Non-lethal weapons to gain relevancy in future conflicts.

• Author: Alexander, John B.
• Position: Commentary

The opening rounds of the war against terrorist groups in Afghanistan showcased the efficacy of highly lethal, precision-guided weapons. In current and future wars, however, there also is an important role for non-lethal systems.

In Afghanistan, the al Qaeda headquarters and core training facilities could be isolated and attacked directly. Outside Afghanistan, meanwhile, terrorist cells are based in cities around the world. Future phases in the war, therefore, are likely to occur in densely populated urban areas.

Conducting operations in which terrorists must be separated from the general population will be problematic. This will be especially true in cities in which the inhabitants do not have any sympathy for the terrorists and are only innocent bystanders. In such situations, the probability that terrorists will take hostages is quite high. Whether the force engaging the terrorists is military, law enforcement, or a combination of both, they will need non-lethal weapons to avoid killing those innocent bystanders.

During the past two years, the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate at Quantico, Va., has been working to get non-lethal systems into the hands of deployed troops.

Non-lethal weapons function in three realms: counter personnel, counter materiel and counter capability. Counter personnel objectives include controlling crowds, incapacitating individuals, denying areas to personnel and clearing personnel from facilities, structures or areas of operation. Counter material systems are used to deny areas to vehicles, vessels or aircraft, and to disable or neutralize vehicles, vessels, aircraft or equipment. Counter capability objectives include disabling or neutralizing facilities and systems, and denying use of weapons of mass destruction.

Non-lethal technologies cover a broad spectrum, including areas related to the development of acoustics systems, chemicals (anti-traction, dyes, markers, nausea, stench), communications systems, electromagnetic and electrical systems, entanglement and other mechanical systems, information technologies, optical devices, non-penetrating projectiles and munitions, and many others.

Combinations of non-lethal and lethal weapons are possible. For example, non-lethal weapons can work in conjunction with psychological, information or electronic warfare.

Prior to the attacks of September 11, military forces were developing and deploying non-lethal weapons. Given the operations in which U.S. forces were...