The civilization of a society is measured by its attitude to human life: the higher the level of culture, the more valuable a person's life is. That is why recently in many countries there has been an increase in interest in the so-called "non-lethal weapons". Such a weapon can affect the target both actively (that is, create painful sensations, cause painful shock) and passively (lead to difficulties in orientation and movement in space, exert psychological pressure).
Non-lethal weapons are designed primarily for military use. It is generally accepted that such weapons can be used both in the offensive and in defense, depending on the strategy used, the tactical situation and the specific terrain conditions.
Today, to solve the above problems in the territory of the former USSR, the Russian development - the PB-4 "Osa" complex, is in great demand. This is a multifunctional barrelless self-defense complex, which was developed in 1997 at the Research Institute of Applied Chemistry in Sergiev Posad.
The pistol is a non-self-loading four-chamber barrelless system equipped with a self-cocking trigger. By successively pressing the trigger, 4 shots can be fired in a short time. The cartridges are fired clockwise.
As a striking element, the developers chose large-caliber rubber bullets (18 mm). Such a bullet, fired from one meter, is capable of delivering a blow comparable to that of a heavyweight boxer.
The range of ammunition of the complex also includes signal and light and sound cartridges. It should be noted that as a result of the use of the latter, a person experiences a shock from a thunderous sound and loses the ability to see for 5-30 seconds. Tinnitus persists for 10 minutes after the shot. Signal cartridges are equipped with green, red and yellow charges, which can rise to a height of 80 m and are visible at a distance of up to 2 km during the day and up to 10 at night.
The pistol does not have any special devices, since they are practically not required in close combat conditions. The effective firing range of the PB-4 does not exceed 10 m. The developers intend to equip the pistol with a small laser designator in order to reduce the preparation time for firing.
Another feature of the complex is the absence of a fuse, since the developers are sure that a relatively tight trigger is enough to exclude an involuntary shot.
There is no need to talk about the accuracy of shooting from such a pistol, because in all respects it is inferior to a rifled weapon. In addition, it is difficult to expect sniper qualities from PB-4, when it does not even have a barrel. Nevertheless, it is difficult to miss, because the firing range is relatively small.
On the basis of the experience of using the "Wasp", another Russian barrelless pistol for self-defense was developed - the MR-461 "Guard". The developers first of all took care of ergonomics and made the handle more comfortable. The projectile ignition system is triggered by standard AAA batteries, which are enough for 1000 shots. The trigger is equipped with a safety catch.
The pistol is made almost entirely of plastic, so its weight is only 155 g. Instead of 4 rounds, only 2 are used, which made the pistol flat and more comfortable to carry.
It uses rubber bullets, as well as signal and light and sound cartridges.
In 1991, the development of the Udar revolving complex also began in Russia. The main purpose of its creation was to re-equip the personnel of law enforcement agencies with non-lethal weapons. The developers were tasked with creating a new weapon that would combine the use of live ammunition and non-lethal cartridges and at the same time would be compact, convenient and reliable for hitting the enemy at a distance of up to 25 m.
As a result, the Udar revolving complex appeared, consisting of a revolver of 12, 3 mm caliber and cartridges of traumatic, combat, noise and pyro-liquid action. The drum held 5 rounds. When firing with lead bullets, the aiming range was 25 m, when using a gas cartridge, the effective range was 5 m, with a plastic bullet - 15 m.
In addition to lead, plastic, noise and gas cartridges, marker, lighting and signal cartridges were later used. Despite the fact that the revolving complex was officially adopted by the Russian police in 2001, it did not receive wide distribution.
Also, for the needs of the Russian police, a KS-23 carbine was developed (a special carbine of 23 mm caliber). This is a typical police weapon that is designed to suppress riots, as well as for selective mental, force and chemical effects on offenders. The carbine was adopted in 1985.
The carbine has a rifled barrel, which is locked when fired by turning the bolt. The cartridges are fed from a tubular magazine for three cartridges located under the barrel. The firing mechanism is of the hammer type.
