Microwave
Weapons
From Science Fiction to the
Laboratory and...
On to the Battlefield
Originally published on May 5th, 2011
INTRODUCTION
In 1998,
the US Department of the Army revealed that research was underway to
develop and deploy "nonlethal weapons" that could cause their targets
to suffer burns of the skin or eyes, motion sickness, "voices in the
head," artificially induced fever, and other disabling (and possibly
crippling or deadly) effects.
This report, titled "Bioeffects of
selected Nonlethal Weapons", was classified secret when it was
written, but it was declassified and released in December 2006, under a Freedom of Information
Act request (1a)(1b).
It dispassionately lists the torments that such weapons could inflict:
SUMMARY of
DETAILS
Artificial induction of fever
Could be done with “an adaptation of
technology which has been around
for many years. … The nonlethal application would embody a highly
sophisticated microwave assembly that can be used to project microwaves
in order to provide a controlled heating of persons. This controlled
heating will raise the core temperature of the individuals to a
predetermined level to mimic a high fever with the intent of gaining a
psychological/capability edge on the enemy, while not inflicting deadly
force. … Every human is subject to the effects of heating; therefore it
would have a predictability rating of 100%. The time to onset can be
probably engineered to between 15 and 30 minutes … The onset can be
slow enough and/or of such frequency to be unrecognized by the
person(s) being irradiated. … Incapacitation time could be extended to
almost any desired period consistent with safety. … Assuming the
heating is done carefully, reversal of elevated body temperature would
begin as soon as the source of heat is removed.” (2)
“If the situation allows, and the
source is sufficiently powerful,
there is the possibility to use this technology in a lethal mode as
well. Prolonged body temperature above 43° C is almost certain to
result in permanent damage to the brain and death.” (3)
“The technologies needed … are
relatively well developed because of the
known biophysical mechanism, the universal susceptibility of humans to
the mechanism of heating, and because of a well developed technology
base for the production of radiofrequency radiation. … The very
uncomfortable nature of a high body temperature may be useful in
negotiations or possibly for controlling crowds. It would be equally
useful on single persons or crowds. Evidence also indicates a
disruption of working memory, thus disorientation may occur because of
an inability to consolidate memory of the recent (minutes) past.”
(3)
Producing sounds within the victim's
head
“Microwave hearing is … the
sensations of buzzing, ticking, hissing, or
knocking sounds that originate within or immediately behind the head.
There is no sound propagating through the air like normal sound. This
technology in its crudest form could be used to distract individuals;
if refined, it could also be used to communicate with hostages or
hostage takers directly.” (4)
This process has been known since the 1970s, and “humans have been
subjected to this phenomenon for many years.” (5) The target hears sounds
immediately upon exposure to the energy source, and the sounds stop
when the exposure stops. The “characteristic
sounds and intensities of
those sounds depend on the characteristics of the RF energy as
delivered. Because the frequency of the sound heard is dependent on the
pulse characteristic of the RF energy, it seems possible that this
technology could be developed to the point where words could be
transmitted to be heard like the spoken word, except that it could only
be heard within a person’s head.” (6)
This technology “may be useful to
provide a disruptive condition to a
person not aware of the technology. Not only might it be disruptive to
the sense of hearing, it could be psychologically devastating if one
suddenly heard ‘voices within one’s head.’” (6)
“Microwave energy can be applied at a
distance, and the appropriate
technology can be adapted from existing radar units. ... Signals can be
transmitted long distances (hundreds of meters) using current
technology.”
Disruption of neural control -
convulsions and unconsciousness
The targets of such weapons would immediately “lose voluntary control
of their body. This synchronization may be accompanied by a sudden loss
of consciousness and intense muscle spasms.” (6) “The effectiveness of
this concept has not been demonstrated” (7) in the laboratory
- as of 1998. “It seems reasonable
that electromagnetic stimulation of
neural synchrony might be tunable with regard to type and degree of
bodily influence. … It is anticipated that 100% of the population would
be susceptible.” (8)
Technologies “exist today sufficient
to evaluate the disabling concept.
… Aiming devices are currently available, but a high degree of
directionality at long distances will require development. … The
effective range could be hundreds of meters.” (9)
Nausea and vertigo
Those exposed to specific sound frequencies and volumes from acoustic
energy weapons could immediately suffer nausea, vomiting, vertigo,
visual disturbances, and disorientation. (10) “Induction of nystagmus
[involuntary eye movements, which cause vertigo] and nausea will have
varying effects on individuals. Effects may be sufficiently
incapacitative to allow offensive advantage; the perception of
sickness may make a subject susceptible to persuasion. It would be
difficult to target single individuals at the present level of sound
directing technology. This technology may be better suited for groups
of people. … Sound generating technology is well developed but not
highly portable. Aiming devices are poorly developed.” (11)
Burns of the skin or eyes from laser
weapons
“There are three basic damage
mechanisms associated with exposure
to laser radiation: chemical, thermal, and mechanical or
acoustic-mechanical. … The organs most susceptible to external laser
radiation are the skin and eyes. … the primary effect on the skin is
thermal damage (burns). The severity varies from slight erythema or
reddening to severe blistering or charring … efforts to design
rheostatically lethal laser weapons are on going.” (12) Eye damage can range
from temporary flash-blinding to permanent blindness. (13)
CONCLUSION
In 2004, the Council on Foreign Relations recommended that the Pentagon
increase its annual budget
for "non-lethal" weapons by sevenfold, from $43 million in 2004
to $300 million. (14)
This gave these new weapons an endorsement by the American
establishment.
Keep in mind that the above quoted report reflected the "State of the
Art" in 1998 - more than twenty years ago! It is hardly conceivable how
much further advanced these weapons are today, and which other weapons
have been developed since then.
NOTES
(1a) Department
of the Army, "Bioeffects of Selected
Nonlethal
Weapons" (PDF file), February
17, 1998.
(1b) Complete transcript of the
PDF file
(2) p. 6 of the PDF file
(3) p. 7
(4) p. 8
(5) p. 9
(6) p. 10
(7) p. 12
(8) p. 13
(9) p. 14
(10) pp. 14-16
(11) p. 17
(12) pp. 17-18
(13) p. 19
(14) Council
on Foreign Relations, "Lack of Nonlethal
Weapons
Capabilities Hindering U.S. Efforts in Postwar Iraq; Experts Urge
Department of Defense to Increase Spending Seven-Fold",
press release,
February 26, 2004 -
original
link (viewed 31-Mar-2011) - updated
link (viewed 30-Aug-2021).
Published on May 5th, 2011
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