Rangefinders are optoelectronic devices featured in ArmA 2 and ArmA 3.
Overview[]
A two-man CSAT sniper team. Note the spotter in the rear using a Rangefinder (ArmA 3)
Introduced with the release of ArmA 2's Operation Arrowhead expansion pack, Rangefinders emit a laser beam at the push of a button.
These beams bounce off the surface of an object or the terrain and the rangefinder's high-speed clock measures the total amount of time that it took from when the beam left the unit to when it returns to estimate the distances between it and the target.
Unlike the spots/beams emitted by laser markers or infrared laser pointers, rangefinders do not emit anything that is visible under night vision or thermal, which makes them relatively safe to use if avoiding detection is a priority.
ArmA 2[]
The Rangefinder is used by several BLUFOR factions in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.
ArmA 2's Rangefinders are unable to toggle a thermal vision mode (unlike laser designators). However, they are able to activate a night vision mode, which makes it superior to conventional binoculars carried by most infantry squad leaders and officers.[A2CfgW 1] They have a fixed magnification of 10x zoom.[A2CfgW 2][A2CfgW 3][Formula 1]
ArmA 3[]
| « | A rangefinder is a basic tool for spotting distances and targets. It has several active parts: one being the rangefinder itself on the right side where you can see the distance to the target. AZT displays the azimuth and the mode switches between the visible spectrum and night vision. Field Manual
|
» |
The Rangefinder is used by several BLUFOR, REDFOR and INDFOR factions in ArmA 3.
ArmA 3's Rangefinders now provide the azimuth of a target in addition to distance and have an increased magnification range, a minimum of 5x zoom[A3CfgW 2][Formula 2] and a maximum of 25x zoom.[A3CfgW 3][Formula 3] ArmA 3's Rangefinder has a weight of 20 "mass" units.[A3CfgW 1] It has the ability to switch between either a day or night vison mode but is unable to toggle thermal vision modes.[A3CfgW 4]
It should be noted that unlike in ArmA 2, handheld rangefinders must now be manually activated and no longer scan the distance to the target constantly. To measure the distance, press the LASE RANGE key (Default hotkey: T) when aiming at a valid surface or object.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The ArmA 2 Rangefinder is based on the "Vector 21b Nite" designed by Safran Electronics & Defense.[1]
- The ArmA 3 Rangefinder is based on the real-world "Laser Target Locator Module Target Reconnaissance Infrared Geolocating Range Finder" (otherwise simply known as the "LTLM TRIGR" for short) designed by BAE Systems.[2]
- ArmA 3's Rangefinders are strangely depicted being shared with CSAT forces and the Russian Spetsnaz, despite the fact that both the Iranian Armed Forces and Chinese People's Liberation Army do not use the LTLM TRIGR in real-life (nor the Russian military for that matter). Domestically manufactured laser rangefinders, such as the Iranian "ESR 20"[3] or Russian-made "LPR" family of rangefinders[4], already exist and are in service with non-Western militaries.
- Prior to the latest Steam version patches for ArmA 2, many weapon systems on vehicles and handheld firearms fitted with enhanced vision/magnified scopes lacked integrated rangefinders. CorePatch would subsequently address this discrepancy by adding rangefinders to various vehicles that lacked them (such as on the BMP-3 IFV or the LAV-25 APC).[5]
- Rangefinders were not originally featured as usable assets when ArmA 3's Alpha was first launched. They were only added into the Alpha after Game Update 0.60's release (alongside the introduction of sniper rifles for both NATO and CSAT).[6]
- Before the Jets DLC was released, the Rangefinder in ArmA 3 functioned in the same way as it previously did in ArmA 2 and would scan the target's distance continuously. This was changed after Game Update 1.70 so that the user has to manually press the LASE RANGE key in order to calculate the range (as part of changes to enhance ArmA 3's Fire Control Systems[7]).[8]
Config/script references[]
CfgWeapons (ArmA 2)[]
CfgWeapons (ArmA 3)[]
Formulae[]
References[]
- ↑ Safran S.A. 2021, VECTOR FAMILY - Binocular laser rangefinders for day and night missions with up to 25,000 m range, Safran, viewed 4 April 2024, <http://web.archive.org/web/20210916210434/https://www.safran-group.com/products-services/vector-family-binocular-laser-rangefinders-day-and-night-missions-25000-m-range>. (archived link)
- ↑ Army-technology.com 2012, US Army orders additional TRIGR units from BAE, Army-technology.com, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-army-orders-additional-trigr-units-bae/?cf-view>.
- ↑ ISIRAN Institute 2014, ESR 20 - H Laser Range Finder, IRAN Defence Products, viewed 23 April 2018, <http://web.archive.org/web/20170625213232/http://www.mindexcenter.ir/product/esr-20-h-laser-range-finder>. (archived link)
- ↑ Army Recognition 2015, Soldiers of Russian army to start training with new LPR-3 laser reconnaissance device 11906153, armyrecognition.com, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://armyrecognition.com/june_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/soldiers_of_russian_army_to_start_training_with_new_lpr-3_laser_reconnaissance_device_11906153.html>.
- ↑ Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
- ↑ van 't Land, J.J. 2013, SPOTREP #00005, Arma 3, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00005>.
- ↑ Kužel, O 2017, One and probably the primary reason for this change has been authenticity. Voted tickets even on the old feedback tracker asked for manual lasing and cool-down time. Together with the addition of tank fire control-systems it made even more sense to make rangefinders operate manually. Otherwise we'd face a discrepancy between having a precise range - anywhere you look, all the time - with a rangefinder and having to press a key in a million-dollar tank cockpit (or less but still expensive RCWS or other advanced systems). It's also an unification - with the updated Apex or Arma 3 key presets a single key - "T" - gives you a targeting action for the "object" under your cursor in multiple situations - anywhere - reveal/report target to your group + Rangefinder - measure distance + RCWS - measure distance and adjust zeroing gun accordingly + tank and APC cannons - measure distance, speed, adjust zeroing and lead + vehicles or weapons with sensors - mark target, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/204737-rangefinders/?do=findComment&comment=3191145>.
- ↑ Kovařič, V 2017, SPOTREP #00067, Arma 3, viewed 4 April 2024, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00067>.
External links[]
See also[]
| Equipment | |
|---|---|
| Non-lethal | Binoculars • Chemical Detector • Chemlight • Compass • Detonator • Entrenching Tool • Flares • Flashlight • Fuel Container • GPS • Infrared Strobe • Landmine Marker • Laser Designator • Mine Detector • Night Vision Goggles • Parachute • Radio • Rangefinder • Repair Tool • Resupply Pack • Smoke Grenade • Spectrum Device • Toolkit • UAV Terminal • Watch |
| Lethal | Explosives • Hand Grenades • Landmines • Underbarrel grenade launcher (Cold War Assault, Armed Assault, ArmA 2, ArmA 3, Reforger) |
| Medical | Bandage • First Aid Kit • Medikit • Morphine Injector • Saline Solution • Tourniquet |