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Putting a Shaft Of Light On the Problem

July 17, 2007: In response to requests from pilots and ground troops they support, the U.S. Navy is adding an infrared designator to AN/ASQ-228 targeting pods used on F-18s. The designator is like a flashlight that can send a narrow beam of light several kilometers, to designate a target, or area of interest, to ground troops (whose night vision gear enables them to see the beam of infrared light, and where it's going.) This way, the pilot, and ground troops below, can more quickly pinpoint a target to be hit with a smart bomb, or not hit because the guys on the ground are able to confirm that the pilot is not seeing what he thinks he is.

 

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