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Old 07-24-2017, 04:39 PM  
Barry-xlovecam
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https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ihl/INTRO/570

Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV to the 1980 Convention), 13 October 1995

Quote:
Article 1

It is prohibited to employ laser weapons 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 with corrective eyesight devices. The High Contracting Parties shall not transfer such weapons to any State or non-State entity.
Both the Russian Federation and the United States of America are parties to this ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) agreement.

I suppose if you target a manned aircraft with a laser weapon you would blind the pilot before the aircraft is destroyed and its personnel are fried to a crisp. That would be a war crime when lasers are used directly against combatant personnel.

If you target unmanned drones then there is no war crime -- machine v. machine -- may the better machine win.
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