Sonic Weapons, Types, Working and Health Effects

Sonic weapons use sound waves to disrupt, disorient, or control targets, with applications in military, crowd control, and non-lethal defense technologies.

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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

Short Term	Severe Effects
Tinnitus (ringing in ears) – lasts minutes to days. Temporary hearing loss. Nausea, dizziness, sweating. Headaches, vertigo, loss of balance.	Vomiting Bleeding from ears (indicating inner ear damage). Permanent hearing loss (especially with exposure above 120 dB).