**GAO-09-344**                      Published: Apr 21, 2009. Publicly Released: Apr 21, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

Nonlethal weapons (NLW) provide an alternative when lethal force is undesirable. The Department of Defense (DOD) defines NLW as those that are explicitly designed and primarily employed to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment. DOD created the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program in 1996 to have centralized responsibility for the development of NLW and coordinate requirements among the services. GAO was asked to review the status of NLW programs within DOD and the military services by identifying the extent to which (1) DOD and the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program have developed and fielded NLW since the program's inception; (2) DOD has established and implemented policy, doctrine, and training for NLW; and (3) DOD has conducted testing and evaluation prior to fielding NLW. GAO reviewed and analyzed DOD and service plans, guidance, and doctrine and interviewed officials associated with NLW development.

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## Topics

National Defense

Defense capabilitiesDefense cost controlDefense procurementLogisticsMilitary forcesNeeds assessmentOperational testingPolicy evaluationProduct evaluationProgram evaluationResearch programsRisk assessmentStandards evaluationSystems development life cycleSystems evaluationSystems testingTechnologyTestingWeaponsWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsProgram goals or objectives