The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Human Systems Division is upgrading protective eyewear for aircrew operators to combat an increasing number of laser pointer incidents.

The division, which operates out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is working on a family of products known as the Block 3. It will, for the first time, combine laser and ballistic protection capabilities, the Air Force said in a press release earlier this month.

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“The health of the eye is so important to our pilots,” said Capt. Pete Coats, lead program manager for the Human Systems Division’s Aircrew Laser Eye Protection Program. “The consequences of getting lasered without having proper protection could not only prevent the pilot from flying and landing an aircraft safely, but it could also cost them their career. So, our goal is to ensure the right eyewear is available to everyone.”

There are eight variations of the new eyewear, each with specific advantages depending on the mission and other critical details.

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“If flying low and slow or hovering like a helicopter or CV-22 Osprey, aircrew would prefer to have ballistic protection as well as laser protection,” said Mark Beer, Aircrew Laser Eye Protection Program deputy program manager. “However, if you’re in a fighter aircraft or flying in a bomber at high altitude, the chances of you needing ballistic protection are not nearly as high.”

Pilots reported nearly 9,500 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration in 2022, and the total for 2023 is already above 10,300. Shining a laser at an aircraft can result in a fine of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents.