A lidar system where a laser creates a laser output and the sequence generator creates a pseudorandom noise sequence. The laser output is directed into two paths. On the first path, the laser output is directed to a first modulator. The first modulator encodes the laser output with the pseudorandom noise sequence to produce an encoded output signal. The encoded output signal is amplified and directed toward a target, wherein a back-scattered signal is reflected back from the target. On the second path, the laser output is directed to a second modulator. The second modulator modulates the laser output to produce an oscillator signal. The back-scattered signal is aligned and is mixed with the oscillator signal from the second modulator. The resulting mixed signal is converted into a corresponding RF output signal. The RF output signal is cross-correlated with the pseudorandom noise sequence to acquire target data.