non-lethal weapon

Colonel S. Vybornov, candidate of military sciences

The military-political leadership of the United States, without abandoning the use of violence as one of the main tools to achieve its goals, is searching for new ways of conducting combat operations and creating means for them that fully take into account the realities of our time.
In the early 1990s, 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 inflicting unnecessary losses on the enemy strength and wealth.
American military experts primarily refer to such special weapons: means of creating an electromagnetic pulse (non-nuclear); lasers; infrasound generators; chemical composition) and biological formulations that can change the structure of the base materials of the main elements of military equipment; Substances that damage lubricants and rubber products cause fuel to thicken.
The presence in service of such weapons, called non-lethal weapons (ONSD), would allow, in the opinion of the US military-political leadership, to achieve their goals in cases where the use of conventional weapons (and even more so nuclear) is unacceptable for political and ethical reasons. Such views are reflected in the official documents of the US Department of Defense, which give the following definition of ONSD: "A weapon that is capable of neutralizing the enemy or depriving him of the ability to conduct combat operations without inflicting irreparable loss of manpower, destruction of material assets or large-scale environmental disturbance."
Interest in non-lethal weapons especially increased after Iraq's occupation of Kuwait in August 1990 and the aggravation of interethnic conflicts on the territory of the former SFRY.
According to some reports, ONSD has already been used during the war in the Persian Gulf zone. In particular, the foreign press reported on equipping the head of the Tomahawk rocket with special conductors that cause short circuits at power lines and power plants, which contributed to the disruption of power supply for several hours.
An indirect confirmation of the fact that the United States has non-lethal means of influencing the enemy can be the statement of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces S. Pann, made in mid-August 1992. He considers it possible to use ONSD against Serbia in the event that the UN Security Council approves the use of force against this country.
At the official level, the idea of ​​equipping troops with lethal weapons was first formulated in August 1991 in a regular report on the "air-ground operation (battle)" concept, prepared by the command of educational and scientific research on the construction of the US Army. According to this document, the presence in the armed forces of ONSD will significantly expand the ability 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 not able to achieve its goals, because as a result, people may be killed or the environment will be damaged, cultural monuments will be destroyed. In other words, there is a great risk of making enemies USA of those people who were not previously them."
The Non-Lethal Weapons Concept Study Group submitted a special memorandum to the Secretary of Defense for signature in March 1991, which considers NVSD as an addition 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 in 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 presentation by the Chiefs of Staff of the holistic concept of ONSD at the end of 1993, a special large-scale PIOCR program for its creation may appear. Within its framework, it is supposed to consider the widest range of technical solutions, some of which were previously developed for the creation of conventional weapons, and some are fundamentally new. In organizational and even financial terms, it can become an analogue of the SDI program.
At present, the main work on the development of ONSD technologies is carried out in the Department of Advanced Research of the Ministry of Defense (DLRPL), the Livermore and Los Alamos Laboratories of the Ministry of Energy, the weapons development center of the Ministry of the Army, etc. The closest to being put into service are various types of lasers for blinding personnel, chemical means for immobilizing them, special ammunition that disables the propulsion systems of aircraft, ships and combat vehicles, non-nuclear EMP (electromagnetic pulse) generators that adversely 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 organs of vision 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 basis of the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The entry of the latter into the troops was postponed after congressional hearings revealed that its use causes an irreversible process in the citizens of vision.
In the United States, there are at least two types of laser guns for battlefield use. In 1989, a backpack battery-powered laser gun was created, having the dimensions of a small arms weapon. 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, the appearance of small-sized laser pistols that act on the organs of vision is possible.
In addition to these means, in the United States and other foreign countries high-power aircraft, ship and ground-based laser installations are being created, designed to disable optical-electronic equipment.
The main problem in the development of laser-based weapons that cause only temporary blindness is a wide range of changes in radiation energy. Depending on the viewing angle, the degree of adaptation of the eye to lighting conditions, the protection of the organs of vision 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, make it difficult to aim and move around the area. At certain values ​​of the frequency of impulses and their duty cycle, the state of health of the personnel deteriorates sharply, phenomena are observed that usually precede epileptic seizures. The effectiveness of the impact is increased by combining coherent (for blinding) and incoherent (for disorientation) light sources and other types of ONSD.
Kurt Johnson, the head of the weapons development programs with minimal side effect (one of the titles of the OPSD) at the US Army Weapons Development Center, in an interview with Jane's Defense Weekly magazine, in particular, spoke about the work carried out at the center to obtain powerful directed and non-directional pulsed streams of incoherent optical radiation based on the explosive heating of inert gases.According to him, such tools, placed in the body of a 155-mm artillery projectile, will be able to disable both optical sensors and enemy personnel.
