I offer the following for the benefit of others (Including myself.) it's an USAF document from 2001. It deals with the topic in depth and discusses the need to continue in the joint services effort to align themselves in the area of commonality in the use of laser range finding (LRF) and related systems. This is happening as I've already touched on yesterday in the Jets...thread concerning the SNIPER Pod, TSS on the AH-1Z and MPADS I believe, on APACHE to which all are cut from the "same cloth". Also before reading it, and again it is worth your time to do so, we need to fully understand the proliferation of these weapons in the field now take for example the newer tanks I've presented for entry into the game, and many already there, most have LRF on them, however the trend now is the put laser warning systems on the tanks that are also linked to it's on board defensive systems regardless of type system used from aerosol smoke dispensers to systems like TROPHY. The second ref is less detailed but will also touch on the fact that the newer bombs and other systems of a similar nature don't even need LRF to hit the target such as the "point and shoot" or "shoot and forget" and GPS guided systems. Again the pods etc. it all boils down to the simple fact, "If you can see it, you can shoot it", aircraft are no different then the modern MBT in this regard, they have evolved with their technology and weapons as well. This would involve a fair amount of research to determine what aircraft have them, and which don't and here's the rub but are still capable of using LRF weapons of which there are many. So it'll be a plane and weapon issue to sort this out. For my part near term I have about 20 planes on my list of new type and or under modernization and will indicate which of the two or both capabilities they may have to include pods carried if any. Also though not at a 100% some of the weather issues etc. have been reduced slightly by alternating bands across the light spectrum.
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a...enswander.html
http://www.nd.edu/~techrev/Archive/Spring2002/a9.html
Time for bed with a new week about to start!
Good Night!
Regards,
Pat