Munition

Munition is a general term used to describe the weapons and ammunition used by armed forces to deliver force in combat and other security operations. It encompasses items designed to injure, destroy, or deter opponents, including small arms ammunition, artillery projectiles, bombs, grenades, missiles and rockets, mines, torpedoes, and naval projectiles, as well as the components that enable them such as fuzes, primers, propellants, and casings.

The scope of munitions covers both the projectiles and the devices that make them effective. This includes tactical and strategic ordnance, as well as related equipment like guidance systems, launchers, and storage containers. The term is often used to describe large stockpiles as well as individual items circulating within or between armed forces.

Manufacture, storage, transport, and disposal of munitions are governed by strict safety and security standards because many components contain energetic materials that can detonate or explode. Handling requires trained personnel, proper facilities, secure inventories, and compliant transport to prevent accidents, theft, or diversion to illicit markets.

International humanitarian law and national policies regulate the use, transfer, and disposal of munitions. Treaties and agreements address issues such as prohibited weapons, stockpile destruction, and permitted transfer; many countries maintain demilitarization programs to convert surplus or obsolete munitions into non-functional forms or safely dispose of them.