Elbit points way with UAV laser

摘要

Promising to slash "sensor to shooter" times, Elbit Systems has unveiled a 100g (0.22lb) laser designator - small enough to be carried by mini-unmanned air vehicles like its Skylark. Dan Slasky, the company's vice-president for electro-optics and laser systems, says: "When a mini-UAS carries an electro-optical payload that includes this laser designator, a target simply cannot get away." And, he adds, a fighter aircraft flying above clouds could deploy its laser-guided weapons in collaboration with such a hand-launched air vehicle. Elbit's miniature designator is small enough to fit in a 10cm-di-ameter (4in) electro-optical turret. The Skylark has a maximum take-off weight of 7.5kg, including a 1.1kg payload.