Less Lethal System
B&T developed the Less Lethal System at the request of a major national police agency in Europe to deal with violent and dangerous public order situations. The agency wanted to adopt a complete system, i.e. launcher and ammunition from a single manufacturer to insure full compatibility resulting in maximum safety, precise accuracy, and optimal terminal ballistics at ranges from 1 meter to 60 meters. The resulting system could be used in close in SWAT type interventions which are typically at room distances or in public order situations which can range from point blank range out to 50 or 60 meters.
The requesting agency had much unpleasant experience with violent demonstrators that were able to come within rock throwing distance of the police lines and to injure policemen with bottles, stones and other missiles to include Molotov Cocktails. The agency discovered through their research that the “sweet spot” for optimal accuracy and terminal ballistics was at 40 meters. The reason for this range was that an average man with average ability can throw a 300 gram rock or other projectile 38 meters. With an optimal range and terminal effects of 40 meters operators and leaders can keep the most violent demonstrators out of rock throwing range, thus resulting in fewer injured policemen. The accuracy is so precise that an operator cannot only be sure to hit the subject but he can even choose not only exactly which subject to target but where to hit the subject, i.e. center of mass or the left leg, etc.
The other part of the system is the 40mm Less Lethal ammunition that B&T developed for the LL-06 40mm Less Lethal Launcher. There are twelve different rounds to be fired from any 40mm launcher that will produce the desired effect on either a crowd of violent demonstrators or on individual troublemakers which have to be removed from the incident in a safe, humane and rapid manner.
The round which we at B&T are the most proud of is the 40mm SIR and SIR-X. SIR stands for Safe Impact Round and SIR-X stands for Safe Impact Round Extended Range. These rounds represent the pinnacle in Less Lethal technology that exists today. It is a safe, affordable and effective alternative to deadly force that can be used in any type of scenario.
The other rounds that B&T produces are the SAR (Safe Agent Round) in both OC and CS. These rounds will produce the double effect of impact and the delivery of a chemical agent or powered pepper to disorient, blind and confuse the subject. The SMR does the same but will deliver a colored marking compound to stain and identify a subject for later arrest and processing. The marking compound will take several days to wear off and can be used as evidence in most courts. There are also classical CS and Rubber Balls round plus Muzzle Blast OC and Muzzle Blast CS rounds for traditional public order use. This can be use area denial or to turn large crowds away from police lines or sensitive areas.