A non-lethal weapon is a killing sound, a weapon of non-lethal effect. Non-Lethal Self-Defense Weapons: A Quick Guide Sticky War Foam

In 1929, a historical drama was staged at the Lyric Theater in London. The authors sought to evoke special emotions in the viewer. They shared their problems with the famous physicist Robert Wood. He suggested using an acoustic effect.
The low-frequency wave of sound emitted by a giant organ pipe, inaudible to the human ear, caused a monstrous resonance at the premiere. The glass shook, the chandeliers rang, the whole building shook... The audience was gripped by horror. The panic began. The performance was disrupted. Wood was suspected of witchcraft.

In the early 1950s, during an American high-altitude nuclear test explosion in Hawaii, street lights went out. The automation that controls turning the lights on and off was disabled by a powerful electromagnetic pulse emitted during a nuclear explosion. This is how the first - unintentional and unplanned - use of microwave weapons occurred.

The American magazine Newsweek reports that shortly after the operation in Somalia, US Deputy Secretary of Defense John Deutch ordered a group of senior Pentagon officials to study the possibility of creating non-lethal weapons. The team, which is led by Pentagon Tactical Systems Director Frank Kendall, proposes to prioritize programs that will begin funding next year and will span 3 to 5 years.

In 1991, the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta published information about contacts between the CIA and the KGB in the field of joint control over psychotronic research. The author of the information, a very well-known specialist in psychokinetic research, Vladimir Shchepilov, clarified that document number 79-90/16 on joint control was signed back in September 1990 by V. Kryuchkov and K. Weinberger.
More recently, this published information was confirmed by a letter to Moscow News from the head of a Russian defense plant. On it, in accordance with the named agreement on the technical documentation of the American company "HCY Co. Ltd." It was decided to produce Miranda resonant devices based on microwave radiation. Of course, they are intended for medicinal purposes.

A. N. Kochurov calmly carried his portable psi generator for demonstration through the police cordons directly to the television center. I carried it in an ordinary "diplomat".
“Of course, medical generators can easily be converted into destructive ones. Of course, impacts up to changing the structures of body tissues at the molecular level are possible.
Why am I talking about this? I am interested in making my colleagues and potential customers aware of such opportunities.
If an order is placed, it will be fulfilled. As for combat devices, they can be put into production in a year or two... Moral restrictions? Almost everyone creates weapons. Why are psychotronic weapons worse than atomic ones?

Ya. Ya. Rudakov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, inventor: “I can give a narrow beam that “hits” at a distance of more than a hundred meters. You can expand it, and then it will affect, for example, a large hall. A kind of artificial hypnosis. I can put you to sleep , tonify, cause hallucinations."

With the appearance of the American cruiser Belcap in the waters of the Persian Gulf, strange things began to happen in the ranks of the Iraqi army. Saddam Hussein's guards, hardened by years of brutal war with Iran, began to be seized by animal fear. At first they surrendered in dozens, then in thousands. This was the first psychotronic war in the history of mankind. It was won by the United States under President George W. Bush, who, when he was still the chief of the CIA, personally supervised the department involved in psi-development.

Insomnia can be easily overcome, say experts from EarthPulse. Engineers have developed the Sleep On Command device, which helps combat sleep disorders. The “electronic sleeping pill” must be placed under the mattress, from where it emits electromagnetic waves. According to the developers, these waves help you fall into deep sleep and restore natural sleep rhythms. The device is intended for people under stress; for those who suffer from insomnia, as well as for travelers. Sleep On Command is not cheap - $500, but the developers promise to return the money within ninety days if the device does not help restore normal sleep.

According to the military, radiation with a frequency of 95 GHz will quickly disperse crowds of rebels. Such installations placed on military trucks received the designation “Active Denial System”. The Pentagon classified it as a non-lethal, temporary weapon that causes skin burns but is not harmful for a short period of time. It is planned to turn on the microwave emitters for no more than five seconds, but in this case everyone in the affected area will feel severe pain.
Microwave weapons were tested in New Mexico at Kirtland Air Force Base.

At the end of January 2005, the Maariv newspaper reported that Israeli specialists had created a microwave weapon at the research laboratory of the technical training center located in the Ariel settlement in the West Bank. According to the inventors, penetrating under the skin to a depth of up to a millimeter, microwaves heat the water contained in the cells and intercellular space. It cannot kill a person, but it causes unbearable pain, similar in sensation to a burn.

The company Mission Research Corp from Santa Barbara, California intends to make beam weapons a reality. Its scientists are working on a “pulsed energy projectile PEP,” capable of heating the surface of a target so quickly and to such high temperatures that its effect is similar to an explosion. In addition, HSV Technologies from San Diego is working on creating a device that will transmit electricity via an ultraviolet beam.

The United States intends to test a new weapon that can disable enemy radars, computers and any electronic equipment. This weapon fires beams of powerful HPM (High Powered Microwave) microwave radiation. Now American specialists are conducting experiments on installing it on cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft, Interfax reports, citing the Air Force.
HPM are short-term, but very intense impulses. They disable electrical appliances, but have no effect on people. The new weapon is designed to destroy electronic equipment of command posts, communication systems and computer equipment. It creates an electromagnetic field of such power that its effect on electronics is more destructive than a lightning strike.

Defense Tech has announced the release of David Hambling's book, "Weapons: How Modern Warfare Gave Birth to Our High-Tech World."
This book reports that the US Air Force, among other “long-term” projects, has long been working on creating “Controlled Effects” weapons; by the way, there is material about it dated 2004 , and posted on the website of one of the research units of the US Air Force).
The global goal of Controlled Effects is quite fantastic (it’s not for nothing that the military puts the appearance of such functional and usable weapons in the years 2020-2050): remotely force enemy soldiers to do what the owner of the weapon needs; confuse them with non-existent objects (impact on the optic nerves, induced mirages), shocking smells and tastes. In a word, disorient him while remaining at a safe (relatively, of course) distance.
These systems should organically complement the complex of electronic equipment that affects enemy equipment, such as jammers.

Non-lethal weapons

A number of achievements of modern inventors give us every reason to talk about “psychotronic” or “psychic” weapons as a fact that must be taken into account.
The report of the American Hudson Institute for December 1996 provides the following classification.
"...Microwave weapons. Temporarily disables the central nervous system and brain, causing unbearable sensations of noise. Interferes with the operation of computer systems.
Infrasonic weapons . Can cause anxiety, despair and even horror. May cause a convulsive effect.
Psychotronic weapon . It is believed that it allows a person to transmit information and influence objects using so-called bioenergy. This type of weapon includes telekinesis, telepathic hypnosis, etc. Used to review classified documents. In addition, bioradiation affects communication systems and electronic equipment..."