For shooting, cartridges with a rubber bullet "Volna-R" (traumatic), with an irritating substance "Lilac-7" and "Bird cherry-7M", with a pointed steel bullet "Barricade" (for forced stop of transport), a light and sound cartridge "Zvezda" (for psychological impact on the offender), as well as cartridges with buckshot charge "Shrapnel-10" and "Shrapnel-25" (more than 15 types of cartridges in total).
Non-lethal weapons are also being developed in the CIS countries. So, in particular, in Ukraine the 9 mm RKS-2 Kornet gas revolver is very popular, the serial production of which was started in Poltava in 1993 at the small enterprise Vyuga. The same enterprise is engaged in the production of 9 mm gas cartridges for a revolver.
A year later, the enterprise began to produce signal revolvers KS-2 of 5, 6 mm caliber. And at the beginning of 1995, the first Ukrainian traumatic smooth-bore revolver RKS Kornet was developed and put into serial production, for which ammunition was developed in the form of AL-9R of 9 mm caliber and elongated Osa with a paired rubber ball.
In 1998, the serial production of the Kornet-S universal revolver for the AL-9R rubber traumatic bullet was started. This revolver is used for firing rubber bullets to suppress the aggression of the attackers. In addition to using rubber bullets, it is also possible to use noise and gas cartridges of 9 mm caliber.
The developers argue that the most effective use of the Kornet-S revolver is in crowded places (metro, markets, train stations, stadiums), as well as in confined spaces (carriages, planes, elevators, cars).
Structurally, the revolver consists of a rigid frame with a barrel tube, a barrel, a steel firing mechanism, a retraction unit (it, in turn, consists of an extractor, a drum and a drum fixing mechanism). The drum capacity is 6 rounds of 9 mm caliber. The weapon weighs no more than 680 g, the range of the bullet reaches 100 m. In this case, the effective range is 10 m. The muzzle velocity is 170-200 meters per second.
On the basis of "Kornet-S" a mini-revolver was created for a rubber bullet "Lady-Kornet". This is a five-shot 9 mm revolver, in which AL-9R cartridges are used. The weight of such a mini-revolver does not exceed 250 g. If initially this weapon was intended for gas and rubber bullets of Ukrainian production, now it is a universal revolver for shooting all existing traumatic ammunition of 9 mm caliber, which are produced in Ukraine and abroad.
At the same time, it must be said that in recent years, the United States has achieved notable success in the development of non-lethal weapons. In addition, the US military was the first to use such weapons during the armed conflict in the Persian Gulf in the 90s of the last century.
Thus, according to Western experts, today non-lethal weapons are considered the most acceptable means in solving local conflicts that are caused by ethnic, racial or religious contradictions. To suppress such conflicts, as a rule, they use peacekeeping forces, the fulfillment of whose tasks is most appropriate for non-lethal weapons.
Today, when the threat of terrorist attacks is only growing, the arrival of non-lethal weapons into the armament of anti-terror special forces and their use during anti-terrorist operations, in particular, in the city, is of great importance. In addition, non-lethal weapons can also be used by law enforcement to tame demonstrations and civil unrest.
Non-lethal weapons are divided into several categories depending on the method of impact on the target. Contact weapons act directly on living targets (rubber bullets, electrical discharge). Non-contact - affects the target without direct contact due to thermal, light, acoustic energy, causing irritation of the senses (chemicals). Immobilizing weapons limit a person's motor abilities (special foams, superglue, shooting nets). This is the purest non-lethal weapon, since it cannot cause serious harm to human health.
One of the oldest types of non-lethal weapons is firearms, adapted for shooting with traumatic elements. But if in the old days blank bullets with wads, coarse table salt or steamed turnips were used as cartridges, now these funds are clearly not enough. And all because people have ceased to be afraid of the sounds of a shot, and if a machine gun fire until recently forced people to take refuge in safe places, now, on the contrary, it can only arouse interest and a desire to see what is happening. Thus, it can be argued that the weapon no longer has a psychological effect, only a purely physical effect remains.
