The Air Force has tasked Boeing to develop and deliver a lightweight, compact laser targeting system called Line of Sight-Short to help improve the effectiveness of battlefield airmen performing close air support missions, announced the company on Wednesday. “LOS-S provides the Air Force intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting in one easy-to-use, lightweight, hand-held device,” said Mike Hettmann, Boeing’s director of tactical ISR, in the company’s Feb. 20 release. The company received an initial $3 million contract for this work; if the Air Force exercises all options for production, the contract’s total value could reach more than $100 million, states the release. LOS-S is part of the Air Force’s broader efforts to upgrade the suite of gear that battlefield airmen carry into combat. The system offers improved target detection, recognition, laser designation, and friendly fire avoidance capabilities, said Boeing.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.