Leonardo Sells 600 Type 163 Laser Target Designators

Leonardo has sold over 600 units of its Type 163 Laser Target Designator (LTD) to 16 customers, the company announced at DSEI-2019 exhibition in London, UK.

The countries to which the designators are sold include Italy, the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Latvia and the Netherlands.

The Type 163 LTD is used by Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), the troops responsible for directing close air support. Users of the system include US Special Operations Forces.

According to the company, the Type 163 LTD has been battle-tested during multiple operations in the Middle East. It is a man-portable device which provides laser designation and range-finding in a package weighing less than 2.3kg.

The lasers are used in the F-35 stealth fighter, Apache helicopter and Sniper pod. Leonardo also provides the lasers for Northrop Grumman Corporation’s LITENING pod and is a part of the UK Dragonfire consortium which is working to develop a Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Capability Demonstrator Programme (CDP) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.