Practical experience in the use of special non-lethal means in counter-terrorist operations and in operations to maintain public order conducted by law enforcement agencies shows that the simultaneous use of several non-lethal means of different physical and biological effects makes it possible to ensure the necessary effectiveness of their action and practically excludes the possibility of taking protective measures. When arresting armed criminals and releasing hostages, fighters of special police and internal troops are forced to pay special attention not only to ensuring the safety of citizens and their employees, but also to minimizing serious consequences for the life and health of criminals, which, in particular, is facilitated by the use of under-barrel grenade launchers, for example, 40- mm GP-25 "Koster" (GP-30 "Obuvka"), with ammunition of irritating, light-sound and shock-shock action, as well as hand-held light-sound and annoying grenades ("Zarya"; "Flame"; "Torch"; "Drift"), cartridges with reduced ricocheting ability. These special equipment are constantly being modernized and refined as part of the program for the development of non-lethal weapons.
Currently, the main directions in the development of combined non-lethal means for law enforcement agencies is the creation of many options for combinations of various non-lethal factors.
Priority is given to the implementation of new approaches to the development of kinetic means of non-lethal action, including ensuring the combined effect of the kinetic factor simultaneously with other factors of non-lethal effect, since the combined effect of several factors allows the total effect to be multiplied many times over. Such combined means of non-lethal action include:
- pneumatically fired spheres filled with irritants, malodorants or marking substances, with a range not exceeding 4 meters;
- special shots for 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers, as well as shots that ensure the simultaneous effect of light, sound and flying elastic spherical elements, for which it is possible to use various light and sound (noise) compositions, causing a temporary loss of human capacity (with an effective range of up to 100 meters);
- 40-mm rounds for under-barrel grenade launchers, made of foam rubber and containing tear-irritating irritants such as CS, CN or OC;
- shots of shock-irritating action, the thrown part of which is made in the form of a rubber ring with cavities for tear-irritating substances (after a shot and hitting the target, the existing membrane is destroyed and an irritant cloud is formed);
- thin-walled rubber bullets filled with irritant;
- special grenades for a four-barreled mortar of 66 mm caliber, which are equipped with smoke-generating, irritating or light-noise compositions, as well as 450 spherical elements of non-penetrating kinetic action, the initial speed of which is 50-60 m / s, and the effective radius of action reaches 10 meters (grenades are fired simultaneously at a distance of 50 to 100 meters);
- stun guns, combining kinetic action with the impact of an electrical impulse. They are electrically conductive projectiles fired from a gas launcher, attaching themselves to the offender with an adhesive substance and generating electrical impulses;
- water cannons (wearable or transportable), having the ability to add irritants to the water stream, which should provide a simultaneous kinetic and irritating effect.
As special means of non-lethal action, combining mechanical, chemical and electroshock effects, remotely fired nets are used, which can be impregnated with an irritant or can generate electrical impulses.
To provide a simultaneous marking and irritating effect, ultraviolet paint is added to non-lethal kinetic agents containing irritants.
Combined means with a deafening-blinding effect have also been created, the duration of exposure to an object is determined by the distance from the epicenter of the explosion: the disorientation effect when using such devices can last from several seconds to several minutes, depending on the characteristics of the charge, and the maximum blinding time can reach 20 … 30 seconds, and the maximum time for hearing loss is 4–6 hours. These light and sound means of distracting and psychophysiological effects, used for operations to free hostages, law enforcement operations and to suppress riots, can be manufactured in the form of cassette devices, grenades, shots and stationary installations.
The means of combined light and sound action, approved for use by units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, include:
- Russian-made hand-held light and sound grenades of the Zarya and Fakel types, some of which are intended for use only in open areas, while others are intended for use in confined spaces of vehicle interiors or in confined spaces (distance from the point of impact of the grenade to the nearest person should be at least 2.5 m), and the use of these grenades is prohibited in places where a gas leak is possible, explosives and flammable materials can be stored;
- 26-mm special shot of light and sound action, fired from a signal pistol of the SPSh / SP-81 type;
- special devices such as "Gnome" and "Cloud" for shooting cassette elements of light and sound and combined (6 light and sound and 6 smoke cassette elements) action at a distance of up to 90 m, and these devices are used only in open areas and are prohibited for use in places where gas leakage is possible, explosive and flammable substances and materials are stored;
- stationary operational and technical means of light and sound action "Flame", the initiation of which is carried out using an electric igniter, and the specified product can be used only on condition that the distance from the trigger point to the nearest person is at least 2.5 meters.
Stationary grenade of light and sound impact "Flame"
The use of special means that provide combined simultaneous or sequential impact in special operations by law enforcement officers demonstrates their high efficiency in ousting criminals from the occupied territory, from buildings and other engineering facilities and structures. In carrying out a number of counter-terrorist operations, these special means are used by the internal troops along with military weapons. In these cases, they are used as an aid to create favorable conditions for the use of conventional weapons.
