Editing Laser rangefinder (section)

===Military===
[[Image:GVS-5 LRF.JPG|thumb|An [[United States Army|American]] soldier with a GVS-5 laser rangefinder]]

[[Rangefinders]] provide an exact distance to targets located beyond the distance of [[Point-blank range|point-blank]] shooting to snipers and artillery. They can also be used for military reconnaissance and engineering. Usually tanks use LRF to correct the direct shoot solution. 

Handheld military rangefinders operate at ranges of 2&nbsp;km up to 25&nbsp;km and are combined with [[binoculars]] or [[monocular]]s. When the rangefinder is equipped with a digital magnetic compass (DMC) and inclinometer it is capable of providing magnetic azimuth, inclination, and height (length) of targets. Some rangefinders can also measure a target's speed in relation to the observer. Some rangefinders have cable or wireless interfaces to enable them to transfer their measurement(s) data to other equipment like fire control computers. Some models also offer the possibility to use add-on [[night vision]] modules. Most handheld rangefinders use standard or rechargeable batteries.

[[Image:AI AWSM .338 Lap. Mag. Dutch ISAF sniper team.jpg|thumb|left|A Dutch [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] sniper team displaying their [[Accuracy International AWM|Accuracy International AWSM]] [[.338 Lapua Magnum]] rifle and VECTOR IV<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vectronix.ch/index.php?show=20 |title=En: Choose Business Unit |website=www.vectronix.ch |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215113/http://www.vectronix.ch/index.php?show=20 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Leica/Vectronix laser rangefinder binoculars]]
The more powerful models of rangefinders measure distance up to 40&nbsp;km and are normally installed either on a tripod or directly on a vehicle, ship, jet, helicopter or gun platform. In the latter case the rangefinder module is integrated with on-board thermal, night vision and daytime observation equipment. The most advanced military rangefinders can be integrated with computers.

To make laser rangefinders and [[laser-guided]] weapons less useful against military targets, various military arms may have developed laser-absorbing paint for their vehicles. Regardless, some objects don't reflect laser light very well and using a laser rangefinder on them is difficult.

The first commercial laser rangefinder was the [[Barr and Stroud|Barr & Stroud]] LF1, developed in association with [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes Aircraft]], which became available in 1965. This was then followed by the Barr & Stroud LF2, which integrated the rangefinder into a tank sight, and this was used on the [[Chieftain tank]] in 1969, the first vehicle so-equipped with such a system. Both systems used [[ruby]] lasers.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3yk_yBPAuIC&q=barr+%26+stroud+lf2&pg=PA257 |title = Advances in Lasers and Applications|isbn = 9780750306324|last1 = Finlayson|first1 = D. M.|last2 = Sinclair|first2 = B.|date = January 1999| publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref>