Weapons are prohibited. Part of 7. Blinding Laser Weapon
Today, the use of laser weapons can be both a sign of humanism and an act of cruelty, which is clearly spelled out in international law. In this case, one application is different from another is not so much. Today, laser weapons are understood to mean all types of weapons that use a laser beam as a means of destruction. Laser weapons are considered a promising type of weapon, experiments on the creation of combat laser systems are carried out in many countries around the world.
Ban
The ban is laser weapons, which is specially designed and has as its main combat mission (or one of the main tasks) irreversible blinding of enemy soldiers. At the same time, a side effect on the organs of vision of the enemy by laser systems, which are intended for solving other military tasks, including the disabling of enemy optical systems, is not subject to the prohibition. Also, the ban does not apply to devices that cause only temporary blindness of enemy soldiers.
The main prohibition document is “Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons (Supplementary Protocol) to the Convention on the Prohibition or Restriction of the Use of Specific Conventional Weapons that may be considered excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects”, it entered into force on October 13 An additional protocol was signed in Vienna.
As of January 2012, this additional protocol on the prohibition of blinding laser weapons has been ratified by 114 states, including Russia.
Blinding lasers
One of the most prominent examples of non-lethal laser weapons are the so-called dazzler. If to simplify completely, this is a very powerful laser “flashlight”, which is designed to damage the organs of vision, as well as optical and infrared surveillance systems of the enemy. The development of such devices began in the late 1970-s. For the first time they were used by British troops during the war with Argentina for the Falkland Islands. Since 1995, the Dazzler, which hit the organs of vision, have been recognized as inhumane weapons, they have been banned on the basis of the relevant UN documents. At the same time, the ban did not affect in any way the devices designed to disable warheads, infrared cameras, optics, and so on. It is under such devices that manufacturers often mask full-fledged combat dazzlers.
To date, the most well-known model of a mobile blinding device can be called the American laser rifle-Dazzler PHASR, which was created by order of the US Department of Defense. In addition to the direct blinding effect, this rifle can inflict very serious burns on a person (even if they do not lead to fatal consequences), and from a considerable distance. The weapon is used for temporary blinding and disorientation of the enemy. Its prototype was the Dazzler laser weapon, which the British used to blind the Argentine pilots during the Falkland War.
Another example of modern dazzlers is the Chinese laser facility, known as the ZM-87. According to the official information of the Chinese manufacturer Norinco, before 2000, the entire 22 of such a set of combat lasers was assembled. After that, the production was curtailed due to protests from the international community and a ban on such types of weapons. At the same time, they tried to remove from the general circulation not only references to this weapon, but also its photographs. Although according to some data, the produced samples remained in service with the power units of the PRC.
The dimensions of this laser weapon do not allow to call it lightly mobile. The length of the laser setup 84 cm, weight - 35 kg. Most of all, an installation mounted on a tripod resembles a heavy machine gun. In addition, the kit also includes an external battery, which in its weight and overall dimensions is comparable to a car battery, which does not add mobility to the device.
The effectiveness and uniqueness of the Chinese military laser system due to the high lethality. So ZM-87 is able to completely deprive of view the personnel of the likely enemy at a distance of 3 kilometers, and with the use of a special lens - at a distance of kilometers to 5. From a distance of 10 kilometers, the laser is able to temporarily disable the enemy personnel, briefly blinding him and disorienting him. It is also reported that ZM-87 could quite successfully deal with the thermal and optical instruments of military equipment. For these purposes, the device uses a beam of power 15 mW. At the same time, when used, the beam is not emitted continuously, but pulsed - up to 5 flashes per second. Given the fact that the laser beam is always straightforward and not subject to ballistic and other types of deviations, it can be called indispensable for combating highly mobile targets, which include airplanes or helicopters.
As noted above, today in the world there is a ban on the creation of laser weapons, which is intended to be used exclusively or even to blind an enemy who does not use optical devices. But temporary blinding of the enemy is allowed and is a humane means of warfare. One of the applications of temporarily blinding lasers is the suppression of criminal acts that can be directed against police officers and special units who are solving their task of protecting and protecting the rule of law or when seizing offenders. The use of such weapons in self-defense provides a very low degree of risk to the health and life of the defender.