It should be noted that there is no universal traumatic element that could immobilize people and not harm their health under various conditions. So, for police long-barreled weapons for shooting at a distance of 5-10 m, there are cartridges with plastic shot. At a distance of 15-20 m, rubber buckshot is used. If the distance to the target is greater, the energy of small elements rapidly decreases, so the probability of hitting both random people and the target is extremely low. Such buckshot and shot cartridges have their drawbacks. In particular, police officers need to be very close to the offender in order to make the most of them. But at the same time, they themselves risk getting hit by a stone or a bottle.
At distances of more than 20 m and up to 60 m, elastic bullets are used in police weapons, including those made of rubber. The safest, and therefore the most common, is the spherical shape of rubber bullets. Their caliber is determined by the type of weapon. In most countries, the minimum diameter of such bullets is 40 mm. This is because smaller caliber bullets can cause significant harm to a person, for example, injure the eyes.
Currently, traumatic elements in the form of asterisks and a torus are widespread. These bullet shapes take on after they leave the bore. However, the big disadvantage of such bullets is the low firing accuracy.
Previously, attempts were made to create traumatic elements for shooting at significantly longer distances. However, such cartridges had to be abandoned, since at short distances they had too much energy and led to lethal consequences.
In order to increase the effectiveness of the impact of rubber bullets, they began to be combined with irritating substances. So, in particular, the company "Smith & Wesson" produces a whole series of 37 mm cartridges with rubber bullets and CS charges.
The civilian population uses gas weapons for protection, but they are ineffective. This prompted Western military developers to create gas-shot systems. The 9mm cartridges were named.35 Green. The jumper in the barrel is designed in such a way that it allows the passage of not only gaseous shot products, but also small shot. Such cartridges can pose a danger at a distance of just over 10 cm, but only for unprotected areas of the body. Such cartridges remain dangerous for the eyes at a distance of several meters. Ultimately, the selective action of shotgun cartridges led to the fact that they were replaced by spherical rubber bullets.
Non-lethal cartridges have also been developed for short-barreled weapons, including revolvers. However, they did not receive wide distribution, since law enforcement agencies are used to keeping service weapons loaded with live ammunition, and it is not always convenient to carry an additional pistol. In addition, the use of a non-lethal cartridge in a service weapon is justified in very rare cases, but more often it can lead to big problems. So, in particular, in the event of an operation to free hostages in an aircraft, an inaccurate shot with a live bullet will either damage the skin of the aircraft or injure the hostage. All this has led to the fact that some police units working in confined spaces are armed with cartridges with small lead shot, enclosed in a rapidly disintegrating container. The firing range of such cartridges can reach several tens of meters, and the cartridge itself can cause serious damage.
Today, new non-lethal cartridges, the so-called "smart bullets", are being tested. They also infect humans, but without death. They decided to engage in such developments, in particular, at Smartrounds. According to the president of the company, Nick Verini, these ammunition are intended to replace other non-lethal cartridges, including rubber bullets, in service. Currently under development are two types of ammunition, ShockRound and PepperRound. These ammunition differ from each other only in the type of capsule contained in the bullet. He also explained how smart bullets work. "Smart" cartridges of 18 mm caliber consist of a micro-sensor that detects deceleration and acceleration, approaching the target and a reservoir of compressed gas. After firing, the bullet is cocked into a firing position. On approaching the target at a distance of destructive action, the bullet almost instantly releases compressed liquefied gas. At the moment of release, the gas makes a sharp noise, flashes brightly, blocking the enemy's visibility and provides a shock wave that can stop a person. At the same time, such a bullet will not pierce the skin and cause little harm.
In addition to bullets with liquefied gas, the company plans to establish the production of cartridges with other non-lethal fillers - expanding foam, a combination of chemical irritants, helium and even small doses of explosives.
It should be noted that at present in the United States of America gunsmiths focus on the fact that the term "non-lethal weapon" cannot be understood literally, since situations are possible when even a rubber bullet can be fatal. Thus, non-lethal weapons, as a rule, are used to disperse mass riots and other conflicts of low intensity, characterized by a high degree of unpredictability, it is very important to maintain flexibility in the management of units designed to maintain order. Therefore, in their opinion, the main attention should be paid to the development of such models of non-lethal weapons that would not reduce the effectiveness of traditional methods of introducing combat.
