BAE/Vectronix Laser Target Locator Module (LTLM): Thermal/IR Binoculars with Laser Rangefinder for Locating and Targeting the Enemy at Night

By David Crane

August 13, 2009

BAE Systems has just won a five-year, $347 million ($347M) to produce, maintain, and provide logistical support for 200 digital handheld Laser Target Locator Modules (LTLM) per month for the U.S. Army for an indefinite period of time, presumably until the $347M runs out, unless the contract is extended. BAE is partnering with Swiss company Vectronix Inc. (U.S. Division of Vectronix AG, Switzerland) to do this. The Laser Target Locator Module is essentially an thermal binocular that’s being described by BAE officials as the Blackberry of tactical optronics/electro-optical devices, since it integrates a direct-view optic system, thermal/IR (Infrared) imager/camera, laser rangefinder, digital compass, and GPS receiver into one relatively lightweight device (considering all the goodies it packs) that weighs under 5.5 pounds (5.5 lbs). The thermal/IR “night vision camera” is derived from the thermal cameras used in BAE Systems’ advanced thermal weapon sights.

“These modules will enable soldiers to determine target coordinates quickly, safely, and accurately,” said Dan Murray, LTLM program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire. “The system provides a much-needed capability in a single, lightweight package. Removing weight from soldiers’ packs makes their jobs easier and enables them to complete missions faster and with greater precision.” The LTLM reportedly has an effective range of 3+ miles.

The Laser Target Locator Module (LTLM) is lighter than the 7.4-pound Vectronix Moskito Long Range Thermal Video(LRTV) system, which features a cooled thermal imager and color video camera as primary sensors, coupled with an integrated laser rangefinder, digital magnetic compass, GPS, laser pointer, and PLGR/DAGR interface to integrate into target acquisition systems.

The U.S. Army contract would appear to be a pretty big get for BAE Systems and Vectronix Inc., since the Laser Target Locator Module (LTLM) isn’t the only product of its kind on the market. Here’s a quick rundown of other companies’ offerings in this product sector:

- FLIR Systems MilCam Recon III LocatIR and MilCam Recon III ObservIR series. The MilCam Recon III LocatIR Ultra-light version weighs 5 lbs (2.3 kg) and utilizes a large-format 640×480 long-wave VOx Microbolometer with automatic digital image processor. Defense Update reports that the he Recon III Lite thermal binocular combines the same sensor used in the Ultralite model with high resolution (768×494) color video camera.

- Northrop Grumman Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (AN/PED-1 LLDR), which, according to the company, provides a unique capability to Forward Observers, Forward Air Controllers and Naval Gunfire Spot Teams. The system can recognize targets in day/night/obscurant conditions, range to the target at an eyesafe wavelength, and calculate grid coordinates with its own GPS/Elevation/Azimuth capability. The system then provides this information to other members of the Digital Battlefield. Also included is a NATO coded laser designator for use with Semi-Active Laser Guided Missiles and Laser Spot Trackers.

- Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Ltd. (Elop) AN/PAS-25 Thermal Laser Spot Imager (TLSI) handheld thermal/IR sight with laser spot tracking capability. According to Defense Update, the AN/PAS-25 TLSI “can monitor the aim point of a laser designator beam, or laser rangefinder ’spot’, assisting target identification.”

- Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Ltd. (Elop) MARS, which integrates an uncooled thermal sensor, day channel, laser rangefinder, GPS, compass and integral recording system. The MARS is in use with IDF Special Forces. It’s reportedly lightweight and maintains low power consumption for dismounted operations.

- Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Ltd. (Elop) Medium Range Thermal Binocular (MRTB), which weighs 3.75 lbs (1.7 kg) and utilizes a high performance uncooled Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) thermal sensor coupled with 3X optical zoom designed for narrow-field of view.

- Carl Zeiss Optronics Opus H integrates an uncooled IR channel, laser rangefinder and digital camera. Defense Update reports that it weighs 2.9 kg without batteries and is powered by 8 AA batteries sustaining 3.5 hours of operation

Company Contact Info:

Karen Spiller
BAE Systems
Office: 603-886-2818
Cell/Mobile: 603-566-2090
Email: karen.spiller@baesystems.com
Website: http://www.baesystems.com

Shannon Smith
BAE Systems
Office: 703-907-8257
Cell/Mobile: 703-967-3854
Email: shannon.n.smith@baesystems.com
Website: http://www.baesystems.com

Vectronix Inc. USA
801 Sycolin Road SE
Suite 206
Leesburg, VA 20175
Phone: 703-777-3900
Fax: 703-777-3940
info@vectronix.com
http://www.vectronix.com

Vectronix AG Switzerland
Max-Schmidheiny-Str. 202
9435 Heerbrugg
Switzerland
Phone: +41 71 726 72 00
Fax: +41 71 726 72 01
info@vectronix.ch
http://www.vectronix.ch

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imsweany

I'm really glad that BAE Systems has designed and built these. The description almost exactly matches what I wrote up in a white paper for the MASINT working group when I was in uniform as a member of the US Army Intelligence Center Battle Lab. At the time, I wanted the Army to field this capability to Long Range Surveillance, Forward Observers, and other recon soldiers. Eventually, this capability will be affordable enough for each scout to get one. Keep up the great work BAE Systems.

Vitor

Almost one week without updates to get an article about a fancy binocular? With all due respect, amauter blogs about guns are being much more productive, truth to be told.

DefRev

Vitor, a few points: 1) We've been a traveling on business, lately. We're all busy industry professionals, and we do the best we can. I personally have a number of consulting and writing projects on my plate right now outside DefenseReview. 2) The LTLM is a lot more than just a "fancy binocular". It's actually a high-tech and important piece of tactical equipment, and the Army contract BAE/Vectronix just won for it makes it worthy of mention. 3) As it happens, I just wrote and published a heads-up piece yesterday on the Boberg XR9 and XR9S subcompact pistols. You can find it under the "featured articles" and "pistols" categories. However, in contrast to the "amateur blogs about guns" you mention, DefenseReview covers a lot more than just tactical and defensive firearms. We cover the entire military defense and tactical technology/hardware spectrums--but tactical and defensive firearms are very important to us and comprise a core topic for us. 4) Understand that we try to cover tactical technology and hardware that's important, not just anything and everything that comes down the pike. When we find something worth writing about, we do the best we can to publish a good, informative article on it with lots of relevant hypertext links to make the article as useful to our readers as possible. 5) I hope you'll be patient and stick with us. We're currently working on a way to increase our article/content volume. 6) Thank you for visting DefenseReview and taking the time to comment on this article and our site. We sincerely appreciate your feedback.

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