Craft and improvised weapons

Improvised and craft-produced weapons have become a ubiquitous feature of modern warfare, crime and terrorism. From the role of weaponized commercial drones in conflicts in Myanmar, Sudan and Ukraine to the use of ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms by criminals and terrorists in Africa, the Americas and Europe, improvised weapons are increasingly complementing and sometimes even replacing industrially produced ones.

The spread and evolution of improvised weapons challenge established international, regional and national arms control systems. UNIDIR examines international and regional dynamics in the illicit production of improvised conventional weapons, particularly small arms and light weapons, improvised explosive devices and uncrewed aerial systems, providing recommendations to strengthen international, regional and national frameworks to counter the threats posed by improvised conventional weapons.