The term “psychotronic” was given to it by journalists, although this term is not entirely correct, since during irradiation and subsequent special treatment, not only the human psyche is affected, but the entire organism as a whole. The Americans themselves call this type of weapon non-lethal weapons . Quite often, psychotronic weapons are classified as " information weapons ", striking enemy telecommunication systems (logic bombs, viruses that disable air defense systems, etc.). Finally, there is also psychotronic weapon , which should, in theory, influence the enemy's psyche - both his army and the population of his country.

The term "non-lethal weapon" was invented by American scientists. Here is a selective list of technologies that relate to this type of weapon: portable lasers and isotope emitters disguised as standard weapons that blind enemy soldiers. Infrasonic generators that not only disorient the enemy, but also cause nausea and diarrhea, as well as noise generators that affect hostile, agitated crowds. Or, for example, “water foam” - a gas sprayed with the effect of soap foam, which leads to complete disorientation of the enemy.
As part of the national program, most of the technologies were developed at the famous Los Alamos laboratory.

At the origins of non-lethal weapons lies a motley group of fascinating characters. For example, Janet and Christopher Morris, science fiction authors living in Massachusetts. Janet Morris was also the director of research at the U.S. Global Strategy Council (USGSC). By the way, this council was headed by former (Kennedy-era) deputy director of the CIA Ray Kline. It is the USGSC that is at the origins of the US national program in the field of non-lethal weapons, lobbying for the creation of many laboratories on this problem.
Under George W. Bush, the non-lethal weapons project attracted the interest of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. And by the time Clinton arrived in the White House, there was already general agreement on the development of such weapons.

The eccentric New York billionaire Malcolm Weiner and former commando colonel John Alexander took an active part in the implementation of the idea of ​​​​non-lethal weapons.
62-year-old Dr. John Alexander is a highly interesting person. A retired colonel, he fought as part of the special forces in Thailand and Vietnam. There he became interested in Buddhism and studied it in local monasteries. This influenced the pure soul of the special forces soldier so much that he developed a persistent interest in all paranormal phenomena. As a result, in 1980, Alexander published a policy article in the American military magazine Military Review about future types of weapons. In it, a special forces colonel stated that " there are weapon systems that act on the brain and whose lethality has already been demonstrated ", while mentioning psychokinesis, telepathic manipulation of human behavior, the exit of the soul from the body, etc. The article attracted the attention of Pentagon generals, and Alexander quickly received the status of a guru in US political and military circles. In 1983, Alexander managed to make friends with the current vice-president US President Al Gore, whom he trained using neuro-linguistic programming methods. New acquaintances helped Alexander with financing many of his projects.
For example, the devil-loving colonel really liked the movie “Star Wars” and the idea of ​​​​a film about some secret power of the “Jedi Knights”. In 1983, thanks to his friendship with Lieutenant General Stubblabine, who then headed the US Defense Intelligence and Security Administration, Alexander raised funds for a telekinesis research program, which he called “Jedi”.

After leaving the Army in 1988, Alexander was hired at Los Alamos National Laboratories, coming under the wing of Janet Morris.
Today, Alexander is the former director of non-lethal weapons programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, an adviser to the US government and, in fact, the leading expert on the problem of non-lethal weapons. And if any intelligence agency set out to follow the hobbies of the former colonel in order to find out the priorities of the United States in the field of new types of weapons, it would be very surprised. The fact is that Alexander, it seems, did not ignore a single “paranormal” topic. He is a member of the Council of the International Association for the Study of Life After Death, organizer of the 1993 national conference in Santa Fe devoted to "scientific and technical reports of research on rituals, near-death experiences, human contact with extraterrestrials and other so-called anomalous experiences." Alexander is also part of Aviary's Unidentified Aircraft Objects team. He even dived to the bottom of the ocean near the Bimini Islands in search of Atlantis.

Killing sound

Secret tests of infrasonic weapons took place in the Moscow region. I met Ivan ZUBKOVSKY, the last surviving participant in these events, in his small apartment near the Altufevskoye metro station. He has been living alone for many years, receives a Group 2 disability pension, and has a heart condition. He is sure that he lost his health while testing the most secret weapon of the 20th century.
In 1980, Zubkovsky was called up to serve in the Internal Troops of the Moscow Military District. His unit guarded military factories in the Moscow region. A year and a half later, Ivan became a junior sergeant and squad commander and was preparing for demobilization.
“In the morning, the company commander, Senior Lieutenant Ermolin, ordered our platoon to line up on the parade ground,” said Zubkovsky. “We were given black shoulder straps and buttonholes with the emblem of the construction battalion and ordered to be sewn onto our uniforms instead of our maroon ones. The company commander said that now we will guard the training ground. The rest, they say, is none of your business, the task is secret.

Everyone seemed to go crazy

Ivan further said that they were taken to a field near the town of Dolgoprudny. They set up tents, strung barbed wire around the perimeter, and installed a barrier on the access road. Electricians stretched a high-voltage cable from the nearest power line. Two weeks later, five Urals arrived with their bodies covered with tarpaulin. They were located in the center of the training ground, in the hangar. Security soldiers were forbidden to go there; people in civilian clothes worked there.
“For a long time we didn’t understand what was happening there.” Nothing was seen or heard. Then they will bring in some cows or horses. They first graze, then suddenly start kicking, and then fall. A tractor pulls up, the corpses are taken out, and everything starts all over again. Livestock was lost in abundance.
Strange things also happened to the soldiers. Our platoon was friendly, but here everyone seemed to go crazy. Every evening in the tents there was swearing, fighting, people rushed at each other like dogs. And then suddenly such melancholy will come, it’s time to shoot. And my heart started to hurt. Not only me, many complained of pain. Then we were ordered to move the tents further from the hangar. It became calmer. But my heart continued to ache.
After two months it was all over. The hangar was dismantled, the cable was rolled up, and the cars left. Only then did we find out - the platoon commander, Lieutenant Andreychuk, let it slip while he was drunk - that we were guarding a training ground where they were testing infrasonic weapons. We couldn’t figure out what kind of sound weapon it was, because there was complete silence.
After the end of the tests, Zubkovsky and four more of his colleagues were taken to the hospital. The diagnosis was the same for everyone - congenital heart disease. Although no one had suffered from any heart disease before. All five were discharged from the army. Ivan did not serve until demobilization for three months. The rest of his colleagues, who still had a year and a half left, even rejoiced at their suddenly acquired freedom.
“I don’t know what happened to the rest of the guys,” Zubkovsky continued the story. - What about the two who are like me? were from Moscow - Vanya Strelchenko and Lenya Babich, I talked for a long time. Now they are both dead. The diagnoses are the same - heart attack. Lieutenant Andreychuk also died, he lived not far from me, in Mytishchi. Of our entire platoon, I was the only one left. And they still don’t give me benefits. The military commissar said, “I don’t have any data about any tests, which means nothing happened.” And my wife left me and said: why do I need you so sick?

