Non-lethal weapons technologies--the case for independent scientific analysis.
Various technologies have been proposed for non-lethal weapons (NLW), some of them credible, or at least plausible, but strong claims were made for others without evidence or references. Five such technologies are examined. For the chemical and biological examples, detailed information is lacking but the diminishing number of such claims over time and general scientific knowledge suggest that fulfilment of the promises is improbable. For acoustic weapons, a detailed study found that many of the claims are plainly untrue. In this case, even wrong values for physiological thresholds were presented. Civil and military NLW programmes in the USA put their main emphasis on simple, short-term technologies rather than exotic ones. In order to avoid dangers arising from unrealistic promises, the concept of preventive arms control should be applied to NLW. Its first step is a scientific analysis, investigating the new weapons, the propagation of their effects and the effect on the targets. Such detailed studies are needed for each proposed NLW technology.
Altmann
J
J
Experimentelle Physik III, Universität Dortmund, Germany. Altmann@EP3.Ruhr-Uni-Bochum.DE
D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008891:Military Science / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016730:Program Development; D011583:Psychological Warfare; D013672:Technology / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology