THERMALLY INTEGRATED LASER/FLIR RANGEFINDER

An integrated laser/forward looking infrared (FLIR) rangefinder 10 has a rotatable head assembly 12 attached to an optical housing 16. Housing 16 contains a combined visible and laser optics which includes a laser boresight alignment mechanism, and a FLIR system including the infrared optics which includes a scanner position sensor for the laser transmitter 28 and a reflected laser energy amplifier for generating a spiked difference voltage. Attached to the housing 16 is: the laser transmitter 28, which contains a compact TEA laser; manual drive mechanisms for laser boresight control 30, elevation and azimuth drift controls 32, first return/last return selection control 34, focus control 36 and head assembly elevation and azimuth controls; gunner's primary sight display 24; and commander's light pipe optics 26. The laser transmitter is in lasing communication with the combined visible and laser optics 18; the gunner's display 24 and commander's light pipe optics 26 are in visible communication with the combined visible and laser optics 18 and FLIR visible optics for viewing and ranging a target. The rotatable head assembly 12 is in communication with both the combined visible and laser optics for viewing and transmitting laser pulses to a target, and infrared optics for receiving reflected laser energy and infrared energy emanating from the scene of the field of view.