Editing Non-lethal weapon (section)

==Directed energy weapons==
[[File:Long Range Acoustic Device 500X in New York City.jpg|thumb|An [[NYPD]] officer stands ready with a sonic weapon, the [[LRAD]] 500X, at an [[Occupy Wall Street]] protest on November 17, 2011 near the [[New York City Hall]]]]
{{Main|Directed-energy weapon}}
Directed energy weapons are weapons that emit energy in an aimed direction without the means of a projectile. They are non-lethal and can immobilize people as well as machines (e.g. vehicles).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eurekaaerospace.com/hpems.php |title=HPEM Active Denial System disabling vehicles |access-date=2009-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306144123/http://www.eurekaaerospace.com/hpems.php |archive-date=2009-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Directed energy weapons include electromagnetic weapons, (including [[laser weapon]]s) and [[microwave]] weapons, [[particle beam weapon]]s, [[sonic weapon]]s and [[plasma weapon]]s.

===Ultraviolet laser===
HSV Technologies, Inc. (named for its founders, Herr, Schlesinger and Vernon; not to be confused with Holden Special Vehicles), formerly of [[San Diego, California]], USA, then Port Orchard, WA, designed a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'' magazine article "Beyond the Rubber Bullet". It is an [[electrolaser]] using [[ultraviolet]] [[laser]] beams of 193&nbsp;nm, and promises to immobilize living targets at a distance without contact. There is plan for an engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of cars using a 248&nbsp;nm laser. The lead inventor, Eric Herr, died in 2008 and the company appears to have been dissolved, with their website defunct as of September 2017.<ref name="hsvti.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hsvti.com|title=lasik|access-date=2019-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418130104/http://www.hsvti.com/|archive-date=2018-04-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Pulsed energy projectile===
[[Pulsed energy projectile]]s or (PEP) is a technology of non-lethal [[directed energy weapon]]ry currently under development by the [[US military]]. It involves the emission of an invisible [[laser]] pulse which, upon contact with the target, ablates the surface and creates a small amount of exploding [[plasma (physics)|plasma]]. This produces a pressure wave designed to stun the target and knock them off their feet, and [[electromagnetic radiation]] that affects [[nerve cells]] causing a painful sensation.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The pulsed energy projectile is intended for [[riot control]] and is said to work over distances of up to 2&nbsp;km. It weighs about 230&nbsp;kg and will probably be mounted on vehicles. The weight could become lighter as laser production technology improves.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The system was developed by [[Mission Research Corporation]] (now owned by [[Orbital ATK]]). It uses a chemical [[deuterium fluoride laser]] device producing [[infrared]] laser pulses.  The plasma (produced by the early part of the pulse) explodes because its [[electron]]s absorb the energy of the later part of the pulse.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In 2003, a US military review reported{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} that the electromagnetic radiation produced by PEPs had been shown to cause pain and temporary paralysis in animal experiments.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

United States Special Operations Command FY 2010 plans included starting developmental work on a counter UAV pulsed energy projectile.<ref name="globalsecurity.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/pep.htm|title=Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP)|first=John|last=Pike}}</ref>

===Active denial system===
An [[Active Denial System|active denial system]] (ADS) is a dish that projects electromagnetic radiation just powerful enough to penetrate human skin and make the victim feel as though they are on fire, although no physical damage is done.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

The ADS is a non-lethal, [[directed-energy weapon]] developed by the [[United States Armed Forces|US military]],<ref name="Global Security">{{cite web|access-date=March 2, 2008|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/v-mads.htm|title=Vehicle-Mounted Active Denial System (V-MADS) |publisher=Global Security |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305153515/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/v-mads.htm|archive-date=March 5, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> designed for area denial, perimeter security and crowd control.<ref name="DVIDS">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/85028/new-marine-corps-non-lethal-weapon-heats-things-up|title=DVIDS - News - New Marine Corps non-lethal weapon heats things up|work=DVIDS|access-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref> Informally, the weapon has also been referred to as a "heat ray",<ref name="boston.com">Ross Kerber, [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/09/24/ray_gun_sci_fi_staple_meets_reality/ "Ray gun, sci-fi staple, meets reality"]. ''[[Boston Globe]]'', September 24, 2004.</ref> since it works by heating the surface of targets, such as the skin of targeted human subjects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office > About > Frequently Asked Questions > Active Denial System FAQs |url=https://jnlwp.defense.gov/About/Frequently-Asked-Questions/Active-Denial-System-FAQs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115055117/http://jnlwp.defense.gov/About/Frequently-Asked-Questions/Active-Denial-System-FAQs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=jnlwp.defense.gov}}</ref>

In 2011, the ADS was redesigned to make it smaller, more reliable, and able to be used on the move. The ADS II is being designed to operate from moving aircraft, as well as moving ground vehicles. The redesign does not address problems in different environmental conditions.<ref name="ADS 2">[http://strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20121003.aspx Death Ray Turns Warm And Fuzzy] – Strategypage.com, October 3, 2012</ref>

