The views expressed in this paper are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department
of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. This paper is approved
for public release by OASD/PA and SAF/PAS (with the following disclaimer). Distribution is
unlimited.
"Many of the weapon concepts described in this paper
are merely proposals. Except where specifically identified in official Department of
Defense documents, none of the concepts in this paper should be interpreted to be funded
R&D programs or operational weapon systems possessed by the Department of
Defense."
* * * * * * *
Comments pertaining to this paper are invited and should be
forwarded to:
Director, USAF Institute for National Security
Studies
HQ USAFA/DFES
2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 5L27
USAF Academy, CO 80840
phone: 719-333-2717
fax: 719-333-2716
email: hayspl.dfe@usafa.af.mil
Visit the Institute for National Security
Studies home page at http://www.usafa.af.mil/inss
* * * * * * *
ABOUT THE EDITOR:
Dr Robert J. Bunker is an adjunct professor,
National Security Studies program, California State University, San Bernardino, and
professor, Unconventional Warfare, American Military University, Manassas Park, Virginia.
His research focus is on the influence of technology on warfare and political organization
and on the national security implications of emerging modes of warfare. He served as a
concept assessor to the US Air Force Project 2025 study.
The editor would like to thank the following individuals in
addition to those listed on the next page for their contributions to this work: Dr Glenn
W. Goodman, Jr., Dr Mark T. Clark, Amy Wittman, and Scott Boris, as well as the
institutional support of Armed Forces Journal International and Defense
News.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS:
Dr John B. Alexander is a retired Army Colonel with
assignments ranging from command of Special Forces A-Teams in Thailand and Vietnam to
Directorship of the Advanced Systems Concepts Office, U.S. Army Laboratory Command. From
1992-1995 he was the Program Manager for Nonlethal Defense, Special Technologies Group,
Nonproliferation and International Security Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory. He
currently holds many positions including that of US Delegate to a NATO Advisory Group.
Col Rex Applegate is a retired Army officer whose
career in unconventional warfare included assignments with the Office of Strategic
Services (OSS), Military Police and Counterintelligence. He is a recognized international
authority on nonlethal weapons having been involved in projects relating to their
development during the period 1960-75. His book on riot control is considered the
principle work in this subject area by many police forces.
Mr Jon B. Becker is the CEO & President of
Aardvark Tactical, Inc., a California based provider of less-lethal munitions and
training. His business was the primary contractor for less-lethal munitions and training
for Operation United Shield in Somalia.
Lt Col Matt Begert, USMC, is the Military Assistant
to the Director, Precision Guided Weapons Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Directorate,
an OSD field activity. His operational experience includes instructor duty for the A-6
Intruder, extensive deployment to the Pacific and operations as a small team leader
attached to US Army and allied special operations units for interoperable fire support.
Expeditionary experience includes aircraft carrier deployment in the Indian Ocean and air
operations in the Persian Gulf War.
Mr Jaime H. Cuadros is the founder of Arts and
Engineering, a firm dedicated to the study and development of less-lethal kinetic energy
projectiles and weapons; together with the art of watercolor painting. Arts and
Engineering has designed improved shotbags (for the 12 gauge shotgun) and a 19 mm
close-range rubber bullet system for police use.
Mr Abraham Flatau, formerly Chief of Weapons Systems
Concepts Team, US Army Armament Research and Development Command. Conceived and directed
research and development projects in unconventional weaponry, including Ring Airfoil
Grenade (RAG) and tubular projectiles. From 1984 to 1988 served as technical advisor to
Director, Advanced Systems and Technology Division, Aerojet Ordnance Company.
CWO-5 Charles "Sid" Heal, USMCR, saw
service in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars and was the Mobile Training Team leader for
nonlethal options in Operation United Shield in Somalia. He has over 22 years of law
enforcement experience and is a national authority on diversionary devices and a court
recognized expert in law enforcement special operations and emergency management.
FOREWORD
We believe you will find this reference book to be a useful
addition to the current literature on nonlethal weapons. Its target audience is
individuals who deal with special operations, weapons procurement and sales, and military
operations other than war. It also complements other handbook literature of this type,
such as Weapons of Mass Destruction Terms Handbook (Alexandria, VA: Defense Special
Weapons Agency, May 1997), and Nuclear Terms Handbook 1996 (Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Department of Energy, 1996). The need for such a handbook on nonlethal weapons and
associated technology has grown along with the perception that U.S. forces will
increasingly use such systems in the post-Cold War global security environment. We hope
that this comprehensive handbook will help to contribute a sense of the technological
limitations of nonlethal weapons, as well as provide clarity and consistency in
discussions on the future of U.S. national security policy.
About the Institute
INSS is primarily sponsored by the National Security Policy
Division, Nuclear and Counterproliferation Directorate, Headquarters US Air Force
(USAF/XONP) and the Dean of the Faculty, US Air Force Academy. Our other current sponsors
include: the Air Staff's Directorate for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
(USAF/XOI); OSD Net Assessment; the Defense Special Weapons Agency; the Army Environmental
Policy Institute; Army Space Command; and the On-Site Inspection Agency. The mission of
the Institute is to promote national security research for the Department of Defense
within the military academic community, and to support the Air Force national security
education program. Its primary purpose is to promote research in fields of interest to
INSS' sponsors: international security policy (especially arms control and
counterproliferation), Air Force planning issues, regional security policy, conflict in
the information age (including the revolution in military affairs and information
warfare), environmental security, and space policy.
INSS coordinates and focuses outside thinking in various
disciplines and across services to develop new ideas for USAF policy making. The Institute
develops topics, selects researchers from within the military academic community, and
administers sponsored research. It also edits books and hosts conferences and workshops
that facilitate the dissemination of information to a wide range of private and government
organizations. INSS is in its fifth year of providing valuable, cost-effective research to
meet the needs of the Air Staff and our other sponsors. We appreciate your continued
interest in INSS and its research products.
PETER L. HAYS, Lt Colonel, USAF
Director, Institute for National Security Studies
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this paper is to promote an
understanding of and research into a new category of weapons, designated "nonlethal" by the military services. These weapons are also classified as
"less-than-lethal" or "less-lethal" by law enforcement agencies.
National security experts consider these weapons increasingly important in the post-Cold
War era. This type of weapon has been used throughout history, but was given new emphasis
during the Vietnam War era. Law enforcement agencies and Army national guard units relying
upon traditional forms of politico-military force were ineffective in countering US
domestic civil unrest. As similar types of conflict, now many magnitudes greater, seem to
dominate international politics since the end of the Cold War, this type of weapon takes
on increasing importance.
The Department of Defense defines these weapons as follows:
Weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed
so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury
to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment. Unlike conventional
lethal weapons that destroy their targets principally through blast, penetration and
fragmentation, non-lethal weapons employ means other than gross physical destruction to
prevent the target from functioning. Non-lethal weapons are intended to have one, or both,
of the following characteristics: a. they have relatively reversible effects on personnel
or materiel, b. they affect objects differently within their area of influence [229:1-2].
We have followed this Western definition of nonlethal
weapons in this paper, but have also included what would be considered non-Western forms
of weaponry. The reason for the inclusion of these weapons, which specifically are
designed to result in permanent injury to personnel, is because of the great likelihood
that they will be used against US forces in future conflicts.
Our intent is to create an initial term and reference
listing that will help support joint-force and dual-use initiatives focused on identifying
the potential drawbacks of integrating nonlethal weapons into our military services and
law enforcement agencies. Because of the limited objective of this paper, it consists
solely of two sections: a list of terms that describes nonlethal weapons along with the
concepts both surrounding and inhibiting their use and a comprehensive listing of
references to facilitate further research. The category of nonlethal weapons that offers
the capability for information warfare has not been included in this paper because of its
association with that distinct form of conflict.
The terms and descriptions provided within this paper
should not be considered authoritative, static, or comprehensive. Rather, they represent a
point of departure from which further research can be conducted and eventual definitions
created as these weapons begin the slow and tedious process of being adapted for
operational use. This paper offers a candid assessment of our current understanding of
nonlethal weapons that undoubtedly contains inaccuracies, either directly or by omission.
Bearing these caveats in mind, we have attempted to
create a fairly comprehensive overview of the terms and concepts relating to nonlethals
and the works available for reference on this topic. The contributors to this paper
represent some of our country's "best and brightest" in the field of nonlethal
weapons research, development, training and operational employment. Their combined
expertise spans the early years of the development of nonlethal weapons from the Vietnam
War era, including their employment in the Somali operation and in recent domestic law
enforcement disturbances, to newer systems still in the process of being developed and
field tested.
Nonlethal weapons cannot be thought of in a "business as usual" sense or, for that matter, solely as a new type of force
multiplier. It is the opinion of the editor (and most of the contributors to this paper)
that when nonlethal weapons are ready for wide-scale application, this will signal a
development as significant in magnitude as the emergence of gunpowder based firearms
during the European Renaissance. Just as the firearm gave the ability for distance-killing
that destroyed a Western ban existing since the time of the Iliad, the introduction
of nonlethals may allow for tailored employment of politico-military force and challenge
the accepted definition of warfare.
