Joint Non Lethal Weapons
This project funds the research and development of next-generation Non-Lethal Weapons and includes performing analysis, technical development efforts, and modeling and simulation necessary to ensure optimum weaponization and use of these NLW. Investment areas include research and development of next-generation Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) such as: non-lethal directed energy weapons (lasers, millimeter wave and high-power microwave) for counter-personnel and counter-materiel missions; non-lethal counter-personnel technologies (acoustic, optical, and human electro-muscular disruption technologies), and advanced non-lethal materials (including materials for vehicle/vessel stopping and counter-facility applications). Next-generation Non-Lethal Weapons systems focus on long-range localized Non-Lethal effects to identified threat individuals (or groups of individuals) and/or their threat weapons systems operating in complicated environments such as urban areas, crowds, buildings, vehicles, vessels, and also in close proximity to high-value civilian facilities.
FY2027 planned work - Continue research and investigation of Non-Lethal Weapons (NLWs) and Intermediate Force Capability (IFC) effects and emergent technologies with the potential to further address Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) approved non-lethal counter-personnel and counter-materiel capability gaps. Specifically, explore new non-lethal effects and evaluate alternative innovative applications of existing technologies to address future non-lethal capability needs as escalation of force platforms. Examples of counter personnel research include further optimization of non-lethal human effects, and enhanced understanding of human target behavioral effects. - Continue counter-materiel research to…
FY2026 to FY2027 change The increase of $2.166M in funding from FY26 to FY27 is to initiate development of an advanced non-lethal directed energy system.
FY2026 plans — current year - Complete integration of various human effects dose response studies into a generalized repel and thermodynamic model of relevant human effects that are safe for operational engagements with Non-lethal Weapons (NLW) and Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFCs). - Complete Prototyping multiple long-range adaptive hardware and software systems to validate Non-lethal Weapons (NLW) and Intermediate Force Capability (IFC) Directed Energy (DE) emissions are safely aimed on human targets. - Complete Subsystem and component design and development of high peak-power, both for wide-band and narrow-band Radio Frequencies, in support of longer range and more compact NLW and IFC DE effects. - Continue…