[[Air Force Special Operations Command]] is experimenting with mounting an ADS on the [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130J Ghostrider]] gunship to target threatening crowds or individuals on the ground. This is to give the gunship a non-lethal option so the crew has more engagement options. Due to the increasing number of engagements in populated areas, the Air Force is aiming to field a system within 10 years to have enough aircraft available with non-lethal systems.<ref name="flightglobal.com">[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-special-forces-pursuing-ac-130-based-active-denial-415124/ US Special Forces pursuing AC-130-based 'active denial system'] - Flightglobal.com, 29 July 2015</ref> The aircraft will apparently use the ADS II version.<ref name="AC-130J Gets A Ray Gun">[http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20150810.aspx AC-130J Gets A Ray Gun] - Strategypage.com, 10 August 2015</ref>

=== Dazzler ===
A [[Dazzler (weapon)|dazzler]] is a [[directed-energy weapon]] intended to temporarily blind or disorient its target with intense directed radiation. Targets can include sensors or human vision. Dazzlers emit [[infrared]] or invisible light against various electronic sensors, and [[visible light]] against humans, when they are intended to cause no long-term damage to [[eye]]s. The emitters are usually [[laser]]s, making what is termed a ''laser dazzler''. Most of the contemporary systems are man-portable, and operate in either the red (a [[laser diode]]) or green (a [[diode-pumped solid-state laser]], DPSS) areas of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Initially developed for military use, non-military products are becoming available for use in law enforcement and security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/us-cops-and-military-to-get-laser-guns-602983 |title=US cops and military to get laser guns |date=27 May 2009 |author=Mark Harris |publisher=[[Techradar.com]] |access-date=28 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20011548-71.html |title=Police to experiment with blinding 'Dazer Laser'? |author=Chris Matyszczyk |date=23 July 2010 |publisher=[[CNET]].com |access-date=28 July 2010 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025223731/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20011548-71.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Weapons designed to cause permanent blindness are banned by the 1995 [[United Nations]] [[Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons]]. The dazzler is a [[non-lethal force|non-lethal]] [[weapon]] intended to cause [[Flash blindness|temporary blindness]] or disorientation and therefore falls outside this protocol.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

[[File:PHASR Rifle.jpg|thumb|PHASR Rifle]]
The [[personnel halting and stimulation response rifle]] (PHASR) is a prototype [[Non-lethal force|non-lethal]] [[laser]] [[dazzler (weapon)|dazzler]] developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, U.S. [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]].<ref>Eva D. Blaylock (Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Public Affairs). [https://www.af.mil/News/story/storyID/123012699/ New technology 'dazzles' aggressors], The Official Website of the U.S. Air Force, Posted November 2, 2005</ref> Its purpose is to temporarily disorient and blind a target. Blinding laser weapons have been tested in the past, but were banned under the 1995 UN [[Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons]], which the United States [[Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties|acceded]] to on 21 January 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unog.ch/__80256ee600585943.nsf/(httpPages)/3ce7cfc0aa4a7548c12571c00039cb0c?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=1%2C3%2C2#_Section1|title=United Nations Office at Geneva|publisher=www.unog.ch|access-date=15 January 2009}}</ref> The PHASR rifle, a low-intensity laser, is not prohibited under this regulation, as the blinding effect is intended to be temporary.  It also uses a two-wavelength laser.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071204111913/http://www.kirtland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070404-043.pdf PERSONNEL HALTING and STIMULATION RESPONSE (PHaSR) Fact Sheet], Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Public Affairs, April 2006; [https://web.archive.org/web/20080313035036/http://www.kirtland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070404-043.pdf Archived]</ref> The PHASR was tested at [[Kirtland Air Force Base]], part of the [[Air Force Research Laboratory]] [[Air Force Research Laboratory#Directorates|Directed Energy Directorate]] in [[New Mexico]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

====Blinding laser weapons====
Several nations developed blinding laser weapons and they were allegedly used during the [[war in Donbas]] by Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uawire.org/news/three-ukrainian-border-guards-in-the-donbas-suffer-retina-burns-after-being-shot-with-laser-pointers|title=UAWire - Three Ukrainian border guards in the Donbas suffer retina burns after being shot with laser weapons|website=uawire.org}}</ref>

