DOD INSTRUCTION 3100.11
M
ANAGEMENT OF LASER ILLUMINATION OF OBJECTS IN SPACE
Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Effective: October 24, 2016
Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the DoD Issuances Website at
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.
Reissues and Cancels: DoD Instruction 3100.11, “Illumination of Objects in Space by Lasers”
March 31, 2000
Incorporates and Cancels: Directive-type Memorandum 07-002, “Routine Laser Illumination for
Operational Space Situational Awareness (SSA),” December 28, 2012
Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Approval of F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) Activities under DoDI 3100.11, Illumination of
Objects in Space by Lasers,” November 6, 2011
Approved by: Brian P. McKeon, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5111.1 and the November 30,
2006, Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, this issuance:
• Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures, in accordance with DoDD
3100.10, for the DoD management of risks associated with laser illuminations of objects in space.
• Establishes the requirement for a quantitative probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) process to
categorize DoD-owned or -operated lasers that could direct energy above the horizon or in space and
implements risk acceptance standards for DoD-owned or -operated resident space objects (RSOs).
• Establishes an exempt category of lasers that do not require coordination, notification, or permission
before use due to the minimal risk they pose to RSOs.
• Provides guidance on management of DoD-owned and -operated lasers that have transitioned from
research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) status into DoD weapon systems.
• Supersedes the unclassified information in the May 15, 2014, Commander Joint Functional
Component Command for Space (JFCC SPACE) Memorandum; and the 2011-01 Director, National
Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Memorandum.
