LOW ALTITUDE NAVIGATION AND TARGETING INFRARED RADAR (LANTIRN)

LANTIRN consists of a navigation pod and a targeting pod

integrated and mounted externally beneath the aircraft and
provides high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical
targets at night and in adverse weather and provides precise
delivery of laser-guided munitions, a missile boresight correlator.
• LANTIRN allowed F-16s to see in abject darkness and
adverse weather conditions by transforming heat patterns outside the
aircraft into vivid, glow-in-the-dark displays on cockpit monitors.

loh, al-ti-tood, nav-i-gey-shuhn, ænd, tahr-git-ing, in-fruh-red, rey-dahr

LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION (LASER)

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical

amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic
radiation.
• Pave Spike is a 420-pound electro-optical laser designator
pod used to direct laser-guided bombs to target in day, visual
conditions.

lahyt , am-pluh-fi-key-shuhn, bahy, stim-yuh-leyt -ed, ih-mish-uhn, uhv, rey-dee-ey-shuhn

TARGETTING POD (TGP)

Targeting pods (TGP) are target designation tools used by attack aircraft
for identifying targets and guiding precision-guided munition (PGM)
such as laser-guided bombs to those targets.

• The Lockheed Martin Sniper is a targeting pod for military

aircraft that provides positive target identification, autonomous
tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance
from extended standoff ranges.

tahr-git-ing , pod
GLASS DOME
The primary purpose of glass domes is for protecting valued items
from outside factors such as dust and the surrounding
environment. Not only do they serve to protect these cherishable
items but also to showcase them in a unique display.

• The submarine lacked a periscope and the pilot viewed the

outside world through an acrylic glass dome

glas dohm

FLASH LAMP
These are bright, flashing lights, usually red, found on the top and
bottom of the aircraft. They are switched on before the engine starts and
remain on until the engine is shut down, warning ground personnel and
other aircraft of the operating engine.
• Half an hour later, I see a blue flashing light, and matching
stripes in the rearview mirror.

flash lamp

OSCILLATION
Those are rare, unexpected, and unintended excursions in aircraft
attitude and flight path caused by anomalous interactions between the
pilot and the aircraft.
• Some oscillation of the fuselage had been noticed on early
flights.

os-uh-ley-shuhn
SOLVENT
Solvents are widely used for maintenance cleaning and degreasing of
parts, such as weapon systems, bomb ejector racks, aircraft engines, etc.
• The polymer solution is separated from the pure solvent by a
membrane, permeable only to solvent molecules.

sol-vuhnt

VISOR
A visor (also spelled vizor) is a surface that protects the eyes, such as
shading them from the sun or other bright light or protecting them from
objects. .
• She scanned the displays set round the visor on the inside of the
helmet.

vahy-zer

ULTRAVIOLET
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that has
shorter wavelengths than visible light. This means that UV light has a
higher frequency than visible light. It is categorized as electromagnetic
radiation with wavelengths between 10 and 400 nanometers (nm).
• The amplified products were electrophoresed through a 1.5%
agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide and viewed under ultraviolet
light.

uhl-truh-vahy-uh-lit
INTERFACE
A device or program enabling a user to communicate with a computer
• The different components all have to interface smoothly.

in-ter-feys

BREAKOUT BOX
A breakout box is a piece of electrical test equipment used to support
integration testing, expedite maintenance, and streamline the
troubleshooting process at the system, subsystem, and component-level
by simplifying the access to test signals.
• These are the same tests you would be performing without a
breakout box, only now the tests are easy to do.

breyk-out boks

LIGHT SHIELD
Light Shields are designed to block or limit the level of either natural or
artificial light from your field of view.

• If you want to have focused light, light shields are the perfect
way to achieve it.

lahyt sheeld
LASER DESIGNATOR
A device marking targets with a laser beam for precision-guided
munitions.

• A laser designator is a laser light source which is used

to designate a target.

ley-zer dez-ig-ney-ter

INFRARED (IR)
Electromagnetic radiation used for night vision and targeting.
• Some common uses for IR include heat sensors, thermal imaging
and night vision equipment.

in-fruh-red

BEAM DIVERGENCE
The spreading of a laser beam as it travels.

• Beam divergence describes the angular magnification of a light

or laser beam over a given distance.

beem dih-vur-juhns
LASER RANGEFINDER
A device measuring distance to a target using laser pulses.

• Laser rangefinders are devices containing a laser with which

one can measure the distance from an object.

ley-zer reynj-fahyn-der

LASER GUIDANCE
A system directing munitions using laser beams.
• Laser guidance is used by military to guide a missile or other
projectile or vehicle to a target by means of a laser beam

ley-zer gahyd-ns

FORWARD-LOOKING INFRARED (FLIR)

A system capturing thermal images for navigation and targeting.

• Forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on

military and civilian aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses
infrared radiation.

for-werd look-ing in-fruh-red

LASER SPOT TRACKER
A system detecting laser-designated targets.

• A laser spot tracker is a sensor that picks up coded laser energy

from a laser designator and projects a symbol on a sight or heads up
display.

ley-zer spot trak-er

ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSOR
A sensor combining visual and infrared imaging.
• Electro-optic infrared (EO/IR) systems are a type of sensor
technology that uses a combination of optics and electronics to detect,
track, and identify objects or targets in the infrared spectrum.

ih-lek-troh-op-ti-kuhl sen-ser

LASER BEAM STEERING

A system directing laser beams to specific targets.

• Beam steering is a technique for changing the direction of the

main lobe of a radiation pattern.

ley-zer beem steer-ing

THERMAL IMAGING
A technique capturing heat signatures for imaging.

• A thermal imaging camera is a device that captures infrared

radiation emitted by objects and converts it into a visible image.

thur-muhl im-ij-ing

NIGHT VISION
Technology enabling visibility in low-light conditions.
• Night Vision is an optoelectronic device that allows
visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's
night vision.

nahyt vizh-uhn

LASER PULSE
A short burst of laser energy for targeting or ranging.

• Beam steering is a technique for changing the direction of the

main lobe of a radiation pattern.

ley-zer puhls
IR SENSOR
A sensor detecting infrared radiation for targeting.

• These special infrared sensors enable the pilot to continuously

monitor the airspace to look out for threats and enemies.

in-fruh-red sen-ser

NIGHT VISION
Technology enabling visibility in low-light conditions.
• Night Vision is an optoelectronic device that allows
visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's
night vision.

nahyt vizh-uhn

LASER MODULATION
The variation of laser signal properties for specific functions.

• Laser modulation is a critical facet of laser technology, allowing

for controlled variations in key parameters such as intensity, frequency,
or phase.

ley-zer mod-yuh-ley-shuhn
OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION
The process increasing light intensity in lasers.

• Optical amplification refers to the process of enhancing the

strength of a telecommunications signal in the optical spectrum.

op-ti-kuhl am-pluh-fi-key-shuhn

IR COUNTERMEASURES
Systems countering infrared-based threats.
• Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) are a class of Aircraft
Survivability Equipment (ASE) designed to protect rotary- and fixed-
wing aircraft from infrared (IR) guided (heat seeking) missiles.

in-fruh-red koun-ter-mezh-ers

BEAM FOCUSING
The concentration of a laser beam to a specific point.

• Beam focusing refers to the process of using magnetic or

electrostatic fields to concentrate a beam of particles or radiation onto a
small spot or area.

beem foh-kuh-sing
OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION
The process increasing light intensity in lasers.

• Optical amplification refers to the process of enhancing the

strength of a telecommunications signal in the optical spectrum.

op-ti-kuhl am-pluh-fi-key-shuhn

IR RESOLUTION
The clarity of infrared images for targeting.
• Thermal or infrared resolution indicates the detail captured by
the thermal detector.

in-fruh-red rez-uh-loo-shuhn

LASER CALIBRATION
The adjustment of laser systems for optimal performance.

• Laser calibration involves measuring and adjusting various

parameters, such as axis alignment, linear and angular errors, backlash,
and machine geometry, to achieve optimal accuracy and repeatability.

ley-zer kal-uh-brey-shuhn
Q-SWITCHING
A method to produce high-intensity short laser pulses by modulating the
quality factor of the laser cavity.

• Q-switching allows generation of intense laser bursts used in

rangefinding..

kyoo-switch-ing

GAIN MEDIUM
The material in a laser where energy is added to generate coherent light.
• The type of gain medium determines the wavelength of the
laser.

geyn mee-dee-uhm

PUMPING
The process of transferring energy to the laser gain medium to achieve
population inversion.
• Laser pumping can be done using flash lamps or electrical
discharge.

puhm-ping
OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION
A condition in the laser medium where more atoms are in an excited
state than in a lower energy state.

• Population inversion is essential for stimulated emission in

lasers.

pop-yuh-ley-shuhn in-vur-zhuhn

MODE LOCKING
A technique to produce ultrashort laser pulses by locking the phases of
different frequency modes.
• Mode locking enables lasers to produce femtosecond pulses.

mohd law-king

LASER TUNING
Adjusting a laser to emit at different wavelengths.

• Laser tuning is used in spectroscopy to analyze different

materials.

ley-zer too-ning
WAVELENGTH STABILITY
The ability of a laser to maintain a consistent emission wavelength.

• High wavelength stability is important for precision targeting.

weyv-length stay-bil-i-tee

FREQUENCY DOUBLING
A nonlinear optical process that converts light to twice its original
frequency.
• Frequency doubling allows visible light generation from
infrared lasers

free-kwuhn-see duh-bling

COHERENT LIGHT
Light waves with identical frequency and phase, a fundamental laser
property.
• Lasers emit highly coherent light, ideal for precise
measurements.

koh-heer-uhnt lahyt
OPTICAL CAVITY
A set of mirrors that confines light in a laser, allowing amplification.

• The design of the optical cavity affects beam quality..

op-ti-kuhl kav-i-tee

STIMULATED EMISSION
The process where an incoming photon causes the release of a second
photon, key to laser action.
• Stimulated emission enables the laser to amplify light.

stim-yuh-ley-tid ih-mish-uhn

LASER DIODE
A compact semiconductor-based laser source.

• Laser diodes are used in targeting, communication, and sensing.

ley-zer dahy-ohd
EYE SAFETY
Regulations and equipment designed to protect against harmful laser
exposure..

• Laser eye safety goggles are mandatory in alignment

operations.

ahy seyf-tee

FIBER LASER
A laser in which the gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-
earth elements.
• Fiber lasers offer high efficiency and compact size

fahy-ber ley-zer

DIODE PUMPED LASER

A laser where the gain medium is excited using laser diodes.

• Diode pumped lasers are commonly used in targeting systems.

dahy-ohd puhmpd ley-zer

THERMAL LENSING
Distortion of the laser beam due to heat-induced changes in the gain
medium.

• Thermal lensing can reduce the precision of high-power lasers.

thur-muhl len-sing

BEAM QUALITY
A measure of how close a laser beam is to an ideal Gaussian profile.
• Low M² values indicate better beam focus and precision

beem kwal-i-tee

DIODE ARRAY
A set of laser diodes arranged together to provide greater power or
coverage.
• Diode arrays are used in high-energy laser pumping systems.

dahy-ohd uh-rey