IR Laser Pointers are infrared laser sight attachments.
Overview[]
When toggled on, laser pointers project a continuous beam of light on the infrared spectrum which can only be seen with night vision or any other night vision-capable optical sight.
Laser pointers are useful for helping squad members identify their targets to other friendly units, and for coordinating precision fire by pinpointing specific targets to attack.
However, caution must be exercised when using laser pointers against an enemy force who also possess access to night vision equipment. Even in poor weather conditions, projected infrared beams are easy to spot from afar and will give away the user's position.
NOTE: The visibility of IR beams only applies to human controlled units in regular gameplay. The AI do not have the ability to track nor detect the beam in both ArmA 2 and ArmA 3.
ArmA 2[]
Following the release of ArmA 2's Operation Arrowhead expansion pack, most assault rifles and certain specialist weapons are fitted with laser pointers on their rails. Laser pointers are usually mounted onto the top, side or underbarrel positions.
They are exclusively used by BLUFOR and INDFOR factions only. By default, no REDFOR factions have access to laser sight-fitted weapons.
Platforms that feature laser sights fitted onto their rails include:
- CZ 75 SP-01 PHANTOM handgun (9 mm)
- CZ 805 BREN A1 assault rifle (5.56 mm)
- CZ 805 B1 G1 battle rifle (7.62 mm)
- CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 submachine gun (9 mm)
- L85A2 bullpup assault rifle (5.56 mm)
- L110A1 light machine gun (5.56 mm)
- M16A4 assault rifle (5.56 mm)
- M4A1 carbine (5.56 mm)
- M4A3 carbine (5.56 mm)
- M249 Para light machine gun (5.56 mm)
- Mk16 series of assault rifles (5.56 mm)
- Mk16 CQC carbine (5.56 mm)
- Mk17 series of battle rifles (7.62 mm)
- Mk 48 Mod 0 medium machine gun (7.62 mm)
- Sa-58V assault rifle (7.62 mm)
- The XM8 series of modular rifles (5.56 mm)
Trivia[]
- Depending on the weapon, the laser pointers in ArmA 2 are modelled after the "AN/PEQ-2 TPIAL" to the "AN/PEQ-15 APTIAL". Both are designed by subsidiaries of L3 Technologies: L3 Insight Technology and EOTech (respectively).
- The XM8 family introduced in Private Military Company is unique for being the only weapon platform in the entire series that features an integrated laser sight. This is because the real-life "Integrated Sighting Module" used by the XM8 family is a red dot/telescopic sight that is combined together with a laser aiming module.[1]
- Initially, ArmA 2's M4A1s and M16A4s which featured laser pointers fitted onto their rails were not actually capable of toggling their laser beams. Even after the release of Operation Arrowhead, non-OA weapons were not given the ability to activate the laser pointers.
- Changes were only introduced after the Community Configuration Project and CorePatch updates, which overhauled the models of both platforms and made them fully functional.[2]
Gallery[]
ArmA 3[]
In ArmA 3, only one type of laser pointer is available. It is no longer exclusive to BLUFOR/INDFOR factions and is also available to REDFOR factions.
