Leonardo has signed a contract for the supply to the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia of its Laser Target Designator (LTD) Type 163, which will be used by the Armed Forces of the country. The contract makes Slovenia the 23rd nation to order the Type 23 LTD, of which over 700 units have been sold. The global success of the product reinforces Leonardo's leadership in the high-energy laser sector, which sees the company's Edinburgh site satisfying approximately 70% of world demand for aerial applications and approximately 60% of the total market, including applications terrestrial.
By choosing the Type 163 LTD, Slovenia joins the "Five Eyes intelligence alliance" - made up of UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - and the NATO member countries that operate the system, including Italy, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
The Type 163 LTD represents Leonardo's most compact high-energy laser product for the Earth Forces. The system was developed in response to market needs for a lightweight and compact laser designator for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), which, while highly portable, does not sacrifice the power and precision these soldiers rely on to require a timely and effective close air support.
The development of the Type 163 LTD is based on Leonardo's experience in providing high-energy laser designators for aircraft such as the F-35 and the Apache helicopter, for which space, weight and power are key factors. The result is a product with laser-designation and telemetry capabilities unmatched on the market in a package weighing just 2,3 kg, field-tested in the Middle East. The system guarantees immediate ignition and continuous laser functionality, thanks to a high-energy laser with a narrow beam divergence.
Leonardo's business in the sector includes the supply of lasers for the F-35, the Apache and for the targeting pods, including Lockheed Martin's Snipers. The company is currently developing advanced laser capabilities for the British next-generation air combat program Tempest and is part of the UK Dragonfire consortium which is developing a direct energy laser weapon system in conjunction with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
