This report describes how non-lethal weapons (NLWs) can be used in diverse strategic and operational contexts by drawing on insights from psychology and group dynamics. Effective NLW usage is illustrated by vignettes in multiple domains involving gray-zone situations, encounters with civilians, and combat scenarios. The authors also recommend desirable future NLW capabilities to pursue.

How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts

Scott Savitz, Krista Romita Grocholski, Monika Cooper, Nancy Huerta, Keytin Palmer, Isabelle Winston

ResearchPublished Jul 31, 2024

Non-lethal weapons (NLWs) can be used to influence behavior by causing temporary, reversible effects, but there has been little analysis regarding how the U.S. Department of Defense could or should employ NLWs. This report draws on psychological and group-dynamic research to evaluate whether, when, and how to employ NLWs in different operational and strategic contexts. The authors analyze multidomain vignettes spanning gray-zone situations, civilian encounters, and combat. For each vignette, the authors identify ways of effectively employing NLWs to meet U.S. and allied goals, the associated risks and challenges of employing NLWs, and desirable future NLW capabilities. The authors provide insights on NLW employment and recommendations for further NLW development.

Key Findings

  • NLWs can be effective in a range of operational contexts, including gray-zone confrontations, civilian encounters, full-scale combat, and situations in which civilians are present during gray-zone or combat operations.
  • Two NLWs, acoustic hailing devices (AHDs) and laser dazzlers, were useful across virtually all vignettes.
  • Many current NLW systems have limited abilities to affect either large ships or individuals at appreciable distances who are not within a direct line of sight.
  • Effective NLW tactics and concepts of employment (CONEMPS) need to incorporate the results of research on human effects, psychology, and group dynamics. Shaping perceptions, taking advantage of people's mental shortcuts in making decisions, and employing well-honed approaches to persuasion can help to influence behavior.
  • NLWs can be particularly useful in confined, crowded, or complex environments. However, very close ranges can cause some NLWs (e.g., AHDs) to affect U.S. forces in addition to the desired populations.
  • Although countermeasures exist against some NLWs, they offset only parts of the effects, and individuals who employ countermeasures limit their own ability to perceive sensory information, degrading the countermeasures' capabilities.
  • It would be highly desirable to mount AHDs and laser dazzlers aboard uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
  • UAVs themselves and various onboard NLW capabilities were useful across multiple contexts, particularly in dealing with confined physical environments and large groups of people.
  • Desirable future capabilities include ones that could be employed against large ships, automated systems that could point multiple laser dazzlers at multiple moving or stationary targets, and a more portable, battery-powered Active Denial System.

Recommendations

  • The Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO) and other NLW stakeholders should incorporate psychological, group-dynamic, and human-effect insights into plans, CONEMPS, and tactics for using NLWs that affect human beings and their behavior, including consideration of adversary perspectives and approaches to communicating that NLWs' effects are reversible.
  • JIFCO and other NLW stakeholders should prioritize the highly versatile AHDs and laser dazzlers for service acquisition, training, and fielding, ensuring that both are fully integrated into operations.
  • JIFCO and other NLW stakeholders should pursue such desirable future capabilities as UAV-based NLWs, Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies–like capabilities against large ships, automated aiming of laser dazzlers, and a smaller, lighter Active Denial System.
  • JIFCO and other NLW stakeholders should ensure legal review of NLW CONEMPS and tactics because, in some cases, employment of NLWs might be impeded by legal strictures.
  • JIFCO and other NLW stakeholders should acquire more data to support service-specific development of tactics and CONEMPS for NLW usage. This can be done via modeling, wargaming, live exercises, and use in real-world operations, as appropriate.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2024
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 80
  • Paperback Price: $25.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 1-9774-1331-5
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA2721-1
  • Document Number: RR-A2721-1

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Savitz, Scott, Krista Romita Grocholski, Monika Cooper, Nancy Huerta, Keytin Palmer, and Isabelle Winston, How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts, RAND Corporation, RR-A2721-1, 2024. As of September 11, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2721-1.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Savitz, Scott, Krista Romita Grocholski, Monika Cooper, Nancy Huerta, Keytin Palmer, and Isabelle Winston, How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2721-1.html. Also available in print form.
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This research was sponsored by JIFCO and conducted within the Navy and Marine Forces Program of the RAND National Security Research Division.

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