An airborne range finder configured to be arranged on an aircraft for surveying a target, wherein the airborne range finder comprises • an emitter configured for emitting electromagnetic pulses towards the target, • a receiver configured for receiving backscattered pulses, characterized in that the receiver comprises ∘ a projection surface comprising an inner area and an outer area, ∘ focusing optics configured and arranged for imaging • pulses backscattered from a distance equal to or longer than a threshold distance onto at least a part of the inner area, and • pulses backscattered from a distance shorter than said threshold distance onto the inner area and at least a part of the outer area, ▪ a detector configured for detecting and outputting pulses imaged onto the projection surface separately with respect to the inner area and the outer area, and ▪ a recorder configured for reading the detector and • storing pulses detected only within the inner area as target pulses, • storing pulses detected at least in part within the outer area as near-field pulses, and • tagging each stored pulse with a corresponding pulse reception time, and • a control unit configured for controlling the emitter and the receiver. • an emitter configured for emitting electromagnetic pulses towards the target, • a receiver configured for receiving backscattered pulses, characterized in that the receiver comprises ∘ a projection surface comprising an inner area and an outer area, ∘ focusing optics configured and arranged for imaging • pulses backscattered from a distance equal to or longer than a threshold distance onto at least a part of the inner area, and • pulses backscattered from a distance shorter than said threshold distance onto the inner area and at least a part of the outer area, ▪ a detector configured for detecting and outputting pulses imaged onto the projection surface separately with respect to the inner area and the outer area, and ▪ a recorder configured for reading the detector and • storing pulses detected only within the inner area as target pulses, • storing pulses detected at least in part within the outer area as near-field pulses, and • tagging each stored pulse with a corresponding pulse reception time, and ∘ a projection surface comprising an inner area and an outer area, ∘ focusing optics configured and arranged for imaging • pulses backscattered from a distance equal to or longer than a threshold distance onto at least a part of the inner area, and • pulses backscattered from a distance shorter than said threshold distance onto the inner area and at least a part of the outer area, • pulses backscattered from a distance equal to or longer than a threshold distance onto at least a part of the inner area, and • pulses backscattered from a distance shorter than said threshold distance onto the inner area and at least a part of the outer area, ▪ a detector configured for detecting and outputting pulses imaged onto the projection surface separately with respect to the inner area and the outer area, and ▪ a recorder configured for reading the detector and • storing pulses detected only within the inner area as target pulses, • storing pulses detected at least in part within the outer area as near-field pulses, and • tagging each stored pulse with a corresponding pulse reception time, and • storing pulses detected only within the inner area as target pulses, • storing pulses detected at least in part within the outer area as near-field pulses, and • tagging each stored pulse with a corresponding pulse reception time, and • a control unit configured for controlling the emitter and the receiver.