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LRAD, as the device is normally known, was seen
on INS Mysore and also on INS Satpura, the Navy’s
second stealth frigate commissioned recently.
Sources told India Strategic that
this system is being installed on most of the
naval ships as it can automatically translate
warnings into several languages, depending upon
the choice of the Captain and the region his vessel
is sailing in. LRAD is a non-lethal system but
if required, can injure the targeted personnel
with literally ear-splitting, very high decibel
tones and noise beams of up to 150 dBSPL. In some
cases however, targetted people too close to the
system can suffer permanent hearing disability.
The Indian Navy has acquired the system from
a US firm, which holds its patent, particularly
because of its operations in the Arabian Sea where
pirates from East African countries are increasingly
holding commercial ships to ransom.
The Indian Navy has a policy not to inflict violent
attacks on the pirates unless they fire or attack
an Indian ship. Accordingly, said the sources,
it was considered prudent to install the LRAD
not only because it can cause intense pain without
killing but also because it can translate warnings
automatically in to 10 or more languages.
The system is a regular feature on most of the
US and western naval ships as well as those of
China and the Gulf countries operating in the
area.
US ships do not allow unknown vessels to come
near them, and if they do not respond to warning
over radio, LRAD is used to warn them three km
away with directed sound and voice beams. Hostile
vessels of course are engaged immediately either
through patrol boats or helicopters. LRAD was
in fact developed after the terror attack on USS
Cole in Yemen in 2000, in which a hostile vessel
rammed into the warship and damaged it, also killing
some personnel.
According to the manufacturer, the system is
portable, comes in many sizes and requirements,
and can be installed on any platform, from police
vehicles to strategic buildings and ships. Police
forces in the US and many countries use it for
crowd control.
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