Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are weapons that don’t use projectiles, such as lasers and particle beams. The Active Denial System is a non-lethal microwave laser that causes a burning sensation. DEW raises ethical questions but is preferable to bullets. DEW is being considered for anti-missile systems and a laser to dazzle opponents.
Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), sometimes called electronic weapons, include any type of weapon that dispenses with the use of a projectile to attack the target. These include lasers, plasmas and various types of particle beams. Often, these types of weapons are built to be non-lethal. For example, the Active Denial System, which was recently deployed in Iraq, uses a non-lethal microwave laser.
Since it is the most thoroughly tested and seriously deployed directed energy weapon today, let’s examine the active denial system. This vehicle-mounted system uses a 95GHz microwave laser to penetrate human skin to a depth of less than 1/64th of an inch. The result is an extremely painful burning sensation that causes the target to move away from the team as quickly as possible. The range is up to 1 km (0.62 miles). Unlike a conventional microwave oven, which operates at 2.4GHz, this weapon is more energetic but has a lower penetration depth.
Despite its non-lethality, the use of directed energy weapons raises ethical questions. What if, for whatever reason, the target is unable to get out of the beam path? The use of directed energy for crowd dispersal in riot situations is of particular concern. However, no matter how you look at it, a non-lethal microwave beam is clearly preferable to a deadly bullet, the current standard for peacekeeping around the world.
Directed energy is also being considered for use as an anti-missile system to protect critical infrastructure. This is part of the research project called THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser), an $89 million project that successfully shot down 25 Katyusha rockets during tests. The system has not yet been deployed in a military context, but could one day form the basis of an effective missile interception system.
Another application of directed energy is in the form of a laser designed to dazzle rather than attack the opponent. The large but portable PHASR system was developed for this purpose. It projects a series of bright laser lights specifically designed to overstimulate the brain and cause disorientation. An ethical concern has been raised about the use of this weapon against people with epilepsy.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
