DATE=11/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241209
TITLE=BOSNIA LASER ATTACK (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE PILOT AND A CREWMAN ON AN AMERICAN HELICOPTER WERE 
HURT RECENTLY (OCTOBER 24) WHEN SOMEONE FIRED A LASER AT THEIR 
AIRCRAFT PATROLLING OVER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.  THE MEN WERE ABLE 
TO LAND SAFELY BUT THIS, AND SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE BALKANS, 
HAVE SPARKED CONCERN AMONG U-S AIR CREWS.  U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS
AND POLICE IN BOSNIA ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENTS, AND THE U-S
ARMY SAYS IT IS NOW CHANGING THE WAY IT USES ITS HELICOPTERS.  
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY U-S HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN HIT BY 
LASERS FOUR TIMES IN BOSNIA.  OFFICIALS SAY ONE CASE CAUSED 'MILD
TO MODERATE' EYE INJURIES WHEN THE LASER LIGHT STAYED ON THE 
AIRCRAFT FOR FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS.  THE PILOT AND A SERGEANT WERE
BOTH TREATED FOR EYE INJURIES, AND BOTH ARE EXPECTED TO RECOVER 
AND BE ABLE TO RESUME FLYING. 

NEVERTHELESS, PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE ARMY IS CHANGING THE WAY
IT USES HELICOPTERS OVER BOSNIA TO LESSEN THE DANGER TO PILOTS --
BUT WILL GIVE FEW DETAILS.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY DID SAY PILOTS NOW HAVE SOME 
PROTECTION FROM THE LASER THREAT.

                      /// DOUBLEDAY ACT ///

         WHAT WE'VE DONE TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION IS TO PROVIDE
         HELICOPTER CREWS WITH EITHER SPECIAL GLASSES OR GOGGLES 
         THAT PROTECT THEIR EYES IN THESE SITUATIONS.

                    /// END ACT ///         

AN EXPERT IN WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY SAYS THE PILOTS HAVE GOOD REASON 
FOR CONCERN. JOHN PIKE STUDIES STRATEGIC ISSUES FOR THE 
FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS. HE SAYS FOUR THOUSAND IRANIAN 
SOLDIERS SUFFERED EYE INJURIES, INCLUDING BLINDNESS, WHEN IRAQI 
FORCES SWEPT POWERFUL LASERS ACROSS THEIR RANKS DURING THE 
IRAN-IRAQ WAR.

                        /// PIKE ACT ///

         IT WAS A LOT EASIER FOR THEM TO INJURE THOSE SOLDIERS 
         USING A LASER THAN IT WAS TO KILL THEM BY HITTING THEM 
         WITH A BULLET.   AND THE THING IS THAT AN INJURED 
         SOLDIER IS A LOT MORE OF A BURDEN TO A MILITARY THAN A 
         DEAD SOLDIER IS BECAUSE EVERY INJURED SOLDIER REQUIRES 
         SEVERAL MORE TO GET HIM BACK TO THE HOSPITAL.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. PIKE SAYS THE IRANIAN BATTLEFIELD LASERS WERE THOSE USED BY 
TANKS TO DETERMINE THE RANGE TO A TARGET.  OTHER LASERS ARE USED 
TO GUIDE BOMBS AND SHELLS TO TARGETS WITH GREAT PRECISION.  

LASERS ARE USED BY MANY NATIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IN 
TANKS, ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS AND TO DISRUPT ELECTRONIC DEVICES.  

MR. PIKE SAYS RECENT TREATIES LABELED WEAPONS SPECIFICALLY 
DESIGNED TO BLIND SOLDIERS AS 'INHUMANE' AND BANNED THEIR USE.  
BUT HE SAYS WITH SO MANY LASERS PLAYING SO MANY BATTLEFIELD 
ROLES, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THE BAN ON THESE WEAPONS. 
(SIGNED).

NEB/JR/JO

04-Nov-98 6:31 PM EST (2331 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.