[MilCom] Laser Attacks on Military Aircraft

[Ken]

I'm sure many of you have seen in the news reports about recent laser 
attacks on commercial aircraft.  According to various news reports over the 
past 3 months or so there's been about 5 incidents involving large lasers 
that have hit aircraft at flight altitutdes 8,500, including the injury of 
one crew member  Locations have been in CA, CO, OR, TX, UT.

My research has indicated that there also has been at least 3 incidents 
involving military aircraft in the last few years to include the following:

Army Helicopters, Korea DMZ, 1999
Canadian Forces Helicopter, Washington State/British Columbia, 1997
Army Helicopter Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 1998

Ref:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-5-2003_pg4_1

http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/navyman.htm

Locally about 2 years ago we had a guy that was shinning a very large spot 
light into the side window of military aircraft on a particular runway 
approach heading to KCEF.  It took quite a bit of time to actual find this 
guy and stop the activity.

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area