Target Acquisition Gear

Target Acquisition Gear (TAG) is an advanced targeting device for use by artillery spotters. While laser designators had been in use for centuries, the development of laser-spoofing systems had decreased their usability by the 26th century. To foil these countermeasures TAG utilizes several systems at once to accurately mark the target. The first is a multi-frequency laser emission diode which paints the target with an infrared laser beam for a smart weapon to track. Mated to the designator is a highly-sensitive polarized electromagnetic sensor which detects if the target starts emitting corresponding laser beams to throw off the incoming smart weapon. If the sensor does detect these countermeasures in action, the targeting laser begins quickly shifting the frequency of its beam at random to throw off the countermeasures. Information on the changing frequencies are continually transmitted to the smart weapon via tight-beam, multi-frequency laser communication system so that it tracks the correct laser designator.

One drawback to using TAG is that it emits enough electromagnetic energy to reveal the location of the unit using it. Additionally, aircraft using TAG to paint a target are forced to fly straight and level to maintain an accurate lock, putting them in greater danger from air defenses.

The system was first introduced by the Terran Hegemony in 2593 as a bulkier prototype, and then mass produced in 2600, but it became lostech during the Succession Wars until it was recovered by the Federated Commonwealth in 3044. TAG is compatible with systems such as Arrow IV Homing Missiles or Semi-Guided LRM munitions.

Game Rules
TAG has it's own special phase, in which it must be fired immediately after the movement phase, but before the actual fire phase. The weapon to hit is identical to any other standard laser weapon. If the TAG hits, the target is tagged for any potential allied homing missiles, artillery and shells to target. If the TAG misses however, nothing happens and play continues as normal.

Models
The Target Acquisition Gear is manufactured on the following planets: