The AN/PEQ-1 also known as a Special Operations Forces Laser Acquisition Marker (SOFLAM or SOF-LAM) or the Ground Laser Target Designator (GLTD) is a U.S. military

laser designator A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser-guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire ...

designed for use by

special operations forces Special forces or special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

(SOF), including Combat Control Teams (CCT), Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC), and Tactical Air Control Parties (TACP), under rugged field conditions. Using the SOFLAM, soldiers can mark targets for

close air support Close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires ...

and

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

; in combination with GPS systems it can also generate coordinates for

precision guided munitions A precision-guided munition (PGM), also called a smart weapon, smart munition, or smart bomb, is a type of weapon system that integrates advanced guidance and control systems, such as GPS, laser guidance, or infrared sensors, with various ty ...

. With the SOFLAM and other target designators, support fires can be called in extremely close to friendly forces while avoiding friendly fire. In accordance with the

Joint Electronics Type Designation System The Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), which was previously known as the Joint Army-Navy Nomenclature System (AN System. JAN) and the Joint Communications-Electronics Nomenclature System, is a method developed by the U.S. War Depa ...

(JETDS), the "''AN/PEQ-1''" designation represents the first design of an Army-Navy electronic device for portable laser combination equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all

Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...

electronic systems.

History

The AN/PEQ-1 was first used in combat in the

War in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to: *Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire * Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...

, then later in the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

. Close air support called in via SOFLAM by SOF like the "Horse Soldiers" from 5th Special Forces ODAs, embedded CIA officers, and other forces, contributed heavily to US and allied victories during the invasion of Afghanistan. It was used during the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capture of

Bagram Airfield Bagram Airfield-BAF, also known as Bagram Air Base , is located southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. It is under the Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan), Afghan Ministry of Defense. Sitting on the site of the ancient town ...

, and the Fall of Kandahar, among many other engagements. Some complaints were made about its weight and power consumption which necessitated bringing multiple replacement batteries. In its earlier configurations, the AN/PEQ-1 did not have a laser rangefinder nor could it interface directly with GPS devices. Both the laser rangefinder and GPS interface capabilities were added with later versions. The AN/PEQ-1A offers rangefinding. The PEQ-1C incorporates an upgraded diode laser, replacing the power-hungry flash-lamp laser.

References

External links

Night Warrior HandbookArchived

Specifications sheet
(Archive)

{{DEFAULTSORT:AN/PEQ-1 SOFLAM Special Operations Forces of the United States Military electronics of the United States Laser aiming modules

History

References

See also

External links