It is an unprecedented non-lethal crowd control weapon. ADS was originally referred to as HTS, or HPM (High-Power Microwave), and is effective against individuals with a mass of 100 kg and below. The system has been in development since the mid-1990s and is finally being put into production.
The Active Denial System (ADS) is a rail-borne, directed-energy weapon. It uses millimetre-wave radio-frequency energy to heat an adversary’s skin and cause an unpleasant burning sensation. Direct energy can reach over 100 m and cannot penetrate the skin. This means that the target can be outside and lying prone on the ground without receiving injury from the energy beam.
The Active Denial System has been designed to be used in four different ways: as a deal mechanism for riot control; for processing targets at a distance; for disabling lightly armored vehicles; and for crowd dispersal.
How Does the Active Denial System Work?
An Active Denial System is necessary because it is the first non-lethal, directed energy, extended range antipersonnel system that is more significant than a non-lethal field weapon. Most antipersonnel nonlethal weapons use kinetic energy (rubber bullets, bean bags, etc.).
The kinetic system has a higher risk of injury, and its effectiveness depends on the size, age, and gender of the target.
However, the Active Denial System is invariably effective regardless of size, age, and gender and has a range higher than that of small arms. The Active Denial System will provide military personnel with a non-lethal weapon that hits all human targets.
Is ADS a Lethal Weapon?
The Active Denial System was specifically designed to be a non-lethal weapon. For this technology to become lethal, the effects of the energy beam must be prolonged and multiplied over the time required to achieve the repulsive force. The Active Denial System includes multiple levels of control to ensure safe and effective impact resistance. The system hardware allows the operator to see the entire beam path and target area and does not require any adjustments for environmental factors such as wind. To minimize injuries, changes have been made to combat procedures, software upgrades, improved checklists, multi-person compliance checks, and advanced training processes to manage the Active Denial System.
Frequency of Active Denial System
At a much higher frequency of 95 GHz, the associated wavelength of directional energy is very short and only physically capable of reaching a skin depth of about 1/64 inches.
A microwave oven operating at 2.45 GHz has a much longer wavelength associated with it, about a few inches, which allows better penetration into the material and more efficient heating of food. ADS provides a sharp and reversible sensation of heating the skin surface, which does not penetrate the target.
ADS vs. 5G
5G is coming, and with it, the next mobile revolution, with endless possibilities for technology and business development.
While many of us depend on smartphones that connect us to the world, most of us probably don’t know how our phones work, what 5G is, or if we should trust the health concerns that spread on social networking sites. Brain frying, military microwave weapons, and cancer are the scary headlines that spread with 5G.
5G is the fifth generation of the mobile Internet. It differs from previous generations by using higher frequencies, which allows users to transmit wireless data faster.
The improved speed will enable new technologies, such as improved data transfer for intelligent cities, remote operations, offline vehicles, and ultra-fast downloads, to play in virtual reality and watch movies.
What frequency does 5G utilize?
The frequencies we talk about in mobile phone technology are all radio signals, and they are often called radio frequency or RF radiation. For most people, anything that contains the word “radiation” sounds scary. It’s not as frightening as it might sound, although the name means the radiation of energy from any source. 5G is the latest wireless system that telcos are trying to implement to maintain a wireless connection. It is designed to download more data faster. It uses 1 GHz to 95 GHz bands, also known as the millimeter-wavelength spectrum (mmW). 5G, which comes from a 5th generation term, works with former CIA head David Petraeus on an initiative called “Internet of Things,” or IoT.
Is 5G used as a military microwave weapon? How can 5G penetrate walls?
We consider too much radiation harmful to us and is associated with cancer. So, we recommend limiting the number of medical X-rays per year.
However, there are two types of radiation:
- ionizing,
- and non-ionizing, and this risk is essential for every person.
X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation, and some observe that multiple exposures damage our DNA, which increases cancer risk.
Non-ionizing radiation does not carry enough energy to “ionize” or separate electrons from atoms and molecules. So, it doesn’t have enough power to damage our DNA.
The radiation emitted by radio receivers, mobile phones, telephone towers, and Wi-Fi routers—radiofrequency radiation—is non-ionizing. It is at the low-energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum and is much safer than high-energy ionizing radiation, such as heat rays.
The WHO says that over the past 30 years, some 25,000 scientific articles on non-ionizing radiation have been published, making scientific knowledge about the technology more extensive than for most of the household chemicals we use in everyday life. Current data does not support any health effects from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields from mobile phones.
The important thing is that while the power levels involved in mobile and wireless telecommunications are already low, the depth of penetration into biological tissues decreases as frequency increases. This means that even with 5G, penetration is even less likely than with current technologies.
Does the military use 5G for crowd control?
Some militaries use something known as the Active Denial System, which uses high-energy millimeter waves. However, these are directional waves different from the emitted waves used by the cell tower. These waves are non-lethal and invisible shields used by the security system; to do so, they must operate at 95 GHz, which is much higher than the upper frequency that 5G will use. They also work at a frequency higher than 30 kilowatts, while small 5G base stations with lower power use 2-10 watts. To sum up, yes, we can use 5G technology as a military microwave weapon, but not with 5G towers. They can’t produce either power or frequency. Yes, the number of brain tumors decreases while the number of cell phones is exploding, so the chances of your phone not frying your brain are slim. Yes, radiation is dangerous, but it’s ionizing radiation similar to that produced by heat rays, not the non-ionizing radiation that your mobile phone uses. Invisible science can be scary, and headlines are easy to believe, but 5G technology is just a faster way to connect to the internet, and there’s no need to invest in a tinfoil hat. Instead, why not invest in technology to be part of this new and exciting industry?
Conclusion
The last several decades have seen a host of changes in warfare. From drones to cruise missiles, everything has changed thanks to technological advancements. Now, the U.S. Department of Defense has yet another high-tech weapon that could revolutionize conventional fighting: the Active Denial System (ADS).
In order for the system to be effective, however, the enemies must believe it could possibly be a lethal force weapon. It is vital that the enemies believe this is not a deterrent weapon so that they may fire upon soldiers with confidence.
The ADS is an effective and valuable tool with the potential to save lives in theater—however, it is not without its flaws. Although the ADS is similar theoretically to a microwave oven or an ion thruster, it is significantly less deadly than either of these devices.
Therefore, it is possible that some soldiers may be unwilling to use such a device. However, if this aversion can be overcome in training, then the ADS will turn out to be one of the most useful and potentially lifesaving pieces.
