The banning of combat systems that are based on directed energy transmission, primarily lasers, is particularly complicated. They can be used for striking aircraft, satellites, ballistic missiles and their elements during flight, and also for the detection, probing and identification of ground, underwater and space objects, as well as for targeting other weapon systems and, in future, for the rapid transfer of immense amounts of information, i.e. for communications. Theoretically, effectiveness of lasers may be limited (thereby separating attack systems from ancillary purpose systems) by the ratio of power illumination to the area of the ray's cross-section (joules/steredian), which is an indicator integrating a laser's energy and the area of its mirror reflector.

But to come to an agreement regarding such limitations would be a complex undertaking if we take into account the different types of lasers ("pumping" methods) and the diverse areas through which they may pass (space, atmosphere). For example, a laser that does not have destructive potential in a dense atmosphere may be an effective weapon against satellites in space at long distances, or for striking booster stages of ballistic missiles at a shorter range when they leave the atmosphere, or missile warheads in space at a short distance.

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Arbatov, Alexey. Space Weapons: Science Fiction, Real Threats and Arms Control Opportunities. : International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, May 2009. [ 8 quotes ] [ page 14 ]