The US military will need to undertake significant
organizational and doctrinal restructuring in order to exploit the potential of these new
weapons. The most important near-term application of nonlethal technology appears to be in
areas such as: operations in "failed states," as a counter to the non-Western
form of warfare that is emerging globally, as a defense against the specter of further
terrorist assaults upon our homeland, and as a means of responding to civil unrest in many
of our inner cities. Over the longer term, it is their fit with other nascent warfighting
trends embodied in the revolution in political and military affairs (RPMA) that is of
paramount significance. For example, nonlethal weapons could present new and potentially
highly effective mechanisms for dealing with an advanced form of battlespace (i.e.
cyberspace) and the criminally-based non-state soldier (i.e. terrorist, mercenary or
"new-warrior class") as a challenger to the Western nation-state's domination of
political violence.
In order to respond to these and other challenges, we must
insure that our armed services retain the capability to dominate the battlefields of the
21st century. Our ability to use nonlethal weapons effectively will be a critical
component of our future capabilities. It is toward improving our knowledge in that
endeavor that this paper has been written.
Robert J. Bunker
December 1996
Nonlethal
Weapons:
Terms and References
TERM LISTING
As listed in the table of contents, the entries in this
paper are organized into seventeen categories for nonlethal weapons technology and five
areas for concepts associated with the use of nonlethal technology. The citation protocol
for entries list the reference material number and the page number as follows: [Reference
Number: Page Number]. If an entire document is cited, no page numbers are given. For the
purpose of accuracy, many terms have been directly quoted from a single referenced source,
while others combined reference sources.
I. Nonlethal Weapons
A. Acoustics
Acoustic Beam. High power, very low
frequency beam emitted from weaponry under development. Envisioned to be a piston-driven
or detonation-driven pulser which forces compressed air into tubes to generate a low
frequency wave [543,546].
Acoustic, Blast Wave, Projector. Energy
generation from a pulsed laser that will project a hot, high pressure plasma in the air in
front of a target. It creates a blast wave with variable but controlled effects on
hardware and troops [543].
Acoustic Bullets. High power, very low
frequency waves emitted from one to two meter antenna dishes. Results in blunt object
trauma from waves generated in front of the target. Effects range from discomfort to
death. A Russian device that can propel a 10-hertz sonic bullet the size of a baseball
hundreds of yards is thought to exist. Proposed fixed site defense [16,113,212,543]. Also
known as sonic bullets.
Acoustic, Curdler Unit. A device which is
plugged into an HPS-1 sound system to produce a shrill shrieking, blatting noise. It is
used to irritate and disperse rioters and had a decibel range just below that of the
danger level to the human ear. It is used in night operations to produce a "voodoo" effect and effectively breaks up chanting, singing and clapping
[2:279-280,82:184,84,529].
Acoustic, Deference Tones. Devices which can
project a voice or other sound to a particular location. The resulting sound can only be
heard at that location [176:86].
Acoustic, Doppler Effect Alarm. Any movement
in the area between a transmitter and a receiver causes a slight variation in the sound
pattern received. By measuring this variation an alarm system can be made to be activated
[23:204].
Acoustic, High Intensity Sound. Loud music
was used by American forces to drive Manual Norriega from the Vatican Embassy in
Panama in 1990. Also known as polysound [354:45].
Acoustic, HPS-1 Sound System. A 350 watt
sound system with an audible voice range of 2 1/2 miles. Used by the military in
Indo-China and then supplied to law enforcement. First used by police forces at San
Francisco State College and at Berkeley in the 1960s [2:277-279,82,84]. See also Acoustic,
Curdler Unit.
Acoustic, Infrasound.
Very low-frequency sound which can travel long distances and easily penetrate most
buildings and vehicles. Transmission of long wavelength sound creates biophysical effects;
nausea, loss of bowels, disorientation, vomiting, potential internal organ damage or death
may occur. Superior to ultrasound because it is "in band" meaning that its does
not lose its properties when it changes mediums such as from air to tissue. By
1972 an infrasound generator had been built in France which generated waves at 7 hertz.
When activated it made the people in range sick for hours [23,302,546].
Acoustic, Squawk Box. Crowd dispersal weapon
field tested by the British Army in Ireland in 1973. This directional device emits two
ultrasonic frequencies which when mixed in the human ear become intolerable. It produces
giddiness, nausea or fainting. The beam is so small that is can be directed at specific
individuals in a riot situation [451,452,504].
Acoustic, Teleshot. Cartridge projecting a
powerful sonic device delivered by a 12-gauge shotgun. Experimental use in 1972 [529].
Acoustic, Ultrasound. A very high frequency
sound whose wavelength is "out of band" making it less effective than infrasound
because it losses its properties when it changes mediums. Example, from air to human
tissue. Like infrasound a lot of power is required to generate these waves which create
biophysical effects. See also Acoustic, Infrasound.
B.
Acoustics & Opticals
Acoustic & Optical, Air Burst Simulator.
A diversionary device normally used to simulate the air burst of artillery rounds during
infantry training. The device is fired via a 37-40mm launching device and has an 8 second
fuze prior to ignition.
Acoustic & Optical, Cod-Weight. A heavy,
(2 pounds or greater) weight to which a diversionary device is attached to allow it to be
thrown through window screens, window glass, bushes and similar materials. The name is
derived from the original weights used for deep-sea fishing for Cod.
Acoustic & Optical, Diversionary Device.
A hand thrown pyrotechnic device which emits a loud bang and dazzling light when ignited.
The device is designed to create a sensory overload which temporarily causes confusion and
an inability to effectively respond to a tactical team's actions. Sometimes called a
flash-bang grenade.
Acoustic & Optical, Diversionary Device,
Launched. A diversionary device which can be launched from a 12 gauge shot gun
[373].
Acoustic & Optical, Flash Stick. A stick
or pole to which a diversionary device is affixed, allowing it to be precisely placed and
held during ignition. Often used for exact insertion through chain link fences, windows,
heavy brush and so forth.
Acoustic & Optical, Painter's Pole. An
extendible pole to which a diversionary device is affixed allowing it to be precisely
placed and held during ignition. Often used for supporting second story entries from
beneath. The name is derived from the pole used by painters to hold paint rollers when
painting overhead.
Acoustic & Optical, Photic Driver. A
crowd control device developed by a British company prior to 1973 which uses ultrasound
and flashing infrared lights which penetrate closed human eyelids. Potential for epileptic
fits because of the stroboscopic flashing effect. May have been employed by South African
Police during interrogations [23,450].
Acoustic & Optical, Psycho-Correction. A
technology invented by a Russian scientist that involves influencing subjects visually or
aurally with imbedded subliminal messages [318].
Acoustic & Optical, Stun Grenade. A
non-lethal grenade, XM84, in development to be used by Army military police [338].
C. Antilethals
Antilethal. Technologies which provide
counter-sniper, counter-mortar, antimissile and high-precision weapons capabilities.
Advanced forms of camouflage and sensors which defeat lethal weapons are additional forms
of this technology [418:24].
Antilethal, Camouflage-Active. Created by
dynamically matching the object to be camouflaged to its background colors and light
levels rendering it virtually invisible to the eye. This is conceptually the same
camouflage process as that used by a chameleon. This is accomplished through a
sophisticated color and light sensor array which detects an object's background color and
brightness. This data is then computer matched and reproduced on a pixel array covering
the viewing service of the object to be camouflaged. Also known as chameleon camouflage
[245,302].
Antilethal, Camouflage-Metamorphic. Uniforms
or paint which change color due to either light or heat sensitivity. Extremely useful for
night and day operations and those taking place in urban environments [245,302].
Antilethal, Counter-Sniper.
Electronic sniper-locating systems based on acoustic, shock wave or infrared measuring
technologies. Provides the location of a hostile sniper to a sniper team or to an
automated counter-sniper system which can fire either a kinetic round or a low-energy
laser at the hostile sniper [2:300-301,505].
Antilethal, Electronic-False Target Generation.
An electronic device that creates and presents an image of a target to a precision
laser-guided weapon that causes that weapon to aim at the false target. Used as a
countermeasure to those precision guided weapons [468:14].
Antilethal, Electronic-Shell
Detonator. A system fielded by U.S. troops in Bosnia which creates an
electronic field that causes mortar and artillery shells to explode prematurely by
signaling to them that they have reached their target [183].
Antilethal, Electromagnetic Shielding. A form
of defense against microwave attack. A metal box, known as a "Faraday Cage," can
sometimes function as one by excluding electromagnetic fields [356:39].
Antilethal, Food Bomb. Humanitarian use of
nonlethal weapons. Place concentrated food pellets rather than anti-personnel bomblets in
a cluster bomb unit. For use in cities under siege on the verge of starvation [609].
Antilethal, Laser Protection. Protection is
achieved in three ways: absorption using dyes, reflected using optical coatings and the
blocking of specific wavelengths [287].
Antilethal, Laser Protection-BLPS. Ballistic
and Laser Protective Spectacles. Since 1988, these devices have been issued
to high priority Army and Marine Corps units. The BLPS are dye-filled polycarbonate
plastic filters which will protect eyesight against the low-energy lasers most likely
encountered on today's battlefield, specifically the two or three wave lengths used by
common range finders and target designators based on Nd:YAG and ruby lasers. They will not
give protection against frequency-agile low energy laser weapons [1:185].
