My recent pieces on the Active Denial System (ADS) or pain beam sparks discussions here and elsewhere on the web. One of the most common challenges to the device is that the beam of short-wavelength microwaves could easily be blocked with tinfoil.
Its not that easy.
Captain Jay Delarosa, spokesman for the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate told me:
“We have conducted extensive testing and have determined that most readily available materials are not effective as countermeasures against the ADS.
Few people appreciate the reasons behind this, and even John Pikes otherwise excellent GlobalSecurity site claims:
Countermeasures against the weapon could be quite straightforward for example covering up the body with thick clothes or carrying a metallic sheet or even a trash can lid as a shield or reflector.
As described previously, the beam is at least two meters in diameter, and the smallest skin exposure is enough to cause intolerable pain. A red hot poker does not need to be in touch with much skin to make you pull away, and the ADS causes as much pain on your nerve endings. A shield will not work unless it covers your whole body and them some, because the ADS beam diffracts. According to an article in Aviation Week & Space Technology last July -
actual tests show that the beams penetrate even minute openings or cracks, for example, and sometimes appear almost to wrap around corners to affect fingers and feet of those trying to hide behind or hold up protective devices.
“The radio frequency is hard to block,” Booen says. “Some of the people tested against tried to hide by laying down behind some concrete traffic barriers and the beam went underneath [where there was uneven contact with the ground].”
What about that tinfoil? It will have to cover every square inch and any rips or tears will make it useless. Joints may be tricky; if you flex foil too many times holes start appearing. For vision you will need a metal mesh visor, like the kind they use on microwave oven doors. The problem is, the size of the mesh depends on the wavelength of the radiation - so short-wavelength ADS beam requires something much finer than normal microwave mesh. You also need to think about the effect on your breathing, body temperature and communication.
While it is theoretically possible to put together an anti-ADS armor suit, this is less of a spur-of-the-moment improvised undertaking and more of an elaborate workshop project taking some time and effort. (And by the same token, you could make yourself bullet-proof if you used quarter-inch steel plate instead of foil.)
Get your suit working and your problems are just beginning, as it will quickly identify you as a troublemaker rather than an innocent bystander. Separating tourists from terrorists is one of the ADSs main goals, and as Capt Delarosa says:
If an individual makes extensive efforts to counter the effect of a non-lethal system, then they are likely showing hostile intent and an escalation of force may be warranted based on existing rules of engagement.
The Marines will always ensure that non-lethals have lethal backup. Marine Corps Colonel Wade Hall is blunt about the use of ADS in a convoy protection scenario:
“If they try and deflect beams then we will kill them because we know what their intentions are”
There is another alternative. The Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP), which I described in New Scientist (subscribers only) is a non-lethal weapon which fires an extremely short laser pulse, producing a plasma flash-bang at the target. This could be deployed on the same platform as the ADS, using the same power source. Many of the countermeasures that can be envisioned against the ADS could be nullified by the PEP by ablation of the defence according to a Navy study on the effects of plasmas. Such a laser could chew through a layer of foil with a few pulses.
A PEP might also negate foil without having to blast it away. Ultra-short pulses have recently been demonstrated that can turn metals pitch black , so that the surface absorbs incoming radiation and reflective foil is made useless. This technology was developed at Rochester’s High Intensity Femtosecond Laser Laboratory ; they are funded by (among others) DARPA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Well be looking more at short pulse lasers in 2007.
There are many questions still remaining around the Active Denial System and its effects. But we may safely assume that in the many years of its development the Air Force has taken possible countermeasures into account.
UPDATE 5TH JAN Some interesting responses in the Comments section.
