We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Conventional Weapons?

By James Doehring
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,531
Share

Conventional weapons are weapons that do not cause mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) include nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. WMDs are a source of political controversy within and between nations. Many countries have signed treaties that outlaw the use of WMDs and some conventional weapons, such as anti-personnel landmines and incendiary weapons.

Modern conventional weapons generally refer to guns and chemical explosives. Guns fire solid projectiles that cause damage when they collide with an enemy target. Chemical explosives can be fired by infantry, tanks, aircraft and naval vessels and explode on contact.

WMDs are usually placed into three categories, one of which is nuclear. Nuclear weapons produce a tremendous amount of heat energy over a large area by splitting or fusing atomic nuclei. The only nuclear weapons used in warfare were those the United States dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War. Many leading world powers possess nuclear weapons today. A major foreign policy objective of many of these nations is to prevent the spread, or proliferation, of these weapons around the world.

A second type of WMD is chemical. Chemical weapons typically release a chemical agent that is directly harmful or lethal to humans in the area. They can also target the vegetation or animal life enemy forces depend on. Though many conventional weapons use chemical reactions to explode, chemical weapons do not depend on explosive force. Chemical weapons generally do not produce a disaster zone as large as that of nuclear weapons, but they are classified as WMDs because of the indiscriminate nature of their effects.

A final category of WMD is biological. Biological weapons involve harmful living agents, typically bacteria and viruses. These weapons can be genetically engineered to produce specific detrimental effects in an enemy. There are some shared characteristics between chemical and biological weapons, but because the latter could be spread from person to person, it has the potential to infect entire populations.

WMDs are often criticized because of the disproportionate level of damage they cause when used. Some conventional weapons, however, are criticized on the same grounds. Despite their wartime effects on soldiers, anti-personnel land mines often maim or kill civilians after a conflict has concluded. Similarly, incendiary bombs designed to set fires often cause many civilian casualties and destruction of property. For these reasons, many nations signed the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva, Switzerland in 1980.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-conventional-weapons.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.