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Nonlethal Concepts: Implications for Air Force Intelligence
Abstract
Recently a new class of nonlethal weapons has garnered a considerable amount of interest in defense and law enforcement circles resulting in the increased likelihood of the actual deployment of these new technologies at the operational level. The increased interest in the development of nonlethal means to achieve limited political, economic, and military objectives may require new considerations in how Air Force intelligence goes about its business of supporting the war fighter. Emerging technologies supporting the development of nonlethal weapons are somewhat scattered, with many potential players. However, according to Don Henry, staff specialist in the Office of Tactical Warfare Programs, Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition and Technology, Preliminary evaluations suggest that the use of non-lethal weapons, in either the more traditional conventional missions or the newer missions as suggested by operations other than war, seems more probable than possible.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. The purpose of this paper is to promote an understanding of and research into a new category of weapons, designated "nonlethal" by military services, and "less-than-lethal" or "less-lethal" by law enforcement agencies. The intent is to create an initial term and reference listing to 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. The paper is split into 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. Nonlethal weapons are listed under the categories of acoustics, opticals, antilethals, antiplant agents, barriers, batons, biotechnicals, electricals, electromagnetics, entanglers, holograms, markers, obscurants, projectiles, reactants, and riot control agents. Nonlethal weapons concepts are divided by the following categories: ethical, functional, operational, physiological, and theoretical.
To determine if narrow-band, high-intensity acoustic energy in the audible frequency range could be used as a non-lethal weapon, four acoustic devices were tested: (a) a compressed-air-driven siren (CADS); (b) a combustion-driven siren (the Dismounted Battlefield Battle Laboratory, or DBBL); (c) an impulsive acoustic device, the Sequential Arc Discharge Acoustic Generator (SADAG); and (d) a complex waveform generator, the Gayl Blaster. The Primate Equilibrium Platform (PEP) is a continuous, compensatory tracking task that measures fine motor control. The CADS significantly impacted the PEP performance of some rhesus monkeys, but the effect was probably due to the substantial air flow created by the siren. The effects of the DBBL siren on goal-directed behavior (panel pressing for food) of goats were both minimal and transient. Exposure to the SADAG failed to significantly impact PEP performance in rhesus monkeys. The SADAG had a marked impact on the operant behavior of swine engaged in a panel-pressing task. The effect, however, could have been mediated by non-acoustic factors such as light and ozone associated with SADAG operation. The Gayl Blaster had no effects on behavior (panel pressing) in goats. In summary, none of the four devices tested would have obvious utility as a non-lethal weapon.
Consideration of non-lethality and non-lethal weapons by the Department of Defense as an expression of military power is a relatively new yet growing phenomenon. This report explores four issues germane to non-lethal concepts and technologies in the DOD and makes recommendations derived from those issues concerning the integration of nonlethal weaponry into future United States military operations. The approach taken in the research centers on a modified content analysis of unclassified materials published between 1990 and 1997 related to non-lethality and non-lethal weapons. The genesis of non-lethality in the DOD has been convoluted, involving multiple actors struggling over the definition of non-lethality along with scattered operational experiences and the erratic development of policies and technologies. Four motives now drive DOD non-lethality: A changing threat; the need for more response options; the desire to reduce lethality, and force protection. Non-lethality scenarios span the spectrum of conflict and the traditional levels of war, while the suitability criteria for non-lethals include technical feasibility, operational utility, policy acceptability and safety. Coherent, substantiated, decisive and appropriate actions must be taken to ensure the transformation of non-lethality into an integrated component of US armed capability. These efforts require a multitude of actors engaged in policymaking, legislative, doctrinal, architectural and acquisition initiatives drawn from the history, motives, scenarios and criteria associated with non-lethality in the Department of Defense.
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