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Can technology remove death from warfare and revolutionize the 21st Century battlefield? It remained one of the best kept secrets of the Falklands war. As far back as 1981, a small number of Type-22 frigates had tested the top-secret weapons system named 'Laser Dazzle Sight' (LDS), a non-lethal weapon of war designed to blind and confuse the enemy. After successful sea trials, LDS was quickly fitted to Royal Naval ships in time for he Falklands campaign. And during the British landings at San Carlos Waters, Argentinean pilots were successfully 'attacked' with this so-called humane weapon systems of the 21st Century. Redefining Warfare. The Falklands campaign saw one of the first uses of these so-called 'non-lethal weapons'. The term, coined by Pentagon PR officials, also falls under the military euphemism of 'soft-kill technologies'. Death, it seems, is politically acceptable no longer on the modern battlefield. The non-lethal armoury boasts a bewildering array of sophisticated hi- and low- tech weapons. At the lower end of the scale there are anti-personnel chemical inhibitors, such as pepper sprays, CS gas and Mace. 'Kinetic weapons' include plastic bullets, glue guns, water cannons, anti-personnel foams, and the modern equivalent of Roman amphitheatre gladiatorial nets. At the higher end is an assortment of dazzling or 'blinding' lasers, acoustic guns and radio-frequency (RF) weapons. Yet another category of non-lethal weaponry relies solely on chemicals, designed for anti-material purposes. The modern fighter pilot could just as easily be tasked with spraying a formation of tanks with an aerosol dispensing 'combustion interferants', as with bombs and missiles. These chemical weapons are extremely effective: a diesel engine exposed to a 3% acetylene concentrate - a chemical used to cut and weld metal - results in such severe ignition difficulties that the engine self-destructs in a matter of seconds. Without mobility, even the most sophisticated multi-million dollar tank is just a heap of scrap metal. Releasing these destructive weapons is relatively easy. Low level fighter bombers are able to discharge a cargo of metal-eating microbes on formations of reserve tanks. Like alien bugs from a movie, the microbes literally chew metal and armour to pieces. Known as 'chemical metal embrittlement agents', these microbes destroy the structure of metals, wreaking havoc with every mouthful. In addition to attacking military hardware, the enemy's 'soft skinned' trucks carrying men and supplies to the front line will also come in for a gentle battering. Special chemical compounds could be sprayed on them from above, or a surface area coated ahead of their convoy. As soon as the tyres of the trucks hit the chemical a reaction occurs, rendering them brittle and useless. Failing this, 'Teflon confetti', an anti-traction lubricant that reduces friction, could be released in front of enemy vehicles, making surfaces too slippery to drive on. Military Science. The arrival of non-lethal weapons was met with hoots of derision by the worlds media, resulting in a series of feature articles with titles like: 'Bang - You're Alive', 'Surrender or We'll Slime You' and 'What Price Sticky Foam?'. Yet underlying the surface jesting, some deadly serious debates - backed by multi-million dollar budgets - were being conducted. While sticky foam and Teflon confetti caught the imagination of the popular press, the major non-lethal research and development projects remained hidden behind a curtain of secrecy. Major US government weapon labs, including Los Alamos, Sandia, Edgewood, Harry Diamond and Picatinny, went into high gear developing non-lethal weapons for the 21st Century. Subliminal Weaponry. The most futuristic examples of non-lethal technologies are known as 'disabling technologies'. Massive banks of high-wattage speakers can be used to beat out a tattoo of low frequency sound waves that penetrate walls and armoured vehicles. The enemy, whether they be regular soldiers or terrorists, wilt under the unseen bombardment. First they suffer disorientation, then start to vomit and defecate until they are rendered 'combat ineffective'. Ultrasound devices cause similar reactions but can, if beamed at sufficient densities, result in permanent hearing damage and even death. High Powered Microwave (HPM) munitions are also a fundamental part of the non-lethal concept. These can effectively disable or destroy aircraft, armoured vehicles and other equipment by targeting radars and communication devices. Because microwaves are thermal in character, they can also burn out circuit boards and computer chips. And unlike conventional munitions which require a clip or belt of ammunition, HPM's - providing they have access to a ready power supply - can be fired endlessly. The most contentious issue of non-lethal weapons debate, focuses on the use of this technology in domestic law-enforcement situations. Inside the US Department of Defence (DoD) a programme known as 'Operations Other Than War', focuses on riot control, crowd control and other civilian problems. Law Enforcement. The scenario goes something like this: a lone policeman walking along is confronted by a man armed with a knife. Quickly, he unslings his specially adapted shotgun, pulls the trigger and a weighted net leaps out at the assailant, sending him crashing to the floor. The police officer can now safely approach, and if the attacker is still struggling, he can then be sprayed with one of many debilitating sprays. Hidden Agenda. While science tries to refine the art of non-lethal conflict, critics doubt the rosy picture painted by the Pentagon and other advocates. The concern is that this type of weapon will not banish death from the battlefield, instead it will accompany the normal weapons to maximise the kill ratios. When the enemy has been incapacitated and can no longer fight back, the normal weapons would then be used to kill them. |
Sources: The X Factor By: David Guyatt |