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6.15 LASER WEAPONSIn general, laser weapons are permissible. They may be used against enemy combatants,including to kill and injure them. However, the use of “blinding laser” weapons is prohibited. Inaddition, feasible precautions shall be taken in the employment of laser systems to avoid causingpermanent blindness.6.15.1 Prohibition on “Blinding Laser” Weapons. It is prohibited to employ laserweapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions,to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision, that is, to the naked eye or to the eye withcorrective eyesight devices. 380Any use of such weapons is prohibited, including uses that are not intended to blind.Although the U.S. armed forces and other militaries use lasers in a variety of roles, suchas range-finding or causing temporary loss of sight, the United States has not developed orfielded a “blinding laser” weapon.6.15.1.1 Laser Weapon Specifically Designed, as Its Sole Combat Function orOne of Its Combat Functions. To fall under the above prohibition, the laser device must bespecifically designed, as a combat function, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision.On the other hand, blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate militaryemployment of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical equipment, is notprohibited. 381 Thus, laser systems and devices used for rangefinding, target designation,jamming, dazzling, communications, and weapons guidance do not fall under this prohibition,even if serious eye injury or permanent blindness may incidentally occur through their use. 382Similarly, incidental blinding from the use of lasers that are designed to attack or destroymaterial or injure persons as a combat function (but are not specifically designed to blind) wouldbe permissible.6.15.1.2 Permanent Blindness to Unenhanced Vision. “Permanent blindness” isdefined as irreversible and uncorrectable loss of vision that is seriously disabling with no40 (“Certain flammable military targets are also more readily destroyed by incendiaries. For example, a fuel depotcould require up to eight times the bombs and sorties to destroy using only high explosives rather than incendiaries.Such an increase means a significantly greater humanitarian risk of collateral damage.”).380 CCW PROTOCOL IV ON BLINDING LASER WEAPONS art. 1 (“It is prohibited to employ laser weapons specificallydesigned, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness tounenhanced vision, that is to the naked eye or to the eye with corrective eyesight devices.”).381 CCW PROTOCOL IV ON BLINDING LASER WEAPONS art. 3 (“Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of thelegitimate military employment of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical equipment, is notcovered by the prohibition of this Protocol.”).382 W. Hays Parks, Special Assistant to The Judge Advocate General of the Army for Law of War Matters,Memorandum of Law: Travaux Preparatoires and Legal Analysis of Blinding Laser Weapons Protocol, reprinted inTHE ARMY LAWYER 33, 36 (Jun. 1997) (“Choice of the term weapon was intentional to distinguish the prohibitedsystem from lasers which are used for rangefinding, jamming, dazzling, communications, weapons guidance, andsimilar purposes.”).387