Heli-Pilots: Protection against lasers

On behalf of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Use of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw), the company Electronicsystem and Logistics GmbH (ESG) has developed an innovative and highly effective laser protection goggles for the crews of the combat helicopter (KH) TIGER and recently delivered the first series models to the German Armed Forces.

Equipped with an innovatively effective protection, helicopter crews will be protected from attacks with laser beams during the execution of their tasks and missions. In contrast to currently available protective goggles, this laser protection goggles offer multispectral protection against both visible and invisible laser beams as well as a largely unaltered color perception.

At the same time, due to its high light transmission, it is also suitable for use in poor visibility or twilight and can be used in conjunction with helmets and helmet sight systems with night vision devices.

Not least due to the easy availability of so-called laser pointers, dangerous interferences in air traffic are increasing year by year, the risk of which for the crews of aircraft should not be underestimated. Even commercially available laser pointers can impair the safe operation of an aircraft through dazzling, especially for helicopters operating close to the ground and during the take-off and landing phases.

In order to continue effectively counteracting this hazard, the procurement of these innovative laser protection goggles for the crews of the NATO Helicopters 90 (NH90) is currently being initiated. The use for other aircraft models is in planning.

GERMAN ARMED FORCES online