Sonic Weapons, Types, Working and Health Effects

Context: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has denied allegations that his police forces used a banned ‘sonic weapon’ to disperse protesters in Belgrade.

What Are Sonic Weapons?

• Sonic weapons are devices that emit loud or low-frequency sound waves over long distances.
• They can be used for non-lethal deterrence or, in some cases, to cause severe pain and injury.
• They are also called Acoustic Weapons, these devices emit very loud sounds over long distances.
• They can produce both audible and inaudible sound waves.

How Do Sonic Weapons Work?

• Sonic weapons rely on transducers – electronic devices that convert energy into sound waves.

Types of Sonic Weapons

Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)

• Range: Can transmit intelligible speech up to 8,900 meters (8.9 km).
• Sound Intensity: Up to 160 decibels (dB).
• Uses:
  ✔ Crowd control (protests, riots).
  ✔ Maritime security (anti-piracy).
  ✔ Military operations (battlefield communication, psychological warfare).

Mosquito Device

• Designed to target young people (teenagers, early 20s).
• Produces high-frequency sound that is only audible to younger individuals.
• Older adults (30+) cannot hear it due to age-related hearing loss.
• Uses:
  ✔ Preventing vandalism.
  ✔ Dispersing youth gatherings in public spaces.

Infrasonic Weapons

• Uses very low-frequency sounds (below 20 Hz), which are inaudible to humans, still, it can cause discomfort, disorientation, and even pain.

Health Effects of Sonic Weapons

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