Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Testing

The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Testing program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0603851M, is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative managed by the Navy with the Commandant of the Marine Corps serving as the Executive Agent. The primary goal of this program is to research, develop, test, and evaluate non-lethal weapons (NLW) and intermediate force capabilities that provide the Joint Force with options between mere presence and lethal effects. These capabilities are intended to support national defense objectives, particularly in scenarios where lethal force is not appropriate or is legally or politically constrained.

The program is overseen by the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP), which coordinates joint service research and development efforts across the military services and the Coast Guard. The JNLWP is guided by requirements identified in the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC)-approved Joint Non-Lethal Effects Initial Capabilities Documents. This ensures that investments address mutual capability gaps and avoid duplicative efforts among the services. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment provides principal oversight, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the DoD NLW Executive Agent.

A major focus area within this program is Counter-Personnel Advanced Component Development and Prototypes. The objectives include maturing directed energy technologies, such as lasers and high-power microwaves, to increase system efficiency and reduce size, weight, and cost for future acquisition programs. The program also supports the development and demonstration of multisensory suppression and incapacitation technologies, including acoustic, optical, and electro-muscular incapacitation systems. Integration of these intermediate force capabilities into established service platforms and unmanned systems is a key objective. Modernization of legacy technologies, such as Active Denial Systems, is also prioritized to meet emerging expeditionary requirements.

Counter-Materiel Advanced Component Development and Prototypes addresses the need for non-lethal options to disable or stop vehicles and vessels without causing permanent damage. The program is advancing vessel-stopping technologies, including directed energy and occlusion/entanglement methods. Efforts include system acceptance testing, electromagnetic and engagement modeling, and platform integration studies. The goal is to develop and mature these technologies to a point where they can transition to acquisition programs of record, filling critical capability gaps for the services and supporting Combatant Commanders in operational environments.

Joint and Allied Exercise, Experimentation, Demonstration, and Assessment activities are designed to evaluate the utility and effectiveness of non-lethal technologies in realistic operational scenarios. These efforts include testing and assessing technologies for incapacitating personnel, clearing facilities, stopping vehicles and vessels, and denying access to protected areas. The program identifies and evaluates commercial products for potential military application, supports Combatant Commands in priority mission areas such as humanitarian assistance and contested logistics, and engages with NATO and allied partners to strengthen interoperability and cooperative security.

Management and support for the program are provided by the Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO), which handles day-to-day R&D activities. Funding is distributed among the services based on identified needs, with each service responsible for procurement and sustainment of fielded systems. The acquisition strategy emphasizes a mix of modifying commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products for near-term needs and developing new technologies for longer-term solutions. This approach ensures a balance between rapid fielding and advanced capability development.