Ammunition
There is no universally accepted definition of ammunition. In the context of small arms, the term ammunition is said to refer to 'the complete round/cartridge or its components, including bullets or projectiles, cartridge cases, primers/caps and propellants that are used in any small arm or light weapon’.
1999 Report of the United Nations (UN) Group of Experts on ammunition and explosives. According to a 1997 UN Panel of Experts, ammunition includes:
- Cartridges (rounds) for small arms
- Shells and missiles for light weapons
- Mobile containers with missiles or shells for single-action anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems
- Anti-personnel and anti-tank hand grenades
- Landmines.1997 UN Panel of Governmental Experts report on small arms, §26c.
The distinction between the terms ammunition and munitions, if there is one, is not generally agreed. For this reason, the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty used the term ‘ammunition/munitions’.See, e.g., Art. 3, 2013 Arms Trade Treaty.
Last updated on: 01 February 2014