Small arms: Ammunition

Ammunition supply patterns in areas of conflict are often distinct from arms supply patterns. Small arms, which are often recycled from conflict to conflict, typically have a lifespan of several decades; however, their value depends on an uninterrupted supply of ammunition.

The extent of the destruction caused by unregulated ammunition flows has become increasingly evident. Expert panels monitoring Security Council arms embargoes have suggested that the popularity of certain types of weapons among armed groups corresponds to the availability of their ammunition.

Conversely, in some cases lack of ammunition has prompted combatants to seek to resolve their disputes peacefully. Preventing resupply in situations of high risk to civilian populations should be a priority.

Ammunition requires targeted attention

Small arms typically have a lifespan of multiple decades, yet their real value depends on an uninterrupted supply of ammunition.

Many States procure their ammunition for small arms and light weapons domestically. Nevertheless, the average annual value of authorized international transfers of small arms and light weapons ammunition is well over $4 billion.

It is sometimes argued that the trade in ammunition should be excluded from international regulation because of the high volume of its production and trade. These amounts would “make it difficult” for governments to undertake the detailed levels of record-keeping needed for ammunition tracing and for the proper regulation of its trade.

However, consumer traceability has evolved in other fields, such as pharmaceuticals and food and agricultural products. These are goods with an even higher turnover. Including ammunition in arms regulation seems to be more a matter of political prioritization than one of technical or logistical impossibility.

The Security Council has consistently taken an inclusive approach to arms and ammunition and has included the issue of ammunition in its discussions on

Arms embargoes
Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
Child soldiers
Counter-terrorism
Protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Arms and ammunition are also considered jointly in other contexts, including

Drugs and crime
Peacebuilding
Women and peace and security
Human rights
Mine action
Air transport
Maritime safety
Border controls.

Importantly, most countries do not distinguish arms export legislation from ammunition export legislation. In sum, because of its particular characteristics, the trade in ammunition should be a key component of any discussion on the regulation of the global arms trade.

Ammunition stockpiles

The management and control of stockpiles of ammunition continues to pose an acute twofold problem. Unintended explosions of poorly stored or managed ammunition stockpiles have affected more than 100 countries, resulting in high numbers of casualties, severe destruction to infrastructure and the environment, and disruption of the livelihoods of entire communities. Not properly secured national ammunition stockpiles also cause diversion into illicit markets.

The loss of ammunition by a soldier often goes unnoticed or can be explained without difficulty to superiors, in contrast to the loss of a firearm. Ammunition loss can lead to considerable diversion flows. Well-orchestrated forms of diversion originating higher up the command chain, are of even greater concern. Corruption, negligence, the absence of end-user verification and poorly implemented border controls all contribute to habitual stockpile diversion and illicit ammunition flows in many parts of the world.

Expert groups monitoring United Nations arms embargoes noted years ago that the lack of basic accountability systems was a factor in the diversion of ammunition.

Peacekeeping

Effective stockpile management and security should be priorities in any peacekeeping mission. Ammunition confiscated in the course of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes requires specialized handling and management. Poorly managed stockpiles of conventional ammunition in danger of explosion place peacekeeping personnel and others at risk; the possible diversion of such ammunition for use in renewed hostilities poses another hazard.

Tracing ammunition

Ammunition does not usually carry a unique marking. Therefore, cartridges are more difficult to trace than small arms. Most often, small arms ammunition bears a headstamp with a factory and production year code. The serial number of the lot or batch which may include thousands of cartridges, is typically marked on the packaging of that lot or batch. When the serial number is available because the packaging has been found, it may still be difficult to ascertain a point of diversion. Ammunition from the same, identically marked lot may have reached multiple customers, which hinders the identification of a single point of diversion.

Because production and supply chains in military markets are distinctly different from civilian markets, it is usually easier to identify sources, trafficking patterns and diversion points of military-style ammunition, than successfully tracing ammunition for handguns and pistols.

Arms embargoes

Ammunition marked with its production year remains a critical element in monitoring the implementation of Security Council arms embargoes. Panels of experts tasked with such monitoring rely on recovered ammunition to determine whether it was transferred to embargoed actors or destinations after the imposition of the embargo.

Staff of peacekeeping missions with embargo-monitoring mandates need further training in the correct recording of information from recovered ammunition. Such training could be targeted at the mission personnel most likely to encounter ammunition, including members of an embargo monitoring cell, military observers and police personnel. Just as with records of weapon markings, the collected information could then be made available to arms embargo monitoring groups.

In addition, expert panels that monitor arms embargoes would be aided in their work if Member States provided information about the markings applied to ammunition for small arms and light weapons by producers under their jurisdiction and the markings on ammunition recovered from illicit use.

The systematic collection, adequate recording and publication of information concerning the markings on recovered illicit ammunition for small arms and light weapons would enhance transparency and accountability in the arms and ammunition trade and help significantly to limit the scope of the illicit trade.

Ammunition requires targeted attention

Ammunition stockpiles

Tracing ammunition

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