A laser communications and position location system has a laser
transmitter with a laser array radiating modulated laser beams upward at
convergence angles that determine altitude of a free space junction where
the beams converge. The free space junction scatters the modulated laser
beams and a laser receiver receives the scattered modulated laser beam
light and recovers the data. A modulator modulates the laser array with
data. The laser transmitter may include a data link to transmit the free
space junction position to the laser receiver to aid in finding it. The
laser receiver has an optical detector with an adjustable field of view
and gain to minimize background light noise and to demodulate the
received modulated scattered laser beams. The laser receiver determines a
precise location of the laser transmitter upon finding the free space
junction.