Today, the most popular special means of combined impact are light and sound hand and stationary grenades, as well as grenade launchers, which combine several types of impact at once, including:
- light-sound and shock-shock;
- light, sound and marking;
- light-sound and annoying;
- shock-shock and marking;
- irritating and shock-shock.
The following samples of special ammunition are currently in service with the law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation:
Hand Beam Grenades
Light and sound grenades are designed to temporarily suppress the psycho-volitional stability of the offender by creating a sudden sound effect of up to 172 dB (sound over 172 dB can cause hemorrhage, 190 dB and above - perforation of the eardrums) and flashes with a brightness of up to 60 million kJ. They are used in special operations to capture criminals, in the suppression of riots, in the security alarm system, etc. All grenades are fireproof and splinter-free. The safe distance for throwing is up to 2 meters.
The Zarya hand-held shatterproof grenade of light and sound effect (with separate storage of the safety-trigger mechanism (PPM) and the grenade itself) is intended for psychophysiological influence on offenders during operations to free hostages, suppress riots. Shooting from a nozzle or manual throw is possible. The Zarya and Zarya-M non-fragmentation grenades with light and sound effects have a plastic spherical body filled with a pyrotechnic composition based on explosive mercury and magnesium powder. The body consists of upper and lower hemispheres. The upper hemisphere has an outer tube with a grating and exhaust fuse, closed with a corrugated rubber cap for sealing. A rubber cover with spikes is put on the lower hemisphere, which reduces the likelihood of destruction of the grenade body when hitting an obstacle. The diameter of the case without a cover is 56 mm. The Zarya grenade with a diameter of 64 mm, has a height (in running order with a screwed-in PPM) - 130 mm and a weight of 0.17 kg. Sound pressure level at a distance of 10 meters - no more than 172 dB. The luminous intensity is not less than 30,000,000 kJ. The deceleration time is 3-4 seconds. Safe throwing distance - from 5 meters.
Manual shatterproof grenade of light and sound impact "Zarya-2"
The stationary grenade of light and sound impact "Flame" is a stationary version of the grenade "Zarya" and instead of a grating fuse it has an electric igniter and an increased explosive charge. It is designed to temporarily suppress the psycho-volitional stability of an armed criminal by means of light and sound effects. It can be used during special operations to capture armed criminals, to free hostages and to suppress riots, and can also be used in the burglar alarm system of the perimeters of protected objects. It is installed in advance in the place of the likely appearance of the offender and is activated remotely. The grenade consists of a body filled with a light and sound composition and an igniter. A rubber cover with spikes is put on the upper hemisphere. The lower hemisphere has a flat round support. A grenade is detonated by wires. When an electric current of at least 0.5 A is applied to the contacts of the ignition device, the light and sound composition is instantly triggered. The effective range is 15 meters. The "Flame" grenade with a diameter of 75 mm, has a height of 84 mm and a mass of 0.2 kg. Sound pressure level at a distance of 15 meters - no more than 170 dB. The luminous intensity is at least 60,000,000 kJ. Safe distance - from 5 meters.
Safety-trigger mechanism of U-517M type (left), multi-element hand grenade with light and sound impact "Fakel" (center) and hand grenade with light and sound impact "Fakel-Salon" (right)
Hand grenade multi-element light and sound impact "Torch" is designed for psychophysiological impact on offenders during special operations to capture armed criminals, to release hostages and to suppress riots. The hand-held light and sound grenade "Fakel" is a cassette grenade with aperiodic actuation of light and sound elements (6-9 pieces) ejected at a distance of up to 15 m. M), similar to the UZRGM fuse, with a safety lever, a check with a ring and a spacer tube.
Hand grenade multi-element light and sound impact "Torch"
The Vzlyot-M multi-element light and sound grenade is intended for psychological impact on the enemy (criminal) by ejection of 4 light and sound elements, which provides temporary suppression of psycho-volitional stability by acoustic and light and sound effects and reduces its combat ability. The operational means of distracting action "Match" is intended for the temporary suppression of the psycho-volitional stability of an armed criminal by means of sound effects. It can be used during special operations to capture armed criminals, to free hostages. Sound pressure level - no more than 130 dB.
Multi-element grenade light and sound impact "Vzlyot-M"
Combined hand grenades
A hand-held shatterproof grenade of light and sound effects of the GSZ provides temporary suppression of the psycho-volitional stability of an armed criminal by means of acoustic (sound) and light exposure in order to stun him, which reduces his combat ability, contributing to temporary incapacitation, and makes it possible to perform special operations with minimal risk to personnel and others. The GSZ grenade has a slightly lower brightness and excess pressure, but has a cylindrical shape, which allows you to roll the grenade across the floor of the room, unlike the Zarya light and sound grenade, the spherical shape of which allows only an accurate throw at the target. The warhead and the grenade igniter unit are made in a single body. The body material of the grenade is polystyrene. The GSZ grenade has:
- high strength cylindrical body;
- bushing with retardant and light and sound pyrotechnic compositions;
- an ignition device of the grating-exhaust type;
- handle with lanyard.
