International weapons law bans blinding laser weapon
Although there aren't any international laws banning blinding laser weapons specifically, there is precedent that supports such a ban. Protocol for Prohibiting the Use of Laser Weapons forbids the transfer or use of such weapons. Protocol IV further prohibits the deliberate use of laser systems to blind combatants. This would not only violate the prohibition against laser weapons, but also would be contrary to international humanitarian law. This precedent is not to be ignored. No state has ever claimed blinding laser weapons.
International humanitarian law bans the transfer and use of weapons that cause permanent blindness. This principle stems from the humanitarian principle of distinction, which requires the parties to an armed conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Additional Protocol I, the Geneva Conventions, prohibits attacks that are indiscriminate. That is, weapons that are not directed towards a particular military objective. Also, the use laser weapons can be a challenge to the prohibition on indiscriminate uses of weapons.
U.S. Navy develops a laser weapon system
For combat purposes, the U.S Navy is currently developing HELIOS, a high-energy laser. This laser can destroy enemy drones, and it is also useful for long-range surveillance and intelligence. This weapon type is expected to become operational in 2023.
MZA Associates is the company behind the system. They are a laser-specialized company based in Albuquerque. It is expected to be an affordable, portable counter-unmanned aircraft system. The laser system can shoot down small consumer quadcopters.
It's still not ready for combat.
The Navy recently announced in the U.S. that it had deployed the country's first operational laser weapons. The AN/SEQ-3 laser weapon system is 30 kilowatts in power. This weapon can be used to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles, and cause them to become unstable by bombarding them in intense light. It cost $40 million to create and is currently being deployed by the U.S. Special Operations Command. It also has the potential to blind drone camera images using its intense light. It was first deployed aboard the USS Ponce, and it is now fully operational.
The laser weapon isn't yet ready for combat but is being tested on a variety vehicles. Raytheon Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin have all been working on prototype demonstrators for the laser weapon for more than 50 years. Many of them are in the process of becoming program of record. Many of these weapons can be deployed in the hands and arms of warfighters by this century's end.
It's currently being test on a vessel
Although it is unclear whether the weapon could be deployed by a Navy warship in the future (or not), the LaWS system could offer a great alternative to missiles. The system could save lives, and it only costs a few dollars each shot. It is currently only approved for use on water vessels and drones, but the Navy is testing it in a variety of mission areas.
HELIOS will enable operational maritime operations by 2023. It is a multimission capability. Its lessons learned during testing will guide future development. It had completed its first land-based test earlier this year, in Virginia.
It could be used for the destruction of anti-ship cruise missiles
The Navy is making great progress in developing a high energy laser weapon that could destroy an anti-ship cruise ballistic missile. It is possible that this weapon will outperform a single-megawatt laser. A 30-kilowatt laser was tested in 2014 on the USS Ponce and was successful in destroying an unmanned aerial vehicle target.
Lasers are versatile weapons that can be used for almost any purpose. You can tailor a laser to target human targets or non-lethal materials such as metal. Lasers have been shown to destroy cruise missiles and mortars in tests. Lasers aren’t great at penetrating objects, such as dust, fog, or antilaser coatings.