Chinese military lasers injure US military pilots in Africa

[Swordsmyth]

Chinese personnel at the country's first overseas military base in Djibouti have been using lasers to interfere with US military aircraft at a nearby American base, activity that has resulted in injuries to US pilots and prompted the US to launch a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing, two military officials told CNN.The US issued a notice to airmen "to exercise caution when flying in certain areas in Djibouti," which "was issued due to lasers being directed at US aircraft on a small number of separate occasions over the last few weeks," according to the notice obtained by CNN.
"During one incident, there were two minor eye injuries of aircrew flying in a C-130 that resulted from exposure to military-grade laser beams, which were reported to have originated from the nearby Chinese base," the notice said.

More at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/03/politics/chinese-lasers-us-military-pilots-africa/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+rss%252Fcnn_latest+(RSS%253 A+CNN+-+Most+Recent)

[TheTexan]

I know a solution to this problem.

[Swordsmyth]

I know a solution to this problem.

Nuke China?

[brushfire]

https://media1.giphy.com/media/xUPGcoQ8sfEbaP2JYA/giphy.gif

[TheTexan]

Nuke China?

I was going to suggest we just cluster bomb their base in Africa, but that works too


Chinese personnel at the country's first overseas military base

their first and soon to be their last

[oyarde]

Nuke China?

Nah , he would eliminate the chinese base in Djibouti . Since they attacked us it is kind of hard to make a case that that is not a reasonable response . At any rate , I would no longer be listening to people who know nothing of steel talk about tariffs .

[Swordsmyth]

I was going to suggest we just cluster bomb their base in Africa, but that works too



their first and soon to be their last


Nah , he would eliminate the chinese base in Djibouti . Since they attacked us it is kind of hard to make a case that that is not a reasonable response .

I expected a Texican to think much bigger, I'm disappointed.

[oyarde]

I expected a Texican to think much bigger, I'm disappointed.

Like myself he could just be elated korea finally surrendered and Oyarde won .

[oyarde]

I also heard a rumor Texans are boycotting chinese food on Thurs in response .

[brushfire]

I also heard a rumor Texans are boycotting chinese food on Thurs in response .

I just found out I had to pay > $6 per can of oysters, if I want a product from the USA. All mainstream brands are from china - every mother grabbin one.

Same with crawdads... who the fk has to import crawdads? What have we come to?

[Swordsmyth]

I also heard a rumor Texans are boycotting chinese food on Thurs in response .

They have chineese food in Texas?

[oyarde]

They have chineese food in Texas?

In San Antonio on the military highway is the Chinese Inn , the Sichuan House and the Golden Wok on Wurzbach road , Royal Inn Oriental , Regent Hunan and Kings Bowl Chinese on Babcock road , Tang Street Chinese on San Pedro , Hong Kong on the Nacogdoches road , Li's on Huebner , Gin on Glen Ridge , Lung Fung on Brook Hollow , Wu's on Judson and 109 others , I think .

[oyarde]

I expected a Texican to think much bigger, I'm disappointed.

In another victory for texans yesterdays close on West Texas Light Sweet Crude Oil was up 68 cents to 67.93 .

[pao]

Maybe some kids near the Chinese base were playing with a lazer pen.

[dannno]

Saying Djibouti is a lot more fun than typing Djibouti.

[TheTexan]

I expected a Texican to think much bigger, I'm disappointed.

You can't just go directly into all-out war with China, you have to build up to it

this way LMT goes up way higher over many years

[Danke]

Nah , he would eliminate the chinese base in Djibouti . Since they attacked us it is kind of hard to make a case that that is not a reasonable response . At any rate , I would no longer be listening to people who know nothing of steel talk about tariffs .


Use the Neutron bomb so we can takeover base later with structures still intact.

[Swordsmyth]

Use the Neutron bomb so we can takeover base later with structures still intact.

But that isn't as much fun as using bows and arrows.

[kcchiefs6465]

The savagery.

[oyarde]

But that isn't as much fun as using bows and arrows.

Flaming arrows . That way after they are dead the air is filled with the smell of burning flesh . Everyone always acts all surprised when you kick in the door and shoot them in the throat with a flaming arrow . Like they did not know what caused it in the first place . Yeah , right .

[oyarde]

Use the Neutron bomb so we can takeover base later with structures still intact.

That is probably why you were an officer . Or , you could just tell them to stop or I will be coming and they will surrender .

[pcosmar]

Why are pilots in Africa?