Unlike in ArmA 2, all weapons that possess a usable side rail can have laser pointers fitted thanks to ArmA 3's dynamic weapon accessory system:
- ADR-97 TR/ADR-97C TR bullpup submachine guns (5.7 mm; not applicable on baseline ADR-97s)
- The AK-12 series of modular rifles (7.62 mm; all variants)
- ASP-1 Kir special purpose weapon (12.7 mm)
- The CAR-95 series of modular rifles (5.8 mm)
- Cyrus marksman rifle (9.3 mm)
- Katiba bullpup rifle (6.5 mm)
- LIM-85 light machine gun (5.56 mm)
- MAR-10 marksman rifle (.338)
- MAAWS Mk4 rocket launcher
- Mk18 ABR battle rifle (7.62 mm)
- Mk20/Mk20C bullpup rifle/carbine (5.56 mm)
- Mk200 light machine gun (6.5 mm)
- Mk-I EMR marksman rifle (7.62 mm)
- The MX series of modular rifles (6.5 mm; all variants)
- Navid general-purpose machine gun (9.3 mm)
- The Promet series of modular bullpups (6.5 mm; all variants)
- Protector submachine gun (9 mm)
- The SPAR-16 series of modular rifles (5.56 mm)
- SPAR-17 marksman rifle (7.62 mm)
- SPMG general-purpose machine gun (.338)
- Sting submachine gun (9 mm)
- Titan MPRL surface-to-air missile launcher
- Titan MPRL Compact anti-tank missile launcher
- TRG-21/TRG-20 bullpup rifle/carbine (5.56 mm)
- Type 115 special purpose rifle (6.5 mm)
- Zafir light machine gun (7.62 mm)
Functionally, the ArmA 3 laser pointer bears no functional difference from its predecessor. It still projects a simple infrared beam in the direction that the weapon is pointed at.
The only difference is that because night vision equipment is readily accessible to all factions, their usefulness has fallen off quite sharply. Unless absolutely necessary, laser pointers shouldn't be activated in the middle of combat as they will easily expose the shooter's position to other humans.
Trivia[]
- The IR Laser Pointer in ArmA 3 is based on the real-life "Dual Beam Aiming Laser - Advanced2" designed by Steiner Defense.
- However, unlike the real DBAL-A2, the in-game IR Laser Pointer lacks the ability to toggle between a visible red/green laser, nor is it able to switch on an infrared illuminator.[3]
- The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
- During the pre-Alpha phase of ArmA 3's development, promotional screenshots showed that there was originally intended to be at least one alternate camouflage scheme in the form of a desert tan/sand-coloured finish (rather than just black).
- Unfortunately, the texture itself no longer remains in the game files. By the game's full release, the IR Laser Pointer would be limited to just the default black texture.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Forgotten Weapons 2018, Almost Adopted: The H&K XM-8 Family, 14 December, viewed 6 April 2023, <https://youtu.be/Te2IqFbRR7A?t=453>.
- ↑ Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 6 April 2023, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
- ↑ Steiner Optik 2015, AN/PEQ-15A DBAL-A2, Steiner Defense, viewed 6 April 2023, <http://web.archive.org/web/20150510121527/http://www.steiner-defense.com/laser-devices/dbal-series/dbal-a2>. (archived link)
External Links[]
See also[]
Weapon attachments of ArmA 2 | |
---|---|
Non-magnified sights | CCO • Holosight • Kobra • ZD-Dot |
Riflescopes | ACOG • Mk4 CQ/T • Specter |
Telescopic sights | 1P78 • M145 • SUSAT |
Sniper scopes | PSO • Sniper |
Thermal/Night vision | AWS • AN/PAS-13 • AN/PVS-4 • AN/PVS-10 • GOSHAWK • NSPU |
Aiming devices | Laser Pointer |
Illumination | Flashlight |
Suppressors | Suppressor |
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | Army of the Czech Republic |
Weapon attachments of ArmA 3 | |
---|---|
Collimators | ACO (SMG) • MRD • Yorris J2 |
Holographic sights | Mk17 Holosight (SMG) |
Riflescopes | ARCO (AK) • ERCO • MRCO • PMS • RCO |
Sniper scopes | AMS • DMS (Kir, Old) • Kahlia • LRPS • MOS |
Thermal/Night vision | TWS (MG) • Nightstalker • NVS |
Aiming devices | IR Laser Pointer |
Illumination | Flashlight |
Muzzle | SIMCOM Adapter • Sound Suppressor (5.56 mm, 5.7 mm, 5.8 mm, 6.5 mm, Stealth, 7.62 mm, .338, 9 mm, 9.3 mm, .45 ACP) |
Weapon mounts | Bipod |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Marksmen DLC | Apex DLC | Contact DLC |