Manual shatterproof grenade of light and sound impact of GSZ
To use the GSZ grenade, it is necessary, while holding the grenade by the body, to turn and separate the handle, then abruptly pull out the cord and throw (roll) the grenade at the target. When the cord is pulled out, the primer and retardant composition ignites, and after 3-4 seconds the light and sound composition is triggered with a bright flash and a sharp sound. When triggered by the pressure of the generated gases, the sleeve is kicked out without destroying the body. The GSZ grenade with a diameter of 63 mm has a height of 156 mm and a mass of 0.15 kg. Sound pressure level at a distance of 10 meters - no more than 155 dB. The luminous intensity is at least 20,000,000 kJ. The deceleration time is 4 seconds. Burning time - no more than 0.05 seconds. The effective range is 10 meters.
Hand-held non-fragmentation grenades of light and sound effects GSZ-T, GSZ-TSh are designed to provide psychophysiological (distracting and stunning) and mechanical immobilizing effects on offenders with a strong light flash, sound pulse (GSZ-T) and non-damaging mechanical impact with rubber shrapnel (GSZ-TSh) in order to temporarily disable them. The number of throwing shrapnel elements is 44 pieces. GSZ-T, GSZ-TSh grenades with a diameter of 55 mm, have a height of 156 mm and a weight of 0.56 kg. Sound pressure level at a distance of 10 m - no more than 130 dB. The luminous intensity is at least 20,000,000 kJ. The deceleration time is 4 seconds. Burning time - no more than 0.05 seconds. The effective range is 10 meters.
The "Vyushka" hand shatterproof grenade of light and sound effect is designed to influence the offender by means of distracting and stunning light and sound effects and not damaging mechanical impact with rubber buckshot. The number of throwing shrapnel elements is 75 pieces. The diameter of the ball is 7.5 mm. Throwing rubber buckshot is carried out by a light and sound charge.
"Vyushka" hand shatterproof grenade of light and sound impact
An irritating hand grenade "Vprysk-P" is designed to provide psychophysical impact on offenders or enemy personnel during special operations or when suppressing riots and for temporarily disabling them by instantly spraying a tear-irritating special powder in the air of an enclosed space. The Vprysk-P grenade is loaded with the active substance chloroacetophenone (CN) and has a plastic cylindrical body with a diameter of 66 mm, a height of 137 mm and a mass of 0.15 g. The warhead of the grenade is activated by a standard remote-action fuse. The deceleration time is 3, 3-4, 3 seconds. The mass of the special powder is 0.222 kg. The volume of a cloud with an intolerable concentration of an irritant at the Vprysk-P grenade is no more than 250 cubic meters. m. Light and sound impact grenade "Vprysk-P" can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
An instantaneous smoke hand grenade (GRD) is designed to instantly create an impenetrable smoke screen in order to limit the visibility of objects in closed rooms and in open areas by forming a masking smoke cloud to protect against aimed enemy fire during assault and anti-terrorist operations in cities and towns … The GRD grenade has a plastic cylindrical body with a diameter of 66 mm, a height of 137 mm and a mass of 0.15 g. The warhead of the grenade is activated by a standard remote-action fuse. The mass of the special powder is 0.222 kg. The effective volume of smoke is no more than 250 cubic meters. meters Visibility range of an object in an effective volume of smoke - no more than 1 m. Time of formation of a smoke cloud - no more than 1 second. The GRD light and sound impact grenade can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
Instant smoke hand grenade (GRD)
The hand grenade of combined light, sound and irritating action "Bustard" is designed to provide psychophysical impact on offenders or enemy manpower during special operations or when suppressing riots. When this grenade explodes, the light and sound charge has a deafening and chilling effect on offenders or the enemy's manpower, not allowing countermeasures to be taken when the gas-smoke jet expires. The light and sound charge of a grenade in an open area provides a luminous intensity of 20,000,000 kJ and a sound pressure level of at least 120 dB at a distance of 5 meters from the point of impact of the grenade. When triggered, a grenade creates an irritating aerosol cloud with a volume of at least 50 cubic meters, and the gas evolution time does not exceed 10 seconds.
