December 1, 2009: The U.S. Army is buying thousands of LTLMs (Laser Target Locator Modules). These things look like binoculars, but they are much more, and have been around for nearly a decade. With the latest LTLM, troops look through what appeared to be binoculars. But these binoculars contain a laser range finder, digital compass, night vision and GPS. Press a button to get the range and GPS location of your distant target, press another button to send the GPS data to the bomber overhead. The bomber pilot presses a button to transfer the GPS data to a bomb, when is then released. In 2001, the equipment was rather more crude and cobbled together, but the potential for point (the binoculars) and press some buttons was there, and now it's here (and has been for about five years.)
The latest LTLMs cost about $35,000 each. Range (for the range finder) is 4,000 meters in daylight, and 800 meters (or more, depending on available moon or starlight) at night. Don't call in air or artillery strikes without it.
