IN SEARCH OF "HUMANE" WEAPONS

01 January 2019 16:00
IN SEARCH OF "HUMANE" WEAPONS 



In recent decades, the nature and causes of wars in the world have
changed significantly. In the foreseeable future, the main goal of wars
(mainly local ones) will be the desire to redistribute areas with still
undepleted natural resources. They will be conducted mainly by secret
methods of special operations. Often their ultimate goal is not the
destruction of the enemy's manpower, not the occupation of territories,
but the disorganization of the enemy's efforts in the political and
military spheres, forcing them to accept the proposed conditions. There
is a clear trend towards a transition from guided weapons to controlled
warfare.

In such a war, non-lethal or non-lethal weapons are required. Moreover,
international treaties, conventions, moratoriums have limited the
possibility of using especially cruel types of weapons and ammunition.
Sometimes non-lethal weapons are called humane. It is used in such a way
as not to disable the personnel, weapons and military equipment of the
enemy. Irretrievable losses, damage to material values ​​and the
environment are minimized. Entire branches of the defense industry of
some countries are engaged in the production of such weapons. Scientists
from many military powers are working on means of destruction that
incapacitate a person, but do not cause irreversible physical harm.

Somewhat alarming is the fact that recently almost no one has written
about non-lethal, non-killing weapons. We assume that there are two
reasons for this: either this type of weapon has become uninteresting to
the military and special services, since more advanced means have
appeared, or the topic has been classified. The same was done in the
early 1930s with regard to the fission of the uranium atom and the chain
reaction, since it became clear that a weapon of colossal destructive
power could be behind this discovery. But non-lethal weapons still
exist. Legislation in some countries provides for state control over the
formation of a system of non-lethal weapons.

The Army Collection magazine begins a series of publications on
non-lethal weapons - some of their samples that have already appeared,
and many are still in the form of only ideas or developments. We hope
that they will attract the attention of readers, bring new knowledge or,
for some, become an exciting read.

Today we will try to review existing samples of such weapons. Let us
dwell mainly on the principles of action and the results of the impact
of these unconventional weapons. At the same time, let's not forget that
numerous laboratories of the armies of the world are working on new
types of weapons. We will know about him, perhaps in many years.

 

*Shooting megaphone *

Sound has long been used as a striking factor. In ancient times, the
roar of trumpets and the sound of war drums deprived the enemy of
self-control. German bomber pilots in World War II turned on loud sirens
to demoralize the enemy. During the invasion of Iraq, the Americans,
through powerful sound broadcasting stations, "jammed" the enemy
soldiers who sat in the buildings with music.

In the early 2000s, a long-range acoustic device, or acoustic "gun", was
created in the United States. The power of its sound wave is 150
decibels (the engines of a jet fighter give 120 decibels). This stunned
people, led to a painful shock. Such a "gun" was used both to disperse
demonstrations and to protect ships from pirates.

Another name for such a weapon is a "shooting megaphone". The "cannon"
really resembles a huge megaphone, into the bell of which a person of
average height can enter without bending. A sound with an intensity of
110 decibels does not allow communication, at 130 it causes pain, at 150
it damages the hearing organs. People lose their self-control and the
ability to navigate, they are seized by fear, dizziness begins, nausea
sets in. The impact of such pulses at close range can cause mental
disorders and even destruction of internal organs.

Acoustic cannons can be used to protect objects from intruders, on
warships to keep enemy small craft from getting close. They are able to
disperse the crowd, cause panic in military units.

The new types of acoustic weapons are based on the programmable
detonation of explosive charges, the creation of generators that emit
ear-piercing sounds that affect a person, like mythical sirens on Odysseus.

The desired effect from the action of such an acoustic generator was
achieved only at a close distance - a few meters, but at least 50-60
meters are needed so that a stone thrown, for example, by a rioter, does
not reach the soldiers.

*sado acoustics *

One of the examples of non-lethal weapons is the American active
rejection system. This is a powerful microwave gun that emits
electromagnetic waves in the millimeter range with a frequency of about
94 gigahertz. The radiation has a short-term shock effect on the enemy
soldiers, they experience severe itching and burning throughout the
body. Within five seconds, the pain becomes unbearable, and the person
becomes incapacitated. He tries to get away from this place as far as
possible. The US military called this phenomenon the "goodbye" effect.
The system can be installed on an armored personnel carrier and even on
an aircraft.

