Discombobulator

Why in News?

 The US reportedly used a weapon system called the “Discombobulator” during a military strike on Venezuela, which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

• Discombobulator– It is a U.S.-classified weapon system.
• It is designed to disable enemy defensive infrastructure and disorient personnel.
• Developed by – United States military; the exact developer or manufacturer has not been publicly disclosed.
• Objective –
  • To incapacitate personnel through disorientation and physiological effects.
  • To support stealth operations by neutralizing electronic and physical defence capabilities.
• Features – Electronic Neutralisation (Soft Kill) –
• Uses pulse-modulated high-power microwave energy to disable electronics, causing logic gates to latch up and semiconductors to freeze without physical destruction.
• Directed Energy Effects – May use high-intensity acoustic waves or sonic energy to disorient personnel.
• Microwave Auditory Effect/Frey Effect – Creates phantom sounds inside a target’s head, contributing to confusion.
• Physiological Impact – Personnel reportedly suffered nausea, vertigo, nosebleeds, vomiting, and collapse.
• Capable of disrupting radars, communications, missile guidance systems, and electrical power grids.
• Operation – Electronic Disruption – Made Venezuelan radars, communications, and missile guidance systems inoperable during the raid.
• Stealth Support – Helped support the operation by knocking out lights and power in Caracas, aiding surprise entry.
• The weapon is likely a combination of electronic warfare, sonic/directed energy and non-lethal disorientation tools.

References

1. IE | Discombobulator
2. Business Today | Discombobulator