by David Crane
[email protected]
Noah at Defense Tech has a short piece on a laser dazzler-type weapon called PHaSR, which is an acronym for Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response. PHaSR may (or may not) be currently under development by the Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate. Defense Tech apparently hasn’t yet had time to research and confirm whether or not PHaSR is a real development project/program.
All info on PHaSR, so far, comes from the following press release, originally published at BlackAnthem.com. Here’s the full press release, in its entirety:…
"New technology dazzles aggressors
Blackanthem.com, KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., October 27, 2005
A laser technology being developed by
Air Force Research Laboratory [
AFRL] employees at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. will be the first man-portable, non-lethal deterrent weapon intended for protecting troops and controlling hostile crowds.
The weapon, developed by the laboratory’s
Directed Energy Directorate, employs a two-wavelength laser system and is the first of its kind as a hand-held, single-operator system for troop and perimeter defense. The laser light used in the weapon temporarily impairs aggressors by illuminating or "dazzling" individuals, removing their ability to see the laser source.
"The future is here with
PHaSR," said program manager Capt. Thomas Wegner. Wegner is also the ScorpWorks flight commander within the Laser Division of the directorate. ScorpWorks is a unit of military scientists and engineers that develops laser system prototypes for AFRL, from beginning concept to product field testing.
The
National Institute of Justice recently awarded ScorpWorks $250,000 to make an advanced prototype that will add an eye-safe laser range finder into PHaSR. Systems such as PHaSR have historically been too powerful at close ranges and ineffective but eye-safe at long ranges. The next prototype is planned to include the addition of the eye-safe range finder and is planned for completion in March 2006.
By Eva D. Blaylock Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Public Affairs"
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