Irradiation with infrasound or acoustic beams of very low frequencies is
possible. Special pistons force highly compressed air through the
speakers, which creates a powerful stream of sound waves, like in
earthquakes. These rays can be felt as a physical impact. As a result,
disruption of the vestibular apparatus, nausea, acute stomach pain,
diarrhea, ruptured eardrums, internal bleeding. The same waves can cause
vibrational destruction of structures. There is information about the
development of a "generator of deep ultrasonic waves" that can even
cause an earthquake.

Acoustic weapons are generators of infrasound, the low frequencies of
which are not perceived by the human hearing aid, but it has an
extremely depressing effect on the psyche. Directional microwave
irradiation generates, for example, a very loud scream in the human
head, which depresses the nervous system and even causes physiological
consequences. This is from the field of sado-acoustics, the sounds of
which most people cannot stand: groans during torture and execution, the
cries of tormented animals. The consequences of exposure are nausea,
memory loss, suicide attempts. Sado-acoustics was used in the creation
of zombie killers, subordinating the enemy's guards to their will.

High-frequency acoustic "bullets" can cause deafness and loss of
consciousness. These "bullets" can be fired from a hand-held emitter,
from a mobile satellite dish, and from long-range missiles. They distort
the operation of electronic devices. The result is the destruction of
navigation systems, telecommunications and electronic networks.

Finally, there are vortex technologies: vortex acoustic rings act on the
resonant cavities of a person - the head, lungs, stomach. When the
cavity resonates, slight hemorrhages are possible, this will put a
person out of action for almost an hour, after which he will fully recover.

*Voice from heaven *

Any type of non-lethal weapon, no matter how sophisticated it may be,
has primarily a psychological impact. Its essence is to break the will
of the enemy to resist. The human ear does not hear infrasound, but is
perceived by it. That is, it may well take orders that, as it were, are
born by themselves in the brain. It can be regarded as an inner voice or
a voice from above. Infrasound is remarkable in that it is weakly
dissipated in the atmosphere and is able to carry the "voice" over a
considerable distance.

The Americans used as a weapon not only the "voice of God", but also His
face. In Somalia in 1993, using laser systems, the US military,
influencing the ethnic minority of the Bantu tribes, projected a huge
image of Christ into the sky. After such a "miracle" few could fight.
Today, experts have already learned how to combine optical and acoustic
weapons - image and voice. The following technique is used: suddenly an
image of one of the religious Islamic authorities appears (what Allah
looks like is unknown) and orders to lay down their arms. Another rather
simple option is to compile the voice of a famous person, a political
leader, using special modulators.

*Blind and stun *

Often special tools are used as auxiliary. In particular, flash and
sound grenades, with their blinding and deafening effects, neutralize
offenders and aggressive fans. For the latter, electroshock devices with
a special cartridge are also used, operating at a distance of up to 4–5
meters. Against armed criminals, the special forces used a magazine
grenade launcher, which accurately fires 43-mm grenades with irritating
substances - erythants.

At one of the meetings of experts in the field of non-lethal weapons, a
video was shown: burnt faces of people during the illegitimate use of
erythants. Their carriers can be non-lethal mines. Ordinary mines can
also be used, only instead of striking elements in them - rubber balls
or sandbags.

Dazzlers are used - explosive ammunition that emits a very bright light,
a flash. They blind optical systems and electronic sensors in tanks,
aircraft, satellites, radar devices. They can also blind enemy pilots.
There are conventional blinding agents comparable in intensity to laser
ones. For example, the combustion of pyrotechnic compositions creates a
low-temperature gas plasma. Based on it, light grenades and combined
tools with a blinding-stunning effect were created. A person goes blind
for 20–30 seconds, and loses hearing for 4–6 hours.

A low-energy laser suppresses weapon control systems, reconnaissance and
communications equipment, optoelectronic systems in service with
spotters and snipers to blind enemy manpower. Radiation source - gas,
solid-state and chemical lasers of various wavelengths. Such complexes
can be carried in a backpack and transported by car.

*Microwave for the battlefield *

Efficiently disables radio-electronic equipment for reconnaissance,
communications, navigation and control of microwave radiation. Microwave
weapons disrupt the functioning of the brain and central nervous system.
A person begins to hear non-existent noises and whistles. This weapon
can also affect the internal organs of a person with a probability of
death.

When exposed to low-frequency electromagnetic radiation, the human brain
releases chemicals that regulate its behavior. They can cause symptoms
of various diseases, make a person instantly fall asleep or, on the
contrary, stay awake for a long time. And the so-called "electromagnetic
pistols", which shoot clots of energy, can cause convulsions similar to
epileptic ones. "Thermal gun" in seconds can heat up the human body to a
critical temperature - over 40 degrees Celsius. An unbearable burning
sensation puts the soldier to flight.

The development of "military microwave ovens" was held back for a long
time by their huge dimensions, but recently such devices have
significantly decreased in size and can be installed on a tank turret
and even in the head of a tactical missile. Microwave generators are
thrown into enemy territory using conventional ammunition. However,
there are also technical problems, consisting in the difficulty of
obtaining radiation of the required power at an acceptable mass,
dimensions and cost of the installation.

*Running into plasma *

Electromagnetic weapons cannot be called something supernatural for the
Russian army. In the early 1990s, specialists from the Research
Institute of Radio Instrumentation (a division of the Almaz-Antey
concern) and the Physico-Technical Institute. Ioffe presented a draft
air defense system based on the impact of microwave radiation from the
ground on air targets. The specialists of these institutions managed to
obtain local plasma formations at the intersection of radiation fluxes
from several sources. Getting into the plasma, the objects were
destroyed due to huge dynamic overloads. The impact of such radiation is
effective even against intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The actual prototype of electromagnetic weapons is the domestic Ranets-E
complex. It strikes the electronics of a ground target, an aircraft or a
guided projectile at a distance of up to 14 km, and disruptions in its
operation can be at a distance of up to 40 km. "Satchel-E" is based on
the MAZ-543, its weight is about 5 tons. Disadvantages of the device:
the size of an effectively hit target does not exceed 30 m in diameter,
the weapon is disposable - reloading takes more than 20 minutes, the
Knapsack can only work on targets in open areas, without the slightest
visual obstacles.

The main problem with this type of pulsed electromagnetic weapon is the
means of delivery. For a charge with a large mass, a rocket is needed,
the warhead of which is a high-frequency high-power electromagnetic
field generator. Pulsed radiation during a rocket explosion is similar
to a nuclear explosion, but without a radioactive component.

Having exploded at an altitude of 200-300 meters, the unit is able to
turn off all electronic equipment within a radius of 3.5 km and leave a
military unit (battalion-regiment) without means of communication,
control, fire guidance, while turning all the enemy equipment into a
pile of useless scrap metal. The block disables communication headsets,
the units are left without any local electronic control systems,
including weapons. The advantages of non-lethal damage are obvious - the
enemy surrenders, the vehicle becomes a trophy.

 *breaker effect *

In the 1950s, the Americans tested a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific
Ocean and deprived Hawaii of electricity: one of the damaging factors of
a nuclear explosion, an electromagnetic pulse, worked.

The strength and at the same time the weakness of modern armies is that
they are "saturated" with electronics - collimator sights, tactical
tablets, thermal imagers, satellite navigation, etc. Technical means
that immediately turn off electronics are in the arsenal of the armies
of different countries. In particular, electronic munitions that hit
enemy equipment with a microwave pulse. Projectiles and missiles of
various ranges with a special electromagnetic generator are being
developed. This is the "off switch" effect.

The abbreviation EMP (electromagnetic pulse) has long existed. It is
created by an air nuclear explosion. The explosion creates a short-term
powerful impulse of electromagnetic radiation in trillions of watts! The
electromagnetic field "short-circuits" the electronic control systems,
the soldiers go deaf and blind. In order not to use nuclear weapons,
electromagnetic pulse converters were invented in rockets or bombs. It
is the electronic equivalent of a nuclear bomb. Non-nuclear EMP
generators are less effective, and besides, they must be delivered
exactly to the target area. Their advantage is greater selectivity. EMR
is able to deprive the enemy of information even with the existing power
grids, disabling electronic equipment, erasing information in the data
bank.

In Iraq in 1991 and in Yugoslavia in 1999, NATO troops used "graphite
mines". The thinnest threads of graphite scattered in the air
short-circuited power lines, disabled substation transformers. Graphite
is sometimes replaced with highly conductive carbon or metallized fibers.

Many of these funds are prohibited by international law. But if we are
talking about the fate of the state, who will look at the prohibitions!

*Ray of pain and "fried people" *

In the USA, a magnetic gun "Ray of Pain" was created. It generates
microwave radiation that causes severe pain to a person, but does not
cause serious damage. The outbreak causes a feeling of unbearable
temperature in the body. The gun can be used in peacekeeping and police
operations.

Tasers (weapons of direct impact with an electric charge) are used by
special units of many countries when the enemy needs to be taken alive.
One such device is guns that fire two small electrodes on copper wires.
A powerful discharge temporarily incapacitates a person. Human rights
organizations complain that such a gun can kill a person with a weak
heart or a low pain threshold.

The American program for the creation of special equipment that affects
the human body with electromagnetic radiation, as a result of which it
quickly heats up and becomes inoperable, was called "Fry People". It was
suspended: the installations are too large for transportation.

In addition, serious studies of the water structures of the skin were
needed so as not to harm human health. The key issue is to avoid agents
that cause irreversible or fatal damage. And those to whom they are
directed, and random people.

*Day of the military tinker *

In the Afghan war, the movement of mechanized columns was interrupted by
traditional methods: a hurricane fire was opened from an ambush, people
were destroyed. Now the caravan can be stopped without firing a shot. To
do this, some chemicals are sprayed on a section of the road with the
help of aerosol bombs, mines or shells. Penetrating into the engines of
tanks, trucks, they lead to their stop or damage. Special substances
turn water and gasoline into a jelly that is not suitable for
consumption. Suddenly thickened grease and fuel stop the generators,
rubber breaks down, windows become cloudy. Adhesive compositions
instantly bind the moving parts of military equipment, engine parts.
Moreover, some chemicals of one composition act on the metal of another,
some on plastic, some on rubber.

A metal foil shot from a special device will stick around the armored
vehicle and block the driver's view. So-called combustion inhibitors
suppress the combustion of any fuel - jet fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline
and kerosene, which leads to the shutdown of engines of all kinds.
Superacids in the form of aerosols, liquids, powders and gels
effectively corrode not only rubber, but also asphalt and roofs of
buildings. Moreover, for safe storage, they are made in the form of
binary charges, which are mixed into an explosive mixture already in the
process of use.

*Captured by the foam *

To stop a foot unit, its soldiers are doused with an enveloping and
quick-hardening foam, mainly based on acrylic. In a fraction of a
second, a modern foam gun throws out such an amount of sticky substance
that it can "clamp" an entire platoon. "Foamed" soldiers are deprived
not only of mobility, but also of hearing and sight. It's a kind of
polymer straitjacket.

If there is no foam gun at hand, a key section of the road along which
the foot unit moves is covered with tetrafluoroethylene powder, and the
area becomes slippery like ice. By the way, the police can sprinkle the
same powder on the square where protesters from the opposition decided
to gather. A car on such a site turns into a cow on ice.
Tetrafluoroethylene will block enemy troops in front of an important
object - a bridge or an entrance to a city. And vice versa, it will not
allow you to leave the territory of the base at the right time. Planes
will not be able to take off or land on a slippery runway.

Americans in Somalia tested a sticky gel. He literally glued enemy
soldiers to the ground, immobilized military equipment - some gels are
able to "glue" even a tank. But the circumstances make you think hard,
and the Somali soldiers threw bamboo sticks on the dangerous area and so
got over it.