Seems like They ran into Anti-Spy defenses.

And now the Chinese know that they work. Good Job in Field Testing.

[TheTexan]

Use the Neutron bomb so we can takeover base later with structures still intact.

Given it was built by China, the structures are almost certainly not up to code. Likely need to be destroyed anyway.

[TheTexan]

Why are pilots in Africa?

Need an outpost in Africa in case the continent ever decides to turn their spears against us

[Raginfridus]

https://youtu.be/FTQbiNvZqaY

[oyarde]

Why are pilots in Africa?

Seems like They ran into Anti-Spy defenses.

And now the Chinese know that they work. Good Job in Field Testing.

There has been a special operations base there for a long time . ( Camp Lemonnier , I think ) I know it was there in 2001 , probably a little before .

[oyarde]

Need an outpost in Africa in case the continent ever decides to turn their spears against us

That is where the guys who shoot Somali pirates come out of . Just blame somalia . somalians have a lot in common with Danke , you can blame them for almost everything .

[pcosmar]

There has been a special operations base there for a long time . ( Camp Lemonnier , I think ) I know it was there in 2001 , probably a little before .

Ah,, They shouldn't look at the Chinese then. If they aren't looking at them the laser wouldn't hurt them.

[Swordsmyth]

Laser attacks against U.S. forces have spread out of Africa into the Pacific. U.S. personnel operating in the East China Sea area have been the victim of blinding laser attacks similar to those that took place earlier this year in Djibouti. The attacks, conducted with nonlethal lasers were reportedly carried out by Chinese nationals.
Earlier this year the Pentagon issued a NOTAM (https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a20104570/mystery-laser-attacks-chinese-base/), or “Notice to Airmen” warning U.S. pilots of “unauthorized laser activity” resulting in injury to an unspecified number of U.S. personnel in the skies over Djibouti. The lasers originated on or very near China’s first overseas military base, just 8.3 miles from the American base, and according to U.S. officials, Chinese nationals were involved (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-djibouti/china-denies-u-s-accusation-of-lasers-pointed-at-planes-in-djibouti-idUSKBN1I429M). The U.S. issued a formal complaint to China, which denied the accusations.
Now the U.S. is reporting similar attacks in the East China Sea, where more than 20 incidents have reportedly taken place. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology (http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/laser-dazzling-us-military-pilots-spreads-pacific), as the attacks are increasing they are also involving more laser frequency bands.
China has been accused of developing and marketing anti-eye lasers (http://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinese-military-using-blinding-laser-weapons/), weapons whose use in wartime would constitute a violation of international law. These weapons include the BBQ-905 Laser Dazzler Weapon, the WJG-2002 Laser Gun, the PY132A Blinding Laser Weapon, and the PY131A Blinding Laser Weapon.


The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed to AvWeek (http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/laser-dazzling-us-military-pilots-spreads-pacific) that the laser strikes are taking place both from shore and fishing vessels. It’s not clear where the shore attacks are taking place, but China trains and offers subsidies to fishing boat crews to act as what observers call China’s “maritime militia." Fleets of fishing boats often sail into territory claimed by China as a precursor to China’s claiming the region for itself, to hassle other fishermen and local coast guards, and to act as the eyes and ears of the Chinese military.
Pointing lasers at low-flying American planes would fall in line with the maritime militia’s duties, allowing the Chinese government to demonstrate that U.S. forces aren't welcome in an area without using official Chinese military or coast guard forces.

The increasing sophistication of these lasers implies Chinese state support for the laser attacks. There’s also the question as to how simple fishing boat crews can tell U.S. military planes from civilian planes without direction from someone with access to radar.

More at: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a21630374/laser-attacks-against-us-forces-spreads-to-the-pacific/

[Danke]

Given it was built by China, the structures are almost certainly not up to code. Likely need to be destroyed anyway.

True.

[oyarde]

Chinese fishing vessels full of chinese spies shooting lasers at a foreign military . What could go wrong ?

[Brian4Liberty]

"During one incident, there were two minor eye injuries of aircrew flying in a C-130 that resulted from exposure to military-grade laser beams...

It's good to be skeptical of such statements. "Military-grade", as in the kind you buy at the Dollar Store, or do you have to step it up a couple of bucks on EBay?


Maybe some kids near the Chinese base were playing with a lazer pen.

Could be anyone playing with a laser. They are cheap and easy to get. Maybe Chinese soldiers "playing".