F-35’s laser designator can only be activated in the U.S. due to strict rules

Minutes of a meeting by the U.K. Defence Ranges Safety Committee revealed that British F-35s are not allowed to use the on board laser designator outside the United States.

F-35 EOTS
By User:Dammit (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 nl], via Wikimedia Commons

EOTS laser designator

The notes said approval has been given under strict rules – no optic devices being within 33km of the aircraft, and no observers being allowed within 9km when the laser designator is fired.

It was added that Britain has wrote in to seek approval for the device to be use in U.K.