Sonic Weapons

• 21 Mar 2025

Source: IE 

The Serbian government has denied allegations that police used sonic weapons to disperse anti-government protesters. 

• Sonic Weapons are devices that deliver highly concentrated, amplified sound over long distances usually for crowd control. 
• In 2004, the United States first used such special devices to project loud sounds over long distances in Iraq. 
• It is of 3 types: 
  • Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD): Produces sound up to 160 decibels (dB) causing ringing ears (tinnitus), hearing damage, and other health issues. 
    • A jet engine during takeoff produces 130-140 dB, and a gunshot around 150 dB. Sounds above 120 dB can cause permanent hearing damage. 
  • Mosquito: Emits high-pitched sounds painful only to younger people (under 30). 
  • Infrasonic Weapon: Delivers low-frequency, inaudible sounds causing pain and disorientation. 
• Serbia is a landlocked country in eastern Europe. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s statehood. 

Read More: Kosovo-Serbia Conflict