microwave weapon. The mechanisms of the impact of microwave radiation on the human body can be conditionally divided into energy and information. The thermal effect of relatively high power fluxes of microwave radiation has been studied the most.
Depending on the frequency and power, radio frequency radiation affects a person in the following way: they disrupt the functioning of the brain and central nervous system, temporarily disable it, cause a feeling of hard tolerable noise and whistling, and affect 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 an ONSD is very problematic (difficulty in obtaining the required capacities with acceptable dimensions and cost of the 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 heavy-duty microwave generators as a power tool for electronic warfare, that is, a tool that does not disable equipment, but creates strong interference for it due to penetration through barrage filters, through "spurious" reception channels, through unshielded holes and equipment slots, etc.
The information impact on a person of relatively low powers of microwave radiation has not been practically studied. In the 1970s, the discovery of the so-called radio audibility effect was reported abroad. It lies in the fact that people who were in the powerful field of broadcasting 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 non-linear environments of the human body with subsequent conversion into signals perceived by the auditory nerve. In the future, reports of radio audibility were not confirmed or refuted.
Infrasonic weapons. The effect of infrasonic vibrations on the human body and psyche was intensively studied in the USA in the 1960s and 1970s, including for use for police purposes and as a weapon.
In the course of these works, it was demonstrated that infrasound can affect both the sense organs and the internal organs of a person (at high power levels), putting it out of action under a certain combination of conditions. It has been shown that low levels of power can cause an unconscious feeling of fear and create panic in the crowd, at high levels, psychomotor dysfunction and the appearance of a condition that usually precedes an epileptic seizure can occur.
The Scientific Application and Research firm, which takes part in the work of the US Department of the Army weapons development center, won a tender in 1992 to conclude a contract to carry out research on the creation of non-lethal infrasonic weapons. Two concepts are being 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 in shelters and inside military equipment.
Electronic warfare in recent years has become a relatively independent specific form of armed struggle. Data repeatedly tested in exercises and in the course of local conflicts show that with the help of large-scale, well-coordinated electronic warfare measures, it is possible to significantly change the balance of forces, disorganize the command and control of the enemy’s troops and weapons, deprive him of reliable information about the situation, and force him to act in advance known and beneficial to his side. way. Until recently, these electronic warfare capabilities were supposed to be used mainly to create optimal conditions for inflicting striking blows on enemy manpower and equipment in order to destroy it.
At present, with the help of electronic warfare systems and means, ONSD can be delivered without loss to targets. In addition, conditions are being created that ensure its most effective use for a sharp reduction or complete elimination of losses on its part. In combination with the means of information warfare and high-precision weapons of a new generation, electronic warfare can actually paralyze the armed forces and government of a less technologically advanced adversary.
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, it is possible to conditionally distinguish several types of special impact on the enemy's 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), which disable the computers being serviced. In this case, the failure can be perceived as a natural hardware failure.
2. Entering undercover, through communication channels or other means of computer viruses that destroy information in data banks and software of combat systems.
3. Entering the communication channels between computers and introducing false information into them.
4. Disabling a computer and erasing information using powerful microwave radiation, an electromagnetic pulse, or otherwise.
According to foreign experts, information warfare tools have been developed and successfully used for both commercial and military purposes.
Immediately before the start of Operation Desert Storm, reports flashed in French newspapers that all radars and other military equipment manufactured by the Thompson-CSF company, sold at one time to Iraq, were equipped with "bookmarks" that, upon a prearranged signal, would put the equipment out of action. In the future, this information was not directly confirmed. Nevertheless, the possibility of technical implementation of such tools is currently beyond doubt.
Computer viruses have become the most widespread in recent years, they are constantly being improved and become more complex. According to an unnamed representative of the "intelligence community", cited in February 1991 by the American magazine "Signal", the United States is actively developing the so-called "viral gun", which will be very easy to use and much cheaper than conventional weapons. The technical side is fully worked out, and the appearance of a valid sample is only a matter of time. According to the same representative, Japan can create the same weapons now, and other countries will be ready for this in a few years.
Recently, another way of controlling the use of weapons has been outlined. By decision of the US Congress, for all weapon systems (from ATGMs to much more complex systems), special prefixes are being developed that exclude their use until an authorization signal is received via radio channels. If this practice becomes widespread, it is possible to implement effective control by the countries - exporters of weapons during their deliveries to regions with an unstable situation.
ONSD as a police means has reached great perfection by now and has rich experience in practical application - these are police gases, rubber bullets, bullets with immobilizers and other means of dispersing demonstrations and combating riots and riots.
In the foreign press, it is noted that various exotic means can also be successfully used as ONSD, for example, a suspension of finely ground banana peel. When applied to the road surface, it has such a low coefficient of friction that it excludes any movement of people and vehicles. In this way, it is possible for some time to block the movement of troops in front of bridges, entrances to cities, to prevent the exit of equipment from military bases, take-off and landing of aircraft on the runway of airfields.
Biological weapons of a new generation.
Genetic engineering can be used to create fundamentally new pathogens of infectious diseases and toxins that meet the requirements for NSD. An obstacle to the development and implementation of this type of tools are the existing international agreements.
Biotechnological means. Among the latest concepts of ONSD, a special place is occupied by the use of the latest achievements in biotechnology, especially genetic and cell engineering.
In the course of research devoted to obtaining new biomaterials, cleaning the environment with biological methods, 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 be used as the basis for the development of potentially effective means of NSD. Thus, in the United States and other countries, bacterial strains and other microorganisms that effectively decompose oil products (convert oil hydrocarbons into fatty acids absorbed by natural microorganisms) have been created and experimentally tested in cleaning up pollution at military facilities and eliminating accidents in oil tankers and on offshore drilling platforms. This opens up the possibility of "contaminating" enemy fuel and lubricant storage facilities in order to render the fuel stored there unusable. The whole process may take several days. Lubricant-recycling bacteria can also seize engines; internal combustion, blockage of their fuel lines and fuel supply systems. "
In the course of work on the environmentally friendly disposal of reduced intermediate and shorter-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, areas with uneven characteristics can appear in their solid fuel filling, which can lead to an explosion of the missile at the start or to a significant deviation of its flight trajectory.
In the United States, 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 the creation of ONSD.
A large number of microorganisms and insects are known that can have a harmful effect on the elements of electronic and electrical devices (destruction of insulation, printed circuit board materials, potting compounds, lubricants and drives of mechanical devices). Foreign experts do not exclude that it is possible to obtain microorganisms in which these properties are developed to such an extent that they can be used as 0NSD. For the disposal of defective integrated circuits in the United States, for example, a strain of bacteria decomposing gallium arsenide was isolated (gallium accumulates in biomass, and arsenic is oxidized and serves as an energy source for bacteria). Many biometallurgical processes are known in which valuable metals (including uranium) are extracted from poor ores and dumps with the help of microorganisms. One can imagine a number of modifications of these processes, suitable for putting weapons and military equipment out of action (over a relatively long period of time).
Non-lethal chemical weapons. Among the possible types of ONSD, American specialists, as a rule, put new chemical agents in one of the first places, leading to a temporary incapacitation of personnel. In particular, the prospects for the creation of 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 the development and application.
Chemical means of influencing weapons and military equipment. In official documents of the US Department of Defense, there is evidence that DARPA specialists have already developed the foundations of technologies for creating chemical agents of ONSD that effectively affect military equipment. For example, the following scenario is given for using this type of weapon: with the help of aerosol bombs, chemical substances are sprayed in the area where the enemy’s military equipment is located, which lead to damage or stop the engines of aircraft, tanks, trucks, electric generators (due to fuel thickening, loss of their antifriction properties by lubricants). , violations of the structure of basic materials of critical structural elements), and also destroy rubber products (tires of cars, liners of metal-rubber caterpillars of tanks, etc.).
There are certain potential technical possibilities for implementing this concept of ONSD. In particular, in the 1970s, the United States studied the possibility of combating low-flying targets by scattering (spraying) thin explosive plates along their path. Getting into the air intake and exploding there, they could cause the engine to stop due to the disruption of air flows or destroy the turbines and elements of the combustion chamber. 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. The thickening (setting) of the lubricant contributes to engine jamming.
Electromagnetic pulse weapon. Non-nuclear EMP generators (super-EMP), as shown by theoretical work and experiments carried out abroad, 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 EMP generators, it is possible to disable computers, key radio and electrical equipment of the enemy, electronic ignition systems and other automotive components, undermine or inactivate minefields. The impact of these weapons is quite selective and politically acceptable, but it requires accurate delivery to the areas of the target being hit.
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, the analysis of ongoing scientific research, development of promising technologies carried out by the military departments and in the civilian sector of foreign countries reveals a wide range of technical solutions that can be the basis for the created "ONSD tools. A serious problem in 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 stop engines, 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 agents whose use is prohibited by an international convention.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the prospects of specific concepts for ONSD require additional evaluation in terms of technical feasibility, combat effectiveness, cost, and other criteria.

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 minimized.

Basic information

Non-lethal weapons, conventionally called "humane" in the media, are designed to temporarily incapacitate the enemy's manpower without causing irreversible damage to people's health. In addition, this type of weapon can be used to disable equipment and weapons, for example, unmanned aerial vehicles, stop vehicles, etc.

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

Security issues

The use of non-lethal weapons is intended to minimize the possibility of unintentional 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 that can incapacitate 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, rib fractures, brain concussion, eye loss, superficial damage to various organs and skin, skull damage, ruptures of the heart, kidneys, liver, internal hemorrhages and even death. People who have been exposed to non-lethal weapons should see a doctor immediately, even in the absence of visible bodily injury.

Weapon Description

• Traumatic weapon, specially designed for firing traumatic ammunition: for example, the OSA and Makarych pistols. Exist traumatic cartridges with rubber or plastic bullets intended for use in police or military firearms.
• Electroshock weapons - distributed both as a civilian weapon of self-defense, and as a special tool for the police and law enforcement agencies. 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 the technical specifications. Police shockers produce 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 values ​​are, respectively, 3 W and 90,000 V. and Spanish 350) manufactured by MART GROUP LLC. In addition, the company supplies power units with SKALA electric shock shields (type I and type II), the outer surface of which is covered with a conductive material.

• Water cannons- devices that have a physical impact with jets of water under high pressure. As a rule, they do not cause any serious injuries, but they can cause hypothermia, and at sub-zero temperatures, frostbite, including death. They can be built on the basis of improvised means (in particular, fire hoses). They are one of the most common and popular means of riot control.

• Lightning Ammunition- made on the basis of burning pyrotechnics.

see also

Notes

1. Slyusar, V.I. NATO Research System for the Development of Non-Lethal Weapons. (indefinite) . 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 the development of that military technology”. - Kyiv. C. 306 - 309. (2018).
2. United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction
3. The Long Range Acoustic Device™ (LRAD®) (indefinite) (unavailable link). Retrieved May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008.
4. Slusar, W. New in non-lethal arsenals. Unconventional means of destruction. (indefinite) . Electronics: science, technology, business. - 2003. - No. 2. pp. 60 - 66. (2003).
5. V. I. Slusar. Generators of super-powerful electromagnetic pulses in information warfare // Electronics: NTB: journal. - 2002. - No. 5. - S. 60-67.

Basic information

Weapons of non-lethal (non-lethal) action, conventionally called "humane" in the media, are designed to temporarily disable the enemy's manpower, without causing permanent damage to people's health.

This category includes an extensive complex of mechanical, chemical, electrical and light-sound devices used by law enforcement agencies and special services to provide a psychophysical, traumatic and deterrent effect on the offender, temporarily incapacitate him, as well as army special forces - to capture the enemy alive.

As a rule, special means are used by law enforcement agencies to detain offenders, suppress active resistance on their part, release hostages, suppress and eliminate group hooligan manifestations 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 typical 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 medical 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 that can incapacitate 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, rib fractures, brain concussion, eye loss, superficial damage to various organs and skin, skull damage, ruptures of the heart, kidneys, liver, internal hemorrhages and even death. People exposed to non-lethal weapons should see a doctor immediately, even in the absence of visible bodily injury.

It is worth noting that the use of microwave guns led to brain injuries in the US soldiers who controlled them, so just 2 months after they were put into operation, the Pentagon was forced to urgently recall them. Each such injury was accompanied by injuries to the face and neck, and in some cases, cerebral palsy. The soldiers remained disabled for life.

Weapon Description

• Traumatic cartridges with rubber or plastic bullets intended for use in police or military firearms.

• Traumatic weapon, specially designed for firing traumatic ammunition: for example, the OSA and Makarych pistols.

• Water cannons- devices that have a physical impact with jets of water under high pressure. As a rule, they do not cause any serious injuries, but they can cause hypothermia, and at negative temperatures, frostbite, incl. with a lethal outcome. They can be built on the basis of improvised means (in particular, fire hoses). They are one of the most common and popular means of riot control.

• Flashbang grenades- made on the basis of burning pyrotechnics and creating a low-temperature gas plasma, when using them, a person goes blind for 30 seconds and loses his hearing for 5 hours.

• foam gun- a device that shoots with a special quick-hardening and enveloping foam; soldiers quickly lose not only mobility, but also hearing and vision.

• Viscous/slippery polymers- substances that, during polymerization, form a viscous or, conversely, a very slippery film on the surface of objects.

see also

Notes

Links

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See what "Weapon of non-lethal action" is in other dictionaries:

- (non-lethal) special types of weapons capable of short-term or long-term deprivation of the enemy of the opportunity to conduct combat operations without inflicting irretrievable losses on him. Intended for those cases when the use of conventional weapons, ... ...

NON-LETHAL WEAPONS- special types of weapons capable of briefly or for a long time depriving the enemy of the opportunity to conduct combat operations without inflicting irretrievable losses on him. It is intended for those cases when the use of conventional weapons, and even more so ... ... Legal Encyclopedia

Weapons of non-lethal action (non-lethal)- types of weapons based on new physical principles (primarily laser and microwave), special small arms, special chemical and biological means of immobilizing personnel and equipment, as well as ... ... Civil protection. Conceptual and terminological dictionary- a type of non-lethal weapon, the influence of which on a person is carried out through the use of directed radiation of powerful infrasonic vibrations. May cause disorder of the organs of orientation and coordination of movements, ... ... Emergencies Dictionary

- (psychotropic) man-made means of deliberate information and (or) energy impact that affect mental functions, the work of human physiological organs and systems. In the classification of types of weapons, O.pf. belong to the class... Emergencies Dictionary

Check information. It is necessary to check the accuracy of the facts and the reliability of the information presented in this article. There should be explanations on the talk page. Infrasonic weapons are weapons that use in ... Wikipedia

For non-lethal weapons, see Non-lethal weapons (non-lethal). Edwart. Glossary of terms of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 2010 ... Emergencies Dictionary

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 the giant organ pipe, inaudible to the human ear, caused a monstrous resonance at the premiere. Glass trembled, chandeliers rang, the whole building shook ... The audience was seized with horror. The panic began. The performance was cancelled. 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 the turning on and off of the lanterns was disabled by a powerful electromagnetic pulse emitted during a nuclear explosion. This was the first - unintentional and unplanned - use of microwave weapons.

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

In 1991, the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta published information about the contacts of the CIA and the KGB in the field of joint control over psychotronic research. The author of the information, Vladimir Shchepilov, a well-known specialist in psychokinetic research, clarified that document number 79-90/16 on joint control was signed back in September 1990 by V. Kryuchkov and K. Weinberger.
Quite recently, this information, which was published, was also confirmed by a letter to Moskovskiye Novosti by the head of the 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 resonant devices "Miranda" based on microwave radiation. Of course, they are intended for medicinal purposes.

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

Ya. Ya. Rudakov, doctor of medical sciences, inventor: "I can give a narrow beam," beating "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 , tone up, induce hallucinations".

With the appearance of the American cruiser "Belkap" in the waters of the Persian Gulf, strange things began in the ranks of the Iraqi army. Saddam Hussein's guardsmen, hardened by years of the most brutal war with Iran, began to embrace animal fear. At first they surrendered in tens, then in thousands. It was the first psychotronic war in the history of mankind. It was won by the United States under President George W. Bush, who, even when he was chief of the CIA, personally supervised the department involved in psy-development.

Insomnia can be easily beaten, according to EarthPulse experts. Engineers have developed the Sleep On Command device, which helps fight sleep disorders. "Electronic sleeping pills" 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 who are 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.

As conceived by 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" (Active Denial System). The Pentagon has classified it as a non-lethal, temporary weapon that burns the skin but causes no harm with brief exposure. It is planned to turn on the microwave emitters for no more than five seconds, but at the same time everyone in the affected area will feel severe pain.
Tests of microwave weapons were carried out in New Mexico at Kirtland Air Force Base.

At the end of January 2005, the Maariv newspaper reported that the research laboratory of a technical training center located in the settlement of Ariel on the West Bank of the Jordan River had Israeli experts create a microwave weapon. According to the inventors, penetrating under the skin to a depth of 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 sensations to a burn.

Mission Research Corp, based in Santa Barbara, California, is determined to make beam weapons a reality. Its scientists are working on a "pulsed energy projectile PEP" capable of heating up a target's surface so quickly and to such high temperatures that its effect is similar to an explosion. In addition, San Diego-based HSV Technologies is working on a device that will transmit electricity via ultraviolet light.

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) radiation. Now American specialists are conducting experiments on its installation on cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft, Interfax reports with reference to the Air Force.
HPM are short but very intense impulses. They disable electrical appliances, but do not affect people in any way. 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 announced the release of David Hambling, author of Weapons Grade: How Modern Warfare Gave Birth to Our High-Tech World.
This book reports that the US Air Force, among other projects "for the long term", has long been working on the creation of weapons "Controlled Effects" (Controlled Effects), 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 (no wonder the emergence of such a workable and usable weapon is attributed by the military to 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, to disorient him, 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 weapon

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

The term "psychotronic" was given to him 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 whole organism as a whole. The Americans themselves call this type of weapon non-lethal weapon . Quite often, psychotronic weapons are referred to as " information weapons ", which affects the enemy's telecommunications systems (logic bombs, viruses that disable air defense systems, etc.). Finally, there is actually psychotronic weapons , which should, in theory, affect the psyche of the enemy - 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 that blind enemy soldiers and isotope emitters disguised as standard weapons. Infrasonic generators that not only disorient the enemy, but also cause nausea and diarrhea, as well as noise generators that affect a hostile, excited crowd. Or, for example, "water foam" - a gas sprayed with the effect of soap suds, which leads to complete disorientation of the enemy.
As part of the national program, most of the technologies were developed in the famous Los Alamos laboratory.

At the origins of non-lethal weapons is a motley group of amazing characters. For example Janet and Christopher Morris, science fiction writers living in Massachusetts. Janet Morris was also director of research for the U.S. Global Strategy Council (USGSC). By the way, this council was headed by the former (from the time of Kennedy) CIA deputy director Ray Kline. It is the USGSC that stands at the origins of the US national program in the field of non-lethal weapons, having lobbied for the creation of many laboratories on this issue.
Under George W. Bush, the non-lethal weapons project aroused the interest of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. And by the time Clinton came to the White House, there was already a 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.
Dr. John Alexander, 62, is a highly interesting personality. A retired colonel, he fought in Thailand and Vietnam as part of the special forces troops. There he became interested in Buddhism and studied it in local monasteries. This influenced the pure soul of the commando so much that he developed a stubborn interest in all paranormal phenomena. As a result, in 1980 Alexander published a policy article in the American military magazine Military Review about future weapons. In it, a spetsnaz colonel claimed that " there are weapon systems that act on the brain and whose lethal capability 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 the Pentagon generals, and Alexander quickly gained the status of a guru in US political and military circles. In 1983, Alexander managed to make friends with the current vice- US President Al Gore, whom he trained in Neuro Linguistic Programming, helped Alexander finance many of his projects.
For example, the hell-loving colonel really liked the Star Wars movie and the idea of ​​a movie about some kind of secret power of the Jedi Knights. In 1983, thanks to his friendship with Lieutenant General Stubblabine, who later became head of the US Office of Defense Intelligence and Security, Alexander secured funds for the telekinesis research program, which he called "Jedi".

After leaving the army in 1988, Alexander was hired by Los Alamos National Laboratories under the wing of Janet Morris.
Today Alexander is the former director of non-lethal weapons programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, adviser to the US government, and de facto chief expert on 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, she would be very surprised. The fact is that Alexander, it seems, did not pass by a single "paranormal" topic. He is a member of the Board of the International Association for the Study of Life After Death, and organizer of the 1993 national conference in Santa Fe devoted to "scientific and technical reports on research into rituals, near-death experiences, human contact with extraterrestrials, and other so-called anomalous experiences." Alexander is also part of the Aviary Unidentified Flying 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 suburbs. I met Ivan ZUBKOVSKY, the last surviving participant in these events, in his small apartment near the Altufevskoye metro station. For many years he has been living alone, receiving a disability pension of the 2nd group, he has a heart condition. He is sure that he lost his health during the tests of the most secret weapon of the twentieth century.
In 1980, Zubkovsky was called up for service 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 leader, preparing for demobilization.
“In the morning, the company commander, Senior Lieutenant Yermolin, ordered our platoon to line up on the parade ground,” Zubkovsky said. - We were given black shoulder straps and buttonholes with the emblem of the construction battalion, ordered to be sewn onto the uniform 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 be mad

