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U.S. Air Force Advances New Aircrew Laser Eye Protection in Response to Escalating Laser Threat.
Airmen at Robins Air Force Base are leading the development of next generation Aircrew Laser Eye Protection as reported by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on 12 February 2026. The effort responds to more than 10,000 FAA-reported laser strikes in 2025, a trend that is reshaping how the U.S. Air Force protects pilot vision and mission readiness.
Airmen at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia are spearheading a new U.S. Air Force initiative to counter the growing threat of laser strikes against aircraft, following data from the Federal Aviation Administration showing more than 10,000 reported incidents in 2025, nearly 48 percent higher than in 2020. According to reporting by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Human Systems Division is advancing a next-generation Aircrew Laser Eye Protection system designed to shield pilots from potentially blinding laser exposure without compromising cockpit visibility or mission performance. The effort reflects mounting concern that what was once considered a ground-level nuisance now poses measurable operational and medical risk to military aircrews worldwide.
The U.S. Air Force is developing next generation laser eye protection at Robins Air Force Base to counter a sharp rise in aircraft laser strikes that now exceed 10,000 incidents annually, aiming to safeguard pilot vision without compromising mission performance (Picture Source: DVIDS)
The rise in laser incidents has direct implications for air operations in both civilian and military airspace. Laser beams directed at cockpits can cause effects ranging from momentary flash blindness and glare to more severe retinal injury, precisely during critical phases of flight such as takeoff, approach, and landing. Even when physical damage is unlikely, the sudden disruption and psychological impact on pilots can force go-arounds, diversions, or mission aborts, with potential consequences for safety, mission timelines, and operational security. For a force that flies daily from contested theaters to dense urban airfields, mitigating this type of low-cost, high-disruption threat is now an essential layer of aircrew survivability.
This is the context in which the Aircrew Laser Eye Protection – Technology Insertion (ALEP-TI) program has been structured as an evolutionary acquisition effort. Managed by AFLCMC/ROU at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and supported by the Operations and Support team at Robins AFB, the program replaces and upgrades laser protection eyewear every five to seven years. Instead of treating eye protection as a static item of personal equipment, the Air Force is turning it into a rolling technology baseline, allowing it to keep pace with changing laser wavelengths, power levels, and operational feedback from the field. The latest iteration, known as the Block 3 family of products, is built around a modular kit concept that can be tailored to the mission profile.
The Block 3 kit comprises six different devices configured for specific conditions during takeoff and landing, including day, night, and ballistic spectacles, as well as visors designed to be used with night vision goggles while providing peripheral protection. Technically, the core innovation lies in a new dye formulation that filters a broader spectrum of light wavelengths than previous Block 2 equipment, increasing protection against current and emerging laser threats. At the same time, the updated night spectacles allow more natural light through the lenses, improving visual acuity and situational awareness in low-light conditions. This balance between protection and transparency is central for pilots who must read instruments, scan for traffic, and maintain terrain awareness without feeling as though they are looking through darkened glass.
Beyond the hardware itself, the initiative also illustrates how the U.S. Air Force is trying to tighten the link between human systems engineers and operational users. AFLCMC/ROU specialists, including mechanical engineer Kevin Frost and equipment specialist Eric Miltner, work directly with technicians and Airmen at operational bases to validate technical orders, user manuals, and maintenance procedures. They allow maintainers and aircrew to walk through instructions unassisted, verifying that the documentation is clear and that the equipment is practical to sustain at squadron level. This approach reduces the risk of user error, speeds up adoption in the field, and ensures that feedback on fit, comfort, compatibility with helmets and NVG mounts, and real-world performance feeds quickly back into subsequent design cycles.
For the wider U.S. military, this new generation of laser eye protection has several strategic implications. First, it directly strengthens aircrew survivability and long-term eye health at a time when retention of experienced pilots and aircrew is a critical issue. Robust protection against laser exposure reduces the likelihood of medical attrition or temporary grounding linked to eye injuries. Second, it supports mission assurance: with Block 3 ALEP, aircrews operating over major U.S. cities, near international airports, or in proximity to hostile actors using lasers as harassment or denial tools can continue operations with reduced risk of distraction or impairment.
Third, fielding more than 45,000 devices to Air Force units by 2029, as planned by AFLCMC/ROU, demonstrates a commitment to treating eye protection as a fleet-wide capability rather than a niche piece of gear limited to specific aircraft types or missions. In the longer term, the technical solutions and user feedback generated by ALEP-TI could inform joint programs with other U.S. services and allied air forces, creating a de facto standard for laser protection in coalition air operations.
The work underway at Robins and Wright-Patterson AFB goes well beyond the procurement of a new pair of glasses. It signals how the U.S. Air Force, and by extension the U.S. military, is adapting to a threat that is inexpensive, widely available, and increasingly common in both civilian and military contexts. By combining iterative technology insertion, modular equipment tailored to operational conditions, and close collaboration with the Airmen who will wear the gear, the ALEP Block 3 effort positions the United States as a pioneer in next-generation protective technology for aircrews. As laser incidents continue to rise globally, this kind of focused investment in human protection will be a decisive factor in keeping pilots effective, aircraft safe, and air operations resilient in an increasingly complex threat environment.