Operational application of directed energy weapons: Case of Venezuela

This paper analyzes the development and potential operational use of Directed Energy Weapons - DEW, with particular emphasis on the Havana Syndrome and the U.S. operation Absolute Resolve conducted in Venezuela in 2026. The central hypothesis of the study is that the technical and technological development of these systems has reached a level that enables their practical application in contemporary military and security operations. The research is based on the analysis of available scientific, media, and institutional sources, employing comparative methodology and a case study approach. The paper examines the phenomenon of Havana Syndrome as a possible indicator of the existence of microwave and other directed-energy systems capable of causing neurological, cognitive, and auditory disorders in humans. Particular attention is devoted to the microwave auditory effect and recent media reports suggesting the existence of portable electromagnetic devices associated with these symptoms. The second part of the paper analyzes Operation Absolute Resolve, during which the United States conducted a complex military-intelligence operation in Venezuela. Based on available reports and eyewitness testimonies, the study considers the possible use of an unidentified weapon referred to as a discombobulator, whose effects reportedly included disorientation, loss of balance, and physical impairment among members of the Venezuelan forces. The paper indicates that such effects demonstrate certain similarities with known directed-energy weapon systems. Special attention is given to the U.S. programs Active Denial System - ADS, Mob Excess Deterrent Using Silent Audio - MEDUSA, and Long Range Acoustic Device - LRAD, as examples of systems employing microwave and acoustic effects for military and security purposes. The analysis demonstrates that these weapons have been the subject of intensive development for decades, accompanied by substantial financial investments and the gradual enhancement of their operational mobility and effectiveness. The paper concludes that directed energy weapons no longer represent exclusively a theoretical or futuristic concept, but rather an increasingly significant component of contemporary warfare. Their further development may substantially influence the nature of future military and police operations, while simultaneously raising important security, medical, legal, and ethical questions about their control and consequences.