Laser spot tracker proximity for detection?

[Willie Nelson]

Do we have any ideas on how close I need to be before I can reasonably expect that a lased target will be picked up in the event that the TGP is looking within the vicinity of whatever is being lased? 
 

I can make it all happen but it sometimes seems that I need to be able to see the whites of their eyes before a lased target will be picked up, perhaps I’m missing something. 

[rob10]

Both lasing and LST track are currently around 15nm slant range (so likely less than 15 nm if you're at any sort of altitude)

[Foka]

Something changed? Some time ago it was 8 nm.

[Willie Nelson]

3 hours ago, rob10 said:

Both lasing and LST track are currently around 15nm slant range (so likely less than 15 nm if you're at any sort of altitude)

Ok, thanks. I’ll keep that figure in mind, I can do some geometry and work out my likely capture range from a given SAM safe altitude with that. Now if only I had some time to confirm your claim and not have to go to work!

[rob10]

1 hour ago, Foka said:

Something changed? Some time ago it was 8 nm.

Yep.  IIRC around the same time they lifted the limit on how far you could see with the ATFLIR, but a bit ago now it got pushed out from 8 nm to 15ish.