Frag Out! Magazine

Frag Out! Magazine DSEI 2021

Frag Out! Magazine

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F rom both a Law Enforcement and Defense perspec- tive, one of the latest tools of mayhem across the globe is the handheld laser. Easily concealed, sim- ple to use, and cheap to the point of disposability, lasers regardless of their power pose a serious threat. From temporary blindness, loss of situational awareness due to dazzle and permanent eye damage, lasers are a clear threat to police officers and soldiers across the globe especially within asymmetric warfare. The irony is that for decades military and law enforcement have been utilizing lasers to enhance capability in daily op- erations. Lasers are uniquely helpful and harmful, depending upon the intent of the user. With the right eye protection, you can protect your vision from these threats. MORE POWER ON THE STREETS Handheld lasers used in street protests range from mostly harmless low-power keychain laser pointers to high inten- sity handheld lasers that rival the power of lasers used by the military. How do you know the level of danger you're fac- ing when the crowd is shining lasers at you? Bottom line, you won't. Like you, the protesters slinging light beams at you probably don't even know how powerful their handheld lasers are. Handheld lasers are considered a novelty, often sold on the gray market, imported by the shipload, and are among millions of products the government is supposed to inspect. It's not surprising that laser safety regulation is a massive game of whack-a-mole that's got regulators on their heels. And because it costs more to make a less powerful laser that complies with safety standards than a more pow- erful one that doesn't, it's common to order a 3 mW laser from the internet and get one that puts out 10 or more times the stated output. So, it's safe to assume every laser you see on the street is powerful enough to be dangerous, regardless of what the label says. TACTICAL LASERS Lasers have become a valuable tool in the defense world in a variety of ways. Primarily, lasers on weapons allow for swift target acquisition without impeding vision and increas- ing situational awareness. Also, lasers can mark targets miles away, enhancing accuracy and capability. The offensive capabilities of lasers have in the last few years increased to the extent that all of the major powers are starting to develop directed energy weapons which in- clude high-energy lasers, high-power radio frequency or microwave devices, and charged or neutral particle beam weapons. All of these technologies are being explored as al- ternatives to current weapon systems technology. However the most advanced work is currently focused on high-energy laser systems as evidenced by the major defense primes, the Russian Federation and Peoples Republic of China. There is easily accessible articles and comments that recognize the numerous incidents that Coalition Sailors, Sol- diers and Airman have found themselves in recent times, as demonstrated in the below quote from thediplomat.com*. "In May 2019, suspected maritime militia vessels used commercial-grade lasers against Australian Navy helicopter pilots operating in the South China Sea during an important Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2019 exercise.…. Later in December 2019, Australian officials acknowledged that the use of la- sers by fishing vessels was on the rise." Increasingly, lasers have become useful tools both on the battlefield and for training for defense and law enforcement. Overall, laser use is on the rise by both friend and foe, so the need for protection is paramount. This protection will ulti- mately defend against laser exposure which is either offen- sive or accidental in nature from either military grade and/or commercially available laser platforms. In the past two years, reported incidents of laser attacks on law enforcement and pilots have skyrocketed around the globe leading to a variety of eye effects and injuries, including reports of partial blindness. Laser attacks within the Defense realm are equally real and increasing with disturbing frequency, with incidents being prevalent in the South China Sea, the contested region of the Donbass, Ukraine, Syria, Libya and other regions in the Globe from both State Actors and Terrorist Organizations. While handheld lasers aren't new, their widespread use with intent to harm is increasing, just as the demand for laser protective eyewear to prevent effects and injuries. The following article offers education about the laser threat and how to combat it. Revision has been at the forefront of laser and ballistic protective eyewear solutions for the past decade. 81 www.fragoutmag.com TACTICAL GEAR

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