Active Denial System

The Active Denial System (ADS) is nonlethal weapon designed by the U.S. Army to engage and repel human targets by means of a beam of electromagnetic energy.

The Active Denial System produces a small bundle of electromagnetic energy on a frequency of 95 GHz. If the beam hits human skin, it heats the skin to a temperature of around 50 °C. This creates an intolerable heating sensation on the skin, which will force the human target to exit the target area. The electromagnetic energy penetrates the skin only 0,5 mm.

The Active Denial System (© U.S. Army).

Big advantages of the Active Denial Aystem are that it is very discriminative and it can be used over rather long distances. The beam can be used on a distance of over 500 m and still repel an individual.