Raytheon shipping microwave nonlethal weapon systems

which forces compressed air into tubes to generate a low frequency wave

Acoustic, blast wave, projector. Energy generation from a pulsed laser which projects a hot, high pressure plasma in the air in front of a target; it creates a blast wave with variable but controlled effects on hardware and troops

* Acoustic bullets (aka sonic bullets). High power, very low frequency waves emitted from one to two meter antenna dishes, resulting in blunt-object trauma from waves generated in front of the target

* Acoustic curdler unit. A device which is plugged into an HPS-1 sound system to produce a shrill shrieking, blatting noise; used to disperse rioters and had a decibel range just below that of the danger level to the human ear

* Acoustic deference tones. Devices which can project a voice or other sound to a particular location; the resulting sound can only be heard at that location

* Acoustic high intensity sound (aka polysound). Loud music was used by U.S. forces to drive Manual Norriega from the Vatican Embassy in Panama in 1990

* Acoustic HPS-1 sound system. A 350 watt sound system with an audible voice range of 2.5 miles; used by the military in Indo-China and then supplied to law enforcement

* Acoustic infrasound. Very low-frequency sound which travel long distances and easily penetrate most buildings and vehicles; long wavelength sound creates biophysical effects such as nausea, disorientation, vomiting, potential internal organ damage, or even may occur; better than ultrasound because it is in-band, that is, it does not lose its properties when it changes mediums (for example, from air to tissue)

* Acoustic Squawk box. Crowd dispersal weapon field tested by the British Army in Ireland in 1973; the directional device emits two ultrasonic frequencies which, when mixed in the human ear, become intolerable; produces giddiness, nausea, or fainting; the beam is so small that it can be directed at specific individuals within a rioting crowd

Acoustic teleshot. Cartridge projecting a powerful sonic device delivered by a 12-gauge shotgun

* Acoustic ultrasound. A very high frequency sound the wavelength of which is out-of-band, making it less effective than infrasound because it losses its properties when it changes mediums; as is the case with infrasound, a lot of power is required to generate these waves which create biophysical effects

Acoustics and opticals

* Acoustic and optical air burst simulator. A diversionary device used to simulate the air burst of artillery rounds during infantry training

* Acoustic and optical diversionary device. A hand thrown pyrotechnic device which emits a loud bang and dazzling light when ignited; the device is designed to create a sensory overload which temporarily causes confusion and an inability effectively to respond to a tactical team’s actions; also called a flash-bang grenade

* Acoustic and optical launched diversionary device. A diversionary device which can be launched from a 12 gauge shot gun

* Acoustic and optical flash stick. A stick or pole to which a diversionary device is affixed, allowing it to be precisely placed and held during ignition; often used for exact insertion through chain link fences, windows, heavy brush, and so forth

* Acoustic and optical painter’s pole. An extendible pole to which a diversionary device is affixed allowing it to be precisely placed and held during ignition

* Acoustic and optical photic driver. A crowd control device developed by a British company before 1973 which uses ultrasound and flashing infrared lights which penetrate closed human eyelids; potential for epileptic fits because of the stroboscopic flashing effect

* Acoustic and optical psycho-correction. A technology invented by a Russian scientist which involves influencing subjects visually or aurally with imbedded subliminal messages

* Acoustic and optical stun grenade. A non-lethal hand grenade

-read more in Terry Kiss’s compilation at Air Force University Web site; Robert Bunker, Nonlethal Weapons: Terms and References (USAF Institute for National Security Studies, at Anglefire Web site; this GlobalSecurity Web page

Note that Fraunhofer ICT is organizing a conference on nonlethal weapons, to be held in Ettlingen, Germany (it is near Stuttgart) on 21-23 May 2007; see their Web site