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Appendix F

DIRECTED ENERGY WARFARE

DEWs, a new category of weapons, are radically different in operation and effect from any other weapon in use. While no nation has yet fielded high energy weapons, research and development are expected to produce DEWs using laser energy and microwaves. Lasers and other directed energy devices have already been fielded in target acquisition and communications systems. Their application in weapon systems is present on the battlefield today. This appendix introduces DEWs and gives an overview of how to defend against them.

SECTION I. DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS

DEWs include lasers, microwave radiation emitters, and particle beam generators. These weapons produce casualties and damage by delivering energy to the target. Conventional weapons rely upon the kinetic and/or chemical energy of a sizable projectile to defeat a target. DEWs depend upon the transfer of energy to the target through subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves. The advantage of DEWs over a rifle is that directed energy "bullets" fly in a straight line and strike the target at nearly the speed of light.

The field commander today needs to view DEWs as direct-fire, line-of-sight weapons. Measures to prevent damage to or destruction of currently fielded equipment from DEW engagement are by no means impossible or particularly complicated. For the foreseeable future, DEWs will be able to damage only soft components. Newly fielded equipment has laser protection built into the direct-view optics. Older direct-view optics are being retrofitted with filters to protect against DEWs. Even if its equipment lacks laser filters, a unit can take the protective measures discussed in this appendix to prevent DEW casualties and damage.

Lasers

Lasers may be used against US forces in the near future. The presence of laser devices in the inventories of all major armies is increasing, and any laser-emitting device, such as a target designator or range finder, can be employed as a weapon if it is aimed at a type of target it can damage. A laser weapon requires only a split second to obtain desired effects.

Targets

The most probable target of laser weapons is the human eye behind an optical or electro-optical system, specifically fire control devices and sights of direct fire systems. A laser beam entering a direct view optical system, such as a telescope, has its power increased by magnification of that system. Anyone looking through the system may suffer retinal burns. Severity of the burns, permanence of the damage, and time needed for healing depend on intensity of laser energy received magnification of the optical device, range to the laser, frequency of the laser, and duration of exposure to the laser. Injuries range from temporary flash blinding to permanent loss of visual acuity. A soldier with this type of injury may be incapacitated and unable to aim a weapon.

A laser beam entering a nondirect-view electro-optical device, such as a night vision sight or thermal imagery device, may deposit its energy in the form of heat to the sensors inside. The heat is intense enough to burn out electrical circuits or cause a sudden surge of electricity within the sight, making it temporally or permanently useless. Any device so affected may require extensive repairs. This consideration is overshadowed by protection from laser effects provided to the soldier's eye by the nondirect-view electro-optical device.

Laser weapons may be directed against individuals, although that is a very inefficient way to employ them. They can cause burns, with the eye being most susceptible to injury. The cornea of the eye is a lens that magnifies the light passing through it 10,000 times. This energy is then refracted onto retinal nerves in the back of the eye. Laser energy passing through the cornea is magnified before striking optic nerves. Because the eye is more sensitive to light at night, laser energy has greater effect on the eye during darkness than during the daylight.

Any uncovered glass surface has the potential to attract or alert an antielectro-optical weapon target acquisition system.

Defensive and Protective Measures

The field commander must remember DEW systems are direct line-of-sight weapons; standard use of masking terrain is effective against them. Antielectro-optical weapons work only if they have a line of sight to their target. They are as effective at night as during the day; however, smoke, snow, fog, and dust degrade their effectiveness. In addition, the Army has recently made great advances in fielding systems to protect personnel and equipment against directed energy. Use filters provided with direct-view optics and have dismounted soldiers wear ballistic laser protective glasses. If these filters are not available in the unit, the commander must remember that all night sights protect the gunner from the effects of laser weapons. Finally, to be engaged by DEW weapons effectively, the soldier must be detected. Apply the following techniques to avoid detection by antielectro-optical weapon systems.

