BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 91-401
28 NOVEMBER 2018
Safety
DIRECTED ENERGY SYSTEM SAFETY
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing website at
www.e-Publishing.af.mil for downloading or ordering.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: AFSEC/SEW
Supersedes: AFI 91-401, 5 September 2013
Certified by: AFSEC/CV
(Col William C. Culver)
Pages: 49
This Instruction implements requirements from Department of Defense Instruction (DoD)
Instruction 3200.19, Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Human Effects Characterization, DoD
Instruction 6055.15, DoD Laser Protection Program, DoD Instruction 6055.11, Protecting
Personnel from Electromagnetic Fields, Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 91-4, Directed Energy
Weapon Safety, specific requirements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Standard,
Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1040.10, Laser Products, and Part 1040.11,
Specific Purpose Laser Products. It provides the requirements for directed energy system safety
certification and guidance for establishing a directed energy safety program. This Instruction
explains the safety verification and certification process for new or modified directed energy
systems and applies to all Air Force organizations and personnel assigned a mission or function
involving directed energy systems, including the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard
(ANG). This Instruction also applies to Air Force research and development organizations prior to
capability fielding or operational testing by non-developmental personnel, including Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL), commercial item, commercial-off-the-shelf, government-off-the-
shelf, non-developmental item, or capabilities identified as solutions for rapid fielding and/or rapid
development programs given to an organizational unit for evaluation as of the date of publication.
This publication may be supplemented at any level, but all supplements must be routed to the
office of primary responsibility listed above for coordination prior to certification and approval.
Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the office of primary
responsibility listed above using the AF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication;
