Protection and Countermeasures

Abstract

It seems inevitable that the battlefield laser threat will markedly increase in the coming years. This will be as a result of not only the development and implementation of laser weapons but also the increasing number of other helpful laser-powered devices such as range finders and target designators. Therefore, it will be necessary for armies to protect their sensors and personnel by introducing passive as well as active countermeasures for laser technology. The primary laser threat will come from laser weapons, although conventional weapons guided to their targets by lasers will also constitute an indirect laser threat, as will be demonstrated later in this chapter.