Dazzler (weapon)
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A dazzler is a type of a directed-energy weapon employing intense visible light, usually generated by a laser (laser dazzler). It is a non-lethal weapon intended to cause temporary blindness or disorientation.
Blinding weapons are banned by 1995 United Nations Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons. Dazzlers are not intended to cause permanent blindness, therefore are thought to be able to skirt this regulation.
Narrowband optical filters tuned to the frequency of the laser used may provide a good defense against laser dazzlers. On the other hand, the dazzlers may employ lasers using more than one wavelength, or tunable lasers with wider range of output. Photochromic materials capable of becoming opaque under high light energy densities may provide protection as well. Non-linear optics techniques are being investigated as well; eg. vanadium-doped zinc telluride (ZnTe:V) can be used to construct electro-optic power limiters capable of selectively blocking the intense dazzler beam without affecting the weaker light from the observed scene.
Optionally they can operate in infrared when their targets are electronic sensors.
Most of the contemporary systems are man-portable, and operate in either red (a semiconductor laser) or green (a DPSS laser) part of the spectrum.
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[edit] Use of illuminators
Some searchlights are bright enough to cause permanent or temporary blindness and have been used to dazzle the crews of bombers during World War II. Handgun mounted lights may also be used to temporarily blind an opponent and are sometimes marketed for that purpose.
In both cases the primary purpose is to illuminate the target and their use to disorientate is secondary.
[edit] Makes of Dazzler
[edit] Laser Dazzler
LE Systems, under the sponsorship of DARPA, developed a dazzler based on a DPSS laser, with green light output at 532 nm, essentially a souped-up version of the green laser pointers. The advantage of 532 nm wavelength lies in its ability to interact with human eye in both daylight and reduced light conditions. description; image.
[edit] SaberShot Photonic Disruptor (Laser Dazzler)
SaberShot developed essentially the same system and delivers it in form factors ranging from a pen type with effective range of 200 meters, through a flashlight type effective at 500 meters, to rifle-size units effective up to 2 kilometers. description; image.
[edit] Saber 203 dazzler
The Saber 203 dazzler or "Saber 203 Grenade Shell Laser Intruder Countermeasure System", uses a 28 mW red laser diode, mounted in a hard plastic capsule in the shape of a standard 40 mm grenade, suitable to being loaded into a M203 grenade launcher. It has an effective range of 300 meters. It is controlled via a box snapped under the launcher, and in emergency it can be quickly ejected and replaced with a grenade. It is similar to the LANL-developed optical munition, Project Perseus. Saber 203 dazzlers were used in Somalia in 1995 during the Operation United Shield. According to the Air Force, the system is also usable for law enforcement purposes.
[edit] JD-3 Dazzler
This laser dazzler is mounted on the Chinese Type 98 Main battle tank. It is coupled with a laser radiation detector, and automatically aims for the enemy's illuminating laser designator, attempting to overwhelm its optical systems or blind the operator. See this link.
[edit] ZM-87 Portable Laser Disturber
The ZM-87 Portable Laser Disturber is a Chinese electro-optic countermeasure laser device. It can blind enemy troops at up to 2 to 3 km range and temporarily blind them at up to 10 km range. See ZM-87 or this link for more information.
[edit] Outfit DEC or LDS
The Outfit DEC or Laser Dazzle Sight (LDS) is a British ship-based laser, used since the 1980s.
[edit] PHaSR
The PHaSR or Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response rifle was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense:
[edit] Veiling-glare laser
The veiling-glare laser works on ultraviolet and is designed to dazzle by causing fluorescence in the lens of the eye.
[edit] Others
There are other such laser weapon systems in development. See:-
- http://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/Us2.htm
- http://www.testdept.org.uk/PPP-9.html
- http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws001/abl/abl011.htm
- http://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/eo/eo12338.htm
[edit] Use in Iraq
On 18 May 2006, the U.S. military announced it would issue dazzling lasers designed to be attached to M-4 rifles to troops in Iraq. This weapon is intended to provide a non-lethal way to stop drivers who fail to stop at checkpoints manned by American soldiers. However, this proposal has attracted criticism from human rights groups who say even these weapons can cause permanent damage [1]
