Method for operating a jamming laser in a DIRCM system in a manner that is safe for eyes

1. A method for operating a jamming laser in a DIRCM system on board an aircraft in a manner that is safe for eyes, the method comprising:

determining an amount of energy radiated by the jamming laser since the start of combat;

determining, depending on flight condition of the aircraft, a limit for permitted energy radiation, wherein the limit corresponds to a laser protection distance to be observed for the flight condition of the aircraft; and

suppressing radiation from the jamming laser when the limit is reached.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the amount energy radiated by the jamming laser since the start of combat is determined separately for near- and mid-/far-infrared range,

depending on the aircraft's flight condition, two separate limits are determined for permitted energy radiation for the near- and mid-/farinfrared range, wherein a total of the limits corresponds to a laser protection distance to be observed for the flight condition of the aircraft,

when the limit is reached for the near-infrared range, radiation in the near-infrared range is suppressed, and

when the limit is reached for the mid-/far-infrared range, radiation in the mid/far-infrared range is suppressed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the limit for the near-infrared range is small enough for eye-safe radiation by the jamming laser in the mid-/far-infrared range to still be possible for a few seconds after radiation has been suppressed in the near-infrared range.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flight condition of the aircraft is an altitude of the aircraft.