target designation

Target Designation

 

the designation of target locations, as practiced in combat and in training exercises. Target designation may be conducted directly from the firing point by directing a telestereoscope, periscope, or similar device on the target (with the target transmitter and receiver located at the same point), or it may be carried out from an orienting point (with the transmitter located no more than 100 m from the receiver). Other means used include tracer projectiles, bullets, and rockets fired in the direction of the target and illuminating aerial bombs and artillery shells. Target designation may also be carried out on a topographic map, aerial photograph, or uncontrolled photomosaic with rectangular coordinates from a reference or base point or by locating the target on map quadrants.

target designation

The process of marking or other-wise pointing to a target by any means, such as by laser, flare, or smoke, or setting it into a head-up display or fire control system. A target may be designated either from the aircraft launching the weapon, by another aircraft, or by a ground station. See laser designator.