Use artillery, mortars, or direct-fire weapons to suppress known or suspected antielectro-optical weapons locations. Smoke rounds are especially good for temporarily defeating laser devices.

When operating from static positions within line of sight of known or suspected enemy locations, minimize the exposure of glass surfaces in the direction of the enemy by positioning vehicles and weapons in covered and conceded positions.

When the mission requires maneuver and, consequently, the possible exposure of glass surfaces, block the line of sight between friendly forces and known or suspected enemy locations by using smoke or by planning routes to minimize exposure time.

Sound tactics will prevent friendly weapons locations from being pinpointed and subsequently attacked by laser devices.

All devices with external glass surfaces should be covered or shielded until needed. This practice not only protects against DEWS but also minimizes the effects of artillery. Even vision blocks and headlights can alert antielectro-optical weapon target acquisition systems. These must be included when taking protective measures. Tape, canvas, empty sandbags, paper, or other materials can be used as covers.

When using optical or electro-optical devices to search for the enemy, use the minimum number necessary to do the job effectively. Protect the rest until they are needed.

If absolutely necessary, gunners can use passive sights to scan for enemy laser devices. Blooming of the image indicates presence of a laser. Gunners should be instructed to find and avoid laser devices. Indirect fire should be used to neutralize devices once they are located.

Extensions over objective lenses minimize the chance of detection except from almost head-on. These can be fabricated from any material that can be formed around the sight housing or extension.

Another countermeasure technique against some laser devices is to cover part of your optical lens with tape or other type of cover (see Figure F-1). Measures such as taping vision blocks to narrow slits may reduce the chance of a laser beam striking your eye. This is done by taping all of the block except a narrow strip 1/8 inch wide.

Soldiers should be aware of the potential hazard from laser devices currently in use in the US Army inventory. Just as a commander plans his unit fires to reduce the hazard of fratricide, he must likewise plan his laser fires. Devices most likely to be found in the vicinity of friendly troops are laser range finders. Laser range finders are used on the M60A3 and M1 tanks. They are also used extensively by the artillery. Artillery FISTs all use systems based on laser emitters, either vehicle mounted or lightweight, hand-carried units. This capability is also found in scout platoons with the GVS-5 laser range finder. Air Force and naval aircraft also carry laser target designators for aiming precision-guided munitions. Operators of laser tiring devices are given extensive training in their safe employment. The devices themselves cannot be activated without conscious, deliberate action by the operator. While the possibility of an accident is extremely remote, it can happen. A victim might suddenly and unexpectedly move directly into the path of a laser beam and look directly at it, or a laser beam might reflect off a shiny surface and strike a victim in the eyes. To prevent such accidents, operators of laser firing devices must be kept constantly aware of friendly troop locations, and they must positively identify targets before lasing them. They should not fire lasers at reflective surfaces, and whenever possible, they should give the oral warning "LASING" before activating the laser. Conversely, commanders of troops operating in areas near friendly lasing must ensure that the commanders of laser-operating units are constantly aware of friendly troop locations. Troops should be alerted to the presence of friendly lasers in their areas and given the locations of the lasers if possible. They should be warned not to look in the direction of laser emitting devices unless specifically told it is safe to do so. Whenever possible, troops should wear ballistic laser protective glasses available through normal supply channels.

Electromagnetic Pulse

EMP is electromagnetic radiation covering a large range of the frequency spectrum. It may originate from nuclear detonations that are nondirected in nature, from detonation of conventional explosives coupled with focusing electromechanical devices, and from electrically powered EMP generators on or above the ground.

EMP can severely damage or destroy sensitive electronic components such as microchips, coils, and fuzes by overloading them with electrical energy. All equipment containing electronic components is subject to damage or destruction from EMP attack. FM radios are particularly susceptible. Damage to equipment from EMP is inversely proportional to its distance from the source of the pulse.

