STONewsArchive: Laser Eye Dazzle - Threat Evaluation and Impact on Human Performance

Title: Laser Eye Dazzle - Threat Evaluation and Impact on Human Performance
Start_Publishing: 02/04/2019
Panel_Page: SET
Page_ID: 3640
Main_Body_Multi:

SET-249 – Laser Eye Dazzle - Threat Evaluation and Impact on Human Performance
Moonraker Field Trial:  Assessment of laser dazzling threats in airborne scenarios
By
M. Vandewal (BEL), B. Eberle, D. Forster, F. Jakobs, M. Koerber, F.
Landmann, G. Ritt (DEU), P. Bourdon (FRA),
S. M. Tipper, C. D. Burgess
(GBR) J. Coelho, J. Freitas (PRT), O. Steinvall (SWE), W. T. Kinerk, L.
N. McLin (USA)

NATO-wide, laser dazzle attacks on aircrafts
are persistently carried out using powerful, compact, off-the-shelf
lasers. In 2016 over 7,000 events were reported which represents a more
than 20-fold increase in the number of attacks over the last decade. In
the same period, the available power for these devices increased
tenfold, while the cost has dropped by 90%. Even at laser power levels
that do not result in permanent eye damage, high risks may exist.
Temporary impairment of vision that occurs during a critical task/phase
(e.g. piloting a vehicle, aiming or observing) can disrupt entire combat
operations. A hundred dollar laser can lead to failure of a
multi-million dollar mission.
The name Moonraker is a tribute to Ian
Fleming’s third James Bond novel and regarding our efforts to prepare
the necessary laser safety concept in order to get all permissions
granted, made one feel like Jaws in the Moonraker film: You’d want to
bite a cable.

The Moonraker field trial was one of the main
objectives of NATO SET-249/RTG with the aim to assess live laser
dazzling events in airborne scenarios.

The field trial took place
over a period of ten days at the WTD52 cable car facility in
Oberjettenberg, Germany. It offered optimal conditions to study laser
dazzle effects on a slant path over distances up to 1200 meters. Using a
military aircraft canopy, we analysed scattering effects by means of a
camera mounted below the canopy. The trials also comprised studies on
the capability of a number of test persons to direct the laser beams of
handheld laser devices on the target, dazzling of equipment like night
vision googles and special dazzling-hardened devices, and performance
tests on a laser event recorder (see Figure 1).
To ensure
laser-safety, which had top priority, an elaborated safety concept for
safe laser operation in the field was developed and strictly followed
during the trial. Since the facility is located in the Alpine region, we
took advantage of the rock face, which served as a natural backstop for
the laser radiation (see Figure 2).

Figure 1: Cable car and experimental set-up used in the Moonraker field trial.




Figure 2: Laser dazzling during night using a blue laser pointer at a distance of 600 m.Synergies and Complementarities


The
successful conduction of the field trial is the result of a highly
constructive collaboration. Each nation contributed with its expertise
and hardware leading to the best possible utilization of the cable car
facility during the conceded ten days of measurement time.

The results of the field trial highly enhances the
understanding of laser dazzle effects on aircrafts. The outcome of this
field trial, as part of the group’s objectives, will improve the
development of laser warners, laser dazzle protection and hardened
devices.

The NATO SET-249 field trial Moonraker was held in
October 2018 at the WTD52 cable car facility in Oberjettenberg, Germany.
As a result, various experiments on laser dazzle on an aircraft-like
target were performed in a realistic engagement environment using a
military aircraft canopy.


Page_Intro:

SET-249 – Laser Eye Dazzle - Threat Evaluation and Impact on Human Performance
Moonraker Field Trial:  Assessment of laser dazzling threats in airborne scenarios
By
M. Vandewal (BEL), B. Eberle, D. Forster, F. Jakobs, M. Koerber, F.
Landmann, G. Ritt (DEU), P. Bourdon (FRA),
S. M. Tipper, C. D. Burgess
(GBR) J. Coelho, J. Freitas (PRT), O. Steinvall (SWE), W. T. Kinerk, L.
N. McLin (USA)



HomePageImage: SET-249-fig1.jpg
HomePageBodyText: SET-249 – Laser Eye Dazzle - Threat Evaluation and Impact on Human Performance
Moonraker Field Trial:  Assessment of laser dazzling threats in airborne scenarios
By M. Vandewal (BEL), B. Eberle, D. Forster, F. Jakobs, M. Koerber, F. Landmann, G. Ritt (DEU), P. Bourdon (FRA),
S. M. Tipper, C. D. Burgess (GBR) J. Coelho, J. Freitas (PRT), O. Steinvall (SWE), W. T. Kinerk, L. N. McLin (USA)

NATO-wide, laser dazzle attacks on aircrafts are persistently carried out using powerful, compact, off-the-shelf lasers. In 2016 over 7,000 events were reported which represents a more than 20-fold increase in the number of attacks over the last decade. In the same period, the available power for these devices increased tenfold, while the cost has dropped by 90%. Even at laser power levels that do not result in permanent eye damage, high risks may exist. Temporary impairment of vision that occurs during a critical task/phase (e.g. piloting a vehicle, aiming or observing) can disrupt entire combat operations. A hundred dollar laser can lead to failure of a multi-million dollar mission.
The name Moonraker is a tribute to Ian Fleming’s third James Bond novel and regarding our efforts to prepare the necessary laser safety concept in order to get all permissions granted, made one feel like Jaws in the Moonraker film: You’d want to bite a cable.

The Moonraker field trial was one of the main objectives of NATO SET-249/RTG with the aim to assess live laser dazzling events in airborne scenarios.

The field trial took place over a period of ten days at the WTD52 cable car facility in Oberjettenberg, Germany. It offered optimal conditions to study laser dazzle effects on a slant path over distances up to 1200 meters. Using a military aircraft canopy, we analysed scattering effects by means of a camera mounted below the canopy. The trials also comprised studies on the capability of a number of test persons to direct the laser beams of handheld laser devices on the target, dazzling of equipment like night vision googles and special dazzling-hardened devices, and performance tests on a laser event recorder (see Figure 1).
To ensure laser-safety, which had top priority, an elaborated safety concept for safe laser operation in the field was developed and strictly followed during the trial. Since the facility is located in the Alpine region, we took advantage of the rock face, which served as a natural backstop for the laser radiation (see Figure 2).




Figure 1: Cable car and experimental set-up used in the Moonraker field trial.


Figure 2: Laser dazzling during night using a blue laser pointer at a distance of 600 m.Synergies and Complementarities

The successful conduction of the field trial is the result of a highly constructive collaboration. Each nation contributed with its expertise and hardware leading to the best possible utilization of the cable car facility during the conceded ten days of measurement time.

The results of the field trial highly enhances the understanding of laser dazzle effects on aircrafts. The outcome of this field trial, as part of the group’s objectives, will improve the development of laser warners, laser dazzle protection and hardened devices.

The NATO SET-249 field trial Moonraker was held in October 2018 at the WTD52 cable car facility in Oberjettenberg, Germany. As a result, various experiments on laser dazzle on an aircraft-like target were performed in a realistic engagement environment using a military aircraft canopy.


Created at 02/04/2019 17:01 by System Account
Last modified at 02/04/2019 19:46 by System Account
 
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