Conventional weapon

The terms conventional weapons or conventional arms generally refer to weapons whose ability to damage comes from kinetic or incendiary, or explosive energy and exclude weapons of mass destruction (e.g. nuclear, biological, radiological and chemical weapons[1]). Any armament used in crimes, conflicts or wars are categorized as conventional weapons and includes small arms, defensive shields and light weapons, sea and land mines, as well as (non-weapons of mass destruction) bombs, shells, rockets, missiles and cluster munitions.[2] These weapons use explosive material based on chemical energy, as opposed to nuclear energy in nuclear weapons.[2][3]

The acceptable use of all types of conventional weapons in war time is governed by the Geneva Conventions. Certain types of conventional weapons are also regulated or prohibited under the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Others are prohibited under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Ottawa Treaty (also known as the Mine Ban Treaty) and Arms Trade Treaty.