BAE Systems will provide U.S. Army soldiers with handheld laser target locators that will enable them to identify target locations while on foot, in daylight or at night, and in obscured-visibility conditions such as fog and smoke.

The company has partnered with Vectronix to produce, maintain, and provide logistical support for up to 200 laser target locator modules (LTLM) per month under a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $347 million.

"These modules will enable soldiers to determine target coordinates quickly, safely, and accurately," said Dan Murray, LTLM program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire.

"The system provides a much-needed capability in a single, lightweight package. Removing weight from soldiers' packs makes their jobs easier and enables them to complete missions faster and with greater precision."

Weighing less than 5.5 pounds, the LTLM consists of a direct-view optic system, a night-vision camera derived from the thermal cameras used in BAE Systems' advanced thermal weapon sights, a laser range finder, a digital compass, and a GPS receiver.

The system will allow users to recognize targets more than 4.2 kilometers away in daylight and 900 meters in total darkness. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this year.