Which lasers must go through the military-specific laser approval process?

The military-specific laser approval process is designed to ensure that lasers used in operational or combat contexts meet stringent safety and performance standards. These lasers are typically deployed in environments where safety is critical due to the potential for exposure to harmful laser radiation and the serious operational consequences that can arise from their use.

In such scenarios, the lasers are assessed not only for their effectiveness in the intended tasks but also for their potential impact on personnel, equipment, and mission success. This includes evaluations of their output power, wavelength, and operational usage, which can differ significantly from those of lasers used in training, commercial applications, or recreational settings.

Lasers utilized in training environments may have different requirements since they are often used in controlled situations where the risks can be managed differently. Commercially available lasers, while they need to comply with regulations for public safety, do not undergo the same rigorous military evaluation protocol. Similarly, recreational lasers, which are typically lower power and often used in non-combat scenarios, are not subjected to the same approval process as those intended for operational purposes. Thus, the focus on lasers intended for combat underscores the heightened level of scrutiny required for tools that can have immediate and significant consequences on military operations.