BAE Systems create new system to protect flights from laser attacks

Responding to a growing concern over laser attacks against pilots and air crews, engineers from BAE Systems have created a new system to block such transmissions and prevent deterioration of vision.

“Lasers operate at specific wavelengths,” Leslie Laycock, executive scientist at BAE Systems, said. “A series of successful trials undertaken in a laboratory environment have proven our method is effective against a wide variety of laser wavelengths. We have been able to achieve a visible light transmission in excess of 70 percent. Our system allows the majority of the light through, providing protection without the need for heavily tinted industrial goggles. This allows pilots to more effectively see instruments and their surroundings, whilst simultaneously blocking the dangerous laser light.”

The new technology is said to be low cost, lightweight and highly flexible in its capabilities. It essentially provides a canopy that provides a minimal amount of color distortion, allowing the majority of natural light to eke through while weeding out dangerous lasers by their wavelength. While these wavelengths could change over time and technological evolution, the barrier technology is adaptable enough to upgrade to meet the new threats.

While experimentation and commercialization for use in the public sector is the next step, the engineers have high hopes it will cut down on incidents caused by cheap, high-powered handheld lasers that have distracted and harmed flight crews across the world.