Further, Ivan said that they were taken to a field near the city of Dolgoprudny. They set up tents, stretched barbed wire around the perimeter, and installed a barrier on the access road. Electricians extended a high-voltage cable from the nearest power line. Two weeks later, five Urals arrived with bodies covered with tarpaulin. They settled down in the center of the polygon, in the hangar. The guards were forbidden to go there, people in civilian clothes worked there.
“For a long time we did not understand what was happening there. Nothing was seen or heard. Then they will bring some cows or horses. They first graze, then suddenly begin to kick, and then fall. A tractor drives up, the corpses are taken out, and everything is over again. Livestock was killed immeasurably.
Strange things happened to the soldiers too. Our platoon was friendly, but here everyone seemed to be furious. Every evening in the tents, swearing, fighting, rushing at each other like dogs. And then suddenly such anguish will come, just right 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, the cars left. Only then did we find out - the platoon commander, Lieutenant Andreichuk, let slip over a drunkenness - that we were guarding the training ground, where they tested infrasonic weapons. We could not figure out what kind of sound weapon, because there was complete silence.
After the end of the tests, Zubkovsky and four of his colleagues ended up in 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 commissioned from the army. Ivan did not finish his military service for three months. The rest of his colleagues, who still had a year and a half left, even rejoiced at their suddenly gained freedom.
“I don’t know what happened to the rest of the guys,” Zubkovsky continued the story. - And with two who, like me? were from Moscow - Vanya Strelchenko and Lenya Babich, I talked for a long time. Now they are both dead. Diagnoses identical - a heart attack. Lieutenant Andreichuk 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, they say, I have no data on any tests, which means that there was nothing. And my wife left me, she said: why do I need you so sick.

non-lethal weapons

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

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

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

According to the technological classification, these weapons are divided into:

Weapons using kinetic energy;

Electrical;

Acoustic;

directional energy;

Riot control chemicals and maldorants;

biochemical agents;

Combined technologies.

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

Alvin and Heidi Toffler in their work "War and Anti-War" argue that such experiments and developments were carried out in the United States not only among professional military personnel, but also among various think tanks. In 1995, the Council on Foreign Relations sponsored a publication on non-lethal technology, stating in the preface that CFR had no opinion on the matter. Of course, other states and military blocs are also interested in the possibility of using new technologies in defense and security. In December 2004, NATO released a report that considered the possibility of using these weapons during peace enforcement operations until 2020. The document reflected five priority technologies: 1) RF devices; 2) construction of barriers (acoustic, electromagnetic, mechanical); 3) resistance to the force of adhesion; 4) electric shock; 5) networks, as well as a lot of means for use both against people and against material objects. The weapons against objects included: radio frequency devices (for disabling electronics); lasers (high power for destruction and low power for blinding people); chemicals (slippery and viscous foam, super-glutinous and super-corrosive substances, graphite powders); biological components (bacteria, destructive materials); barriers (nets, wire fences, wheel piercing systems). There are several more means of influence against manpower: microwave systems (exposure to the skin), lasers (skin burns and blinding), chemicals (poisonous substances - incapacitants, chemical riot control agents - Riot Control Agent, RCA), acoustic technologies (with psychological and physical effects); barriers (nets, airbags), kinetic agents (traumatic bullets), electric shocks, vertigo 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 accuracy, selectivity of use and versatility. The ability to control weapons and minimize the effects of violence creates a flexible military capability that can be deployed across the full spectrum of conflicts.

Non-lethal weapons allow you to choose between diplomacy and lethal outcome. It provides the flexibility to prevent a crisis from arising by creating space and time, controlling the level of violence, and bridging the gap between diplomacy and lethal force. Non-lethal weapons lend stability to sanctions and protect diplomatic efforts.

Early intervention can reduce the cost of intervention and the risk of escalation. Non-lethal means can be applied early and pre-emptive intervention, reducing the risk of lethal destruction escalating.

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

Non-lethal weapons are not a universal substitute for lethal potential. Commanders at risk must retain the means and authority to use lethal force. Adherence to a non-lethal strategy must be limited when American resources and lives are threatened.