Non-lethal weapons (NLW), this phrase alone already contains a contradiction. Each of us knows from childhood that the purpose of any weapon is ultimately to kill. And this is still true, but in a number of situations it is necessary to have on hand such means of destruction that can be used to temporarily incapacitate people. Moreover, a number of such means have existed for quite a long time, these include rubber bullets or tear gas.

However, the fight against crime, riots and terrorism urgently requires the creation of new weapons, new methods and means. No less urgent is the use of non-lethal weapons in various peacekeeping operations conducted under the auspices of the UN, and sometimes in serious combat missions. Currently, intensive work on the creation of OND is being carried out in the USA and a number of other countries. Almost all non-lethal weapons created today are based on the following principles of influence: mechanical, acoustic, chemical, electrical, electromagnetic or optical.

Work on the creation of such weapons is also underway in Russia. In particular, information appeared not long ago that specialists from the Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense are working on testing electromagnetic weapons with non-lethal effects. The development of such weapons is associated with the aggravation of the internal political situation within the country.

The authorities fear that the thousands of rallies and demonstrations taking place in Moscow could eventually develop into mass unrest. According to the head of the department of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Soskov, the developed installation is intended for non-lethal effects on people. It uses extremely high-frequency (EHF) electromagnetic radiation as the main damaging factor.

The directed beam of this installation causes unbearable pain in a person. According to the specialist, the powerful beam generated by the installation begins to interact with moisture, which is contained in the upper layers of human skin and penetrates only tenths of a millimeter. At the same time, such an impact is sufficient.

According to Soskov, the impact on human internal organs is completely excluded. In this case, a person irradiated by this beam begins to experience a serious burning sensation of the skin, which can cause heat shock. A person exposed to the installation instinctively tries to hide from the invisible damaging beam. It is expected that, along with rubber batons, Cheryomukha tear gas and water cannons, electromagnetic beams will become the main weapon of the police during the dispersal of unauthorized demonstrations and rallies.

Active Denial System

It is worth noting that even earlier this development was presented in the USA and received the name (ADS - Active Denial System), this system is also known under another name - “pain ray”. The general public first learned about the existence of the ADS program in 2011. American development of non-lethal weapons is also aimed at dispersing rallies. By using high-frequency electromagnetic beams, it can hit targets at a distance of up to 1 kilometer.

This installation is located on the base of a special truck or Hummer car. The high-frequency electromagnetic oscillations used in the Active Rejection System do not harm a person, while creating a feeling of unbearable heat in the latter, which is why the development is called the “pain ray” or “heat ray.” According to the head of the Joint Directorate for Non-Lethal Weapons, Tracy Tafolla, a person cannot help but see, hear, and smell this beam.

According to the expert, this new product can be considered one of the safest types of weapons used today. It does not cause cancer in a person, does not change his genes, which could have a bad effect on his children. To ensure greater safety, the operating time of the Active Knockback System can be forcibly limited to 3 seconds.

Unlike rubber bullets or the same batons and tear gas, this type of weapon is safe even for pregnant women. True, according to some skeptics, the use of such rays in practice may threaten to cause panic in a crowd of people. As a result, the weapon can leave behind even more casualties than a traditional bomb.

Below you can get acquainted with 10 types of non-lethal weapons, which today are the most famous throughout the world. Some of them can even be considered comical, however, these developments really existed. Who knows, maybe in the future combat operations will take place in such a way that victory over the enemy will not mean his physical destruction.

This very peculiar device was created by scientists from Japan; translated into Russian it can be called speech silencer . If you point this device towards a person who is constantly speaking and start it up, then within a few minutes the speaker will begin to confuse the words in his speech and will soon fall silent.

This device is not exactly a weapon, but perhaps, with proper development, it can be used during spontaneous or unauthorized rallies in order to stop the speech of one of the most active speakers. It is worth noting that this installation has already been able to receive the 2012 Ig Nobel Prize. This prize is awarded annually in the United States for the most dubious achievements in science.

The Incapacitating Flashlight

The device with this name was created by the Californian company Intelligent Optical Systems. Most of all, it resembles an ordinary “flashlight”, with the help of powerful LEDs which generates a series of light pulses of various colors and durations, which are very painful for the human eye. As a result of the influence of such a “lantern”, a living target, while remaining in full health, temporarily loses orientation in space.

PHASR

PHASR

It is a non-lethal laser weapon created by the US Department of Defense. It is used to temporarily blind and disorient the enemy. The prototype for the PHASR rifle was the British Dazzler laser weapon, which was used to blind Argentine pilots during the short Falkland Islands War. Developed by the Americans, PHASR is a low-intensity laser, so its blinding effect is only temporary. In this case, if necessary, the wavelength can be changed.

In 1995, laser weapons that would cause damage to vision were prohibited by the UN Convention, which was called " Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons" After the adoption of this protocol, the Pentagon curtailed some of its developments, but managed to defend the PHASR rifle. This is due to the short time of its exposure, as well as the fact that the Protocol does not prohibit the use of lasers that do not cause irreversible visual impairment. According to the US Department of Defense, this weapon can be indispensable in situations where the enemy needs to be temporarily blinded.

Already mentioned above, also known as the “pain ray”. It is just one of the types of weapons being developed as part of the American Weapons of Controlled Effects program. The weapon is a device that emits electromagnetic waves in the millimeter wave range with a high frequency of 94 GHz, which has a short-term shock effect on people. The principle of operation of this type of non-lethal weapon is that when the beam from the device hits a person, 83% of its energy is absorbed by the upper layer of the skin of the irradiated person.

