March 30, 2010: The U.S. Army has ordered another 500 LLDRs ((Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder, or AN/PED-1), for about $286,000 each. The LLDR has proved to be one of the more useful tools, for the artillery, to come along in the last decade. This 35 pound unit looks like two cameras mounted on a small tripod. Actually, one of the "cameras" is a "target locator" which uses a video camera type device for daytime spotting, and a thermal imager for night or bad weather. The other "camera" is a laser designator. There is also a laser rangefinder (good for items from 100 meters to 20 kilometers away) and a GPS. The basic use of the LLDR is simple (and it was designed that way). You find what you want to designate as a target, fire the laser rangefinder to get the range (and GPS coordinates), which can then be transmitted to aircraft, artillery, or another unit (or headquarters) which needs that information. While mainly used by artillery observers and forward air controllers, LLDR provides precise location information for headquarters as well. Makes it easier to coordinate movements, especially at night. Everyone has GPS in their vehicles. The laser designator identifies targets for laser guided bombs.
The LLDR was still in development on September 11, 2001, and production models reached the troops by 2004. Since then, over 1,300 have been delivered, and demand remains high.
