Military Technology 06/2021

THEME: Homeland Security MT 6/2021 · 31 munitions and acoustic hailers, as well as the Pre-emplaced Electric Vehicle Stopper and the Distributed Sound and Light Array. These new modules replaced the former Force Protection Capability Sets. There are three modules: Training, Crowd Control and Check Point. The modular capability sets can be tailored and scaled to fit missions down to the platoon or squad level, and are housed in four quadruple containers, with­ in which there are ten different capability sets. The improvements over the previous version include LED lights to replace the halogen units (less power required and therefore a longer life), a new translation device, new types of non-lethal munitions, a new improved long range acoustic hailing device, and a vehicle arrester. The US Marine Corps Law Enforcement Battalions are also issued also with the VENOM, also known as the Non-Lethal/Tube Launched Munition System, manufactured by Combined Systems, Inc. This is a modular sys­ tem with three 40mm ten-tube launchers, mounted on top of a vehicle, and can be fired in volleys at up to a 100m range. The payloads include different types of multiple flash-bang, tear gas, and smoke munitions. The single spin-stabilised CS-Smoke grenade has a range of 150-450m, depending on the elevation. The equipment has been operationally de­ ployed, and it is also being used by Israeli security forces. However, one of the most relevant factors is not hardware, but the human side of the equation: training, tactics, and procedures. Adapting a soldier’s mindset from simply being a ‘killer’ to include functioning as a ‘stabiliser’ can sometimes require a considerable amount of work. (Green Laser Interdiction System). The US Marine Corps, selected the same company’s 250 mW LA-22/U GLARE RECOIL as the OIS (Ocular Interruption System), that can also be integrated into a remote weapon station. The small yet sophisticated equipment has an effective range of 5-25km (day and night respectively) thanks to adaptive optics able to concentrate the beam appropriately. The equipment also provides an automatic switch to avoid risk of ocular hazard, delivering a constant or pulsed (9.5Hz) beam. Compared to traditional police, riot control or, in some cases, critical confrontations conducted by military forces, can require longer stand-off ranges. Some equipment is common to both – batons, shields, chemical irritants – but there are also some items normally issued only to military units, since they may be considered excessive for domestic operations in most (though not all) countries. A typical example is represented by the endless family of impact rounds, including baton rounds, sponge rounds, sting, or blunt trauma munitions, etc. Some security forces are even using multi-pellet sting grenades, or ‘flash-bang’ grenades. Both should work effectively, achieving compliance through pain or fear of worse conse­ quences – the non-lethal approach to a sort of ‘shock and awe’ campaign. A common difference between most of the police tools and the military non-lethal equipment, is the need for a longer range and a higher degree of effectiveness, as required by the different types of threat being con­ fronted. There are situations in which, during protests, some rioters could shift to hand grenades, rather than just stones. Gunmen can stand behind a wall of protesters, exploiting them as cooperative human shields. Or a fast-approaching car, rather than some young drunks, can be laden with explosive and a would-be suicidal driver. The US Marine Corps exploit the Escalation-of-Force Mission Modules, containing a variety of non-lethal devices, riot control equipment, warning RAdm (ret) Massimo Annati served for 38 years in the Italian Navy, mostly in procurement and international cooperation. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the European Working Group on Non-Lethal Weapons, and is a fre- quent contributor to Mönch Group publications.