Project Sheriff ADS

The Active Denial System “riot breaker” is a microwave transmitter whose focused beams create burning sensations that force targets to flee in order to escape. Despite the pain, however, the beams reportedly cause no real injuries.Testing on human volunteers has been underway, and a September 2005 article noted the role of the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation in creating the ADS (aka. “Project Sheriff”) as an alternative to sometimes-lethal plastic bullets or even live ammunition in order to control hostile crowds.

In December 2005, DefenseTech noted that Iraq may soon have a new Sheriff in town…. but as of January 30, 2006, an article in US Air Force AIM Point expresses general puzzlement at the failure to release the system, despite the US Army’s requests.

Yesterday, DID described how a sims-style video game was training attack sub sailors to be prepared for security threats while in port. Apparently, the US Navy isn’t stopping there. Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems in Annapolis, MD received a $6 million firm-fixed-price/cost type contract for the Shipboard Protection System (SPS). The purpose of the SPS system is to enhance the ability of surface naval vessels to defeat terrorist attempts or counter other threats while moored to a pier, at anchor, or during restricted maneuvering like canals, narrow littoral channels, etc.

Capabilities for Increment I include: Integrated Surface Surveillance System, and Non-lethal weapons/devices. The surface surveillance system integrates EO/IR sensors, radar, and stabilized guns into a common tactical surveillance system. Non-lethal weaponry will also be included.

US Marines in Riot Gear
(click to expand)

Aaardvark Tactical, Inc. in Azusa, CA won a not-to-exceed $50 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for force protection capability sets. These sets provide non-lethal and anti-terrorism items to bases, installations, and expeditionary forces around the world.

There are three sets:

System 2 ADS Concept

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ is being awarded a $7.5 million cost-plus award-fee contract to design, fabricate, test rapidly field and support a fixed Active Denial System (ADS) referred to as System 2 and ADS2.

Active Denial Technology exploits the body’s natural defense mechanism that induces pain as a warning to help protect it from injury. It uses a transmitter producing energy at a frequency of 95Ghz and an antenna to direct a focused, invisible beam to a subject at the speed of light and penetrate the skin to a depth of less than 1/64 of an inch. This produces an escalating heating sensation that becomes intolerable in seconds, and forces the subject to flee. The sensation immediately ceases when the individual moves out of the beam or when the system operator turns it off. Despite this sensation, the beam does not cause injury because of the shallow penetration depth of energy at this wavelength and the low energy levels used.