Chinese laser attack on U.S. aircraft left out of Pentagon report

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon's latest report on the Chinese military fails to mention a laser attack that damaged the eyes of American military aircrews near a Chinese military base in Africa last year in an apparent bid to preserve the controversial military exchange program with Beijing. The Washington Free Beacon reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

6 May 2019 -- The annual report to Congress on Chinese military and security developments mentions a few provocative Chinese military actions, such as a Chinese warship's near-collision with the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur in the South China Sea last year that defense officials said appeared designed as a Chinese navy ramming operation.

The report also notes the decision by the Pentagon to disinvite the Chinese from sending naval forces to the Rim of the Pacific international naval exercises in response to China's continued militarization of disputed islands in the South China Sea.

However, there was no mention of the more serious incident involving injury to U.S. military personnel. The laser attacks took place in late April 2018 and caused eye damage to air crews flying in military aircraft near the Chinese's first overseas military base located in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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