Antilethal, Laser
Protection-Smoke. Smoke's attenuative properties allow it to serve as a
passive defense against blinding laser weaponry. Large-area smoke generation may provide a
means to offer continuous protection for forward elements of U.S. combat forces [115:38].
Antilethal, Low Energy
Laser. An Air Force project, known as Have Glance, in which a pod-mounted, low
energy laser would be mounted on an aircraft to confuse the heat-seeking function of
infrared missiles [1:161].
Antilethal, RPG Barrier. See Barrier, Fence-RPG.
Antilethal, Sensor-Acoustic. Remote
acoustic sensors placed in an area overwatch position in urban zones to detect and locate
gunfire within that area [429].
Antilethal, Sensor-Facial Recognition
Technology. Experimental information systems which recognize human facial
features and compare them to databases of wanted suspects. Great potential for
apprehending terrorists in airport terminals and criminals in large crowds. More advanced
subdermal systems will be required as a follow-on to these systems as a counter to
criminals/non-state soldiers who surgically alter their facial features [642].
Antilethal, Sensor-Ground Penetrating Radar.
Sensor that can detect nongeologic objects and human engineered structures beneath the
ground by analyzing the return of electromagnetic waves traveling through geologic
structures. Detection of buried mines and discovery/mapping of underground bunkers
represent practical, nonlethal applications [215:10].
Antilethal, Sensor-Nonimaging Portable
Radar. A radar unit which weighs less than 10 pounds, uses rechargeable
batteries, is small enough to fit into a briefcase and will detect motion through
nonmetallic walls and floors. Using sounds instead of images, it detects motion and can
transmit to a receiver up to a distance of 200 feet [302].
Antilethal, Sensor-Retroreflectivity.
A theory based on the reflection of light. Common example is seeing an animal's eyes at
night in your headlights. Allows for an electro-optical sensing mode that can be used to
find opposing electroptics looking into the night for location and targeting purposes.
Antilethal, Smart Gun. A gun which can only
be used by the proper user or users. Identification is automatic and would be carried out
by radio frequency signals or other technologies [620].
Antilethal, Smart Metals. See Markers, Smart Metals.
Antilethal, White Light Goggles. Experimental
goggles which "gate out" bright white light so that the user will not be
affected by them along with the targets [330:6].
D. Antiplant Agents
Antiplant Agent. Compounds used to
destroy plants or crops function in one of two general ways. Growth regulators and
desiccants kill or defoliate by stimulating the leaf fall process (growth regulator) or by
drying the leaf blade (desiccant). The other category, soil sterilizers, contaminate the
soil, preventing or retarding growth. Uses of antiplant agents include destruction of
crops and foliant removal to deny/degrade camouflage [13:77-78].
Antiplant Agent Blue. Fast acting antiplant
desiccant containing sodium dimethyl. The desiccant, unlike anti-plant growth regulators,
works by drying the leaf blade of the plant rather than simulating the plant's leaf fall
process [13:77-78].
Antiplant Agent, Defoliants. Any of a variety
of chemical compounds that either stimulate the leaf fall process, dry the leaf blade or
sterilize the soil [13:77-78].
Antiplant Agent, Operation Ranch Hand. A
defoliation program conducted during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1970. The primary
purpose of the operation was to deny cover to enemy forces, thereby making ambushes more
difficult. Crop destruction missions were also conducted in northern and eastern central
areas of South Vietnam [22:66-67].
Antiplant Agent Orange. Antiplant growth
regulator containing n-butyl esters of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and
trichlorophenoyacetic acid. Publicized for its use in Operation Ranch Hand in the Vietnam
War from 1962-1970 [13:77-78].
Antiplant Agent Purple. Growth regulator
similar to Agent Orange but contains, in addition, the isobutyl ester of
trichlorophenoxyacetic acid [13:77-78].
Antiplant Agent White. Antiplant growth
regulator composed of a mixture of tri-iso-propanolanime salt of dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid and picloram in water [13:77-78].
E. Barriers
Barrier, Air Bag, Backseat. An
automobile airbag designed to hold in place a suspect placed in a police car. Designed
because of the frequency of violent behavior once suspects have been handcuffed and placed
in a police car for transport.
Barrier, Air Bag Mine. A nonlethal vehicular
mine based on a type of air bag [339].
Barrier, Caltrops. A personnel and vehicular
barrier device with four projecting spikes so arranged that when three of the spikes are
on the ground, the fourth points upward. The term caltrop is derived from an English water
chestnut which was used to impede the mobility of heavy cavalry during the Middle Ages.
Caltrops were used in Somalia by the Marines during United Shield to supplement key
barrier systems at night during the final hours of the withdrawal [378].
Barrier, Coating-Slick. Teflon-type
lubricants which create a slippery surface because of their chemical properties. These chemical agents reduce friction with the intent to
inhibit the free movement of the target. In the 1960s the term "Instant
Banana Peel" was coined to describe the capability provided by Riotril. When applied
to a hard surface and wetted down, this dry, relatively-inexpensive, non-toxic,
non-corrosive white powder becomes ice slick. It becomes virtually impossible for an
individual to move or stand up on a hard surface so treated. Tire-type vehicles are also
unable to get traction. Riotril, if allowed to dry, can easily be peeled away or, because
of its water-soluble nature, can also be hosed away with high-pressure streams
[2:302-303,16,91, 356,565]. Also known as low-friction polymers, slick'ems,' and
superlubricants.
Barrier, Coating-Sticky. Polymer adhesives
used to bond down equipment and human targets. Also known as stick'ems' and superadhesives
[16].
Barrier, Electronic. See Antilethal, Electronic-Shell Detonator.
Barrier, Emulsifier. Agents, contained in a
mixture of mutually insoluble liquids, which were dispersed over the Ho Chi Minh trail to
degrade the logistical lifeline of Viet Cong forces during the Vietnam War. Used in tandem
with clouding seeding. Also known as soil destabilizers [434].
Barrier, Fence-Electrical. See Electrical, Fence.
Barrier, Fence-RPG. Conventional
fencing, usually 6 ft high, with barbed wire on top. While the anti-mobility utility of
such fencing is apparent it also had an anti-lethal capability. In Vietnam this fencing
was erected as a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) screen in front of armored fighting
positions and around command vehicles. RPGs which hit this screen either had their fusing
systems disabled (RPG7's) or prematurely detonated (RPG2's). Also known as cyclone fencing
[635,637:109].
Barrier, Foam-Aqueous. Originally derived
from a fire fighting compound used to put out airplane fires. Barrier foam is a derivative
which is thicker in consistency. This technology employs a safe, biodegradable form of
suds which can be piled up to as high as four feet. Barrier foam can be applied over
fences, concertina wire, ditches to be seeded with caltrops (a four pointed device
designed to puncture tires) to prevent vehicular passage. By applying the foam over
obstacles, it impedes the ability to defeat them. Barrier foam, as its name implies, is
used to deny entry or passage. The conceptual origins of this foam date back to 1965
[2:300,82,302,378].
Barrier, Foam-Aqueous, Generator. Concept
involves blowing air through nylon net kept wet with mixture which creates aqueous foam
[529].
Barrier, Foam-Aqueous Riot Control Agent. The
ordinary suds of barrier foam can be enhanced with the addition of substances such as
oleoresin capsicum, the primary ingredient in "pepper spray," or CS [165].
Barrier, Foam-Sticky. A name given to a
polymer-based superadhesive agent. The technology first began appearing in commercial
applications such as "super glue" and quick setting foam insulation. It is
extremely persistent and is virtually impossible to remove without a liquid solvent which
has a pleasant citrus odor. The solvent can be applied as a spray or poured on. The foam
then appears to dissipate, releasing its hold and allowing suspects to be arrested and safely transported. Sticky foam came to public attention on February 28,
1995 when U.S. Marines used it in Mogadishu, Somalia, to prevent armed intruders from
impeding efforts to extricate United Nation
forces from that county [302,378].
Barrier, Foam-Sticky, Dispenser.
An interior barrier system, operated by either intruder penetration or command, which
administers a sticky-foam barrier in a passageway from floor to ceiling [506].
Barrier, Rope, Launcher. Nylon rope dispersed
by a compressed air launcher using mounted on a truck. Thirty cubic feet per minute [529].
Barrier, Smoke-Antilaser. See Antilethal, Laser Protection-Smoke.
Barrier, Smoke-Cold. A thick,
disorienting "cold smoke" which can be
generated in areas from 2,000 to 50,000 cubic feet. It restricts an intruders eye-hand
coordination and interactions among members of an intruding group [506].
Barrier, Spike. An angle-cut metal rod driven
into an unsurfaced road's wheel pit. A 1/2 inch diameter rod, protruding only about 3
inches, is blunt enough so as to not penetrate a shoe sole under a person's weight, yet a
heavy vehicle will drive it through a tire [15:92].
Barrier, Spiked Strip. Flat strip resembling
a fire hose with retractable hollow spikes designed to flatten the tires of a target
automobile. When the strip is activated, hollow spikes extend vertically and puncture the
tires as the vehicle rolls over the strip. Also known as road spikes [566:2].
