+++LINK+++



By JOHN VANDIVER AND COREY DICKSTEIN | STARS AND STRIPES Published: May 3, 2018

The United States lodged a formal complaint to China, asking the country to investigate repeated instances in which American military aircraft were targeted by high-powered lasers near a Chinese military base in Djibouti, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The United States is confident the Chinese are involved in the incidents, said Dana White, Pentagon spokeswoman. The lasers were described as “military grade” and White said between two and 10 incidents have occurred recently.

“They are very serious incidents,” she told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday. “There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen.”

Another Pentagon spokeswoman, Army Maj. Sheryll Klinkel, said those injuries were to a pair of American pilots flying a C-130 turboprop transport, who were exposed to the laser beam during a recent flight.

FAA coordinates for the origin of the laser attacks reveal a location in the sea 750 meters from China’s base, Jane’s Defense reported.

On Thursday, the FAA issued a warning advising military aircraft to exercise “extreme caution” when transiting the area. The FAA has issued repeated warnings since April 14 to pilots in the area.

The malicious use of lasers to flash-blind pilots has been a worldwide problem over the past two decades. Incidents of laser interference generally involve people directing lasers at aircraft on takeoff or on the final landing approach, the most critical phases of flight. In some cases, pilots flying the aircraft have been forced to hand the controls over to their co-pilots after having their vision temporarily impaired.

In 2017, China opened its first overseas base in Djibouti, a tiny but strategically important Horn of Africa country. The Chinese base is close to Camp Lemonnier, a hub for American missions in the region.

AFRICOM chief Gen. Thomas Waldhauser has expressed concerns about potential Chinese snooping in Djibouti and Beijing’s growing influence in the country.

During the past decade, China has become a major economic presence in Africa, but Djibouti is Beijing’s first military foothold on the continent.

“U.S. Africa Command views security and access to Djibouti as a top priority. Consequently, we continue to monitor this development to ensure U.S. interests are not deterred,” Waldhauser said during congressional testimony in March.

AFRICOM’s strategy in Africa is now taking a larger account of China as “the strategic environment becomes more crowded and competitive,” Waldhauser said.

I need a little more info before considering this as an act of Chinese aggression per se; I know people that own powerful green, blue, or violet lasers that can light paper on fire immediately. They were called "military grade" when bought.

That is not to say the lasing was not done by military personnel, but I doubt the order came from Beijing. I also doubt any serious investigation will be initiated by the Chinese.

quote:

Originally posted by Fla. Jim:

quote:

The United States is confident the Chinese are involved in the incidents, said Dana White, Pentagon spokeswoman.

"The" Chinese, or "A" Chinese? Again, a little more detail from the source would help. Was it a super-powerful colored laser? (civilian), or was it invisible to the naked eye? (military).

If the latter, it is tantamount to an act of war.

Don't we have ordinance that will follow that laser back to its source?

quote:

tantamount to an act of war.

this phrase has always confused me, as the qualifier 'tantamount' seems to quibble and therefore unsay what the rest of the seemingly clear statement following;

While it must serve a purpose, as in :www.dictionary.com/browse/tantamount

adjective. 1. equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification: His angry speech was tantamount to a declaration of war."



I've also seen the phrase recently on the acts by China on:

1) territorial claims in China Sea;
2) outright fabrication of new islands in the region;
3) recent announcement of missile bases constructed on those previously non-existent islands;

all those have been described various places as 'tantamount'.

Don't mean to argue, yet the word seems to be similar to 'draw a red line in the sand'.

"Tantamount" doesn't bother me as much as "ordinance" for military weaponry does.

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:

quote:

tantamount to an act of war.

this phrase has always confused me, as the qualifier 'tantamount' seems to quibble and therefore unsay what the rest of the seemingly clear statement following;

While it must serve a purpose, as in :www.dictionary.com/browse/tantamount

adjective. 1. equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification: His angry speech was tantamount to a declaration of war."



I've also seen the phrase recently on the acts by China on:

1) territorial claims in China Sea;
2) outright fabrication of new islands in the region;
3) recent announcement of missile bases constructed on those previously non-existent islands;

all those have been described various places as 'tantamount'.

Don't mean to argue, yet the word seems to be similar to 'draw a red line in the sand'.

By definition, it means "the same as" or "equal to", or in other words, IS an act of war.

Why you gotta pick on me? I don't get to break out my $5 words very often

I'd bet a Hellfire Trumps a laser every time.

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
I'd bet a Hellfire Trumps a laser every time.

FTW

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
I'd bet a Hellfire Trumps a laser every time.

on top of that, most Hellfire ride on laser beam.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
"Tantamount" doesn't bother me as much as "ordinance" for military weaponry does.

Whoops, I got an I in there!

We have a big base in Djibouti, as do the Chinese. I wonder if our government has pressured Djibouti to kick the Chinese out, and I wonder if we have enough influence there to do it.

This may be a silly question, but are pilot's visors not laser safe?

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
This may be a silly question, but are pilot's visors not laser safe?

I'm wondering the same thing. If not can't they wear them amber lens safety glasses that come with all Craftsman laser levels?

Since there are different laser wavelengths, it'd be difficult to create a "mil grade" goggle/shield to cover any and every possibility.

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:


This may be a silly question, but are pilot's visors not laser safe?

No, they aren’t. There are clear glasses that are supposedly eye safe for lasers, although I’ve seen no protection ratings associated with them. The Glasses are supposed to be worn under your visor, or in place of a visor if you fly without a visor like I do. I already fly with prescription glasses and NVG’s, putting another layer on my face is untenable.

The right answer is to start building glareshields & windows able to resist harmful laser energy. I’m sure that would be expensive, and I’m not smart on the efficacy of the science involved.

We have definitely had discussions about the use of self-defense ROE against someone lazing you. It’s not going to happen in downtown DJ though, and would be a tough sell elsewhere.

I'm amazed the canopies aren't laser safe. All the vision blocks and optical sights in a tank are laser safe, specifically so an enemy cannot use a laser to harm the person looking out of them. As to what they are rated ay I will have to look it up. But anything is better than nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
I'm amazed the canopies aren't laser safe. All the vision blocks and optical sights in a tank are laser safe, specifically so an enemy cannot use a laser to harm the person looking out of them. As to what they are rated ay I will have to look it up. But anything is better than nothing.

Maybe for the expensive fifth generation fighters the canopies are laser safe, I have no idea. Nothing I have ever flown has had a laser safe window; I just assumed it was too expensive because it’s such an obvious solution. Maybe if these incidents continue to increase we’ll find the money to upgrade our windows.