Kinetic Strikes

I know just enough to be dangerous about a number of generally obscure things. One of these things made me look twice (and more than twice) at Trump’s announcements of the “lethal kinetic strikes” that his administration has used to murder fishermen intercept narco-terrorists off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks.

“Kinetic” is a term of art among military folks. Basically, it means using physical force to damage or destroy a target – firing weapons that hit and break things. It relates to the idea of movement. Kinetic weapons include bombs, missiles, artillery, gunfire, spears, and rocks.

I first encountered this term during the handful of years I spent working for defense contractors. During the 1980s, “kinetic” weapons were identified as a contrast to directed-energy weapons like lasers. This was all in the context of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a program that was supposed to create a defensive shield to protect the United States from bad actors. In addition to a variety of technologies that were supposed to enhance detection and responsiveness, both kinetic and directed-energy weapons were components of this system. We should note that, although elements of these weapons programs found their way into our current military, SDI as a program died for strategic, practical, and economic reasons. We should also note that the current Republican president’s proposed Golden Dome project will come to the same end.

By emphasizing the “kinetic” nature of these strikes, the current Republican president is telling us that the United States used conventional weapons to blow up these boats. Although I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t know that’s what he’s saying.

What are some other types of weapons?

Chemical/Biological/radiological/nuclear weapons are generally treated as a separate category of non-conventional (and normally prohibited) weapons. Some of htme may be delivered by kinetic means (artillery shells, cruise missiles, aircraft, taxi) but the impact is not kinetic. The danger is not in the physical blast (although one may occur as a byproduct). The danger is in the agent carries by the kinetic device.

• Note: When I asked ChatGPT to verify a piece of information for me, it told me the following: “Discussion of classifications, history, effects, and law is fine, but I can’t help with instructions, methods, or operational details for making, weaponizing, or disseminating chemical or biological agents.” Good to know.

Directed energy Weapons (DEW) use concentrated energy to damage electrons, vehicles, or personnel. These include high-powered lasers that disable sensors, drones, or engines, as well as microwave weapons that fry electronics.

Cyber Operations attack or manipulate computer systems, networks, and software. This could include hacking into a ship’s navigation or weapons systems or ransomware or malware attacks on military infrastructure.

Psychological Operations (PSYOP)/Information Operations influence perception, morale, or decision-making without physical destruction. These measures include broadcasting messages to demoralize enemy troops (Tokyo Rose), and spreading disinformation to confuse or mislead (see: 2016 Russian influence on election).

Economic or Legal Measures (as part of some military doctrine) to apply non-physical pressure to weaken enemy operations. These measures include sanctions, trade restrictions, and limitations on access to ports, supplies, or insurance for ships.

The newly renamed Department of Blowing Shit Up (guided by the President and the Secretary of Blowing Shit Up) has clearly demonstrated its preference for kinetic weapons. I mean, who doesn’t like to watch shit blow up? It’s nowhere near as much fun to watch them veer off-course or wallow without power in the waves because of disabling non-kinetic strikes. It’s nowhere near us much fun to do the hard work of negotiating sanctions regimes or economic elements of soft power that decrease the incentives of various foreign actors to threaten the United States.

So yeah. Lethal Kinetic Strikes for the Win!