Glossary of Terms

A handy list of industry terms and abbreviations

Ammunition
ammunition / munition a complete device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological or chemical material for use in military operations, including demolitions. [AAP-6]

Note: In common usage, ‘munitions’ (plural) can be military weapons, ammunition and equipment.

AXO
Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO)
Note: explosive ordnance that has not been used during an armed conflict, that has been left behind or dumped by a party to an armed conflict, and which is no longer under control of the party that left it behind or dumped it. Abandoned explosive ordnance may or may not have been primed, fuzed, armed or otherwise prepared for use. (CCW protocol V)

Booby trap
an explosive or non-explosive device, or other material, deliberately placed to cause casualties when an apparently harmless object is disturbed or a normally safe act is performed. [AAP-6]

De-arm 
To disrupt the fusing components preventing its correct functioning. Disruptors or Injectors – are low velocity weapons designed to forcibly separate (disrupt) an IED into its component parts, with minimal damage and with a high probability of avoiding a detonation or explosion.

Demilitarisation
the act of removing or otherwise nullifying the military potential of a munition. Demilitarization is a necessary step for military items prior to their release into a non-military setting (AOP 38).
The process that renders munitions unfit for their originally intended purpose.

Demining
Activities which lead to the removal of mine and UXO hazards, including technical survey, mapping, clearance, marking, post clearance documentation, community mine action liaison and the handover of cleared land. Demining may be carried out by different types of organisations such as NGOs, commercial companies, national mine action teams or military units. Demining may be emergency based or developmental.

Destruction
the process of final conversion of munitions and explosives into an inert state whereby they can no longer function as designed.

Detonator
a device containing a sensitive explosive intended to produce a detonation wave. [AAP-6]

Disposal site
disposal/destruction site an area authorised for the destruction of munitions and explosives by detonation and/or burning.

Explosive Ordnance (EO)
all munitions containing explosives, nuclear fission or fusion materials and biological and chemical agents. This includes bombs and warheads; guided and ballistic missiles; artillery, mortar, rocket and small arms ammunition; all mines, torpedoes and depth charges; pyrotechnics; clusters and dispensers; cartridge and propellant actuated devices; electroexplosive devices; clandestine and improvised explosive devices; and all similar or related items or components explosive in nature. [AAP-6].

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
The detection, identification, evaluation, render safe, recovery and disposal of EO.
EOD may be undertaken:
a) as a routine part of mine clearance operations, upon discovery of ERW;
b) to dispose of ERW discovered outside hazardous areas, (this may be a single item of ERW, or a larger number inside a specific area); or
c) to dispose of EO which has become hazardous by deterioration, damage or attempted destruction.

ERW
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO). (CCW protocol V).

Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
A device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating explosive material, destructive, lethal, noxious, incendiary, pyrotechnic materials or chemicals designed to destroy, disfigure, distract or harass. They may incorporate military stores, but are normally devised from non-military components (IATG 01.40:2011).

Munition
munition / ammunition a complete device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological or chemical material for use in military operations, including demolitions. [AAP-6]

Note: In common usage, ‘munitions’ (plural) can be military weapons, ammunition and equipment.

RDX
RDX (1, 3, 5-triazacyclohexane) is another military explosive which is used extensively as an explosive in many munitions formulations. RDX is relatively insensitive; it has a high chemical stability, although lower than that of TNT. RDX is never handled pure and dry because of the danger of accidental explosion. It is used as a component in explosive mixtures, especially plastic explosives.

Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO)
Explosive ordnance which has been primed, fused, armed or otherwise prepared for action, and which has been fired, dropped, launched, projected in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to operations, installations, personnel or material and remains unexploded either by malfunction or design or for any other cause.

Abbreviations

C-IED – Counter Improvised Explosive Device
CBRN – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (Defence)
CMD – Conventional Munition Disposal
ERW – Explosive Remnants of War
ICP – Incident Control Point
IEDD – Improvised Explosive Device Disposal
RSP– Render Safe Procedure