July 3, 2020 —
Pentagon researchers are working on a weapon to temporarily disable everyone in a room with a TASER-like electric stun effect, making it safer for troops to clear buildings and reducing civilian casualties.
The device currently goes by the uninspired name of “Multi-Target HEMI System.” HEMI is short for human electro‐muscular incapacitation, a technical term for TASERs and similar electric nonlethal weapons. It is being developed by the Pentagon’s Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO), formerly the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate.