Filling an Operational Requirement: The Nonlethal Approach.
Abstract
Pressures generated as a result of the growing worldwide concern over the use of conventional landmines forced the United States to severely limit their use. At the same time, the operational commander continues to have a need to shape the battlefield and protect his forces, a need currently filled by the conventional landmine. This paper examines the roll that nonlethal technologies can play in filling the battlefield shaping and force protection requirements. It will show that not only can nonlethal weapons replace the conventional landmine, but that they will give the operational commander options never before possible, so revolutionary that they will change the entire mine warfare paradigm. This paper looks at emerging nonlethal technologies and how they can meet the old requirements and the newly generated battlefield shaping and force protection requirements. It looks at their employment options, highlighting the new options and what they do for the operational commander. The paper then looks to the future to see where and how these assets fit in Joint Vision 2010. Finally, it looks at the key legal and ethical concerns associated with the employment of these new assets.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA348576
Entities
People
- Terry Van Williams
Organizations
- Naval War College