Laser Diodes Demonstrated as IR Beacon Published June 15, 2010 By Capt Eric Golden Munitions EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Florida -- Ever attuned to the warfighter need for enhanced battlefield awareness and lowered risk of friendly fire and fratricide, Air Force Research Laboratory scientists demonstrated the viable use of infrared laser diodes as an Identification Friend or Foe and Positive Identification--IFFPID--beacon for identifying ground forces from a military aircraft. Conducted as part of the 2009 Tech Warrior Exercise, the demonstration event included aircraft equipped with targeting pods for detecting the ground-based beacon, as well as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers for providing aircraft control. AFRL has for some time funded the investigation of laser diode technology through the Small Business Innovation Research program. The chief objective of these various SBIR efforts has been to develop high-power IR laser diodes that would, in turn, enable the advancement of technologies such as laser diode pumps; range finders; fuzes; and IR, ladar (laser radar), and semiactive laser scene projectors. Beyond this primary focus, however, AFRL scientists quickly discovered ways to leverage this cutting-edge technology to address the need for an IR beacon. During the demonstration event, pilots were able to detect and track the ground-based IFFPID beacon to an operationally significant distance. The successful outcome of this demonstration activity moves the technology a step closer to being fielded and thus providing better situational awareness--and consequently, improved safety--for deployed troops.