EMP can be projected into target areas from extremely long ranges. It can enter a targeted device through any opening and attack sensitive components inside even if the device is disconnected. For example, it may enter a radio set through the louvers over the cooling fires and destroy circuitry inside, making the radio useless. It can also enter through unshielded antenna cables, power lines, and other openings.

Protecting equipment from attack by EMP is extremely difficult EMP attacks last for only a split second but can affect a tremendously large area. The only totally reliable method is to completely encase susceptible equipment in some type of heavy gauge metal shielding or to completely surround it with special metal screening. Burying it or covering it with sandbags or other nonmetallic materials will not provide adequate protection. Terrain masking is ineffective because EMP follows the curvature of the earth.

On combat vehicles, sensitive components should be left in their proper mounts, and their grounding strap should be checked. Sensitive equipment that is permanently mounted in the vehicle should be disconnected when not in use and moved to the center of the vehicle. Smaller pieces of equipment should be placed in empty ammunition cans. Hatch covers should be kept closed unless someone is entering or exiting the vehicle. This leaves only a minimum of equipment susceptible to destruction, while the remainder is available for use after the attack.

Known or suspected locations of enemy ground-based EMP-generating weapons should be attacked by direct and indirect fire. The type of munitions used in this fire should be nonsmart rounds that do not require command guidance or triggering at the target location. EMP will neutralize more advanced munitions by affecting their internal electrical components.

Microwave Radiation Emitters

Long-term exposure to high-intensity microwaves may produce physical and psychological effects on humans, such as warmth, pain, headaches, fatigue, weakness, and dizziness. Used against equipment, high-intensity microwaves can cause onboard electrical systems to fail; they can severely damage or destroy miniaturized electronic components, such as microchips, by overloading them with electrical energy. Microwave energy also may cause electrically fuzed munitions to become duds or to detonate. This effect is dependent on the power output of the weapon and the distance to the target.

Microwaves enter targeted devices in the same manner as EMP; therefore, defensive measures employed against EMP are also effective against microwaves. Terrain masking will provide some, but not complete, protection.

Ground-based microwave radiation emitters can be suppressed by direct and indirect fire in the same manner described for EMP weapons.

Particle Beam Weapons

A particle beam is a directed flow of atomic or subatomic particles. These high-energy particles, when concentrated into a beam that can interact with a target, can melt or fracture target material and generate X-rays around the point of impact. If effective particle beam weapons are developed for use in ground combat the same kind of defensive measures taken against any direct-fire weapon will protect against their effects. Terrain masking is the most effective method available to counter particle beam weapons.

Section II. TRAINING

Commanders at all levels will have to condition their subordinates psychologically to face the threat of DEWs. These weapons appear at first look to have devastating effects on troops and equipment. A basic understanding of what they are and how they work, however, reveals that they are not nearly as destructive as first supposed.

For example, while the thought of laser-caused eye injuries may be psychologically repulsive to the soldier, the extent of injury and subsequent recovery time for a laser injury are significantly less than those for a gunshot wound. A thin sheet of paper or cloth will defeat a laser. Also, permanent blindness is not a certainty. Against equipment, laser, microwave, and EMP weapons damage their targets by attacking soft electronic components. Their thermal effects are not as violent or destructive as those of conventional kinetic or chemical energy munitions. Even though they render their targets just as combat-ineffective, the blast, fire, and fragmentation associated with conventional munitions is totally absent. Finally, any advantage of future particle beam weapons will lie in their flat trajectory, long range, and large magazine capacity. Otherwise, they are similar to conventional direct-fire weapons in employment and effects.

Defense against DEWs is enhanced through familiarity with their effects and constant training with the protective equipment available in the field. The goals commanders should strive for in planning the defense are avoiding detection and maintaining unit discipline down to the soldier level. The training they conduct should emphasize that DEWs that can injure people and damage equipment are line-of-sight systems. The key point for soldiers to learn is that standard practices and defensive techniques employed against conventional direct-fire weapons will provide effective protection against DEWs as well.