==== Long Range Acoustic Device ====
The [[Long Range Acoustic Device]] (LRAD) is an [[acoustic hailing device]] developed by [[LRAD Corporation]] to send messages and warning tones over longer distances or at higher volume than normal [[loudspeaker]]s. LRAD systems are used for long-range communications in a variety of applications<ref name="lradx.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.lradx.com/application/|title=Long Range Acoustic Device Industry Applications - Public Safety & Security Solution|access-date=2016-08-07|archive-date=2017-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310075013/https://www.lradx.com/application/|url-status=dead}}</ref> including as a means of non-lethal, non-kinetic crowd control.  Though they have been called "sonic weapons",<ref>{{cite web|last=Sheets|first=Tess|title=P.A. system or 'sonic weapon'? Cops' use of military-grade speakers at Orlando protests prompts backlash|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-orlando-george-floyd-protests-lrad-opd-20200625-vke7xwiggbg23llwetr4eggsz4-story.html|access-date=2021-07-04|website=orlandosentinel.com|date=25 June 2020 }}</ref> LRADs are not inherently for military use.  The round black devices on top of New York City police Hummers are LRADs.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

According to the manufacturer's specifications, the systems weigh from {{convert|15|to|320|lb}} and can emit sound in a 30°- 60° beam at 2.5&nbsp;kHz.<ref name="Corbett 2009 65">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E0kUYUOtG0AC&pg=PA65 |page=65 |last=Corbett |first=Peter |title=A Modern Plague of Pirates |isbn=978-0-9562107-0-8|year=2009 |publisher=Captain Peter Corbett }}</ref> The manufacturer also produces systems for public address and mass notification use that broadcast 360°.<ref name="LRAD Corporation website">{{cite web|url=http://www.lradx.com/product_categories/lrad_mass_notification_systems/|title=LRAD Mass Notification & Life Safety Systems Archives - LRAD Corporation|access-date=2016-08-07|archive-date=2017-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310073033/https://www.lradx.com/product_categories/lrad_mass_notification_systems/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Safety and legal status===
In the United States, the University of Texas-Austin Institute for Advanced Technology (IAT) conducts basic research to advance electrodynamics and hypervelocity physics related to electromagnetic weapons.<ref>Exploiting Technical Opportunities to Capture Advanced Capabilities for Our Soldiers; Army AL&T; 2007 Oct-Dec; Dr. Reed Skaggs [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219135915/http://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/2007/4_OctNovDec/articles/16_Exploiting_Technical_Opportunities_to_Capture_Advanced_Capabilities_for_Our_Soldiers_200710.pdf Exploiting Technical Opportunities to Capture Advanced Capabilities for Our Soldiers] </ref>

Although generally considered "non-lethal weapons", electromagnetic weapons do pose health threats to humans.  In fact, "non-lethal weapons can sometimes be deadly."<ref>Air University Research Template: "[https://web.archive.org/web/20051119210739/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cst/csat34.pdf NON-LETHAL WEAPONS: SETTING OUR PHASERS ON STUN? Potential Strategic Blessings and Curses of Non-Lethal Weapons on the Battlefield]"; Erik L. Nutley, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF; August 2003; Occasional Paper No. 34; Center for Strategy and Technology; Air War College; Air University; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; PG12</ref>

[[United States Department of Defense]] policy explicitly states that non-lethal weapons "shall not be required to have a zero probability of producing fatalities or permanent injuries."<ref>Department of Defense; DIRECTIVE; [https://web.archive.org/web/20110322204520/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300003p.pdf NUMBER 3000.3]; July 9, 1996; Certified Current as of November 21, 2003; ASD(SO/LIC); SUBJECT: Policy for Non-Lethal Weapons; References: (a) Title 10, United States Code; (b) DoD Directive TS-3600.1, "Information Warfare (U)", December 21, 1992; PG. 3</ref>  Although a Human Effects Advisory Panel was established in 1998 to provide independent assessment on human effects, data, and models for the use of 'non-lethal weapons' on the general population,<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/nld4/kenny.pdf Human Effects Advisory Panel Program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041114161030/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/nld4/kenny.pdf |date=2004-11-14 }}; presented to: NDIANon-Lethal Defense IV</ref> the TECOM Technology Symposium in 1997 concluded on non-lethal weapons: "Determining the target effects on personnel is the greatest challenge to the testing community," primarily because  "the potential of injury and death severely limits human tests."  However, "[[Directed-energy weapon|directed energy weapons]] that target the central nervous system and cause neurophysiological disorders" may violate the [[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]] of 1980. And weapons that go beyond non-lethal intentions and cause "superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering" could violate the [[Protocol I]] to the [[Geneva Conventions]] of 1977."<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/1621.pdf Non-Lethal Weaponry: From Tactical to Strategic Applications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223201043/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/1621.pdf |date=2003-12-23 }}; Colonel Dennis B. Herbert, USMC (Ret.), program developer, Institute for Non-Lethal Defense Technologies at [[Pennsylvania State University]]; pg. 4</ref> Safety and evaluation of the physical and psychological effects of the long-term or repetitive uses of the [[pain]]-inducing non-lethal weapons on humans have not been well understood or studied in any great details. Any such studies require explicit consent of all participants so as not to violate the UN Convention against torture and other cruelties.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}