Laser Not Ranging

[SnowTiger]

As of this weekend, I sometimes could not Lock a Target and even when I did, I was not getting a Laser RANGE TO TARGET.   NONE !
As such, I never knew exactly how far the target was from me and the Vikhr Missile often fell short (even when inside 3km's) !

I checked that All my Controls were working and recognized in the Controls Settings.
I even changed which button (on my Throttle) that I use for Locking and Ranging a Target and that didn't affect anything. Still no Range shown.

I should note that I usually use Auto Start to save some farting around, especially using VR with a Bad Back and Neck which negates my ability to look at either of the Rear Panels or many of the switches etc on the Right Wall Panel (towards the rear). 

My Master Arm is ON. I do have Vikhrs Missiles. The Laser switch is ON. The "Laser Rangefinder/Designator Mode Switch" is on MANUAL and the Correct Pylon has been selected indicating I have 12 Vikhrs. 
It's also important to note that I am NOT in Gun Mode. 

So I just don't understand what is going on. Last weekend, everything worked just peachy. This weekend ... Hair Pulling was in order !!

Somebody Please Help me understand wtf is going on ?
PS> While I was away from DCS for Years, I have been flying Black Shark 3 every weekend for the last 2 months but I'll admit, I had this same issue a month ago or so. It all worked just fine last weekend. 

[Flappie]

I see two possibilities:

1. The laser was powered On for too long and it burnt.
2. Or you mistook Ka-50 (BS2)  for Ka-50 III (BS3) - they have different bindings.