Overview
The Nonlethal Weapons Program at the Department of Defense (DOD) was officially established in 1997, with policy residing in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASD-SO/LIC). The program evolved from early government studies starting in 1991 through a series of key milestones that shaped its current structure.
Timeline of Development
Early Studies (1991-1995):
- 1991: Secretary of Defense study group initiated research on nonlethal weapons
- 1994: OASD-SO/LIC report concluded nonlethal weapons could benefit low-intensity conflicts
- January 10, 1995: Operation United Shield deployed Marines to Somalia for peacekeeping withdrawal support; media attention drew focus to nonlethal technologies
Program Formation (1997):
- The DOD established the Nonlethal Weapons Program with two branches:
- Acquisition & Technology branch led by the Marine Corps as Executive Agent
- DOD Directive 3000.3 defined nonlethal weapons: "weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or material, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesirable damage to property and the environment"
Late Developments (1996-2000):
- November 1996: Presidential Review Directive (PRD) 54 issued with four tasks including increasing interagency awareness and developing policies commensurate with strategic needs
- February 1998: Human Effects Advisory Panel (HEAP) established to study human effects of nonlethal weapons, particularly blunt trauma munitions like rubber bullets
- February 1999: Center for Strategic and International Studies report concluded national policy not warranted due to technology immaturity but recommended further evaluation
- 2000: The program remained in its "infancy" with ongoing development across tactical ground, operational/strategic (Air Force and Navy), and strategic applications
Current Structure
The Directorate focuses on tactical ground nonlethal weapons while the Air Force and Navy operate separate programs considered "operational/strategic." The program has fielded the Nonlethal Weapon Capability Set for crowd control operations and continues to identify capability gaps in areas such as crowd control, incapacitation of personnel, area denial, and countermateriel effects.
Related Pages
nonlethal-weapons-technologies — Categories including mechanical, electromagnetic, acoustic, biological, chemical, and supporting technologies
dod-directive-3000.3 — The foundational policy document defining nonlethal weapons and their employment principles