|
The Active Denial System (ADS)
developed by Raytheon for the US Air Force Research Labs has
entered extended user evaluation phase, and is currently deployed
with the Air Force's 820th Security Forces Group (SFG) at Moody
air force base in Georgia, USA. 820 is the first unit selected
to conduct these tests. The system will be evaluated in assisting
troops in securing base perimeters, checkpoints and entry control
points during peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance, and
crowd dispersal.
|
|
According to Tech.
Sgt. John DeLaCerda, the NCO in charge of the 820th SFG advanced
technologies section, the new non-lethal weapon will enable
the unit to engage potential adversaries at distances beyond
the range of small-arms range, thus being able to repel an individual,
and determining the target's intent without the use of lethal
force. "Right now, we don't have a medium between shouting
and shooting when determining an adversary's intent," says
DeLaCerda. "In the long run [such system] can help limit
collateral damage, protect the innocent and save the lives of
our men and women in combat." He added. The beam is designed
only to affect an individual for a short moment due to safety
presets and features, Sergeant DeLaCerda said. "ADS is
not developed to engage a target for a long period of time,
and we aren't trained to operate it that way; once we expose
an individual and determine their intent, we will no longer
engage them with the beam."
"The pain is comparable to an intensified version of opening
an oven and feeling the initial blast of hot air," said
Staff Sgt. Jason Delacruz, an ADS operator who has also been
exposed on several occasions for training purposes. "The
effects are extremely sudden, and natural instincts automatically
force you to quickly exit the target area."
|
