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Non-lethal systems and munitions are weapons, devices and munitions that are
explicitly designed and primarily employed to immediately incapacitate targeted
personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to
personnel and undesired damage to property in the target area. Non-lethal
weapons are intended to have reversible effects on personnel and materiel.
Non-Lethal Munitions (NLM) Expand Warfighter
Capabilities
In the jumbled terrain of modern urban combat, the need to distinguish
combatant from noncombatant is paramount. NLM facilitate this by
providing commanders the flexibility to influence the situation favorably
with increased safety to U.S. Forces while reducing risk of both noncombatant
fatalities and collateral damage.
PM CCS is working to acquire the next-generation, extended range NLM
for the warfighter. Two, in particular, will fill critical gaps in current
non-lethal capabilities and assist the warfighter in applying Escalation
of Force (EOF) procedures – the XM1044 40mm MK19 round and the XM1116,
12 gauge Extended Range Marking Round.
The range advantage and rapid fire capability of the XM1044 over current
munitions will give warfighters that extra split second to evaluate the
situation and avoid a tragic mistake. EOF is all about a measured, sequential
response to a perceived threat. As GEN David H. Petraeus, Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan has noted, “…you must shape
situations to minimize the tough calls, and train our leaders on how to
react... this will reduce the number of civilian injuries and deaths.”
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