Lena Torres
Sound has been used as a weapon for thousands of years, from the Israelite army of priests who shook the walls of Jericho with trumpets to the U.S. Navy's current use of long-range acoustic devices. Sonic weapons, or acoustic weapons, are designed to injure, incapacitate, or disorientate a target using extremely high-power sound waves. They have been used in military, police, and law enforcement contexts, including crowd control, maritime security, and military operations. While the lethal potential of sonic weapons remains a subject of limited research and ethical considerations, their use has been associated with causing hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and other health problems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types | Sonic and ultrasonic weapons (USW) |
| Use | To injure, disable, or eliminate an enemy combatant |
| Mechanism | Emit a concentrated beam of sound or ultrasonic energy |
| Impact | Hearing loss, headaches, dizziness, cognitive issues, sleep loss, neurologic disturbances, damage to internal organs and the central nervous system |
| Users | Military and police forces |
| Examples | LRAD, sound cannons, sonic bullets, grenades, mines, or cannons |
| History | Used by the Israelite army of trumpet-blaring priests who shook the walls of Jericho 3,500 years ago |
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What You'll Learn
Sonic weapons in use by police and military forces
Sonic weapons, such as the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), are used by police and military forces as a non-traditional method of crowd control and dispersal. LRADs produce a 30-degree cone of audible sound within the human hearing spectrum (20–20,000 Hz). They are designed to be used in various scenarios, including crowd control, maritime security, and military operations. LRADs have been deployed by law enforcement agencies, military forces, and private security firms worldwide.
LRADs work by producing a highly directional beam of sound using advanced acoustic technology. The device typically consists of a large parabolic dish or an array of smaller speakers that focus and amplify the sound waves. By precisely controlling the direction and intensity of the emitted sound, an LRAD can target specific areas or individuals. The primary purpose of an LRAD is to emit a loud and piercing noise, often described as a high-pitched tone or a series of rapidly pulsating sounds.
The use of LRADs by law enforcement agencies is controversial, with many regarding it as excessive force. There have been reports of negative health impacts, including migraines, dizziness, hearing loss, and nerve damage. Some individuals have also reported experiencing similar symptoms months after exposure to LRADs, such as when exposed to loud sounds like sirens. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) has stated that there have been no proven biological effects associated with unfocused sound beams with intensities below 100 mW/cm² SPTA or focused sound beams below an intensity level of 1 mW/cm² SPTA. However, research has shown that prolonged exposure to high-level noise above 85-90 dBA can lead to deafness, and sounds reaching around 185-200 dB can potentially cause fatal consequences.
In addition to LRADs, other sonic devices have been used by police and military forces. For example, "Mosquito" sonic devices have been used in the United Kingdom to deter teenagers from lingering around shops in target areas. These devices emit an ultra-high-frequency blast (around 19–20 kHz) that teenagers or people under approximately 20 years old are susceptible to and find uncomfortable. There have also been reports of sonic attacks on US and Canadian government employees at embassies, resulting in health problems including hearing loss. However, more recent reports hypothesize that these attacks may have been caused by microwave energy or mass psychogenic conditions.
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LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device)
Sound has been used as a weapon throughout history, designed to unsettle, intimidate, and harm. Sonic weapons can be used to injure or incapacitate an opponent. Some sonic weapons emit a focused beam of sound or ultrasound, while others produce an area field of sound.
LRADs are often used in crowd control, maritime security, and military operations. For example, an LRAD was used by the crew of the Seabourn Spirit cruise ship in 2005 to deter pirates chasing and attacking the ship. LRADs have also been used to disperse protesters and rioters. The device's high-intensity sound waves can cause severe pain, disorientation, nausea, and discomfort in targets.
LRADs typically consist of a large parabolic dish or an array of smaller speakers that focus and amplify sound waves. By controlling the direction and intensity of the emitted sound, an LRAD can target specific areas or individuals. The devices have an extremely high decibel capacity, measured at up to 160 dB at one meter from the device.
The use of LRADs is controversial due to the potential for permanent hearing damage and other health issues. Some people argue that LRADs should not be used on civilians due to the potential for causing extreme pain and discomfort, particularly for those with sensory sensitivities.
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Sonic weapons causing hearing loss
Sonic weapons have been developed and deployed by military and police forces around the world. These weapons use sound to injure, disable, or eliminate an enemy combatant. Some sonic weapons emit a focused beam of sound or ultrasound, while others produce an area field of sound.
Sonic weapons can cause hearing loss in several ways. Extremely high-power sound waves can physically disrupt or destroy the eardrums, resulting in immediate hearing loss. Even without causing physical damage to the eardrums, high-intensity sound waves can induce neurologic disturbances and affect the brain tissue, leading to hearing loss and other auditory symptoms.
The human ear can typically hear frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Prolonged exposure to high-intensity noise above 85-90 dBA can lead to deafness. Sounds above 19-20 kHz are particularly damaging to teenagers and young adults, who are more susceptible to these ultra-high frequencies.