XM1063 artillery shell

This projectile is a chemical weapon, the effect of which is based on the defeat of a potential enemy with a strong stench. An artillery shell explodes in the air above a target, spraying chemical elements over it that, acting on the amygdala in the human brain, can cause not only unpleasant sensations to the point of intolerance, but also insurmountable fear. During the impact of such projectiles, the enemy simply takes flight. An artillery shell explodes in the air above the target.

Gay bomb

This rather funny name was given to chemical weapons, the action of which was based on powerful aphrodisiacs. When dropped on enemy troops, these bombs were supposed to cause strong sexual arousal in soldiers, stimulating homosexual behavior. At the end of 2004, the publication of this information caused a scandal in connection with a possible violation by America of international conventions on the non-proliferation of chemical weapons.

In addition, it became a cause for outrage among gay organizations, which were offended by the suggestion that homosexual soldiers had less fighting potential. In response to all the accusations made, the Pentagon stated that existing ideas for creating this weapon have not been further developed.

Thunder Generator

The Israeli-made non-lethal weapon is capable of generating strong sound waves and is designed to disperse crowds of demonstrators and rioters. It is noteworthy that it was originally created to scare away birds and other pests from grain crops and was created within the walls of one of the agro-industrial enterprises.

Pepper Grenade

The stun pepper grenade, created by Indian scientists and stuffed with chili pepper, can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, to prevent mass unrest, to fight terrorism, to produce new means of self-defense for women. The pepper grenade was created based on the Naga Yolokia pepper variety. This variety of peppers is several hundred times hotter than other chili peppers and grows in the state of Assam, located in northeast India. For its pungency, this type of pepper was noted in the Guinness Book of Records.

When this projectile hits an enemy, it releases a huge amount of foamy chemical reagent, which very quickly increases in volume and dries on the victim, making it impossible for him to move. The movements of the enemy soldier are constrained by the frozen foam; he actually loses the ability to move. This development was used by American Marines in a number of special operations in Somalia.

Electroshock weapon Taser Shotgun

Powerful non-lethal electroshock weapon. It differs from conventional stun guns in its ability to hit a target at a significant distance - 4.5...10 meters. Manufactured in the USA, it is adopted by local police, who most often use the M26 and X26 models. Among other things, the Taser Shotgun is approved for use by civilians in 43 states.

Which, when used normally, should not result in death or serious bodily injury to those against whom it is directed. The main purpose of using such weapons is to neutralize, not defeat, the enemy; damage to the health and physical condition of people should be kept to a minimum.

Basic information

Non-lethal weapons, conventionally called “humane” in the media, are intended to temporarily incapacitate enemy personnel without causing irreversible damage to human health. In addition, this type of weapon can be used to disable equipment and weapons, for example, unmanned aerial vehicles, stopping vehicles, etc.

As a rule, special means are used by law enforcement agencies to detain offenders, suppress active resistance on their part, free hostages, suppress and eliminate group hooliganism and riots.

Security issues

The use of non-lethal weapons is intended to minimize the possibility of unintended casualties. It is impossible to completely exclude this, but such cases are extremely rare. The most common causes that can lead to the death of a person when using non-lethal weapons are accidental shots, ricochets, inept handling of weapons and their illegal use, as well as the presence of hidden health problems in the victim.

Since different parts of the human body differ in their degree of vulnerability, and people themselves differ in physical condition, any weapon capable of incapacitating is likely to be capable of becoming a murder weapon under certain circumstances. The use of plastic, rubber bullets and other “non-lethal” ammunition can cause contusions, broken ribs, concussions, loss of eyes, superficial damage to various organs and skin, damage to the skull, ruptures of the heart, kidneys, liver, internal hemorrhages and even death. People exposed to non-lethal weapons should see a doctor immediately, even if there are no visible injuries.

Weapon Description

• Traumatic weapon, specially designed for firing traumatic ammunition: for example, OSA and Makarych pistols. Exist traumatic cartridges with rubber or plastic bullets intended for use in police or military firearms.
• Electroshock weapon - It is widespread both as a civilian weapon of self-defense and as a special weapon for the police and security forces. The result of the impact of a shocker on a person is unbearable pain, muscle spasm at the site of application, loss of orientation in space and temporary loss of consciousness. The differences between police and civilian models lie in technical characteristics. Police shockers deliver a discharge with a power of up to 10 W and a voltage of up to 120,000 V. For civilian models, the maximum permitted indicators are, respectively, 3 W and 90,000 V. The units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation are armed with the AIR-107U stun batons (version 250 and version 350) produced by MART GROUP LLC. In addition, the company supplies law enforcement units with SKALA electroshock shields (type I and type II), the outer surface of which is coated with conductive material.

• Water cannons- devices that exert physical impact with jets of water under high pressure. As a rule, they do not cause any serious injuries, but can cause hypothermia, and at subzero temperatures, frostbite, including death. They can be constructed using available means (in particular, fire hoses). They are one of the most common and popular means of combating riots.

• Flash-bang ammunition- made on the basis of combustion of pyrotechnic means.

see also

Notes

1. Slyusar, V.I. NATO Research System for Non-Lethal Weapons Development. (undefined) . Zb. materials of the VI international scientific and practical conference “Problems of coordination of military-technical and defense-industrial policy in Ukraine. Prospects for the development of modern military technology.” - Kyiv. pp. 306 - 309. (2018).
2. UN Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction
3. The Long Range Acoustic Device™ (LRAD®) (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved May 2, 2008. Archived October 6, 2008.
4. Slyusar, V. New to non-lethal arsenals. Unconventional means of destruction. (undefined) . Electronics: science, technology, business. – 2003. - No. 2. pp. 60 - 66. (2003).
5. V. I. Slyusar. Generators of super-powerful electromagnetic pulses in information wars // Electronics: NTB: magazine. - 2002. - No. 5. - pp. 60-67.

