Directed energy weapon

A class of weapons that do not use explosive force or direct thermal effects to damage, directed energy weapons attack using non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Lasers are the most common type in development, but microwave weapons also are known to be in active research.

Lasers especially, but also microwaves, are highly directional. This category is generally accepted to include electromagnetic pulse weapons, especially those producing the pulse without the use of a nuclear weapon.

Acoustic and noncoherent visual light weapons are being deployed as nonlethal weapons for crowd and riot control.