December 6, 2022 (Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Gulf) Two U.S. Navy ships sailing through international waters on Monday, December 5th faced an unusual real-world escalation of force (EOF) scenario as a fast approaching Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) patrol boat challeneged US Naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The IRGCN boat headed straight towards the U.S. Navy ships while attempting to blind them with a spotlight. The hostile actions of the IRGCN patrol boat took place within 150 yards of the U.S. Navy ships in the narrow passage where dozens of commerical vessels and other large tankers sail routinely.
"Unsafe and unprofessional" is how U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) describes the actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard patrol boat. Instead of returning fire with lethal force, the U.S. Navy ships responded with a non-lethal option, the B.E. Meyers & Co. GLARE LA9/P (NSN: 5860-01-613-1742), a high-power visible green laser dazzler with integrated SafeRange(TM) technology that allows for eyesafe operation.
Overwhelmed by the dazzling laser beam, the patrol boat ceased their aggressive maneuvers, heeding the warnings of the U.S. Navy ships. This attempt to impede international travel through the Straight is not an isolated incident. “This dangerous action in international waters is indicative of Iran’s destabilizing activity across the Middle East,” said Col. Joe Buccino, CENTCOM spokesman. In the last five years, Iran has conducted at least sixteen separate attacks on civilian international vessels in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.
This incident is one more example of de-escalation capabilities of B.E. Meyers & Co. laser dazzlers, and another reminder of the lifesaving applications of the technology we build every day. The ability to use hail and warning technology during escalation of force (EOF) incidents puts the B.E. Meyers & Co. production motto to "Build It Right, Save A Life" into context, protecting U.S. Warfighters and allies abroad.
Read more about the incident on Task and Purpose, and see the original U.S. Central Comand press release here