Today, blinding laser devices are called dazzler in the West. They were first used for military purposes in the Falklands War. At different times, such devices were installed on tanks, ships and combat aircraft, models were also developed to complement handguns and individual devices. Today, non-lethal lasers are manufactured in the USA, Great Britain, and China. In Russia, similar special equipment has been adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, some are mass-produced, for example, the Potok product, created by the NPO Special Materials.
The action of such non-lethal lasers is based on the direction to the violator of the order of the laser beam of green or red colors, which can cause temporary blinding, as well as psychological impact on a person, leading to the fact that a person will lose the ability to carry out coordinated (conscious) actions. Due to this, the combat effectiveness of the violators of order is significantly reduced, preventing them from moving forward.
Also, bright light lasers, which are deployed in a line and scans the terrain, can create the effect of a light curtain that prevents enemy snipers from aimed fire, and in some cases can interfere with visual observation through optical devices. In accordance with the accepted IEC safety standards (International Electromechanical Commission), the power of temporarily blinding laser sources must be within two limits, where the upper limit limits the maximum exposure power that does not cause burns and irreversible effects of the eyes (2,5 mW / cm2), and the lower limit (power less than 1 mW / cm2) determines the power level that is sufficient to achieve a temporary blinding effect on the enemy.
In order to protect the retina from damage with low-power lasers at a short distance, such devices can be equipped with distance meters. Such meters will automatically reduce the radiation power or completely shut off the device. In addition, modern portable lasers can be used to send distress signals, warnings, and also as a means of exchanging information during reconnaissance operations. Due to the narrow radiation, they can be used at sufficiently large distances.
Information sources:
http://www.popmech.ru/technologies/13660-oruzhie-vne-zakona-10-zapreshchennykh-vooruzheniy/#full
http://www.shovkunenko-book.ru/arsenal/lazernaya-vintovka.html
http://techjurnal.info/voennye-texnologii/lazernoe-oruzhie-zapreshhennye-voennye-texnologii-budushhego.html
http://pravo.levonevsky.org/bazaby/mdogov/megd3709.htm
Ban
The ban is laser weapons, which is specially designed and has as its main combat mission (or one of the main tasks) irreversible blinding of enemy soldiers. At the same time, a side effect on the organs of vision of the enemy by laser systems, which are intended for solving other military tasks, including the disabling of enemy optical systems, is not subject to the prohibition. Also, the ban does not apply to devices that cause only temporary blindness of enemy soldiers.
The main prohibition document is “Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons (Supplementary Protocol) to the Convention on the Prohibition or Restriction of the Use of Specific Conventional Weapons that may be considered excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects”, it entered into force on October 13 An additional protocol was signed in Vienna.
As of January 2012, this additional protocol on the prohibition of blinding laser weapons has been ratified by 114 states, including Russia.
Blinding lasers
One of the most prominent examples of non-lethal laser weapons are the so-called dazzler. If to simplify completely, this is a very powerful laser “flashlight”, which is designed to damage the organs of vision, as well as optical and infrared surveillance systems of the enemy. The development of such devices began in the late 1970-s. For the first time they were used by British troops during the war with Argentina for the Falkland Islands. Since 1995, the Dazzler, which hit the organs of vision, have been recognized as inhumane weapons, they have been banned on the basis of the relevant UN documents. At the same time, the ban did not affect in any way the devices designed to disable warheads, infrared cameras, optics, and so on. It is under such devices that manufacturers often mask full-fledged combat dazzlers.
To date, the most well-known model of a mobile blinding device can be called the American laser rifle-Dazzler PHASR, which was created by order of the US Department of Defense. In addition to the direct blinding effect, this rifle can inflict very serious burns on a person (even if they do not lead to fatal consequences), and from a considerable distance. The weapon is used for temporary blinding and disorientation of the enemy. Its prototype was the Dazzler laser weapon, which the British used to blind the Argentine pilots during the Falkland War.
