|
 Electrical shock weapons are
designed to cause Electro Muscular Disruption (EMD) which, when
affecting an unprotected human completely overrides the central
nervous system and directly control the skeletal muscles. Unlike
bullet impact or chemical agents, that are most effective when
hitting specific body organs (respiratory system, heart or head) EMD
weapon is effective wherever direct contact is made with the
subject's skin (even through few layers of clothing). Employed
either as a direct contact of from stand-off distance, as a stun
gun, the EMD effect causes an immediate uncontrollable
contraction of the muscle tissue that result in physical
debilitation regardless of pain tolerance or mental focus. Existing
EMD weapons require physical contact with the target using hand held
shockers or stun guns, such as the
Taser, which uses compressed air
cartridge to fire a pair of darts at the target. The darts are
linked to wire conductors to deliver an electrical shock from the
gun to the target.
Another stun weapon called
Stinger uses a pyro
charge to power four-dart system providing the Stinger with greater
velocity, accuracy and greater effective range of close to 10
meters. The weapon uses four darts, rather than two, used on Taser
to improve the probability of hit. Stinger is now offered with
strap-on TruVu video gun camera accessory, which can record the
entire engagement (audio and video) for evidence and debriefing.
More advanced designs currently in development will have wireless
capability and could engage a target at extended range.
|
Comparison
between different types of Electrical Shock Weapons |
|
Weapon type |
Effective range (m') |
Effect / propulsion |
Status |
| StunStrike |
4 |
artificial lightning |
Development |
| Air Taser |
5 |
EMD / air |
In service |
| Advanced Taser M26 |
5 - 7.5 |
EMD / air |
In service |
| Advanced Taser X26 |
5 - 7.5 |
EMD / air |
In service |
| Stinger |
10 |
EMD / pyrotechnic |
Service Introduction |
| Sticky Shocker |
10 |
EMD / grenade |
In service |
| XREP |
30 |
EMD / grenade |
Development |
| StunRounds |
100 |
Piezoelectric pulse /
bullet |
Development |
Further research is directed into wireless electro-muscular
incapacitation technologies, including systems such as Extended
Range Electronic Projectile (XREP) pursued by Taser and the US Navy.
This wireless Taser is developed as a shoulder fired projectile is
designed for effective range and characteristics comparable to blunt
impact projectiles such as 40mm "bean bag" kinetic munitions. It is
designed for use at distances of 30 meters and beyond.
 A
different concept is the Sticky Shocker, developed by Titan, with DARPA's support. This wireless shocker can be launched by M203 or
M79 rifles, as well as 37mm non lethal launcher. Sticky Shocker
clings to a human target inflicting an electrical stun. Effective at
up to 10 meters, the projectile contains a battery which excites
several short high voltage pulses (50KV) per second. Other developments
of EMD munitions call for the miniaturization of stun cartridges,
which enables them to fit into 40mm or 5.56mm ammunition. Different
method of wireless stun weapon application is "laser induced plasma"
weapon, which use artificial lightning effects to stun and
incapacitate a target. Initial applications of such technology
include the StunStrike and Portal Denial System which are currently
maturing into operational systems. "Sentinel" Taser Area Denial System (TADS) is a different
application of the Taser
Anti-Personal Munition (TAPM) EMD weapon, designed for perimeter protection,
covering entryways, building interiors, corridors or rooms.
Effective at a range of 8 - 15 meters, Sentinel is controlled via
camera installed on remotely controlled pan-tilt platform, to enable
surveillance and effective engagement of targets in day, or night,
indoor or outdoor. It is equipped with 7 Taser dart cartridges,
which can be fired in different directions. Once fired each Taser
dart pair remains activated until manually turned off. Seven
subjects, per magazine, can be kept incapacitated at once by the
independent Taser circuits. The Sentinel covers an arc of 160
degrees 30 feet deep. Sentinel can be used as part of a lethal/non
lethal dual force system. |