To protect nuclear storage facilities in the United States, a special
"combat" glue is used from possible terrorist attacks. Containers with
foam are installed on the doors of some storage facilities where
warheads, radioactive substances, etc. are located. The principle of
action of the "combat" glue is as follows: when you try to break into or
open the doors unauthorized, the foam fills the doorway and the
attackers. It is impossible to get rid of this foam on your own and get
inside the vault. A lot of problems with solvents that would help clean
a person from foam stuck to him

"Combat" glue was developed by the Soviet state nuclear research center
in the 80s of the last century. After the end of the Cold War, the need
to equip storage facilities with such a tool disappeared, as it seemed,
forever. Since the beginning of the fight against terror, fears have
arisen that terrorists (or criminals) might try to blow up or steal
nuclear materials. The technology of "combat" glue was again recognized
as useful.

The US Department of Defense has been exploring the possibility of using
it as a non-lethal weapon in Iraq. It was assumed that soldiers armed
with "glue guns" would be able to immobilize the protest crowd,
insurgents, etc. Tests have shown that this is not possible at the
current level of technology development. Firstly, the glue tightly
clogged the barrels of the "guns", and, secondly, it could "bind" not
only the limbs of the insurgent, but also get into the mouth and nose,
which guaranteed a quick death from suffocation.

The technology, however, remains in service ...

*stink bomb *

A weapon could also be a scent. According to neurologists, any smell has
the potential to cause fear and even horror. If the air is saturated
with mercaptans - volatile substances inherent in human excrement, a
person literally feels a massive blow to the sense of smell and tends to
hastily leave the "infected" area. Fetid ammunition is usually made on
the basis of sulfur, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Although
you can, in principle, use any smell that can cause rejection and disgust.

In the weapons "menu" - the smell of rotten meat, socks that have not
been washed for a long time, and the like. Moreover, the aroma is
selected taking into account the nationality of the enemy, the geography
of the battlefield. There is a reason for this, since the olfactory
organs of people of different races and nations react differently to
smells. Immobilizing aerosol formulations containing powerful
anesthetics or sleeping pills can be sprayed into the air. When inhaling
both, a person loses motor activity or simply falls asleep.

*The goal is the genotype *

The planet is overpopulated and its natural resources are inexorably
dwindling. Strategists talk about "genocidal wars", the purpose of which
is not to destroy weapons and military equipment, but to destroy the
"surplus" population on enemy territory. In this kind of hostilities, it
is planned to use "clean" weapons of mass destruction - biological. In
fact, it is planned to introduce the concept of "artificial human
selection". This can be done through advances in the study of the
structure of the gene, the genetic code, the mechanisms of heredity, and
programmable (!) genetic defects. Not otherwise, the supporters of the
priest Thomas Malthus, who submitted the idea to reduce the population
of the planet, worked hard, only selectively.

We are talking about a targeted war aimed at a certain human genotype.
The origins of the new concept can be found in the science of eugenics.
Any race, nation, people can become objects of "genetic bombardment".
International criminal groups and totalitarian regimes are looking for
biologists, geneticists, biotechnologists who would provide them with
such weapons.

*chip soldier *

In cases where even non-lethal weapons are unsuitable, there is no need
to turn to a traditional machine gun. In secret laboratories there are
already backlogs and developments, both intellectual and cruel. One of
them is a chip soldier.

Fundamentally new units will be a single digital chip: each soldier will
have a computer with a digital map of the area, communications equipment
and global navigation /GPS / or GLONASS. Even the bullets of the latest
automatic rifle will be programmed. Now the bullet itself can decide
whether to explode this minute or fly a little more. This will be
possible by equipping the rifle with a computer. Clumsy and bulky troops
will be replaced by light, mobile and efficient ones. A modernized
division should be able to be anywhere in the world in a few days, and
immediately engage in combat operations.

*Donkey loaded with gold *

Military futurologists (there are some), especially if they are
humorous, say: non-lethal and intelligent weapons will lose their
relevance over time, and the phrase of King Philip of Macedonia, father
of Alexander the Conqueror, which has become an aphorism, will again
become topical: "A donkey loaded with gold will take any fortress". How
to know...

 N. POROSKOV, columnist