Non-lethal technologies are not applicable in all situations. The success of non-lethal technologies depends on the specific situation, political goals, and the definition of vulnerable threats. Skillful use must take into account the vulnerability of the enemy, political goals, the results of possible unforeseen consequences, as well as compliance with international conventions. Any of these factors can make non-lethal technologies ineffective.”

If with some types of such weapons (batons, traumatic and gas weapons, water cannons, stun guns) everything is very clear, since it has long been used not only by the military, but also by the police, then some new types should be considered 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 had already used Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Now research began to be carried out on the widest spectrum; among the proposed samples were agents of a calming effect and vice versa, causing discomfort: gastrointestinal convulsants, drugs that cause a painful reaction to light, strong sexual arousal, etc. Special units of the US Marine Corps and the US Army were seriously engaged in these projects. And not only enemy troops were considered as a potential target for the use of such drugs.

As outlined in the Unified Non-Lethal Weapons Concept, the military has begun developing and testing various maldorant-type chemicals (i.e., stinking substances) and their delivery vehicles for potential use against enemy military forces, "potentially hostile" civilians, and to quell riots. Since the number of deaths from various US and NATO special operations is quite high not only among combatants and terrorists, but also among the civilian population, we can conclude that these maldorants were primarily considered for use against civilians during riots or in difficult situations.

However, since the United States was a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, it was necessary to find loopholes in the legislation to justify the use of psychoactive substances for a wide range of effects - from sleepy to causing hallucinations. This required the appearance of democratic debate in the army. Back in 1992, the US Army issued a draft document "Operational Concepts for Non-Lethal Means", which included certain allocations for the development of ammunition with side effects both for use against enemy manpower and against military equipment. The concept itself appeared as a result of rethinking the methods of warfare based on the experience of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, when the US Department of Defense approved the idea of ​​developing the doctrine of non-lethal war (soft kill). But at that time, another lobby won out in the Pentagon (partly due to public pressure to cut military spending), and the project was shelved. However, then this topic began to rise again in US military circles at various conferences and round tables. During one such meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Coppernoll stated that "drugs that cause sedation and gastrointestinal convulsions, when classified as a means of controlling rebellion, may be acceptable." He noted that "once these technologies have been modified into actual weapons or weapon systems, the Naval Legal Service will analyze them for toxic properties and compliance with international laws, treaties and domestic restrictions before final approval for serial production or rejection."

As independent researchers note, maldorants (stink bombs) have already existed since the Second World War. In 1966, attempts were made in the United States to develop maldorants that were intended for certain ethnic groups. DARPA at the time was doing research on "whether cross-cultural differences are related to the sense of smell, and if so, especially in relation to bad smell, to what extent it can be used in psychological warfare." The Pentagon's interest in this type of weapon resumed 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 the director of the Swedish National Defense Research Institute, Bo Rieback, noted in 1992, “If we can learn to distinguish between the DNA of racial and ethnic groups, we can distinguish between whites and blacks, Jews and Mongoloids, between Swedes and Finns, and develop an agent that kills only members of a particular group. In addition to the biochemical agents themselves, the means of their delivery were also developed in the United States. General Dynamics, A major U.S. weapons firm, under the Overhead Chemical Agent Dispersal System (OCADS) project, has developed an 81mm mortar with a 1.5km range and a special 120mm explosive capsule.

It should be noted that while the United States blamed other countries for the use of chemical and biological weapons, their own development and use of such reagents in the armed forces 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 and 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 unrest. It also states that potential paralytic agents for use as weapons could include pharmaceutical chemicals, bioregulators, and toxins. But most importantly, the report contains the opinion 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 at the right dose against the right people without the risk of making mistakes in both people and dose. American scientists also convincingly proved that the so-called "non-lethal" agents are actually 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% hostage deaths were solely due to exposure to the gas).

The next type of “weapon” of non-lethal action can be attributed to an infrasonic generator that emits such 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 gun-generator was released in 2000 by the company American Technology Corporation and 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 mounted 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 application of a directional beam of electromagnetic energy at 95 GHz. These millimeter radio waves are able to penetrate small areas of the skin of the face, 1/64 inch in size, where nerve receptors are located. When the beam hits open areas of the skin, the pain threshold sets in rather quickly, but this does not lead to burns and does not cause other side effects. As a result of testing on volunteers, such microwave emitters were adopted by the US Army. Other microwave weapons are capable of disrupting 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".