Based on these postulates, the 44 mm grenade launcher was the most widely used in the United States as a basis for the development of non-lethal weapons. and an M16 automatic rifle of 5, 56 mm caliber, which are used in the M203 weapons complex.
The use of a weapon complex, that is, a double-action weapon, in low-intensity conflicts, makes it possible to simultaneously use non-lethal grenades, as well as be ready to open fire to kill from an automatic rifle.
In addition to this system, a non-lethal grenade is currently being field tested - a 40-mm ammunition filled with a large number of rubber blunt-nosed shock bullets. Its main purpose is to neutralize the aggressive crowd. Ammunition can be with a rubber or wooden bullet, as well as additionally carry special damaging "non-lethal" elements - rubber pellets or balls.
For serial small arms, Alliant Techsystems, together with Israeli specialists, has developed the MA / RA83 and MA / RA88 bullets, which are intended for use in automatic police rifles of 7, 62 and 5, 56 mm caliber. If the fire from the M16 rifle is carried out with cylindrical rubber bullets (cartridge MA / RA83), their destructive power reaches 20-60 m, if firing is carried out with MA / RA88 cartridges with spherical bullets, then the striking range increases to 80 m.
Currently in the United States, some examples of non-lethal weapons are quite unexpectedly interested in civilian departments. In particular, we are talking about 40-mm ammunition with a ballistic mesh, which makes it possible to deploy a kind of "barrage enclosure" and block individual groups of the enemy. The paddock does not allow movement at all or involves movement in a strictly defined direction.
Based on reports from the foreign press, during some of the field tests, a network was used that had a special coating. This coating worked on the principle of adhesion (i.e., it had an enhanced adhesion effect). This significantly increased the immobilizing and blocking effect.
In addition, a 40-mm grenade stuffed with a net, according to security experts, is a new, but very effective method of fighting criminals and terrorists who are trying to infiltrate military installations of high secrecy. So, for example, a barrage net raised to the height of the rotor of a helicopter will make it impossible for criminal elements to enter or leave a protected object using this type of aircraft.
For the US Air Force, another type of non-lethal weapon has been developed - a laser blinder, adapted for a 40-mm M203 grenade launcher. He received the name Sabor 203. This device consists of several components: a control panel that sends pulses to the lower unit of the grenade launcher, and a hard plastic capsule, identical in shape and size to the grenade.
Inside the plastic capsule there is a laser diode, the capsule itself is placed, like an ordinary grenade, in an unmodified grenade launcher. There is a button on the control panel, pressing which brings the laser into continuous radiation mode, which makes it possible to blind the enemy.
If necessary, the laser plastic capsule can be easily removed and replaced with a serial grenade.
A non-lethal weapon also includes a laser gun developed in America in the early 90s of the last century. The gun is equipped with a battery pack powered, and has the dimensions of a conventional service small arms. The range of this gun reaches 1 km.
According to the developers, in the very near future, we can expect the appearance of laser pistols that affect the retina.
In addition, both in the United States and in many NATO countries, ship, aircraft and ground laser installations of high power have already been created, which are designed to disable the guidance systems of ballistic and cruise missiles, night vision devices, and photographic devices of spy satellites.
However, the developers of laser weapons have one big problem: it is very difficult to predict the radiation energy drops. The human eye adapts to light conditions, it can be protected by contact lenses or simple glasses, therefore, with the same energy emitted by laser weapons, the consequences can be reversible and irreversible, that is, lead to complete blindness.
Thus, we can conclude that there are many types of non-lethal weapons at present. These are rubber bullets, laser beams, and nets. Despite the fact that all these weapons at first glance seem less dangerous, this is only an appearance. In fact, all weapons are dangerous, no matter if they are designed to kill or simply stop and hurt. Therefore, it can only be used by professionals, and only in extreme cases.
