Nonlethal Munitions (NLM) Expand Warfighter Capabilities

摘要

In the jumbled terrain of modern urban combat, the preferred theater of operations for today's terrorists, the need to distinguish combatant from noncombatant is paramount. In a war with no fixed fronts, with no clearly identifiable foe, where the very definition of the word 'enemy' is maddeningly fluid, Soldiers require better, smarter, and more innovative ways to defend themselves without jeopardizing their overall mission. Instead of 'shoot first and ask questions later,' Nonlethal munitions (NLM) allow Soldiers to 'ask questions by shooting.' The judicious application of nonlethal effects allows the Soldier to interrogate the intent of the target by giving it ample warning and incentive to cease any questionable or objectionable behavior prior to resorting to more extreme measures. NLM are analogous to precision guided weapons in that they are designed to deliver a measured effect against a specific target while minimizing the likelihood of collateral damage. Many of the current NLM were type classified from specifications drawn up in a bygone era. The Cold War had ended, the military was downsizing, the so called 'Peace Dividend' was on every politician's lips and the Berlin Wall was being broken up into souvenirs for tourists. The Army's NLM were based on civilian law enforcement models -- short-range, low-velocity rounds intended for use only as a last resort. After all, the greatest foreseeable threat to law enforcement at that time was from 'peaceniks' and antiglobalization protestors. But times changed quickly and the Army's deployment with NATO to Kosovo identified a real and urgent need for NLM in a military role. In April 2000, the Office of the Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), part of Program Executive Office Ammunition (PEO Ammo), deployed the Army's first ever Nonlethal Capabilities Set. The Army seemed well on the way to acquiring a nonlethal capability that would protect the troops while avoiding unnecessary civilian casualties.