Navy SEALs rely chiefly on infrared lasers—usually about 850 nm—for night‑time targeting, while green lasers are employed when visible light is needed and red lasers are rarely used.
Infrared lasers dominate night operations
IR lasers emit light outside the visible spectrum, so they cannot be seen by the naked eye. When a SEAL looks through a night‑vision device, the invisible beam appears as a bright line, allowing precise aiming without revealing the operator’s position. The 850 nm wavelength matches the sensitivity peak of most military‑grade image intensifier tubes, offering a clear, stealthy point of aim.
Why 850 nm is preferred
At 850 nm the beam stays invisible to the eye yet is efficiently amplified by standard third‑generation night‑vision goggles. Shorter wavelengths (around 750 nm) begin to bleed into the visible red range, creating a faint glow that could be spotted. Longer wavelengths (above 1 500 nm) fall outside the detection range of typical NVGs and would require expensive thermal sensors.
Visible lasers for daylight and transitional lighting
When operations occur in full daylight or in conditions where night‑vision gear is ineffective, SEALs switch to visible lasers. Green lasers (≈532 nm) are favored because the human eye is most sensitive to that color, making the dot appear much brighter than a red laser of equal power. Red lasers (≈635 nm) are less common because they are harder to see against bright backgrounds.
Equipment commonly issued
The standard aiming device is the AN/PEQ‑15 (or its successor, the AN/PEQ‑20/NGAL). These units combine an IR pointer with a visible green (and sometimes red) laser in a single rail‑mounted package. They are powered to deliver up to 45 mW in IR mode, well above civilian limits, and can be set to low‑power for covert use.
Operational considerations
Using a visible laser in a hostile environment can give away the operator’s location, so SEALs keep IR mode active whenever possible. In humid or dusty air, IR beams can scatter and become faint, but the effect is far less noticeable than the glare produced by a red or green beam. Temperature extremes affect green lasers more than IR or red, so cold‑weather missions often stay in IR mode.
Summary of laser use
- Primary: IR laser (~850 nm) for stealth night targeting.
- Secondary: Green laser (~532 nm) for daylight or low‑light situations.
- Rare: Red laser (~635 nm), used only when specific tactical needs arise.