Non-lethal weapons

Colonel S. Vybornov, Candidate of Military Sciences

The military-political leadership of the United States, without renouncing the use of violence as one of the main tools for achieving its goals, is searching for new methods of conducting combat operations and creating means for them that fully take into account the realities of our time.
In the early 90s, the concept began to emerge in the United States, according to which the country's armed forces should have not only nuclear and conventional weapons, but also special means to ensure the implementation of police and peacekeeping missions, effective participation in local conflicts without causing unnecessary casualties to the enemy strength and material values.
American military experts primarily include such special weapons as: means of creating an electromagnetic pulse (non-nuclear); lasers; infrasound generators; chemical composition) and biological formulations capable of changing the structure of the base materials of the main elements of military equipment; substances that damage lubricants and rubber products cause thickening of the fuel.
The presence in service of such weapons, called non-lethal weapons (NLW), would allow, in the opinion of the US military-political leadership, to achieve their goals in cases where the use of conventional weapons (and especially nuclear weapons) is unacceptable for political and ethical reasons. Such views are reflected in official documents of the US Department of Defense, which give the following definition of ONSD: “Weapons that are capable of neutralizing the enemy or depriving him of the ability to conduct combat operations without causing irreparable loss of manpower, destruction of material assets or large-scale environmental damage.”
Interest in non-lethal weapons especially increased after Iraq's occupation of Kuwait in August 1990 and the aggravation of interethnic conflicts in the territory of the former SFRY.
According to some reports, ONSD has already been used during the war in the Persian Gulf. In particular, the foreign press reported that the head of the Tomahok missile was equipped with special conductors that caused short circuits on power lines and power plants, which contributed to the disruption of power supply for several hours.
Indirect confirmation that the United States has non-lethal means of influencing the enemy can be the statement of the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee S. Pann, made in mid-August 1992. He considers it possible to use ONSD against Serbia if the UN Security Council approves the use of force against this country.
At the official level, the idea of ​​equipping troops with non-lethal weapons was first formulated in August 1991 in the next report on the concept of “air-land operation (battle)” prepared by the US Army Training and Research Command. According to this document, the presence of ONSD in the armed forces will significantly expand the capabilities of the United States to respond to crisis situations. At the present time, as stated in the report, “situations often arise in which the United States is unable to achieve its goals, since as a result there may be deaths or damage to the environment, or destruction of cultural monuments. In other words, there is a great risk of making enemies The United States of those people who were not previously one."
The Non-Lethal Weapons Concept Study Group submitted a special memorandum to the Secretary of Defense for signature in March 1991, which considers ONSD as a complement to conventional and nuclear warfare. In the context of a radical change in the international situation and the expected reduction in the development of conventional and nuclear weapons, the creation of ONSD can take shape as a relatively independent area with multi-billion dollar funding. The Pentagon is already planning to request $148 million over the next five years for the development of ONSD technologies.
As indicated in the foreign press, after the Committee of Chiefs of Staff presented the holistic concept of the ONSD at the end of 1993, a special large-scale R&D program for its creation may emerge. Within its framework, it is expected to consider a wide range of technical solutions, some of which were previously worked on to create conventional weapons, and some of which are fundamentally new. In organizational and even financial terms, it can become an analogue of the SDI program.
Currently, the main work on the development of ONSD technologies is carried out in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPL), the Livermore and Los Alamos laboratories of the Department of Energy, the weapons development center of the Department of the Army, etc. The closest to adoption are various types of lasers for blinding personnel, chemical agents for immobilizing them, special ammunition that disables the propulsion systems of aircraft, ships and combat vehicles, non-nuclear EMP (electromagnetic pulse) generators, which negatively affect the operation of electronic equipment.
Some types of ONSD, most often discussed by specialists in the foreign press, are discussed below.
Laser weapons. Laser means for disabling the visual organs of personnel in the United States have already been developed and can be put into service in the near future. These include, in particular, the Stingray installation mounted on the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The latter's introduction into the military was delayed after congressional hearings revealed that its use causes an irreversible process in the eyesight.
In the United States, there are at least two types of laser guns available for battlefield use. In 1989, a backpack battery-powered laser gun with the dimensions of a small arms was created. A laser gun with the dimensions of an M16 rifle and a range of up to 1 km is also in development. In the future, it is possible that small-sized laser pistols that affect the organs of vision will appear.
In addition to these means, high-power aircraft, ship and ground laser systems are being created in the USA and other foreign countries, designed to disable optical-electronic equipment.
The main problem in developing laser-based weapons that cause only temporary blinding is the wide range of changes in radiation energy. Depending on the viewing angle, the degree of adaptation of the eye to lighting conditions, and the protection of the visual organs at the same energy, the damage can be reversible or irreversible.
Sources of incoherent light. Bright sources of flashing, incoherent light can cause temporary blindness and make it difficult to aim and navigate. At certain values ​​of the pulse frequency and their duty cycle, the health of personnel sharply worsens, and phenomena are observed that usually precede epileptic seizures. The effectiveness of exposure increases by combining coherent (for blinding) and incoherent (for disorientation) light sources and other types of ONSD.
The head of programs for the development of weapons with minimal side effects (one of the OPSD titles) at the weapons development center of the US Department of the Army, Curt Johnson, in an interview with Jane's Defense Weekly magazine, in particular, spoke about the work being carried out at the center to obtain powerful targeted and non-directional pulsed flows of incoherent optical radiation based on explosive heating of inert gases.According to him, such means, placed in the body of a 155-mm artillery shell, will be able to disable both optical sensors and enemy personnel.
Microwave weapons. The mechanisms of the impact of microwave radiation on the human body can be divided into energy and information. The thermal effect of relatively high power fluxes of microwave radiation has been most studied.
Depending on the frequency and power, radio frequency radiation affects a person in the following way: it disrupts the functioning of the brain and central nervous system, temporarily disables it, causes a sensation of hard-tolerable noise and whistling, and affects internal organs. In the latter case, there is a possibility of death. At the same time, according to some foreign experts, the creation of such ONSD is very problematic (difficulty in obtaining the required power with acceptable dimensions and cost of installation, short range).
Microwave generators can be used to disable electronic equipment, but there are relatively simple ways to protect it. Foreign experts consider it more acceptable to use high-power microwave generators as a power means of electronic warfare, that is, a means that does not disable the equipment, but creates strong interference for it due to penetration through barrier filters, through “parasitic” reception channels, through unshielded holes and equipment slots, etc.
The information impact on humans of relatively low powers of microwave radiation has been practically not studied. In the 70s, the discovery of the so-called radio audibility effect was reported abroad. It lies in the fact that people who were in a powerful field of broadcast stations began to hear “inner voices,” music and the like. The essence of this phenomenon was explained by the possibility of detecting modulated carrier oscillations of a radio station in the internal nonlinear environments of the human body with subsequent conversion into signals perceived by the auditory nerve. Subsequently, reports of radio audibility were neither confirmed nor refuted.
Infrasonic weapons. The influence of infrasonic vibrations on the human body and psyche was intensively studied in the United States in the 60s and 70s, including for use for police purposes and as a weapon.
In the course of this work, it was demonstrated that it is possible to use infrasound on both the sense organs and the internal organs of a person (at high power levels), disabling it under a certain combination of conditions. It has been shown that low power levels can cause an unconscious feeling of fear and create panic in the crowd; at high levels, psychomotor functions may be impaired and the appearance of a condition usually preceding an epileptic seizure.
The company "Scientific Applications and Research", which takes part in the work of the weapons development center of the US Department of the Army, in 1992 won a competition for a contract to carry out research on the creation of non-lethal infrasonic weapons. Two concepts are studied - "acoustic rays" and "acoustic charges". As expected, “acoustic rays” will be created by traditional emitters, and “acoustic charges” will require fundamentally new means. It is believed that infrasonic weapons will be effective against personnel located in shelters and inside military equipment.
Electronic warfare in recent years it has become a relatively independent specific form of armed struggle. Data repeatedly tested during exercises and during local conflicts show that with the help of large-scale, well-coordinated electronic warfare activities, it is possible to significantly change the balance of forces, disorganize the control of the enemy’s troops and weapons, deprive him of reliable information about the situation, and force him to act in a way that is known in advance and beneficial to his side. way. Until recently, these electronic warfare capabilities were supposed to be used mainly to create optimal conditions for delivering damaging strikes against enemy personnel and equipment with the aim of destroying them.
