lArmement

lArmement refers to the collection of weapons, equipment, and related materiel that states or organizations prepare for use in defense or conflict. It encompasses weapons and ammunition, combat vehicles, ships, aircraft, radar and missiles, as well as the logistics, research and production capacity needed to design, produce and deploy such systems. The term is used in national policy and international discourse on military readiness and arms control.

The word derives from the French armer, to arm, and is closely tied to the broader concept of arming a state or force. In practice, lArmement covers not only the weapons themselves but the entire ecosystem that supports procurement, maintenance, modernization and deployment.

Historically, armament has progressed from artisanal weapons to mass-produced systems through the industrial era. The 20th century saw the centralization of defense industries, extensive government spending on research and development, and complex global supply chains. After the Cold War, many countries expanded privatized defense capabilities while also seeking to diversify suppliers and ensure strategic autonomy.

Modern armament includes conventional weapons and integrated systems such as command and control networks, air and missile defense, and space and cyber capabilities. It involves not only hardware but also software, surveillance, logistics, and maintenance infrastructure required to sustain operations.

Policy and control frameworks regulate lArmement through arms control treaties, export controls, and embargoes. International instruments such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Arms Trade Treaty seek to limit proliferation and misused technologies, while national policies shape domestic industries and strategic priorities.