Leather is no protection; wet leather, like any other wet material, will absorb the beam and heat up. This may sound like a good idea, until you look at the numbers and realise that it only gives you a few seconds extra, then you have extremely hot water/steam in contact with your skin…foil is a better idea. The issues around damp/wet cloth, sweat etc were investigated a few years back in FWR-2002–0016-H Effects of skin and environmental conditions on sensations evoked by MMW covered this). There was some concern about one subject wearing a sweater developing nettle rash (urticaria) which is mentioned in F-BR-2006–0018-H Effects of exposure to 400-W 95-GHz Millimetre Wave Energy on Non-stationary Humans , but this did not happen again.
To clarify one concern, as I understand it running away would not make you a target for escalated force (like getting shot at); turning up in a tinfoil bodysuit might do.
And as for Nicholas Weaver’s request “Could you get zapped by it and tell us first hand?” — er, no thanks. It sounds painful. There’s a good firsthand account by Eric Adams in Popular Science here:
“About a half-second after ‘One,’ I felt a warm spot on my back. A millisecond later the heat intensified dramatically, as though someone were pressing an electric burner hard on my back. I expected to hear sizzling, to smell burning flesh. The pain exploded to the point where I was no longer actually thinking, and certainly wasn’t in any sort of control of my reactions. With a shout of “Yeow!” I involuntarily sprang out of the way.”
Good read, just one thing. Any armor will become a great deal more effective if its grounded. The tin foil/mesh will absorb the incoming waves, and ground them out, so the armor will be able to resist small holes and tares. Still, it would only be a fraction more practical.
One more danger, is if effective armor is developed and manufactured using industrial mass production processes. You know, china would jump on a chance to sell some clothes.
Oh, and can you mount this thing on a missile delievery platform? Just incapacitate whole neighbourhoods while a small team of magically shielded marines walk around and look for the one guy they need?
Given the government’s obsession with force protection, I wonder if this means every U.S. soldier will now be issued a suit of 13th Century chainmail or maybe even 14th Century chain/plate combo armor? You know, to protect them against the threat of ‘enemy’ area denial systems. This would be in addition to their flak jackets and those chemical warfare suits they have to carry with them everywhere.
David, on your excellent articles, one thing…
Could you get zapped by it and tell us first hand? Then recruit the Jackass crew for your reality show… If it can stop them, it can stop anyone.
Good Morning Folks,
Does this means mean a 50’s, 1957–58 to be exact, Fashion fad is back in “Vogue”, the “Tin Foil Hat”.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
Excellent read. PEP’s are an exciting area of research. Another intruiging idea is that of using lasers to ionize the air to the target and transmitting high voltage over the ionized paths to either disable IED’s or stun the target. Cool stuff on the horizon.
In certain scenarios the weak spot of the system is the operator.
Hostages. Human shields, so to speak. Preferably captured troops or children.
I think all _these_ non-lethal ray guns are irrelevant, and here is why.
Lets say they are a part a of convoy defense in a hostile area. The day after their brilliant debut, the word will be spread and the countermesures used will be an IED and/or a bunch of semi-literate guys with RPGs and/or SVDs on the roofs or wherever it suits. They will take out the gizmos, and then it will come down to the usual. Net combat effect for the ray guns: zero.
Lets see if it is useful in urban crowd control in a politically-sensitive area, where the machine gun shooting and shelling sprees are not an option. Just a few quick points:
– A city is a 3D space, full of invisible eyes and ears.
– The mobile communications allow the crowd to be at least one step ahead.
– The LOS in the big cities is usually small enough for the usual stones and firebombs.
– Any such confrontation is on the crowd’s home ground.
– Remember the storming of Grozny, Chechnya, just 12 years ago. With just about any wit, any vehicles can be easily blocked in urban canyons. Than disabled in an eyeblink, if desired. You can make your own conclusions.
BTW#1: Based solely on its method of operation, the 94GHz beam should have a problem getting through a leather soaked in salt water.
BTW#2: The ADS as a system can be disabled by a less-than-the-best college student covertly, with much greater stand-off, non-lethally, and for a price of a small party. There are people here who are at the better than the said competence level, so there is no need for a detailed explanation. I’ll just call it the “B-ray”.
Can PEP be modified for more power to become lethal and create very strong explosions that matches traditional explosives?
This thing is totally sinister.…sounds like something out of a bad horror/sci-fi movie in that it can apparently “get” you even if you think you’re safe! But then again, I suppose it is rather logical that the energy can get around objects.….being that microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and therefore behave much like visible light — you stand in the shade on a sunny day and you still get hit with reflected light.…such reflecting is inevitable.
But as for counter measures, I had been thinking about leather too — afterall, leather is essentially skin, albeit dead skin. Suppose someone was covered head to toe in leather (the face would be tough if you wanted to see where you are going)? Surely that would tend to mitigate the effects of the beam. Leather is not an uncommon clothing item and therefore would probably attract little attention (say, if there were a lot of bikers around) in a crowd.
Also, suppose they used it in an area of extreme cold? People bundled up in heavy clothes + exposed skin being very cold to begin with could dampen or retard the effects.…
It would also be interesting to find out how (or if) they intend to warn aggressors that they are about to be fired upon. What would they say, “Stop or we’ll microwave!”? Suppose no warning was given — it’s hard to imagine that people wouldn’t panic and pee their pants when hit by an invisible wall of “fire”! Worse yet, I’d imagine that most people don’t know this thing even exists — the only reason I know is that I was researching info to write a science fiction novel and I stumbled across this stuff. Think about it.…all other weapons you can see or hear (and often both).…people literally wouldn’t know what hit them with this.…
But seriously, this is one very cool, very awesome and very nasty device!
It seems that many of those commenting aren’t aware of the physics here. As was said by Mr. Hambling, to be able to see one would need a fine metal mesh similar to that incoroprated in the door of a microwave oven but with finer mesh due to the wavelength of the RF energy.
The holes in the mesh of your microwave are about 1/16th of an inch in diameter. The RF energy emitted by this system can easily propogate through a hole smaller than that, so your “leather soaked in salt water” needs to be without seams, button-holes, or zippers as these all provide ingress paths for the energy. Oh, and it needs to encase you head to toe, as well. Again, without any gaps.
Keep in mind also that this is not a stand-alone item. When agencies or organizations need to disperse crowds, do they only use one method or do they deploy multiple technologies? When riot police are deployed, aren’t there usually armored vehicles with water cannon, tear gas, etc? Not to mention the other officers in back with the fire extinguishers and fully-lethal weapons.
This system was developed for use in situations where crowds/mobs are difficult to control, discourage, and disperse because the only tools at hand are lethal. Even rubber bullets can kill, as everyone must have heard in the past.
Just ask those fascist craphead cops that were at Kent State in the ‘60s, or the Britixh forces that camped out in Northern Ireland for decades, or any embassy personnel that have ever watched a demonstration outside tthe compound walls, or whatever.
Hostages are a non-issue, as the system doesn’t cause physical harm. The hostages and kidnappers alike will be in excruciating pain, rendering them unable to function.
Upon due consideration, I can imagine that persons under the influence might be able to ignore the effects of the systems. After all, if a guy on PCP can take a number of bullets to his torso and keep fighting, then this system won’t help in that one instance. But then we go back to the lethal options again.
I cannot believe how EVIL people can be. To think that the users of such devices are not the perpetrators of wrong-doing, is to be totally blind and totally ignorant.
Shame on those who invent or use such devices against innocent people.
Disgusting Miliary and Political minds…
D I S G U S T I N G
They are going to use it on YOU. The American people.
I have been targeted by an organized group of persons, unknown to me, who are malevolently using various military grade weapons,directed energy weapons,including but not limited to electromagnetic weapons, microwave weapons, radiofrequency weapons to assault me continuously around the clock. There are many others similarly situated.
I have found no shielding. Does anyone have any ideas about shielding.
This is torture and crimes against humanity.
