Acoustic “Device” or Acoustic Weapon?

(Акустическое "устройство" или акустическое оружие?)

Sharon Weinberger

23.05.2007

wired.com

“American Technologies Corporation” received some great publicity when in 2005 a cruise liner was able to beat back pirates using the company's Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a powerful hailing device.

Автомобиль HMMWV M1114 с установленной системой LRAD
и ослепляющим лазерным устройством

As less-lethal weapons legend has it, the makers of LRAD made a strategic choice early not to call LRAD a weapon, and instead dub it a "device," thus avoiding some of the politically charged debates (and testing) that a weapon would entail. But the fact of the matter is, as this new BBC report makes clear, LRAD can be used as a weapon and a rather effective one at that (in fact, they call it a "sonic weapon." The BBC has some good details of what took place during the pirate attack in 2005:

As soon as I went on the deck I came under automatic fire straight away. A rocket grenade blew me off my feet," [Michael Groves] said.

"The next thing I remember is rolling around and trying to check for shrapnel."

He then quickly unwound a high pressure hose and aimed the jet at the attackers, forcing them to withdraw.

They soon returned and Mr Gurung, the liner's Master of Arms, tried to activate the sonic weapon, known as a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD).

How the LRAD device works

But he fell to the floor after being hit in the upper body by a bullet.

Retreat

"I saw a spray of blood and he just went straight down," Mr Groves said.

"I though he was gone but he opened one eye. He looked like half his head had been blown off."

After dragging Mr Gurung to safety Mr Groves, who has served in the Royal Navy, turned the sonic weapon on the attackers.

The loudhailer-style device is often used by UK and US troops and is capable of causing permanent damage to hearing from a distance of more than 300 metres (984ft).

After 30 minutes the pirates, who were trying to board the ship, were forced to retreat and the ship's captain directed the liner to safer waters.

Of course, the fact that LRAD can be used as a weapon raises some operational safety issues. As the BBC article notes: "Mr Groves said shock-waves from the LRAD has damaged his hearing and claims he now suffers from tinnitus."

UPDATE: Noah here.  For years, small groups in the military have been using the LRAD as a long-distance hailer. But now, the sonic um, "devices," have been named as an official Defense Department "program of record" -- opening the door to much larger military purchases.

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