Barrier, Stakes. A sharp stake, often of wood
or bamboo, that is concealed in high grass, deep mud or pits. It is often coated with
excrement, and intended to wound and infect the feet of enemy soldiers. Can be utilized
both as a booby trap and as a barrier. Commonly known as punji stick or punji stakes.
Barrier, Wire/Tape-Barbed, Launcher.
Dispensing systems for flat barbed tape and barbed wire which could be quickly deployed
into concertina form [82,529].
F. Batons
Baton,
Biotechnical-Injector. A baton with an automatic self-injecting syringe for
administering the antidote to nerve gas built into it's tip and filled with calmatives or
other biotechnical agents [165].
Baton, Breakaway. A baton made of a substance
that will break if used incorrectly [529].
Baton, Electrical.
Standard dimension baton which delivers an electric charge of low voltage, powered by
standard flash-light cells [2:240,23,529]. Also known as stun baton or shok baton.
Baton, Expandable. Measures 6" to
7" in closed position. The three telescopic sections rapidly flick open to an
extended 16" to 18". Also known as extensible billyclub [529].
Baton, Riot Control Agent. 12-26" plastic baton which is able to project riot control agents [2:211-212].
Baton, Side-Handle. A baton with a
side-handle attachment which allows it to be twirled for greater impact and used more
effectively to block an opponent's blows.
Baton, Straight. Wooden, plastic, metallic
rod from 12" to 36" used as a swung impact weapon. Can either hang from a
leather throng or be held in a holster. Smaller version, 6" to 8." Also known as
nightstick or billyclub.
Baton, Straight, Flashlight. Heavy shock
resistant flash light which can be swung like a baton.
Baton, Straight, Flashlight-Riot Control Agent. Shock
resistance polyethylene flash light. Besides providing a light source, this flashlight can
be used as a baton and to project a riot control agent [2:216].
Baton, Two-Handed Riot. The 36 in. long riot
baton is employed like a rifle and bayonet-- overhead blows could be fatal. Short,
one-handed batons are not appropriate for close-quarter riot actions [74,95].
G. Biotechnicals
Biotechnical, Behavior-Altering Drugs. See Biotechnical, Calmatives. Suggested delivery in a gaseous
form for terrorist and hostage situations in 1987 [556].
Biotechnical, Biodegrading Microbes.
Microbes which turn storage tanks full of aviation fuel into useless jelly. Such microbes
may produce acids or enzymes which can be tailored to degrade almost anything, even
concrete and metal, so their potential use as nonlethal weapons could be extensive
[171:2,356:38].
Biotechnical, Calmatives.
Biotechnical agents which are sedatives or sleep-inducing drugs; includes alfentinil,
fentanyls, ketamine and BZ. Several of them make ideal choices for this application when
mixed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which promotes absorption through skin to quickly
sedate persons contacted. DMSO introduces the calmative agent into the bloodstream by
increasing the epidermal absorption rate by about 1,000 percent. The explosion of a flash
bang (sometimes called a diversionary device) represents one method of dispersing DMSO and
a calmative agent. Calmatives were reportedly used by the Soviets against the Mujahideen
in Afghanistan [16,176:83,302,431,556]. Also known as sleep agents.
Biotechnical, Disease Organisms. Nonfatal
diseases targeted toward troops and civilians. Such viral agents were developed by Iraq to
be used against Western forces during the Gulf War so as to create long term disabling
injuries. Agents being considered for use were those that cause hemorrhagic
conjunctivitis, chronic diarrhea, yellow fever and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever [627].
Biotechnical, DM. Diphenylaminechloroarsine.
A sickening agent no longer in use by the military because of health risks. Probably ruled
out of use in Vietnam by October, 1965. Effects include sneezing, shortness of breath,
retching and vomiting, hemorrhaging, and possible death. Mixed with CN for immediate
effect [13:19,529].
Biotechnical, Genetic Alteration. The act of
changing genetic code to create a desired less-than-lethal but longterm disablement
effect, perhaps for generations, thereby creating a societal burden.
Biotechnical, Hypodermic Syringe-Dart.
Modified shotgun or handgun in which the projectile is a drug-filled syringe activated by
a small charge on impact. Wide variety of drugs available including emetic (vomiting)
agents [2:293,165,529].
Biotechnical, Injector-Baton. See Baton, Biotechnology- Injector.
Biotechnical, Malodorous Agents.
Foul-smelling gases and sprays such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) or a compound
known as NaS8 which is used in making plastics. Could be delivered by a
grenade. Past work on "cultural specific" agents has also been undertaken
[356,529]. See also Biotechnical, Project Agile.
Biotechnical, Neuro-Implant. Computer
implants into the brain which allow for behavioral modification and control. Current
research is experimental in nature and focuses on lab animals such as mice [636].
Biotechnical, Pheromones. The
chemical substances released by animals to influence physiology or behavior of other
members of the same species. One use of pheromones, at the most elemental level, could be
to mark target individuals and then release bees to attack them. This would result in
forcing them to exit an area or abandon resistance [195].
Biotechnical, Project
Agile. Series of military science studies in Asia conducted by Battele
Memorial Institute in May 1966 for Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). One such
study centered on developing 'stink' bombs which were race specific [320].
Biotechnical, Wetware.
Advanced technology devices which are surgically implanted into the body rather than worn.
These devices can be used to enhance memory and the human senses, modify behavior or to
locate allied troops. Pacemakers represent an early form of wetware. New concept developed
in this document.
H.
Electricals
Electrical, Armored Personnel Carrier.
Standard armored personnel carrier fitted with a gate-like apparatus in the front and
charged to a high voltage. Used by West German police to clear streets or round up small
groups of people [165].
Electrical, Baton. See Baton, Electrical.
Electrical, Fence. A fence which delivers a nonlethal electrical shock. It can be employed as an
effective barrier against intruders [74:66].
Electrical, Flashlight. A type of flashlight
designed with electrodes on the base. Effective range is minimal [556].
Electrical, Glove. A glove with an electric
impulse generator in the palm and the bottom sides of the glove fingers. A close-in device
similar to the electric stun gun and the electric flashlight [556].
Electrical, High-Voltage Telsa Coil. Passed
from public scene because of their indiscriminate use against blacks in several Southern
states in the mid-1960s. Example, electric baton or electric cattle prod [165].
Electrical, Homemade Body Armor. Newspapers
and magazines stuffed down inmates' clothing and/or the use of mattresses as shields to
counter the effects of stun guns [385].
Electrical, Police Jacket. Police jacket
which jolts anyone who touches it [165].
Electrical, Projector. An advanced version of
the standoff stun gun, where no wires are required. The charges are delivered through the
air through pre-ionized air channels or by charging a low energy projectile which releases
the charge at impact. Another approach is to launch a low energy projectile that releases
the electrical charge at impact by compressing a piezo-electric element [195:8].
Electrical, Stun Belt. A command activated
belt worn by prisoners which delivers a mild electric shock when they become combative
[385].
Electrical, Stun Gun-Close In.
A small, two-pronged, hand held electrical discharge weapon. Effective range is less than
an arm length. It works by affecting the muscle signal paths, disturbing the nerve system
[556].
Electrical, Stun Gun-Standoff. A form of stun
gun with a range of 20 feet. It fires small, barbed electrical contactors, via a fine
trailing wire, which snare a victim's clothing. A 3-4 second lapse takes place before the
target is subdued. The development of this device was inspired by the Watts Riots in 1965
[408,529].
Electrical, Water Stream. A mobile unit projects a water stream charged with high voltage, low amperage. Another
method cites 2 water jets, 1 negatively charged and 1 positively charged, which meet to
close the circuit [529].
I.
Electromagnetics
Electromagnetic, Engine Kill. The use of
high-powered microwaves to kill the electrical system of an engine.
Electromagnetic, High Power Microwave [HPM], Weapons.
Energy generated by a conventional electromagnetic apparatus, such as a radar transmitter,
or released from a conventional explosion converted into a radio-frequency weapon which
causes the disruption of electronic systems. Usually an ultra-wide ban source focus due to
target vulnerability considerations. HPMs can also cause human unconsciousness without
permanent maiming by upsetting the neural pathways in the brain and/or death [256,278].
Electromagnetic, Interference (EMI). Flight
control systems of military aircraft are sensitive to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
It is suspected that several crashes of Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters may have
resulted when they flew too near large microwave transmitters [278].
Electromagnetic, MASER. Microwave
Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A microwave generation device.
Electromagnetic Pulse, Non-Nuclear [NNEMP], Weapons.
Non-nuclear EMP generating weapons mounted on cruise missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) which would disable enemy tanks and early warning radars would be invaluable. Such
weapons when they explode would produce a momentary burst of microwaves powerful enough to
disable all but special, radiation-hardened electronic devices [205,261,262].
Electromagnetic, Radio Frequency [RF], Weapons.
A class of weapons which transmit short, high-powered pulses of electromagnetic radiation
over significant ranges [278].
Electromagnetic, Rocket-Powered Unit. Unmanned
miniature-wheeled vehicle launched by a police cruiser which delivers an electromagnetic
energy pulse to the underside of a fleeing car's engine controls and associated sensors to
disable it [644:4].
Electromagnetic, Static Unit. See Electromagnetic,
Rocket-Powered Unit above. Static version resembling a pancake shaped bump in the
road. Remote control or unmanned automatic control [644:4].
Electromagnetic, Thermal Gun. A device that
directs energy to produce heat, in concept similar to a microwave oven [565].
J. Entanglers
Entangler, Animal "Come-Along." A
pole with a looped wire attached to one end. When the wire is placed around the neck of a
subject and then tightened it produces a choking effect much in the same manner as that of
a choking collar used for dogs.
Entangler, Bola. Device consisting of two or
three heavy balls attached by one or two ropes/cords and used for entanglement purposes.
It is twirled overhead in one hand and hurled or cast at the intended target. Designed to
entangle legs to retard/stop movement. Probably an ancient weapon, but made famous by the
gauchos of South America, who used them to catch cattle and ostrich.
Entangler, Cloggers. Polymer agents,
sticky-soft plastics, used in burst munitions to clog up jet and tank engine intakes
[144].
Entangler, Cloggers-Colored. Clogging agents
when mixed with dyes result in "tinted clouds" whose presence let friendly
forces know not to enter them [353].
Entangler, Cloggers-Colored, Mine-Air.
Cloggers mixed with colored gas which designate an air mine to allied pilots or drones.
These air mines can be intermixed with "decoy mines" consisting solely of
colored gas and laid in air mine fields to restrict aerial mobility [54].
Entangler, Monofilament Fishing Line. When
spread out on snow, monofilament fishing line may be sucked into a snowmobile's track
mechanism and cause it to jam. Effectiveness unconfirmed [15:108].
Entangler, Net-Electrified. A net shot from a
gun at a targeted individual. Will release an electric shock if the target tries to
struggle [361:69].
Entangler, Net, Gun. Fires a net which
entangles a human or vehicular target. One such net is 18 feet wide and employs
glue-coated strands. Another is 28-foot-wide, fired from a cannon and can envelope a car
or armored vehicle [121:24,165].
Entangler, Net, Mine-Human. Mine detonation
fires a net into the air which lands upon a soldier target.
Entangler, Net, Mine-Vehicular. A device laid
across a road which shoots a fabric barrier up about to 2 meters to ensnare an oncoming
vehicle [216].
Entangler, Net-Poles. A capture
device based on a pair of 6 foot nylon poles that have a strong chain interlaced between
them. It is employed by two people who capture the target in the chain mesh between the
poles [2:295,569:21].
Entangler, Riot Gloves. Heavy protective
gloves used by prison guards and riot police which protect the hands and forearms from
cuts and blunt trauma. These gloves allow for the grappling of prisoners and rioters.
K. Holograms
Hologram, Death. Hologram used to scare a
target individual to death. Example, a drug lord with a weak heart sees the ghost of his
dead rival appearing at his bedside and dies of fright [149:4].
Hologram, Prophet. The projection of the
image of an ancient god over an enemy capitol whose public communications have been seized
and used against it in a massive psychological operation [609].
Hologram, Soldiers-Forces. The projection of
soldier-force images which make an opponent think more allied forces exist than actually
do, make an opponent believe that allied forces are located in a region where none
actually exist, and/or provide false targets for his weapons to fire upon. New concept
developed in this document.
L. Markers
Marker, Foam Dye. Hand held device which is
used to spray green foaming dye into the face of an opponent. Obscures vision and marks
the target for one week for future identification.
Marker, Invisible. One concept envisions a
fluorescent powder sprayed into crowds from pressurized container. Particles adhere to
clothing and are only visible under ultraviolet light. Another concept envisions sponge
grenades impregnated with infrared dye so that rioters can be later identified [529].
Marker, Laser Paint. A laser dye and
scatterer suspended in a host medium. When irradiated with a laser beam, this "laser
paint" exhibits laser-like properties, becoming a brilliant light source, without
being a collimated beam [355].
Marker, Paint Gun. Gelatin capsule containing
a marking agent which splatters on impact leaving a 3" circle and streamers from
12" to 18" [2:294,529].
Marker, Smart Metals.
Metals formed with chemical additives or blended in a particular form so that they would
function only when used for legitimate purposes or give off telltales signs to inspectors
when used improperly [176:84].
Marker, Smoke Dyes. Marking dye added to
smoke during crowd control situations [529].
M. Obscurants
Obscurant, Agents. Rapid-hardening agents
used to obscure the vision ports/optics of an armored fighting vehicle [144].
Obscurant, Crazing. Higher
powered low energy laser weapons have the capability of heating and distorting or cracking
the glass lenses of optical systems. This effect is called crazing and is caused when the
heat buildup and subsequent cooling in the glass surface creates uneven stresses in the
glass surface to crack it. The result is a frosted effect, making it impossible to see
through the glass lenses or vision blocks (glass windows) in tanks. Such targets may be
effected at long ranges, and the optics can be crazed in less time than is needed to blink
an eye [1:148].
Obscurant, Laser-Argon Beam.
An Argon laser aimed at windows, automobile windshields or airplane canopies for vision
denial purposes. Microabrasions in the glass scatter this particular wavelength of light
turning the entire sheet a glaring, opaque green. As a result, a sniper could not see
through a window or a suicide driver would not be able to look out through the windshield
of the truck laden with explosives that he was driving [253].
Obscurant, Myopia. The inability of the human
eye to focus light from infinity accurately, which, in practical terms, means beyond
approximately 20 feet. If induced through nerve/chemical agents, performance degradation
could be dramatic, especially in aviation operations, because studies indicate that as
much as 85% of pilot sensory perception/ performance is through sight. Nerve gas can
induce myopia [14:42].
Obscurant, Smoke-Colored. Colored smoke
concentrations produce greater initial psychological and panic effect than white smoke.
Caucasians are said to have a greater repugnance to brilliant green smoke, which is
associated with disagreeable personal experiences such as seasickness, bile and vomit.
Negroids and Latins are declared to be most adversely affected by brilliant red. Rioters
confronted with a strong concentration of colored smoke feel, instinctively, that they are
being marked, or stained, and thus they lose anonymity [2:198-199].
Obscurant, Smoke-White. White obscuring smoke
delivered by grenades or smoke pots. Relatively inexpensive, non-toxic, noncontaminating
and tactically ideal for police use. Obscuring smokes are temporarily irritating to the
nose and throat, and cause those affected to lose visibility, sense of purpose and
direction [2:198,529].
N. Opticals
Optical, Add-On Combat Assault Weapon. The
use of a low energy laser weapon as a compliment to the main armament of a tank or
infantry fighting vehicle or as a compliment to a antitank missile system [1:172].
Optical, Bucha Effect. High
intensity strobe lights which flash at near human brain wave frequency causing vertigo,
disorientation, and vomiting [245]. See also Optical,
Stroboscopic Device.
Optical, Cameo Bluejay. A 75 pound version of
the AN/VLO-7 Stingray designed for use by the Apache attack helicopter [1:161].
Optical, C-CLAW. The Close-Combat Laser
Assault Weapon, code named "Roadrunner," was an early 1980s Army tactical laser
proto-type which was designed to attack the optics of opposing armored fighting vehicles.
The program was canceled in 1984 as a result of adverse publicity over human blinding
issues and cost/weight requirements [435].
Optical, Cobra. Prototype of the AN/PLQ-5
Laser Countermeasures System. A 30-pound hand-held laser weapon used to damage enemy
sensors and human eyes. Because this device may operate on three-different wave lengths it
may be impossible to be currently defended against [1:161-164].
Optical, Cornet Prince. Air Force version of
the AN/VLO-7 Stingray. It is a pod mounted system which is intended to protect an aircraft
from enemy air defense weapons which are dependent on optics and electro-optics for their
effect. Cornet Prince has a detection system which notifies an air crew if it is under
attack or if attack is imminent so that it can take the proper counter-measures [1:160].
Optical, Crazing. See Obscurant,
Crazing.
Optical, Dazer. Battery-operated 20,000
candlepower "flashlight." It uses an alexandrite laser and is meant to provide
infantry with a nonlethal capability against armored targets by attacking sensors, night
vision devices and personnel. The shoulder-fired Dazer weighs about 20 pounds and is
submachine gun size [1:161-163,16].
Optical, Dazzle. A class of optical weapons
that emit extremely bright light causing temporary blindness.
Optical, Dazzle Rifle. A rifle which emits an
eye-safe argon-ion laser beam designed to disorient the target [352].
Optical, Demons. Term for directed-energy
munitions [16].
Optical, Electro-Optical Countermeasures System.
AN/VLO-7, Stingray. A laser designed to blind the optics and electro-optics of
enemy tanks and armored fighting vehicles. Two test versions were deployed in the Gulf War
by the Army but not used. This device weighs about 160 kilograms. It can be mounted on
both the M1 Abrams tank and the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle [16,546]. See also Antilethal, Sensor-Retroreflectivity.
Optical, Flares. Both directional and
omnidirectional flares can be used against personnel and materiel to obscure vision.
Optical Flash. A 40-mm artillery shell filled
with plastic dye laser rods. Used to blind electro-optic sensors and enemy personnel
[114].
Optical, High Intensity Lights. High
intensity hydrogen-chloride light on a reflector equipped hand-held candle holder [529].
Optical, Illuminating-Grenade. In night
ambushes in Vietnam the MK1 Illuminating Grenade, which produced 55,000 candlepower for 25
seconds, effectively blinded Viet Cong caught in the center of its illumination zone for
short periods of time.
Optical, Isotropic Radiators. Special
munitions that illuminate or bloom with laser-bright intensity causing the same retinal or
optical damage as LEL (low energy laser) weapons. Isotropic radiation is generated by an
explosive burst that superheats a gaseous plasma surrounding it, causing a laser-bright
flash [246].
Optical, Laser. Light Amplification by
Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Optical, Laser-Argon Beam. See Obscurant, Laser-Argon Beam.
Optical, Laser-Anti-Oil Storage Tank.
Man-portable laser system with a back-pack power supply designed for use against storage
tanks in the Gulf War. Use debated [16,577].
Optical, Laser Countermeasures System [LCMS].
AN/PLQ-5. M-16 rifle-mounted and backpack-powered 42 pound system. Can detect and disrupt
optical and electro-optical targeting systems at "stand-off ranges." While not
specifically intended to harm human eyes, the system was canceled so U.S. troops would not
be subjected to war crimes concerns [277,520].
Optical, Laser Dazzle System [LDS]. U.K.
Royal Navy's low energy laser system deployed during the 1982 Falklands war by two of its
frigates [475,476].
Optical, Laser-Infrared CO2.
Laser which can heat the skin of a target to cause pain but will not burn the skin.
Application against the hand of a suspect holding a knife or gun to a hostage [253].
Optical, Light Flashing Devices. Devices
which are much like a photographer's flash bulb but at a greatly increased power. They are
used to disorient target individuals by causing temporary flash blindness [23:206].
Optical, Low Energy Laser-Antilethal. See Antilethal, Low Energy Laser.
Optical, Low Energy Laser-Eye Safe. A
continuous wave laser, mounted on a M-16/M-203 rifle, that produces a high-intensity glare
strong enough to temporarily delay and disorient an adversary so that he can't complete a
mental task, like cutting a fence or walking on rough terrain. Effective range of several
hundred meters. Laser powered by 6 rechargeable AA size batteries [310:19].
Optical, Mobile Test Unit. Mid-1970s Army
tactical laser concept utilizing a medium powdered laser mounted on a Marine Corps armored
personnel carrier called the Mobile Test Unit. Used to shoot down some helicopter drones
[435].
Optical Munitions. A class of
non-lethal weapons which rely upon either a multi-directional or uni-directional intense
burst of light [isotropic radiator (laser)] generated by the high-explosive shock heating
of an inert gas [543].
Optical, Stroboscopic Device.
Devices employed against demonstrators which cause stroboscopic flashing. Same principle
as a discotheque "strobe." In the 5-15 hertz range these devices can cause
various physical symptoms and in a small portion of the population may trigger epileptic
seizures [23:206].
O. Projectiles
Projectile, Bag-Bean. Fabric sacks filled
with lead shot (usually No. 9) weighing from 40 to 150 grams, designed to be fired from 12
gauge shotguns and 37mm (40mm) launchers. The bags conform to the shape of the target on
impact, producing less damage than a solid hard projectile. The bags are rolled in the
cartridge and unroll after exiting the launch barrel. These projectiles are designed for
direct impact on the target, therefore accuracy is important to ensure effective impacts.
The level of energy delivered ranges from 40 to 100-foot pounds, depending on the distance
the projectile has to travel. Also known as Flying Bean Bag or Shot Bag.
Projectile, Bag-Bean-Rubberized, Gun. A
prison gun which utilizes rubberized bean bag projectiles. Used for movement of cell
blocks and surprise advances [385].
Projectile, Bag-Stun. Early form of nonlethal
projectile composed of a 5 1/4 ounce canvas pouch filled with metal buckshot which spread
into a 3-inch diameter pancake in flight. Known to cause serious injury [511:672].
Projectile, Bag-Stun, Launcher. An
obsolete gun which delivered a cartridge containing a 4" diameter stun-bag loaded
with 1/5 to 1/2 lb. of shot. It could be used as handgun or with an extension as a
shotgun. It has been replaced by the 12 gauge shotgun and the 37 (and 40) mm launchers
[529]. Also known as the stun gun.
Projectile, Ball-Rubber, Grenade. An
explosive anti-riot device which hurtles a large number of small "stinging" rubber balls at rioters when ignited. May or may not contain riot control agents [373]. Also known as stingball or stinger grenade.
Projectile, Ball-Rubber, Round. The common
usage of this term now refers to a number of 5/8 in. rubber balls fired from a 12 ga.
shotgun. The 3/8 in. ball is also common. Both have a hardness of about 50 shore. These
rounds have maximum effect when fired in confined spaces, where multiple bounces augment
the number of impacts on the target with sufficient force to sting rather than hurt. The
eyes are the most at risk of damage, due to the small size and velocity of the balls. The
older use of this term refers to a rubber ball fitted with a "Blake" attachment
to a shotgun. The ball can be solid or filled with liquid or gas. Various designs existed
for point or area targets [529].
Projectile, Barricade Penetrating. Any
projectile which delivers a riot control agent into a barricade situation via a window or
plate-glass. One such projectile is a fin stabilized injection-molded plastic device which
disperses a highly-volatile liquid CS agent [2:150,82].
Projectile, Baton-Plastic. A
PVC cylinder 1/2 inches in diameter and 4 inches long. Instead of being bounced off of the
ground these rounds are directly fired at the intended target. Causes a bruising impact
blow with a claimed effective range of 30 to 65 yards. At point blank range this round can
be fatal. First used by the British Army in Northern Ireland in February of 1973 as a
replacement for rubber bullets [2:159,511:672]. Also known as riot baton round, plastic
bullets or PVC bullets.
Projectile, Baton-Rubber.
Pliable rubber cylindrical projectiles delivered from the riot gun or British Army signal
gun. Aimed at crowd's legs or at the ground for ricochet effect into a crowd [165,529].
Also known as rubber baton or rubber bullet 6-inch.
Projectile, Baton-Wooden.
Wooden cylinder delivered by a riot gun or by a British Army signal gun [529]. Also known
as broomstick round.
Projectile, Baton-Wooden Multiple.
A 37-38mm round which disperses 5 wooden pellets which can be fired from a distance or
ricocheted into the mob. Direct fire at close or point blank range can cause serious or
fatal injuries [2:158].
Projectile, Baton-Wooden Whistling.
A short fluted cylinder made of wood and fired at low-velocity for crowd dispersal. This
round makes a whistling sound when fired. Whistling sound and visibility of round valued
over kinetic impact. Fired by a Hong Kong Pellet Gun [165].
Projectile, Chaff-Ceramic. Dropped or fired
in front of an aircraft which when ingested by a jet engine will destroy its turbine
blades and other mechanisms [356:35].
Projectile, Gas Vortex. If a gas vortex, a
highly stable phenomenon, was projected at some velocity, the difference in pressure on
the leading and trailing edges would produce an impact. Potential use in crowd and riot
control situations [556:19].
Projectile, Launcher-ARWEN. Anti-Riot Weapon
Enfield. A hand-held, cylinder fed, shoulder-launched 37mm anti-riot weapon which is used
to launch a variety of impact devices such as bean bags, pellets, rubber and wooden baton
rounds, etc.
Projectile, Launcher-Blake Impact Gun.
Aluminum alloy-type, golf ball sized projectile fitted to a bolt-action shotgun [529].
Projectile, Launcher-Velocity Adjusting.
Small arms weapon with an adjustable muzzle velocity intended for delivery of
less-than-lethal munitions such as rubber or PVC bullets. The purpose of the adjustment is
to tailor the velocity to the range [35].
Projectile, Launcher-Very Pistol. A 37mm
pistol used to fire tear gas and other nonlethal projectiles.
Projectile, Liquid Filled. Several types of
hollow rubber projectiles have been manufactured. The most recent, in a 12 ga. shotgun
size, is filled with a liquid dye to mark the target for subsequent identification, in
addition to the impact effect. The working range is from 5 to 75 feet. Older types
included a 3 inch diameter, .5 lb. rubber ball filled with water, to be used as an impact
projectile. The range was 75 ft. The launcher was large and heavy [529].
Projectile, Mine-Claymore. Modular Crowd
Control Munition. A nonlethal claymore-type mine which disperses blunt impact ordnance for
crowd control purposes [373].
Projectile, Muzzle Launch Ordnance [MLO]. MLO
MA/RA 88 less-than-lethal shot for the M16A2 Rifle. Must disorient targets at effective
ranges of 30-70 meters, not create shrapnel, and be of minimal hazard [338,373].
Projectile, Ricochet-Soft Plastic.
Polyethylene pellets 1/16" in diameter delivered from a standard 12-gauge shotgun
aimed to ricochet. Available in larger sizes [529].
Projectile, Ring Airfoil Grenade, Launcher.
Launcher Adapter, M234 Designed for attachment to M16A1 rifle. Uses blank cartridge (M755)
to propel either Soft Ring Airfoil Grenade (M742) or Sting Ring Airfoil Grenade (M743).