Grenade shots
The 40-mm grenade launcher shot with a smoke grenade "Nagar" is intended for remote setting of a pre-fabricated camouflage smoke screen in order to improve the conditions for performing anti-terrorist operations, to cover groups for operational advancement, to "blind" snipers, etc. It has a psychological effect on the enemy, since the curtain in the form of a white cloud appears very quickly and in an unusual form. It is fired from 40-mm grenade launchers GP-25 "Koster" and GP-30 "Obuvka" mounted on Kalashnikov assault rifles AKM and AK-74, as well as from 40-mm hand-held grenade launchers of the RG-6 (6 G-30) type. A 40-mm shot with a Nagar smoke grenade has a length of 150 mm and a grenade weight of 0.25 kg. The range of the curtain is from 50 to 200 meters. The smoke formation time is 1–2 seconds. The volume of the masking cloud is 1,000 cubic meters. meters. The initial speed of the grenade is 76 m / s. A shot of the Nagar grenade can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
The 40-mm grenade launcher with a light and sound grenade GSZ-40 is intended for psychophysiological impact on the offender in order to temporarily disable him when firing at a distance of up to 400 m. It is fired from 40-mm grenade launchers GP-25 "Koster" and GP-30 "Shoe" mounted on Kalashnikov assault rifles AKM and AK-74, as well as from 40-mm hand-held grenade launchers of the RG-6 (6 G-30) type. The GSZ-40 grenade has the following features:
- the absence of damaging elements when triggered;
- highly sensitive contact mechanical instant fuse.
A 40-mm shot with a GSZ-40 grenade has a length of 107 mm and a grenade mass of 0.25 kg. Sound pressure level at a distance of 10 meters - no more than 135 dB. The luminous intensity is at least 20,000,000 kJ. The initial speed of the grenade is 76 m / s. The GSZ-40 round can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
The ASZ-40 "Svirel" 40-mm grenade launcher with an acoustic light and sound grenade is designed to temporarily suppress the psycho-volitional stability of armed criminals or enemy manpower by non-lethal acoustic and light exposure. It is fired from 40-mm grenade launchers GP-25 "Koster" and GP-30 "Obuvka" mounted on Kalashnikov assault rifles AKM and AK-74, as well as from 40-mm hand-held grenade launchers of the RG-6 (6 G-30) type. A 40-mm round with an ASZ-40 grenade has a length of 180 mm and a grenade weight of 0.38 kg. The operating time of the acoustic pyroelectric element is at least 3 seconds. The operating range is at least 100 meters. The luminous intensity when the light and sound element is triggered is at least 50,000,000 kJ. The ASZ-40 round can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
40-mm grenade launcher round with acoustic light and sound grenade ASZ-40 "Svirel"
40-mm cassette grenade round VKE-40 is intended for temporary neutralization of offenders. The VKE-40 round is used to create light and sound impulses and a cloud of an aerosol of an irritating substance with the aim of effective psychophysical impact on offenders or enemy personnel during special operations, as well as in suppressing mass riots. The VKE-40 round has a cylindrical body. It is fired from 40-mm grenade launchers GP-25 "Koster" and GP-30 "Obuvka" mounted on Kalashnikov assault rifles AKM and AK-74, as well as from 40-mm hand-held grenade launchers of the RG-6 (6 G-30) type. A 40-mm shot with a VKE-40 grenade has a length of 170 mm and a grenade weight of 0.17 kg. The number of cassette elements in a shot is 6 pieces, of which there are 3 cassette light and sound elements and 3 cassette elements with an irritating substance. Effective impact area - 100 sq. meters. The luminous intensity of the light and sound elements is not less than 20,000,000 kJ. The sound pressure level when the light and sound elements are triggered at a distance of 10 meters from the trigger point is not less than 135 dB. The aerosol cloud formation time is no more than 3 seconds. The radius of the initial aerosol cloud is not less than 0.7 meters. The ASZ-40 round can be used at temperatures from –30 C ° to +50 C °.
Security means
Combined action signal mine MSK-40 is designed for mining the area around the outer perimeter of the protected area and alerting guards about the appearance of an intruder at the mine installation site, as well as for temporary suppression of the psycho-volitional stability of offenders when overcoming obstacles in local zones. The mass of the MSK-40–0 mine is 3 kg. The operating time of the lighting element is 3 seconds. The operating time of the signal element is 3 seconds. Mine work time - 25 seconds. The maximum luminous intensity is 20,000,000 kJ. Sound pressure level - not less than 140 dB. The triggering height is up to 30 meters.
The MSZ-50 signal light and sound mine is intended for mining the area around the outer perimeter of the protected area and alerting the guards about the appearance of an intruder at the mine installation site, as well as for temporarily neutralizing offenders when a grenade is triggered by suppressing the psycho-volitional stability of criminals while overcoming obstacles in local zones. The mass of the MSZ-50–0 mine is 3 kg. The number of emitted light and sound elements is 5 pieces. The maximum luminous intensity is 40,000,000 kJ. Sound pressure level - not less than 160 dB. The triggering height is up to 4 meters.
