“You Fight Like You Train” - A Case for COTS Eye-Safe Lasers

By LCDR Chris “tyke” Aldrich, USN

Every individual with military experience understands Patton’s timeless adage regarding reality-based training (RBT). Only by training in environments that allow utilization of all available mission systems, as well as tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), can we adequately prepare for combat operations. Like all units military-wide, the Naval Rotary Wing (RW) Community faces the challenge of training against accurate threat representations with the equipment and tools available during combat. Without a doubt, scenarios and presentations have drastically improved thanks to the dedication of committed instructors and Commanding Officers who invest in their units’ training. Flight simulators create a training environment unprecedented in its realism, while simulation modes for HELLFIRE and aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) allow aircrews to exercise those systems in flight on a routine basis. We write detailed concepts of operations (CONOPS) and training scripts, schedule ranges and emitters, and utilize training mode on the combat survivor evader locator (CSEL), all to make our training events more closely resemble the real world. Clearly, at all levels there has been significant emphasis placed on creating a “Narnia” training environment that resembles operational reality, while avoiding excessive risk. Together these training aides exist purely to support the fight like you train concept.

Yet, despite RBT advancements over the years, ample room remains to incorporate additional tools. One type of tool that is almost universally restricted is the LASER. Specifically, relevant to this discussion is the use of the Infrared Zoom LASER Illuminator Designator (IZLID), a series of either handheld or weapon-mounted LASERs common to all Navy RW. The IZLID is a proven tool that builds situational awareness (SA) for RW pilots and gunners. Though the LASER has its place in nearly every mission set that the RW Community executes, the opportunities to actually employ become extremely rare due to restrictions on their use. IZLIDs are non-eye safe, therefore can only legally be used on a LASER range, within specific range constraints, by aircrew wearing LASER Eye Protection (LEP). In fact, OPNAVINST 5100.27B (May 2008, p. 10) restricts all LASER usage by stating that “LASER systems shall not be fired outside of these LASER System Safety Officer (LSSO)-designated areas and targets.” Legitimate barriers to IZLID use such as these inhibit crews from readily training with a system they would use in an operational or combat environment. Being critical tools that shorten kill chains and build aircrew SA, IZLIDSs, and LASER use in general, reduce risk in all mission areas.

Close Air Support (CAS) is one mission set that requires LASER usage by aviators. Whether aircrew utilize the eye safe LASER range finder (ELRF) to determine the range to a target, the LASER target marker (LTM) to verify the correct target, the LASER ranging designator (LRD) for HELLFIRE employment, or the IZLID for target correlation during crew served weapon (CSW) employment, LASERs are used throughout the mission. LASERs also significantly increase safety during night terrain flight (TERF) and operations in the terminal area (TA). Aircrew must constantly scan the surrounding environment for hazards and when they may be a factor, voicing it to the rest of the crew. The crew must then identify and track the threat in order to mitigate it. This identification could be instantaneous on high-light nights, or it could require a talk-on over several minutes – minutes that may not be available. A LASER provides aircrew the ability to cue the entire crew to a potential hazard. The same concept applies to obstacles in the helicopter landing zone (HLZ), often unidentified until the aircraft is about to land. TA gun patterns require detailed crew coordination and accurate target talk-ons to ensure the correct target is engaged. LASERs simplify and speed up target correlation between pilots and gunners, as well as reduce communications between air and ground elements. Marking a building, vehicle, or group of personnel with a LASER provides instant clarity while reducing communications on an already clobbered frequency.

LASERs also have their place in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. Most helicopter pilots have experienced Night Vision Goggle (NVG) degradation caused by a pyrotechnic on a low-light night SAR. Though essential to defining the relative position of a survivor, placing the marker too close to the survivor can degrade overall SA. Providing the crew chief with an eye safe LASER to continuously mark the position of the survivor relative to the marker would enhance SA and reduce risk of disorientation. Overland, dropping a smoke typically is not an option. If eye safe LASERs were available, crews could continuously mark the position of a survivor without concern for any skin or ocular hazard distances.

Aircrew are currently unable to take full advantage of the IZLID in the training environment as a result of current restrictions. According to the 11-95IZLID-1 (June 2016, 00300), due to its Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD) of 724 m, the use of the Class 3B IZLID 200P (which is the primary Navy RW hand-held and CSW-mounted laser) is restricted to designated LASER ranges or combat. Based on the NOHD of the IZLID, both operators and personnel in the surrounding area incur the requirement to wear LEP. Even when on a designated LASER range, limitations exist restricting users to specific altitudes and headings during employment, which do not mimic real world operations.

The LEP requirement during IZLID usage is itself a potential hazard. LEP inherently reduces transmitted light to the user, degrading visual acuity that is only compounded by low light or poor weather conditions (June 2016, 003-00). Flight crews often face the decision to either risk permanent blindness from inadvertent lasing, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) due to the degraded visual acuity when wearing LEP. LEP need not be worn throughout the flight—only during operation of the LASER. Unfortunately, LASER operations (and therefore the donning of LEP) occur in the TA, which is commonly the most dangerous and complex portion of the flight. Most crews opt completely out of IZLID usage for all of the above reasons, even at the expense of significantly improved SA. Eyesafe LASERs provide a solution with all the benefits of LASER usage in any phase of flight and none of the drawbacks. They offer a simple, cost-effective solution that allows aircrew to train how they fight, without usage restrictions.

Commercial off the shelf (COTS) eye-safe LASERs are available today – with a negligible NOHD – for a fraction of the cost of an IZLID. One example eye-safe LASER is a $200, FDA certified, Class 1 product with a range of 1km. The same company also manufactures a $450, ANSI Class 3R LASER with an NOHD of 13.7m and a range of 5km. Comparatively, the IZLID has a range of 39km and an NOHD of 724m, however, with a price point of $4825.64, the decision on which is more suitable for the training environment is obvious. Although they have less intensity than the IZLID, eye-safe LASERs are a cost effective option that avoid the requirements for LEP and a LASER range. These COTS LASERs have similar accessories to the IZLID for lasing through cockpit windows and CSW mounting. Eyesafe LASERs affords aircrews the ability to train and condition themselves to use the tools that they would need to be familiar with in combat operations.

In order to outfit the Fleet with COTS LASERS, the Navy requires a LASER Safety Review Board (LSRB) to ensure the LASER meets all Navy standards prior to granting an interim flight clearance (IFC). That process can cost around $25,000 – a small price to pay in order to provide Navy RW crews the appropriate tools needed to enhance the RBT environment. For the cost of a single brand new rotor blade on the H-60 ($335,000 or $100,365 refurbished), the Navy could buy and field 688 COTS LASERs (the more expensive of the two), with LSRB costs included. Though the acquisitions process is generally much slower than desired, an LSRB and COTS material solution appear as prime candidates for end-of-theyear funds. The cost savings from even a single prevented mishap far outweigh the costs of fielding a solution.

If the Navy determines that eye safe LASERs do not meet the level required for priority purchase to provide for RW aircrew, providing squadrons the opportunity to open purchase them by conducting an LSRB and granting an IFC to an eye-safe LASER that meets NAVAIR specifications is equally beneficial. Until then, continual documentation is required through ASAPS and HAZREPS to highlight this critical hazard and gap in training efficiency. LASERs provide significantly enhanced SA, both in and out of combat, and Navy RW units need a cost-effective solution to allow for LASER usage while mitigating excessive NOHDs. An eyesafe (or nearly eye-safe) COTS solution will allow crews to train like they fight, and fight like they train.