Projectile, Ring Airfoil
Grenade-Soft. Soft RAG, M742. A rubberized donut shape with airfoil
cross-section that is launched spinning from M234 adapter attached to M16A1 rifle. A
series of cavities in the projectile body contain packets of CS powder. Target impact
opens the CS packets and disseminates the chemical (powder). This system has been replaced
by the Non-Lethal 40mm Sponge Grenade.
Projectile, Ring Airfoil Grenade-Sting. Sting
RAG, M742. A rubberized donut shape with airfoil cross section that is launched spinning
from the M234 adapter attached to M16A1 rifle. Intended as an initial deterrent via
kinetic energy impact. Can also be used as a training round. This system has been replaced
by the Non-Lethal 40mm Sponge Grenade.
Projectile, Rock Salt. Large salt crystals
fired from shot guns. Crowd dispersal method.
Projectile, Rubber. These projectiles can be
solid (homogeneous) or clad (composite). Solid rubber projectiles can be further
classified by density, ranging from high density (hard), to soft (foam). The shape of the
homogeneous projectiles varies from a right cylinder (35mm diameter by 3 inches long) to a
cylinder with a hemispherical nose, to short cylinders (35mm diameter by 1 1/2 inches
long-multi-projectiles, soft foam) to hard, finned shape projectiles (12 gauge), and balls
about 5/8 inch. The large cylinders fired to strike the ground in front of the target
individuals, bouncing up to hit them. Depending on the distance from the ground impact to
the target, the impact point can range from the knees to the head, producing different
results. Past experience with this method of firing has shown that.
Projectile, Shards-Ceramic. Fired against
aircraft to disable their engines or to degrade their stealth capabilities [16].
Projectile, Splatt-Thixotropic. Special
Purpose Low Lethality Anti-Terrorist. Any projectile that deforms at impact, without
penetrating the body. One materiel preparation designed to accomplish this action is
described in the patent. The whole projectile is made of this substance, not just the tip.
The older usage of this term referred to any caliber shotgun shell with grease or soft
putty on the tip which would deform at impact [529].
Projectile, Sponge Grenade. 40mm
nonlethal projectile developed for the M203 grenade launcher made out of spongy material.
Can either be used as a kinetic weapon or with the inclusion of a CS or marking dye wafer.
Potentially fatal within 25 meters or if an eye shot occurs. Successor to the discontinued
Soft/Sting Airfoil Grenade System.
Projectile, Water Stream. Mobile unit which
projects a continuing stream of water for riot control purposes [529].
Projectile, Water Stream-Electrical. See Electrical, Water Stream.
P. Reactants
Reactant, Acetylene, Grenade. One pound bomb
containing calcium carbide and water. Upon detonation, forms a bubble of acetylene gas
seven feet in diameter. When sucked into the air intake of a diesel at concentrations as
little as one percent, the gas would cause the fuel in each cylinder to ignite
prematurely, with enough force to break piston rods [144,387].
Reactant, Chemical Compounds. Chemical
compounds which are magnitudes more powerful than hydrofluoric acid. A mixture of
hydrochloric acid (HCI) and nitric acid (H2NO3) will dissolve most
noble metals, such as gold and platinum, and organic compounds. Could be delivered by
binary weapons to attack structures, armored fighting vehicles, roads, roof tops and
optical systems [16,246,356]. Also known as supercaustics, superacids,
supercorrisive bases, C+, and tire eaters.
Reactant, Cloud Seeding.
Silver iodide dropped into clouds over the Ho Chi Minh trail during the Vietnam War in
order to promote additional rainfall which would degrade Viet Cong logistics [434]. See
also Reactant, Operation Popeye.
Reactant, Combustion Alteration. This technology consists of chemical additives that either contaminate or change the
viscosity characteristics of fuel to degrade standard engine performance. The additives
may be ingested as a vapor through air intakes, mixed with fuel during the intake cycle or
applied directly to a fuel source causing almost instant engine failure [302:13,16].
Reactant, Liquid Metal Embrittlement [LME].
Agents operate by altering the molecular structure of base metals or alloys and could
significantly interfere with the operation of the aircraft, vehicles, metal treads and
bridge supports to which they were applied. LMEs are clear and have little or no
perceptible residue, whether sprayed on or applied with felt-tip markers. Some ambiguity
exists because LMEs may refer to both liquids and liquid metals [16,302,356].
Reactant, LME Graffiti. Graffiti used to mask
an LME strike against a bridge or other target. Great potential for terrorist use.
Example, phone call to law enforcement stating that an LME strike has been conducted
against one of a number of bridges in a city using red LME graffiti.
Reactant, Operation
Popeye. The cloud-seeding campaign conducted by the U.S. military during the
Vietnam War. 2,602 Popeye flights were flown through 1972 in hopes of interdicting the
flow of Communists troops and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail [434].
Reactant, Pyrophoric Particles. Particles
which when ingested in a combustion chamber give off heat and thus overheat the chamber
which causes thermal failure. Caesium would be one likely candidate [144,356]. Also known
as polystyrene peanuts.
Q. Riot Control
Agents
Riot Control Agent, Area Dispensers. RCA
dispensers mounted in the walls and ceilings of prison facilities. They provide law
enforcement personnel the ability to move groups out of or from one area to another
through CS and OC dispersement [385].
Riot Control Agent, CA. 4-Bromobenzylcyanide.
CA was one of the first tear agents used. It is not as effective as CN or CS and is
obsolete. CA produces a burning sensation of the mucous membranes and severe irritation
and tearing of the eyes with acute pain in the forehead [584:52]. Also known as BBC,
larmine, and camite.
Riot Control Agent, Chemical Mace. Small
spray can containing a 0.9 per cent solution of agent CN in a variety of petroleum based
carriers including a mixed freon/hydrocarbon solvent. First introduced in 1966. CS-Mace
then developed in 1968 by suggestion of the U.S. Army [2:213-214,165].
Riot Control Agent, CN. Chloroacetophenone. A lacrimator that causes irritation to the upper respiratory passages
and may cause irritations to the skin. On average, it incapacitates for approximately 3
minutes. Discovered by the German chemist Graeber in 1869. Replaced for most purposes by
CS [13:19,529].
Riot Control Agent, CR.
Dibenz-(b,f)-1,4-oxazepine. Newer riot control irritant developed in England in 1962 by
the British chemists Higginbottom and Suchitzsky. About 5 times more effective than CS. In
addition, CR is much less toxic than CS. CR is not used in its pure form (a yellow powder)
but dissolved in a solution of 80 parts of propylene glycol and 20 parts of water to form
a 0.1-percent CR solution. It is used in solution as a riot control agent. Eye pain,
discomfort and excessive tearing occur with sometimes painful sensitivity to strong light
or temporary blindness. Symptoms can persist for 15 to 30 minutes. Dubbed "fire
gas" by the media because of the burning sensation it caused to the skin of rioters
when used in Northern Ireland from 1973-1974. Authorized U.S. Army use in 1974
[2:180,67,584:59].
Riot Control Agent, CS.
Ortho-chlorobenzalmalononitrile was made the standard riot control agent by the Army in
1959. The term "CS" is derived from the two scientists, B.B. Carson and R.W.
Sloughton, who first prepared it in 1928. First used by U.S. civilian law
enforcement in 1968 during the riots in Washington D.C. While an effective riot control
agent, which incapacitates on average from 5 to 10 minutes, decontamination and
cross-contamination is a considerable problem in urban environments [13:19,82,337].
Riot Control Agent, CS1. Specially formulated
to prolong persistency and increase the effectiveness of CS. Unlike CS, CS1 is a
free-flowing (micropulverized) agent powder consisting of 95-percent crystalline CS
blended with 5-percent silica aerogel. This formulation reduces agglomeration and achieves
the desired respiratory effects when dispersed as a solid aerosol [584:59].
Riot Control Agent, CS2. CS blended with
silicone-treated silica aerogel, which causes it to repel water. This treatment improves
the physical characteristics of CS by reducing agglomeration and hydrolysis. This form of
CS prolongs the effectiveness for both immediate and surface contamination effects. When
disturbed, CS2 reaerosolizes to cause respiratory and eye effects. A cloud of waterproofed
CS can be kicked up by people walking in the street or grass two months after it has
settled [13:50,584:59].
Riot Control Agent, CSX. A form of CS
developed for dissemination as a liquid rather than as a powder. One gram of powdered CS
is dissolved in 99 grams of trioctylphosphite (TOF). As with CS, CSX stings and irritates
the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of exposed personnel [584:59].
Riot Control Agent, Disperser-Fogger.
Conventional insecticide blower adopted for CS and CN dispensing in Vietnam. Produces a
fog-type emission for up to a 15 minute period. Conceptual basis was to fill Viet Cong
tunnel complexes with large amounts of the CS agent. Another fogger was a handheld
gasoline-operated device which dispenses either CS, CN or inert fog at 0.7 gallon/hour
[2:178,165]. Also known as mighty mite (M-106) and pepper fogger.
Riot Control Agent, Disperser-Liquid. An Army
riot-control agent disperser visually resembling a man-carried flamethrower. Fully loaded
weight is approx. 55 pounds. Disperses CS mixed with a trioctylphosphate solvent.
[2:178,165]. Also known as liquid stream projector.
Riot Control Agent, Disperser-Powder.