Currently, with the help of electronic warfare systems and means, ONSD can be delivered to targets without loss. In addition, conditions are created to ensure its most effective use to sharply reduce or completely eliminate losses on its part. In combination with information warfare means and high-precision weapons of the new generation, electronic warfare can actually paralyze the armed forces and government of a less technologically advanced enemy.
Means of information warfare. The widespread use of computers in weapons and military equipment in all processes of armed struggle predetermined the emergence of new methods of influencing the enemy, the effectiveness of which, according to American military experts, is comparable only to weapons of mass destruction.
At present, we can roughly distinguish several types of special effects on enemy computers.
1. Early inclusion in the software of weapons, control and communication systems of the corresponding elements (they are activated after a certain period of time, by a special signal or in another way), rendering the serviced computers inoperable. In this case, the failure can be perceived as a natural hardware failure.
2. Introducing computer viruses through intelligence, through communication channels or other means, destroying information in data banks and software of combat systems.
3. Entering communication channels between computers and entering false information into them.
4. Disabling a computer and erasing information using powerful microwave radiation, an electromagnetic pulse or other means.
According to foreign experts, information warfare means have been developed and are successfully used for both commercial and military purposes.
Immediately before the start of Operation Desert Storm, there were reports in French newspapers that all radars and other military equipment manufactured by Thompson-CSF, sold at one time to Iraq, were equipped with “bookmarks” that, upon a conditioned signal, would disable the equipment. Subsequently, this information was not directly confirmed. Nevertheless, the possibility of technical implementation of such means is currently beyond doubt.
Computer viruses have become widespread in recent years and are constantly improving and becoming more complex. According to a statement by an unnamed representative of the “intelligence community,” quoted in February 1991 by the American magazine Signal, the United States is actively developing a so-called “virus gun,” which will be very easy to use and much cheaper than conventional weapons. The technical side has been fully developed, and the appearance of a working sample is only a matter of time. According to the same representative, Japan can create the same weapon now, and other countries will be ready for this in a few years.
Recently, another way to control the use of weapons has emerged. By decision of the US Congress, special attachments are being developed for all weapon systems (from ATGMs to much more complex systems), which preclude their use until an authorization signal is received via radio channels. If this practice becomes widespread, it will be possible to implement effective control on the part of arms exporting countries when delivering them to regions with unstable conditions.
ONSD as a police means has now reached great perfection and has a wealth of experience in practical use - these are police gases, rubber bullets, bullets with immobilizers and other means of dispersing demonstrations and combating mass unrest and riots.
The foreign press notes that various exotic means, for example, a suspension of finely ground banana peel, can be successfully used as ONSD. When applied to the road surface, it has such a low coefficient of friction that it eliminates any movement of people and vehicles. In this way, it is possible to temporarily block the movement of troops in front of bridges, entrances to cities, prevent equipment from leaving military bases, and preventing aircraft from taking off and landing on airfield runways.
New generation biological weapons.
By means of genetic engineering, fundamentally new pathogens of infectious diseases and toxins can be created that meet the requirements for ADHD. An obstacle to the development and implementation of tools of this type are existing international agreements.
Biotechnological means. Among the newest concepts of ONSD, a special place is occupied by the use of the latest achievements of biotechnology, especially genetic and cellular engineering.
In the course of research devoted to the production of new biomaterials, cleaning the environment with biological methods, and environmentally friendly disposal of weapons and military equipment, foreign scientists have created a certain theoretical and practical groundwork for the use of microorganisms and their metabolic products. It can serve as a basis for the development of potentially effective means of ADSD. Thus, in the USA and other countries, bacterial strains and other microorganisms that effectively decompose petroleum products (converting petroleum hydrocarbons into fatty acids digestible by natural microorganisms) have been created and experimentally tested in cleaning up pollution at military facilities and eliminating accidents on oil tankers and offshore drilling platforms. This opens up the possibility of “contaminating” enemy fuel and lubricant storage facilities in order to make the fuel located there unusable. The entire process may take several days. Bacteria that utilize lubricants can also cause engines to seize; internal combustion, blockage of their fuel lines and fuel supply systems. "
In the course of work on environmentally friendly disposal of short-range and medium-range missiles in the United States, biological (with the help of microorganisms) methods of decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (a component of solid rocket fuel) were successfully used. When enemy combat missiles are “infected” with such microorganisms, shells, cavities, and areas with uneven characteristics may appear in their solid fuel filling, which can lead to an explosion of the missile at launch or to a significant deviation in its flight path.
In the USA, microbiological methods have been developed for removing old paint and varnish coatings from military facilities. To a certain extent, this can be used in the interests of creating ONSD.
A large number of microorganisms and insects are known that can have a harmful effect on elements of electronic and electrical devices (destruction of insulation, printed circuit board materials, casting compounds, lubricants and drives of mechanical devices). Foreign experts do not rule out the possibility of obtaining microorganisms in which these properties are so developed that they can be used as 0NSD. To recycle defective integrated circuits in the USA, for example, a strain of bacteria has been isolated that decomposes gallium arsenide (gallium accumulates in biomass, and arsenic is oxidized and serves as an energy source for bacteria). There are many known biometallurgical processes in which valuable metals (including uranium) are extracted from low-grade ores and dumps with the help of microorganisms. One can imagine a number of modifications of these processes suitable for disabling (over a relatively long period of time) weapons and military equipment.
Non-lethal chemical weapons. Among possible types of ADSD, American experts, as a rule, place one of the first places on new chemical agents that lead to temporary incapacitation of personnel. In particular, the prospects for creating highly effective psychotropic drugs with special properties and reversibility of effects, immobilizers, neuroinhibitors, etc. are pointed out. But even in this case, international agreements are a serious obstacle to development and application.
Chemical agents on weapons and military equipment. In official documents of the US Department of Defense there is evidence that DARPA specialists have already developed the basic technologies for creating chemical agents of ONSD that effectively affect military equipment. For example, the following scenario for the use of this type of weapon is given: with the help of aerosol bombs, chemicals are sprayed in the area where enemy military equipment is located, which leads to damage or stopping of the engines of aircraft, tanks, trucks, electric generators (due to thickening of the fuel, loss of lubricants of their anti-friction properties , violations of the structure of the base materials of critical structural elements), and also destroy rubber products (car tires, liners for metal-rubber tank tracks, etc.).
There are certain potential technical possibilities for implementing this NDSD concept. In particular, in the 70s in the United States, the possibility of combating low-flying targets was studied by scattering (spraying) thin explosive plates along their flight path. Getting into the air intake and exploding there, they could cause the engine to stop due to disruption of air flows or destroy turbines and combustion chamber elements. A large number of chemical inhibitors are also known that can prevent the normal combustion of fuel when it enters the cylinders of internal combustion engines or, conversely, sharply increase the octane number of the fuel, which will lead to its detonation and engine failure. Thickening (setting) of the lubricant contributes to engine jamming.
Electromagnetic pulse weapon. Non-nuclear EMP generators (super-EMP), as theoretical work and experiments conducted abroad show, can be effectively used to disable electronic and electrical equipment, to erase information in data banks and damage computers.
With the help of ONSD based on non-nuclear EMR generators, it is possible to disable computers, key radio and electrical equipment of the enemy, electronic ignition systems and other automobile components, and to detonate or inactivate minefields. The impact of these weapons is quite selective and politically quite acceptable, but it requires precise delivery to the target areas.
Modern advances in the field of non-nuclear EMP generators make it possible to make them compact enough for use with conventional and high-precision delivery vehicles.
Thus, an analysis of ongoing scientific research and the development of promising technologies carried out by military departments and in the civilian sector of foreign countries reveals a wide range of technical solutions that can form the basis of the created “ONSD means.” A serious problem with the use of these weapons is the need to comply with international treaties, many of which, from a legal point of view, do not have an unambiguous interpretation. For example, chemicals that cause engines to stop, damage rubber products, etc., at the same time have the same effect on the human body as chemical weapons or bacterial formulations, which can be considered as biological and toxin weapons. Some chemicals that temporarily incapacitate a person are also not very clearly distinguished from chemical agents, the use of which is prohibited by international convention.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the prospects of specific concepts for ONSD require additional assessment from the point of view of technical feasibility, combat effectiveness, cost and other criteria.

