Devices, systems and methods for providing firearms, including handguns, with infrared sights and a camera which can be held in one shooter's hand. The camera can send live video which can display a target to a portable display, such as a smart phone, smart watch or smart glasses, that is held in another hand of the shooter, so that the shooter remains out of harms' way if the target is armed.

A beam director system for a high-energy laser (HEL) weapon includes correction sensors that are able detect misalignments in optical elements throughout the entire optical path traversed by the high-energy laser. The system includes beam correction sensors that sense misalignments in a first part of the optical path, and high-speed track sensors that sense misalignments in a second part of the optical path, with the first part and the second part overlapping. This allows all optics to be sensed by the beam correction sensors and/or the high-speed track sensors. The system can accommodate a wide variety of lasers for the HEL, preferably including a co-boresighted and aligned alignment laser. By having the track sensors further downstream on the optical path than in prior devices, the acquisition and track sensor fields of view of the system may be improved.

New systems, devices and methods for extremely precise aiming and shooting of firearms by relatively unskilled users are provided. In some embodiments, shots may be planned in advance. In some embodiments, a device including specialized computer hardware and software aids a user in planning a shot(s), evaluating the accuracy of the planned shot(s), adjusting the location of the planned shot(s), and executing the planned shots. In some embodiments, the system may prevent shots where motion, acceleration and positioning of the device and/or firearm relative to the planned shot location(s) and/or the surrounding environment may cause an inaccurate shot, but execute shots where those factors facilitate a highly accurate shot. In some embodiments, the control system may similarly account for, counteract and/or otherwise adjust for any other relevant ballistic and other accuracy-impacting factors with a position-actuable firing mechanism to maintain a projected flight path of such a point of impact.

A method of targeting, which involves capturing a first video of a scene about a potential targeting coordinate by a first video sensor on a first aircraft; transmitting the first video and associated potential targeting coordinate by the first aircraft; receiving the first video on a first display in communication with a processor, the processor also receiving the potential targeting coordinate; selecting the potential targeting coordinate to be an actual targeting coordinate for a second aircraft in response to viewing the first video on the first display; and guiding a second aircraft toward the actual targeting coordinate; where positive identification of a target corresponding to the actual targeting coordinate is maintained from selection of the actual targeting coordinate.

An apparatus includes a reflector having one or more reflective faces and an opening. The reflector is selectively movable into and out of an optical path of an alignment beam. When the reflector is located within the optical path of the alignment beam, (i) the one or more reflective faces are configured to reflect a first portion of the alignment beam and (ii) the opening is configured to allow passage of a second portion of the alignment beam through the reflector. The reflector may include a retro-reflector, the retro-reflector may include multiple reflective faces, and the multiple reflective faces may be positioned around the opening.

An imaging and asynchronous laser pulse detector (ALPD) device, imaging cell of the imaging and ALPD device and method of use is disclosed. A detector generates an electrical signal in response to receiving an optical signal, wherein a frequency of the electrical signal is indicative of a frequency of the optical signal. A first detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a first frequency range, and a second detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a second frequency range. The first detection/readout circuit allows the electrical signal to pass from the first detection/readout circuit to the second detection/readout circuit.

A target marking system includes a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation and to impinge the beam onto a target. The system also includes a detector configured to collect radiation passing from the target to the detector along a path. The radiation passing from the target in response to impingement of the beam onto the target. The system further includes an optics assembly disposed optically upstream of the detector along the path. The optics assembly includes at least one of an afocal power changer, a camera objective, a catadioptric lens, and a zoom system configured to condition the radiation passing from the target to the detector.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adapted for transit in and deployment from a projectile casing is provided. The UAV includes a wing assembly coupled to the projectile casing and the wing assembly moveable between a closed position and a deployed position. The UAV further includes a propulsion system including at least one rotor disposed on the wing assembly to generate lift, wherein in the closed position, the wing assembly is substantially integral with the projectile casing and in the deployed position, the wing assembly is extended outwards from the projectile casing.

A laser irradiation apparatus is provided with a controller that calculates at least one predicted movement position into which a target is predicted to move at a specific time in future, a transmission laser source that generates a transmission laser, irradiation optics configured to emit the transmission laser to the target and emit search laser to the predicted movement position and wavefront correction optics. The wavefront correction optics are configured to correct a wavefront of the transmission laser at the specific time based on observation light that returns when the search laser is emitted to the predicted movement position.

An optical device able to change the direction of propagation of a light beam. The optical device allows a wide range of adjustment of the direction of the light beam, said optical device including, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, an overall divergent group of lenses and an overall convergent group of lenses. The overall divergent group of lenses contains, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, a fixed lens, and an optical module comprising at least one movable optical element able to change the direction of propagation of the light beam emerging from the overall divergent group of lenses.