130 Decibel weapon

130 Decibel weapon

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

The United States military is currently working on developing a new non-lethal weapon based on sound energy at a level of 130 decibel. This new weapon, called the Laser-Induced Plasma Effect, or LIPE, which will soon start testing, can produce a noise similar to that of a particularly loud jet engine. The noise is produced with a laser shooting at a certain point, which disassembles an atom at the hitting point, producing  deafening noise. The effective range of the weapon is from very close to the point of shooting and up to a distance of about a hundred meters. Non-lethal weapons producing such deafening noise can reach up to a level of 90 and a 100 decibel, whereas this innovative new weapon can increase the noise up tp a 130.

For many years the armies of the world failed to see the benefit on less-lethal weapons since all throughout history, battles were fought in open areas with no citizens getting involved. The modern battle field, which has moved from open spaces to urban territories, forced those in charge of battle tactics to completely change perception and come up with a new combat doctrine, or at least one that is adjusted to the new conditions, as many citizens are often in the range of battle.

There is a large variety of less-lethal weapons, starting from water hoses, to weapons producing micro-waves to weapons producing a deafening sound. These weapons are highly effective when soldiers are forced to face an unarmed population or people who are not proven to be armed. In light of this dilemma posed by the modern battlefield, the non-lethal weapon is an optimal way to disperse violent demonstrations or even just to neutralize an enemy threat without actually killing the enemy, so that they can be interrogated for valueable intelligence.

Subscribe to our newsletter.