Non-lethal weapons

In the early 90s of the last century, the issue of using new technologies in the field of weapons was once again raised in US military circles. One of these types was non-lethal (non-lethal) weapons, the use of which, according to the plan, should not lead to the death or injury of the enemy, but solely to his neutralization. At the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, at the initiative of the US government, extensive research began in this area.

According to the US Department of Defense classification, a non-lethal weapon must have one or both of the following characteristics: 1) have a relatively reversible effect on personnel or material object; 2) affects objects in their zone of influence differently.

Such weapons include means of chemical, mechanical, light, sound and electromagnetic influence.

According to technological classification, these weapons are divided into:

Weapons using kinetic energy;

Electrical;

Acoustic;

Directed energy;

Riot control chemicals and maldorants;

Biochemical agents;

Combined technologies.

And, of course, despite the name, the use of such drugs does not exclude either serious injury or death.

Alvin and Heidi Toffler in their work “War and Anti-War” argue that similar experiments and developments were carried out in the United States not only among professional military personnel, but also among various analytical centers. In 1995, the Council on Foreign Relations sponsored a publication on non-lethal technologies, stating in the preface that the CFR had no position on the subject. Of course, other states and military blocs have also become interested in the possibility of using new technologies in defense and security. In December 2004, NATO released a report examining the possibility of using these weapons during peace enforcement operations for the period up to 2020. The document reflected five priority technologies: 1) radio frequency devices; 2) construction of barriers (acoustic, electromagnetic, mechanical); 3) counteraction to adhesion force; 4) electric shock; 5) networks, and also considered many means for use against both people and material objects. Weapons against objects included: radio frequency devices (for disabling electronics); lasers (high power to destroy and low power to blind people); chemicals (slippery and viscous foam, super sticky and super caustic substances, graphite powders); biological components (bacteria, destructive materials); barriers (nets, wire fences, wheel puncture systems). Against manpower there are several more means of influence: microwave systems (impact on the skin), lasers (skin burn and blinding), chemicals (toxic substances - incapacitants, riot control agents - Riot Control Agent, RCA), acoustic technologies (with psychological and physical effects); barriers (nets, air bags), kinetic agents (traumatic bullets), electric shock, dizziness generators (acoustic and shock waves), dyes (for marking) and combined systems.

Attempts to legitimize non-lethal weapons led to the development of a certain doctrine, which is quite clearly expressed in the study of Colonel J. Siniscalci. He writes that “non-lethal weapons are characterized by precision, selectivity and versatility. The ability to control weapons and minimize the effects of violence creates a flexible military capability that can be deployed across the spectrum of conflicts.

Non-lethal weapons provide the opportunity to choose between diplomacy and lethality. It provides flexibility to prevent a crisis from occurring by creating space and time, controlling the level of violence, and bridging the gap between diplomacy and the use of lethal force. Non-lethal weapons provide stability to sanctions and protect diplomatic efforts.

Early intervention can reduce intervention costs and the risk of escalation. Non-lethal means can be used early and pre-emptively reduce the risk of escalating lethal attacks.

Non-lethal weapons can be effective in wartime. In combat, the use of weapons requires the most effective combination of lethal and non-lethal means. In situations where non-lethal weapons can provide equivalent or more effective results, they should be used.