Another example of modern dazzlers is the Chinese laser facility, known as the ZM-87. According to the official information of the Chinese manufacturer Norinco, before 2000, the entire 22 of such a set of combat lasers was assembled. After that, the production was curtailed due to protests from the international community and a ban on such types of weapons. At the same time, they tried to remove from the general circulation not only references to this weapon, but also its photographs. Although according to some data, the produced samples remained in service with the power units of the PRC.
PHASR rifle
The dimensions of this laser weapon do not allow to call it lightly mobile. The length of the laser setup 84 cm, weight - 35 kg. Most of all, an installation mounted on a tripod resembles a heavy machine gun. In addition, the kit also includes an external battery, which in its weight and overall dimensions is comparable to a car battery, which does not add mobility to the device.
The effectiveness and uniqueness of the Chinese military laser system due to the high lethality. So ZM-87 is able to completely deprive of view the personnel of the likely enemy at a distance of 3 kilometers, and with the use of a special lens - at a distance of kilometers to 5. From a distance of 10 kilometers, the laser is able to temporarily disable the enemy personnel, briefly blinding him and disorienting him. It is also reported that ZM-87 could quite successfully deal with the thermal and optical instruments of military equipment. For these purposes, the device uses a beam of power 15 mW. At the same time, when used, the beam is not emitted continuously, but pulsed - up to 5 flashes per second. Given the fact that the laser beam is always straightforward and not subject to ballistic and other types of deviations, it can be called indispensable for combating highly mobile targets, which include airplanes or helicopters.
As noted above, today in the world there is a ban on the creation of laser weapons, which is intended to be used exclusively or even to blind an enemy who does not use optical devices. But temporary blinding of the enemy is allowed and is a humane means of warfare. One of the applications of temporarily blinding lasers is the suppression of criminal acts that can be directed against police officers and special units who are solving their task of protecting and protecting the rule of law or when seizing offenders. The use of such weapons in self-defense provides a very low degree of risk to the health and life of the defender.
Today, blinding laser devices are called dazzler in the West. They were first used for military purposes in the Falklands War. At different times, such devices were installed on tanks, ships and combat aircraft, models were also developed to complement handguns and individual devices. Today, non-lethal lasers are manufactured in the USA, Great Britain, and China. In Russia, similar special equipment has been adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, some are mass-produced, for example, the Potok product, created by the NPO Special Materials.
The action of such non-lethal lasers is based on the direction to the violator of the order of the laser beam of green or red colors, which can cause temporary blinding, as well as psychological impact on a person, leading to the fact that a person will lose the ability to carry out coordinated (conscious) actions. Due to this, the combat effectiveness of the violators of order is significantly reduced, preventing them from moving forward.
Also, bright light lasers, which are deployed in a line and scans the terrain, can create the effect of a light curtain that prevents enemy snipers from aimed fire, and in some cases can interfere with visual observation through optical devices. In accordance with the accepted IEC safety standards (International Electromechanical Commission), the power of temporarily blinding laser sources must be within two limits, where the upper limit limits the maximum exposure power that does not cause burns and irreversible effects of the eyes (2,5 mW / cm2), and the lower limit (power less than 1 mW / cm2) determines the power level that is sufficient to achieve a temporary blinding effect on the enemy.
In order to protect the retina from damage with low-power lasers at a short distance, such devices can be equipped with distance meters. Such meters will automatically reduce the radiation power or completely shut off the device. In addition, modern portable lasers can be used to send distress signals, warnings, and also as a means of exchanging information during reconnaissance operations. Due to the narrow radiation, they can be used at sufficiently large distances.
Information sources:
http://www.popmech.ru/technologies/13660-oruzhie-vne-zakona-10-zapreshchennykh-vooruzheniy/#full
http://www.shovkunenko-book.ru/arsenal/lazernaya-vintovka.html
http://techjurnal.info/voennye-texnologii/lazernoe-oruzhie-zapreshhennye-voennye-texnologii-budushhego.html
http://pravo.levonevsky.org/bazaby/mdogov/megd3709.htm
Information