MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Airmen of the U.S. Air Force's 820th Security Forces Group are evaluating a non-lethal, long-range weapons system.
The Active Denial System is designed to engage and repel human targets by projecting a beam of energy that creates an intolerable heating sensation on the skin, said Tech. Sgt. John DeLaCerda, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the 820th SFG advanced technologies section, according to Air Force News.
"Right now, we don't have a medium between shouting and shooting when determining an adversary's intent," he said. "When operating ADS, you can be at a distance even farther than small arms range and still repel an individual."
The ADS beam operates on a 95-gigahertz millimeter radio frequency wavelength that moves at the speed of light, making it invisible. The effect penetrates the skin at 1/64 of an inch which causes pain receptors to react. The effect of the beam quickly dissipates once removed from the targeted area.
"The pain is comparable to an intensified version of opening an oven and feeling the initial blast of hot air," said Staff Sgt. Jason Delacruz to Air Force News. "The effects are extremely sudden, and natural instincts automatically force you to quickly exit the target area."
Delacruz is an ADS operator who has also been exposed on several occasions for training purposes.
The 820th Security Forces are simulating combat scenarios to evaluate its effectiveness in a deployed environment.
The system is intended to be used to help troops secure base perimeters, checkpoints and entry control points, for peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance, and for crowd dispersal, Sgt. DeLaCerda said.