I will never cease to be amazed by the inginuity of the human race when it comes to torture. Just when I think I have heard it all…
By the way, since when have new wheapons only been used on the enemy. They always find their way into private hands.
it is ALUMINUM FOIL…get with the program!
What bothers me is how effective the ADS could be if used on demonstrators and protesters at home in America. If it works so well, it will really discourage and possible make it very difficult for protesters who are essential in any democracy. Tear gas and rubber bullets are possible to tolerate to a degree but this thing seems too much like a sure fire disspersal tool to me.
deal with it people. i did.
goodluck and take the blue pill.
Gentlemen,once again it is time
for good ol uncle KATSESAMA to chime in,
so brace yourselves for a sobering micro-wave
blast of truth.
the fact that noah is shareing information over
the net about ADS pretty much insures a well
informed public as to the reality of this tech.
Now,knowing this,how is it that still,some of you
out there think it could be used without our
consent,against us? In light of that its pretty
foolish to continue proping up theories of
government conspiracy where said government would
use ADS on the citizenry.
let me gently remind you all were you live.in a
free democratic,constitutional republic.not some
imaginary,big-brother,totalitarianistic regime as
some who have posted here in the past seem to so
ardently believe.any hint that tha administration
were going to utilize this weapon on the public
would more then likely be plastered over the net
faster then sadam’s execution video.Thus quoshing
any contrarian fantasies of evil republican empire
and subjugation.
As far as it being inhumane? well,compared to what
the insurgant fanatics do to people to keep them
in line,its a gentle,feathery tickle by comparison
so lets not equate it so fast with torture,as those whom we would use this against utilize real
torture as a matter of fact way of doing bussiness
But,as iv’e posted previously,those who believe
that were living in the modern day equivalent to
nazi germany will not be swayed because their too
wrapped up in their fantasies to understand that
for our nations enemies,it would be far better to
recieve what amounts to a severe sun-tan then a
marines well placed bullet.‘Nuff said.
Clearly any protection will have to be magnetic in nature
A quote from the article:
Those of you stupid enough to believe this weapon is not destined for use in domestic crowd control situations need to study history a tad more thoroughly. This website might help.
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2563/Rumsfeld_s_Guinea_Pigs
“To clarify one concern, as I understand it running away would not make you a target for escalated force (like getting shot at); turning up in a tinfoil bodysuit might do.“
I think this pretty much sums it up. Unless you’re in a large unruly crowd, I don’t think you need worry about this system. It would seem less irritating than tear gas or a fire hose, and certainly less irritating than 7.62mm NATO.
Anybody who thinks this gadget won’t be used on prisoners strapped to tables is living in a dreamworld. It is the perfect torture device.
Bush should be impeached. The use of
these weapons on Americans is clearly
in violation of their constitutional
rights. (California, please note what
is being done to you on the cover of the
February issue of Popular Science 2007).
KATSESAMA, even though you are (nothing personal, no, really!) delusional beyond comprehension in your trust in the benevolence of our government and the ability of the public and media to restrain its evil activities, in this case you are still by and large correct about the deployment of the ADS unit as reported. That big hummer is not going into the streets of America, and making the general population hop around in the field of its particularly nasty tune without a bunch of people knowing about it.
That is not the worrisome issue here. When the other person mentioned “torture”, did you or anyone else seriously envision the hummer pulling up at the back of a prison in some southern state and doing their evil in the public eye?
DARPA and the JNLWP have teamed up with the DOJ and with this, developed various applications of this technology with some pretty nasty variations. 95 Ghz at a lower power level than the unit in this article simply causes discomfort, and that over long periods of time is torture. They have handheld units being used by DOJ personnel in our communities right now, they call it “surveillance” and they use it to drive out “undesirables”, not convicted of any criminal activity, and it’s perfectly legal under Bush’s new FBI guidelines for investigations.
Our government is full of bureaucrats that are out of control. Wake up, Pollyanna.