History Active Denial System

1 history

1.1 development
1.2 contracts
1.3 demonstration
1.4 afghanistan deployment
1.5 problems
1.6 active denial system ii

history
development

two active denial systems developed under defense department advanced concept technology demonstration program (now known joint concept technology demonstration program) 2002 2007. unlike typical weapons development programs in defense department, actds/jctds not focused on optimizing technology; rather focused on rapidly assembling technology in configuration suitable user evaluation.

contracts

on september 22, 2004, raytheon granted fcc license demonstrate technology law enforcement, military , security organizations.

on october 4, 2004, united states department of defense published following contract information:

communications , power industries (cpi), palto alto [sic], calif., being awarded $6,377,762 costs-reimbursement, cost-plus fixed-price contract. contractor shall design, build, test, , deliver 2 2.5 megawatt, high efficiency, continuous wave (cw) 95 gigahertz millimeter wave source system. contractor shall perform extensive modeling, simulation, experiments, , testing maximum capabilities of facilities (which shall no less 1 megawatt peak rf output) ascertain final cw capabilities of source. contractor shall provide input requirements government s test stand, serve full power facility in future. @ time, $900,000 of funds has been obliged. work complete january 2009. negotiations completed september 2004. air force research laboratory, kirtland air force base, new mexico, contracting activity (fa9451-04-c-0298).

demonstration

the military has made ads available media demonstrations on number of occasions. operational , mounted version of system demonstrated on january 24, 2007, @ moody air force base, georgia, united states. reuters correspondent volunteered shot beam during demonstration described similar blast hot oven – painful bear without diving cover. associated press reporter volunteered engaged stated convinced me system save lives of innocent civilians , our young service members cbs news correspondent did in-depth story on ads in march 2008. demonstration conducted media on march 9, 2012, @ marine corps base quantico, virginia.

afghanistan deployment

on june 21, 2010, lt. col. john dorrian, spokesman nato forces commander gen. stanley mcchrystal, confirmed in e-mail wired reporter noah shachtman ads deployed in afghanistan. spokesman added system has not yet been used operationally.

the ads has been removed service in afghanistan of july 25, 2010. spokesperson united states department of defense said decision recall weapons made commanders on ground in afghanistan.

a former principal deputy assistant secretary of defense noted recall of ads afghanistan opportunity missed , non-lethality of ads system prove useful in counterinsurgency operation avoidance of civilian casualties essential mission success.

problems

there have been speculations in open literature why ads has not been used in theater of operations. of claimed problems expressed have included: (1) potential unreliability in environmental conditions, because precipitation (rain/snow/fog/mist) commonly dissipates rf energy, may moderate ads s sensation warm , comfortable ; (2) ads may work against exposed skin, implying heavier clothing may reduce effectiveness , tactical usefulness may potentially limited in striking specific personnel hiding in crowds of civilians, because hiding situation has not been seen in recent theaters of operation (was reportedly observed in somalia , iraq, reportedly not in afghanistan). actual performance of ads relative these concerns not presently known published in open literature.

active denial system ii

in 2011, ads redesigned make smaller, more reliable, , able used on move. ads ii being designed operate moving aircraft, moving ground vehicles. redesign not address problems in different environmental conditions.

the air force special operations command experimenting mounting ads of ac-130j ghostrider gunship target threatening crowds or individuals on ground. give gunship non-lethal option crew has more engagement options. due increasing number of engagements in populated areas, air force aiming have field system within 5–10 years have enough aircraft available less lethal systems. aircraft apparently use ads ii version.