies. A brightly visible laser spot on a forehead makes everyone around re-evaluate the safety of their current location. Maybe tea with mom is a better place to be?
