Non-lethal laser defends against pirate attacks

The laser provides a visual warning to pirates at distances of 2km and beyond and disorientates them at close range, so that weapons cannot be targeted effectively.

Piracy worldwide is on the rise according to reports from the International Maritime Bureau, with 430 attacks worldwide reported last year, up from 406 in 2009. As pirates increase their range and capabilities, commercial shipping agents are looking for ways of preventing attacks whilst avoiding armed guards on their ships.

Bryan Hore, BAE Systems business development manager and the lead for programme, said: ‘The whole concept of the anti-piracy campaign that BAE sytems are undertaking is how we might be able to take military technology and employ it in a commercial environment.

‘That means first of all simplifying the technology, because of the type of people that would be operating it, but also making it a cost effective.’

The researchers developed a bespoke Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser which is an effective deterrent at relatively low power levels. By utilising targeting systems and changing beam patterns, the distraction effect can be made more pronounced and be used against multiple targets.