Modified Dry-Powder Fire Extinguisher. Powdered CS and CN dispersal [165].
Riot Control Agent, Grenade Electrically Activated.
A riot control grenade with a male, electrically activated screw-in socket connection in
place of a standard fuse. This enables the grenades to be incorporated into electrical
systems, in fixed installations, where they can be activated by a trip device or switch,
at will. This is of special importance in security of buildings, and vital installations,
providing a dependable, economical protective system that can be locally installed. This
system, with variations, is now in use in commercial security systems, as well as in U.S.
government and embassy installations [2:133].
Riot Control Agent, Grenade-M73A. Army riot
control grenade in use prior to the M47-Type CS Grenade. As of 1992, the M7A3 was still in
use because of technical problems with the M47 [67].
Riot Control Agent, Grenade-M47 CS. Basic
riot control grenade employed by the Army. Its contents are expelled as a vapor from a
taped-over port in the grenade body, causing the grenade to "skitter" around on
the ground, making it difficult for rioters to throw back. As of 1992, it has not seen
tactical action [67].
Riot Control Agent, Homemade Face Filters.
Wet rags and other devices made by prison inmates to counter the effects of riot control
agents [385].
Riot Control Agent, Lacrimator. A riot
control irritant that will cause blinding tears upon contact with the eyes [444]. Also see Riot Control Agent, CN.
Riot Control Agent, Launcher-Handy Andy.
U.S. Army hand-hold type throwaway munition consisting of an aluminum tube with a
hand-activated striker in the base. On ignition, the E24 propels a cylindrical rubber
projectile containing 50 grams of CS burning formulation to distances of 70-100 yards
[2:179].
Riot Control Agent, Launcher-Riot Gun. A
weapon designed specifically to fire tear gas munitions of 37-mm diam. [444:2]. Also known
as 1 1/2-in gun, 38-mm gun, gas gun, and tear gas launcher.
Riot Control Agent, Mine. An anti-personnel
mine filled with a riot control agent. For perimeter use around detention camps or secured
facilities.
Riot Control Agent, OC. Oleoresin Capsicum. A
food product obtained from chili peppers which are dried and ground into a fine powder.
When mixed with an emulsifier such as mineral, vegetable, soy oil or water, it may be
sprayed from a variety of dispensers and used as an irritant for safely controlling
violent persons or vicious animals and/or restoration and maintenance of order.
Riot Control Agent, Ring Airfoil Grenade-Soft.
See Projectile, Ring Airfoil Grenade-Soft.
Riot Control Agent, Sponge Grenade. See Projectile, Sponge Grenade.
Riot Control Agent, Tear Gas-Invisible.
Invisible tear-gas clouds are produced by blast munitions loaded with dust or liquid
agents. Invisible tear gas cannot be seen by rioters once it first emerges from a grenade
or mechanical dispenser and therefore produces a greater psychological panic-producing
effect than tear smoke [2:161-162].
Riot Control Agent, Tear Gas-Visible. Visible
tear-gas clouds (tear smoke) emanate from burning grenades and projectiles. Tear smoke is
highly visible and plainly indicates the area covered to police and rioter alike
[2:161-162].
II. Nonlethal Weapons Concepts
A. Ethical
Ethical, Biological Weapons Convention
[BWC], 1972. This convention prohibits the development, production,
stockpiling or retention of microbial or biological agents for use as weapons. Would
likely preclude the use of biodegrading microbes [16,508].
Ethical, Blinding Laser Ban, 1995.
The Department of Defense prohibits the use of lasers specifically designed to cause
permanent blindness of unenhanced vision and supports negotiations prohibiting the use of
such weapons. However, laser systems are absolutely vital to our modern military. Among
other things, they are currently used for detection, targeting, range-finding,
communications and target destruction...accidental or incidental eye injuries may occur on
the battlefield as the result of the use of legitimate laser systems. This prohibition was
initiated by the United States in concurrence with other, mostly Western, nations [457].
Ethical, Certain Conventional Weapons
Convention, 1980. Prohibits or restricts weapons which are deemed to be
excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects. Microwave, radio-frequency
radiation, and visible light pulsing at brain-wave frequency may violate this convention
[20:49-54,508:45]. Also known as Inhumane Weapons Convention.
Ethical, Chemical Weapons Convention [CWC], 1993.
This convention, while not in force, precludes the use of toxic chemicals as a method of
warfare. A toxic chemical is one which 'though its chemical action on life processes can
cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals.' How
supercaustics would be interpreted within this convention is unknown [16,508].
Ethical, Environmental Modification Techniques Ban, 1977. Found in Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other
Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD). Bans any technique for
changing- through deliberate manipulation of natural processes- the dynamics, composition
or structure of the Earth, including its biota, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere,
or of outer space which will have widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means
of destruction, damage or injury to any other State Party [20:68-69].
Ethical, Geneva Protocol, 1925. Whereas the
use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of analogous liquids, materials
or devices, has been justly condemned by the general opinion of the civilized world; and
Whereas the prohibition of such use has been declared in Treaties to which the majority of
Powers of the world are Parties; and To the end that this prohibition shall be universally
accepted as part of International Law, binding alike the conscience and the practice of
nations. Extended to bacteriological methods of warfare. The United States has interpreted
the Protocol of 1925 as not prohibiting the use of riot control agents [20:57-58].
Ethical, New Martyrdom. A potential
form of martyrdom arising from the long-term incapacitation capacity that some nonlethal
weapons provide. Examples are permanently blinding or disrupting the nervous systems of
opposing soldiers. Those living, rather than dead, would represent a new form of martyr. References to the horrors of the gassings of the First World
War would undoubtedly be made [149:10-11].
Ethical, Tennessee vs. Garner. A 1985 court
case (475 U.S. 1) which held that the use of deadly force to apprehend an apparently
unarmed, nonviolent fleeing felon is unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
Stimulated law enforcement interest in less-than-lethal weapons.
B. Functional
Functional, Bouchon. The
complete metal fuze assembly of a diversionary device or similar grenade, usually
consisting of a safety pin, safety "spoon," and a percussion type ignition
device.
Functional, Deflagrate. To burn; consume; to
burn rapidly with intense heat and dazzling light.
Functional, Deflagrating Canister. A canister
which is designed to burst or burn. When used with a diversionary device, this type of
canister is designed to burst or burn at a low enough pressure to prevent the bouchon from
being thrown.
Functional, Deflagrating Explosive. Any
explosive which deflagrates rather than detonates. Also called a "low" explosive, it is characterized by relatively slow burning processes with progressive
reaction rates and buildup of pressure which creates a heaving action.
Functional, Deployment Sequence. The first of
three functions when a diversionary device is deployed. It refers to the manner and place
in which a diversionary device is deployed. See also Functional, Ignition Sequence and Functional, Firing Sequence.
Functional, Detonate. To explode violently
and noisily; also called a "high" explosive it is characterized by very rapid
chemical reactions, thus causing tremendously high pressure and brisance (shattering
action).
Functional, Detonating Explosive. Any
explosive which detonates rather than deflagrates. Also called a "high" explosive, it is characterized by very rapid chemical reactions, thus causing tremendously
high pressure and brisance (shattering action).
Functional, Firing Sequence. The second of
three functions when a diversionary device is deployed. It refers to the mechanical action
of the bouchon, (fuze assembly). See also Functional, Deployment Sequence and Functional, Ignition Sequence.
Functional, Fuse. A narrow tube filled with
combustible material, or a wick saturated with such material, for setting off an explosive
charge. A pyrotechnic device which serves as the initiator to an explosive charge (e.g.
M-3A1, friction type fuse).
Functional, Fuze. Any of various
devices for detonating bombs, projectiles, or explosive charges. A mechanical device used
as the initiator to an explosive charge (e.g. M-201A1, percussion type fuze).
Functional, Hybrids. Weapons that can be
switched from "lethal" to "nonlethal" by a simple mechanism, having
multiple barrels, or using ammunition which can be switched at launch (single barrel,
lightened logistic chain) [529].
Functional, Ignition. Setting a thing on
fire, to cause something to burn.
Functional, Ignition Sequence. The
third of three functions when a diversionary device is deployed. It refers to the events
which take place during the burning of the charge. See also Functional, Deployment
Sequence and Functional, Firing Sequence.
C. Operational
Operational, Brevity Code. A one or two word
phrase which, when transmitted on a radio, carries a much larger meaning. Used to keep
transmission time to a minimum without unduly tying up valuable "air time." Usually repeated twice to ensure understanding.
Operational, Denial System. Components of a
security system that prevent an intruder or adversary from completing an intrusive hostile
act on a fixed sight [359].
Operational, Dirty Battlefield. A battlefield
operational environment in which civilians and other noncombatants are mixed in with
combatants [56].
Operational, Environmental Warfare. A form of
attack based on purposeful environmental degradation by a state or non-state group against
an opponent. An early example would be the salting of the fields of Carthage by the
Romans. The most recent example would be the blowing up of 732 oil wells in Kuwait and the
releasing of oil into the Persian Gulf by Iraq in 1991.
Operational, Immediate Action Drill. Any
action, technique or procedure which is initiated by an event rather than a signal [5].
Operational, Lethal-N |