---
title: "Russian Navy Says New Weapon Makes Enemies Hallucinate"
description: "A new Russian weapon now found on two warships makes enemies hallucinate and become disoriented, according to the nation's navy."
date: "2019-02-05"
modified: "2019-02-05"
authors:
  - name: "Jon Christian"
    job_title: "Executive Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-weapon-navy-hallucinate"
categories:
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "military"
  - "Navy"
  - "Russia"
  - "the digest"
  - "weapon"
---

# Russian Navy Says New Weapon Makes Enemies Hallucinate

![A new Russian weapon now found on two warships makes enemies hallucinate and become disoriented, according to the nation's navy.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/russian-navy-new-weapon-hallucinate.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Andrew Martin/The Kremlin/Tag Hartman-Simkins\</em\>*

## Vom Cannon

The Russian Navy has outfitted two warships with a weapon that it says makes enemies hallucinate and become disoriented.

That's according to a [fearsome description](<https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-arms-warships-with-a-weapon-that-makes-enemies-want-to-vomit-2019-2>) of the weapon in *RIA Novosti*, a state-run media outlet in Russia — and it could be a terrifying peek at the future of warfare.

## Light Lunch

Russia-owned Ruselectronics developed the weapon, [called the Filin](<https://thehill.com/policy/defense/428346-russian-navy-has-new-weapon-that-makes-target-hallucinate-and-vomit-report>). It works, according to the company, by firing off "low-frequency oscillations" of powerful light that disorient foes and disrupt night vision devices and rangefinders.

Volunteers who fired at targets while being blasted by the Russian weapon said they felt dizzy and nauseous, and 20 percent reported "hallucinogenic" effects. One complained that a "spot of light floats before my eyes," according to *RIA Novosti.*

*The Hill* [even reported](<https://thehill.com/policy/defense/428346-russian-navy-has-new-weapon-that-makes-target-hallucinate-and-vomit-report>) that the Filin could make adversaries vomit, but it's not clear where it sourced that information.

## Casting Shade

This new Russian weapon may have limitations, and state-run media isn't always a reliable source of information about military technology.

And on *RIA Novosti,* one commenter made light of the announcement by pointing out that light-based weapons might be easy to counteract.

"It seems to me alone that sunglasses wipe out the power of this new super-weapon?" the commenter wrote.

**READ MORE:** [Russia Says It's Arming Its Warships With a New Weapon That Makes Enemies Want to Vomit](<https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-arms-warships-with-a-weapon-that-makes-enemies-want-to-vomit-2019-2>) \[*Business Insider*\]

***More on military technology:*** [The Military Is Investing Millions in Exoskeleton “Super-Soldiers”](<https://futurism.com/exoskeleton-super-soldiers-military>)

## Author
I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/jonchristian.net>)