In the latest such announcement, the Ministry of Defense has said it wants to deploy the US-made Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) during the Olympics “primarily” as a “loud hailer” to send verbal warnings over a long distance.
Reports said the device would be used for making announcements to a crowd including ordering them to disperse.
The MoD did not talk of the other use of LRAD that is its capability to be used as a sonic weapon through emitting a piercing beam of sound that could inflict pain.
The suggestion that the MoD is going to use the device in place of a simple loudspeaker raises speculations that the ministry is, contrary to its announcement, showcasing the LRAD as a weapon.
Such speculation gains force when considering the ministry spokesman’s announcement.
“As part of the military contribution to the police led security effort to ensure a safe and secure games, a broad range of assets and equipment is being used by our armed forces,” the spokesman said.
“This includes the LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) which will be deployed during the Olympic Games primarily to be used in the loud hailer mode as part of the measures to achieve a maritime stop on the Thames,” he added.
The spokesman was right to say they have a “broad range of assets and equipment” on hand for the Olympics.
The ministry is also to deploy the Navy’s biggest warship HMS Ocean at Greenwich to be used as a launch pad for Lynx choppers during the Games.
Meanwhile, it has deployed surface-to-air High Velocity Missiles (HMV) on London rooftops while drones and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft are on the agenda in London’s sky.
However, it appears that “security” is not the first and last purpose and concern of the military campaign during the Games.
AMR/HE
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