Eye-Safe Lasers as a Non-Lethal Option for the Individual Soldier

In the present domestic and world political climate, U.S. military forces are faced with situations requiring less-than-lethal response options. Low-energy lasers can be effective, non-lethal weapons for a variety of military missions and law enforcement applications. Through the effects of illumination, glare, flashblinding and psychological impact, lasers can create surrender, hesitation, delay, distractions, temporary visual impairment, and reductions in combat and functional effectiveness. Furthermore, these effects can be created at eye-safe exposure levels below the maximum allowed by international safety standards. SEA proposed the exploratory development of four laser concepts that provide the individual soldier or law enforcement officer with a range of non-lethal response options employing existing hardware and weapon systems. These are a flashlight laser, a baton laser, a shotgun shell laser, and a grenade shell laser. During Phase I, SEA will evaluate these four concepts relative to Army mission requirements. Based on this evaluation, on of the concepts will be selected for Phase I development and tested as a demonstrator prototype. If the project is selected for a Phase II SBIr, SEA will take one or more of the four concepts through advanced development and provide the Army with several fieldable prototypes for testing in operational situations.