The Marine Corps has selected a small compact laser rangefinder that can be affixed to a rifle, boosting the lethality and capabilities of Marine infantry squads.

Marine Corps Times reported early last year that the Corps was in search of a new tech that could enhance Marine infantry squads by allowing squad leaders to call in air and artillery strikes.

Marine Corps looks to empower squad leaders with new combat tech
Marine Corps looks to empower squad leaders with new combat tech

The Marine Corps is working to field new combat gear that could revolutionize how its smallest units operate in battle, enabling them for the first time to call in airstrikes and artillery.

By: Shawn Snow

After a series of testing and market research from Marine Corps Systems Command, the Corps picked the Integrated - Compact Ultralight Gun-mounted Rangefinder, or I-CUGR, manufactured by Safran Optics 1 Inc.

The small compact rangefinder can range man-sized targets up to 1500 meters, according to the manufacturer. Marines can range targets without taking their hands off their weapons, and the I-CUGR provides digital readings in meters or yards.

The Marine Corps procured 315 devices over the summer, and there are plans to buy an additional 1,524 more systems in early 2018, according to Joe Blackstone, the optics team leader for Marine Corps Systems Command.