Overview
Nonlethal weapons are a new generation of weapons designed to incapacitate individuals and damage or destroy material while keeping fatalities to a minimum and producing little collateral damage. They represent a fundamental change in the nature of warfare, as previous developments have focused on making weapons more lethal (e.g., automatic rifles) or more effective (e.g., precision-guided munitions).
Types of Nonlethal Weapons
There are two main types:
Individual-targeting weapons: Blinding lasers, acoustic weapons, microwave weapons, electromagnetic weapons, adhesives (sticky foam), lubricants, aqueous foam, chemical agents (teargas), and nonlethal projectiles (rubber bullets). Mind control methods are in early development.
Infrastructure/equipment-targeting weapons: Carbon-fiber filled warheads on cruise missiles that short out power stations, electromagnetic pulse generators, chemical/biological agents to disable vehicles, adhesives, lubricants. These were used successfully during the Persian Gulf War against Iraqi targets.
Military Use Cases
Nonlethal weapons are designed for specific threats or missions where conventional arms would be less effective, more costly, or otherwise inappropriate. Potential military applications include:
- Peacekeeping operations and coordination with local law enforcement agencies
- Humanitarian relief operations
- Protection of U.S. personnel abroad
- Countering emerging transnational issues (terrorism, narcotics trafficking, international organized crime)
- Information warfare targeting electronic systems
Key Implications
1. Increased risk of military intervention: If nonlethal weapons reduce costs and casualties, policy makers may be more inclined to intervene in conflicts where they previously hesitated.
2. Proliferation risks: Multiple nations (Russia, UK, France, Italy, Israel) are pursuing nonlethal weapons research. Weapons could be used against U.S. troops or internally by less democratic regimes for repression.
3. Ethical and legal questions: Nonlethal weapons raise concerns about the future conduct of war and may require new arms control measures beyond existing treaties banning chemical/biological weapons.
Sources
Sislin, John (1998). "Non-Lethal Weapons Implications for Post-Cold War Conflict." Department of Political Science, Bowling Green State University. Available at: https://irl.umsl.edu/cis/89