It sounded in the article as if they were going to be using it not just on civilians but on actual enemy forces, too.
I’d have a hard time believing that, especially out of the Marine Corps. They might use it as I once heard another Marine Officer many years ago describe the Corps’ stance on non-lethal weapons: “We’ll use them if they help us close with and destroy the enemy.”
I could see plenty of situations where that might be applicable. For one, the enemy sometimes mix in with crowds of unarmed civilians - dispersing that crowd makes things a lot simpler.
Also, the suggestion that the device is used for “area denial” suggests another potentially valuable application in urban warfare - the denial of “dead space” like blind alleys and side streets to the enemy. Since that has traditionally been a role for artillery and other indirect fire weapons, this could fall under “reducing unnecessary casualties”.
This is mostly speculation on my part, but I have a hard time seeing Marines restraining themselves to using microwaves on enemies firing on them with AK-47s and RPGs.
I should clarify that I’m not giving this thing my unqualified endorsement (for whatever that would be worth).
This isn’t a “battlefield innovation” of the kind Americans have always developed to adapt to the enemy and win wars. I don’t think it was purposefully developed in response to observed enemy tactics in Afghanistan - in fact, I’m pretty sure it was in development well before we ever contemplated invading Afghanistan.
Therefore, its use might be driven more by bureaucratic politics than by actual battlefield utility, much like a lot of other ill-conceived weapon systems. Still, if the Marines can find a good use for it, then I say give it a chance.
I should also say that my personal experience in modern urban warfare is limited to urban warfare training and doctrine in the 90s, and I assume those have changed as a result of our military’s experience over the last decade. I don’t have any personal experience concerning what our men are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan and what tactics they’re using. All I know about those wars is from what I’ve read and from veterans I’ve talked to.