TY - JOUR N2 - The article presents state of work in technology of free-space optical communications (Free Space Optics − FSO). Both commercially available optical data links and their further development are described. The main elements and operation limiting factors of FSO systems have been identified. Additionally, analyses of FSO/RF hybrid systems application are included. The main aspects of LasBITer project related to such hybrid technology for security and defence applications are presented. L1 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/106321/PDF/10.1515-mms-2017-0060-paper%2007.pdf L2 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/106321 PY - 2017 IS - No 4 EP - 653–674 DO - 10.1515/mms-2017-0060 KW - optical communications KW - open path laser communications KW - line of sight communications KW - free space optics A1 - Mikołajczyk, Janusz A1 - Bielecki, Zbigniew A1 - Bugajski, Maciej A1 - Piotrowski, Józef A1 - Wojtas, Jacek A1 - Gawron, Waldemar A1 - Szabra, Dariusz A1 - Prokopiuk, Artur PB - Polish Academy of Sciences Committee on Metrology and Scientific Instrumentation VL - vol. 24 DA - 2017.12.15 T1 - Analysis of Free-Space Optics Development SP - 653–674 UR - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/106321 T2 - Metrology and Measurement Systems ER -