The action of non-lethal weapons is most effective within the framework of a synergistic strategy. A non-lethal strategy must be closely coordinated and implemented in conjunction with appropriate political and economic efforts. The cumulative impact will produce a powerful enforcement tool to achieve national policy goals, without any of the risks of traditional military action.

Non-lethal weapons are not a universal replacement for lethal capability. Commanders at risk must maintain the means and authority to use lethal force. Compliance with a non-lethal strategy must be limited when American resources and lives are at risk.

Non-lethal technologies are not applicable in all situations. The success of non-lethal technologies depends on the specific situation, policy objectives, and identification of vulnerable threats. Skillful use must take into account the enemy's vulnerability, political objectives, possible unintended consequences, and compliance with international conventions. Any of these factors could render the use of non-lethal technologies ineffective.”

If with some types of such weapons (bludgeons, traumatic and gas weapons, water cannons, electric shockers) everything is extremely clear, since they have long been used not only by the military, but also by the police, then some new types are worth considering in more detail.

First of all, it is worth paying attention to special biochemical agents that could be used in combat conditions. The United States already used Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Now research has begun to be conducted on a very wide spectrum; among the proposed samples were agents with a calming effect and, conversely, causing discomfort: gastrointestinal convulsants, drugs that cause a painful reaction to light, strong sexual arousal, etc. These projects were seriously pursued by special units of the Marine Corps and the US Army. And not only enemy troops were considered as a potential target for the use of such drugs.

As outlined in the Unified Concept on Non-Lethal Weapons, the military began developing and testing various maldorant-type chemicals and their delivery systems for potential use against enemy military forces, "potentially hostile" civilians, and riot control. Since the number of deaths from various US and NATO special operations is quite high not only among combatants and terrorists, but also among civilians, we can conclude that these maldorants were primarily considered for use against civilians during riots or in difficult situations.

However, since the United States signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, it was necessary to find legal loopholes to justify the use of psychoactive substances with effects ranging from drowsy to hallucinatory. This required the appearance of democratic debate in the army. Back in 1992, the US Army released a draft document “Operational Concepts for Non-Lethal Weapons”, which included certain allocations for the development of ammunition with side effects both for use against enemy personnel and against military equipment. The concept itself emerged as a result of a rethinking of methods of warfare based on the experience of the Gulf War in 1991, when the US Department of Defense approved the idea of ​​​​developing a doctrine of non-lethal warfare (soft kill). But another lobby at the Pentagon won at the time (partly due to public pressure to cut military spending), and the project was shelved. However, then this topic began to arise again in US military circles at various conferences and round tables. During one such meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Coppernall stated that "drugs that cause sedation and gastrointestinal convulsions, when classified as riot control, may be acceptable." He noted that “once these technologies are modified into actual weapons or weapon systems, the Navy Legal Office will review them for toxicity properties and compliance with international laws, treaties and domestic restrictions before final approval for production or withdrawal.”

As independent researchers note, maldorants (stink bombs) have already existed since World War II. In 1966, attempts were made in the United States to develop maldorants that were intended for certain ethnic groups. DARPA at the time was researching "whether cross-cultural differences are related to the sense of smell, and if so, especially in relation to unpleasant odors, to what extent this can be used in psychological warfare." The Pentagon's interest in this type of weapon was renewed after the events in Somalia. It should be noted that with the advent of new developments in the field of DNA, interest in racial weapons flared up with renewed vigor. As Bo Riebeck, director of the Swedish National Defense Research Institute, noted in 1992, “If we can identify differences in the DNA of racial and ethnic groups, we can identify the differences between whites and blacks, Jews and Mongoloids, between Swedes and Finns, and develop an agent that kills only members of a specific group." In addition to the biochemical agents themselves, means of their delivery were also developed in the United States. General Dynamics, The main US company specializing in the production of weapons, as part of the Overhead Chemical Agent Dispersal System (OCADS) project, developed an 81-mm mortar with a firing range of 1.5 km and a special 120-mm explosive capsule.

It should be noted that while the United States has accused other countries of using chemical and biological weapons, its own development and use of such reagents in the military could seriously undermine the control of chemical and biological weapons.

From 1997 to 2006, the School of Social and International Studies at the University of Bradford (UK) produced a number of studies, reports and studies on non-lethal weapons, mainly chemical and biological.

The main opponent of the use of such weapons is the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. One of the organization's latest reports contains comments on the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as laws governing the possible use of biochemical agents to suppress riots and riots. It also states that potential paralytic agents used as weapons may include pharmaceutical chemicals, bioregulators and toxins. But most importantly, the report contains the conclusion of the British Medical Association on the use of such substances as weapons. It states that “agents that could be used in a tactical situation without the risk of death for a person do not exist and their appearance is not possible in the near future. In this situation, it is almost impossible to use the right agent in the right dose against the right people without the risk of making a mistake in both the people and the dose.” American scientists have also convincingly proven that the so-called “non-lethal” agents are in fact lethal (the study also noted that the results of the use of such agents during a special operation in Moscow in October 2002 during the assault on “Nord-Ost” showed that 15% The deaths of the hostages occurred solely due to exposure to the gas).

The next type of non-lethal “weapon” includes an infrasonic generator that emits low-frequency sounds that lead to loss of orientation, nausea, dizziness, unreasonable fear and loss of control over the intestines. It was called the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), that is, a sound, or acoustic, gun. This device emits pulses with a frequency of 2 to 3 thousand hertz and a power of 150 decibels, which at close range can lead to hearing damage and destruction of internal organs. Such a generator gun was released in 2000 by the company American Technology Corporation and was successfully used against pirates. In Israel, the “Scream” system was developed - an acoustic gun that emits a directed stream of high-frequency sound. It was installed on armored personnel carriers and used to disperse Palestinian riots.

In 2005, as a result of joint efforts Sandia National Laboratories, Raytheon, Air Force Research Laboratory and the US Department of Defense, a new small-sized Active Denial System (ADS) was developed. It is based on the use of a directed beam of electromagnetic energy at 95 GHz. These millimeter-wave radio waves are able to penetrate small 1/64-inch patches of facial skin where nerve receptors are located. When the beam hits open areas of the skin, the pain threshold occurs quite quickly, but this does not lead to burns or cause other side effects. As a result of tests on volunteers, such ultrahigh frequency emitters were adopted by the US Army. Other microwave weapons can disrupt the functioning of the brain and central nervous system, causing tinnitus, loss of vision and similar effects. As a result, a person exposed to such an emitter instinctively tries to hide, which the US military called the “Goodbye effect”.