In addition to hearing loss, sonic weapons can cause a range of other health problems, including nausea, discomfort, severe pain, disorientation, and even potentially fatal conditions such as air embolisms or lung damage. The use of sonic weapons has been reported in various contexts, including crowd control during protests, maritime security against pirates, and psychological warfare.
While the lethal potential of sonic weapons is still a subject of limited research and ethical considerations, their ability to cause hearing loss and other health issues is well-documented. The development and deployment of such weapons continue to raise concerns among the public and within the medical community.
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Sonic weapons in history
Sonic weapons have been used throughout history, with sound employed as a tool of psychological warfare to unsettle, intimidate, and harm. Here is a look at some notable instances of sonic weapons being used or tested in history:
Ancient Times: Ancient Chinese and Roman armies used war drums, horns, and battle cries to intimidate their enemies. The Aztecs also employed death whistles, which produced terrifying screams on the battlefield.
World War II: During World War II, sound was used as a form of psychological warfare. Soviet troops blasted Argentine tangos to disturb German forces in Stalingrad.
Vietnam War: In Vietnam, US forces also utilized sound as a psychological weapon against their opponents.
2005: The crew of the cruise ship Seabourn Spirit used a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to deter pirates who were chasing and attacking the ship. LRADs emit a focused beam of sound within the human hearing spectrum, producing a loud and piercing noise.
2009: During the G20 Pittsburgh summit, police used an LRAD against protesters, causing temporary hearing loss.
2014: LRADs were also used during the Ferguson unrest in 2014, raising concerns about excessive force.
2016: There were reports of ""sonic attacks"" at the American embassy in Cuba, leading to health issues, including hearing loss, among US and Canadian government employees. This phenomenon became known as "Havana Syndrome."
2025: Most recently, in March 2025, there were accusations that Serbian authorities used a sonic weapon during a massive anti-corruption protest in Belgrade. A high-pitched noise disrupted a 15-minute silence observed by protesters, causing panic and physical reactions. The Serbian government denied the allegations, but the incident sparked public scrutiny and calls for an independent investigation.
While the lethal potential of sonic weapons remains a subject of limited research and ethical considerations, their use in military, law enforcement, and covert operations has raised serious concerns.
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Sonic weapons in development
Sonic weapons have been used for thousands of years, from the Israelite army of trumpet-blaring priests who shook the walls of Jericho 3,500 years ago to the acoustic devices of today.
The Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) is a powerful sonic weapon that emits focused, high-intensity sound waves over long distances. It is designed for crowd control, maritime security, and military operations. LRADs have been deployed by law enforcement agencies, military forces, and private security firms worldwide. The device typically consists of a large parabolic dish or an array of smaller speakers that focus and amplify the sound waves. By controlling the direction and intensity of the sound, an LRAD can target specific areas or individuals. The sound produced is often a loud and piercing noise, described as a high-pitched tone or a series of rapidly pulsating sounds. LRADs have been used to deter pirates, disperse protesters, and break up Palestinian protests.
Sonic and ultrasonic weapons (USW) use sound to injure or incapacitate an opponent. Some produce a focused beam of sound or ultrasound, while others create an area field of sound. Military and police forces use these weapons to varying degrees. Extremely high-power sound waves can disrupt or destroy the eardrums of a target, causing severe pain or disorientation, and even incapacitation. Less powerful sound waves can cause humans to experience nausea or discomfort.
The lethal potential of sonic weapons remains a subject of limited research and ethical considerations. However, sound has been employed as a tool of psychological warfare, designed to unsettle, intimidate, and harm. For example, Manuel Noriega, who sought refuge in the Vatican embassy in Panama City, experienced a relentless barrage of loud rock music. The Branch Davidians endured sleep deprivation through continuous broadcasts of jet planes, pop music, chants, and the distressing sounds of rabbits being slaughtered.
The development and deployment of acoustic weapons continue to be an area of interest and concern, with recent incidents in Cuba and China potentially representing new fronts in the weaponization of sound.
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Frequently asked questions
Sound weapons, also known as sonic or ultrasonic weapons (USW), are weapons that use sound to injure or incapacitate an opponent. Some sonic weapons produce a focused beam of sound or ultrasound, while others create an area field of sound.
Sound weapons emit extremely high-power sound waves that can disrupt or destroy the eardrums of a target, causing severe pain or disorientation. Less powerful sound waves can cause nausea or discomfort.
Yes, sound weapons have been used for thousands of years. From the Israelite army of trumpet-blaring priests who shook the walls of Jericho 3,500 years ago to the more recent use of long-range acoustic devices (LRADs) by police and military forces, sound has been employed as a tool of psychological warfare and crowd control.
In addition to the potential for permanent hearing damage, sound weapons can also cause extra-aural bioeffects on various internal organs and the central nervous system. These effects can include auditory shifts, changes in vibrotactile sensitivity, muscle contraction, cardiovascular function changes, and central nervous system effects.
