Target identification system nears completion Published March 12, 2004 KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- By the end of the year, U.S. military forces will be able to pinpoint targets with equipment that is lighter and more compact, thanks to the Air Force Research Laboratory's Laser Integrated Target Identification System.For U.S. forces to pinpoint a military target now, they need eight separate military systems weighing up to 60 pounds total. The new system combines these systems into a single, 10-pound piece of combat gear.This gear uses laser-based technology to identify a target's range and "paint" a laser spot on the target that will guide munitions to it, said Maj. Jeff Salter who heads AFRL's directed energy directorate tactical laser systems branch.It is capable of spotting targets by day or night, he said. It also includes a geolocation system to further identify an exact location and a lightweight battery capability.Combat controllers from the Air Force Special Operations Command will use the system to complement their battlefield air-operations kits to improve how target coordinates are passed."This is a two-year project aimed at reducing the weight and size of equipment that a combatant must carry in a battlefield," Major Salter said.He said the overall cost for this development is around $19 million. The next step is to transition the technology to a product center where production can begin. All of the military services will be able to use the completed system. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)