IAC-Council-SALW

ASIPSS                   
Center For
NonProliferation

Small Arms and Light Weapons

Small Arms and Light Weapons, hereafter referred to as SALW are categorized by a 1997 UN panel decision that the level of portability is a key characteristic of defining SALW. This includes weapons that fire a projectile and could be carried by an individual, small number of people, or transported by pack animal or light vehicle, SALW are determined primarily by numbers and portability. The ease of use, versatility and mobility in terms of operation and trade make SALW one of the most critical and effective categories of weapons used by militaries and militias around the world, making the regulation of their trade vital.

The most commonly produced and sold small arms include; revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, assault rifles, submachine guns and light machine guns. The most common light weapons include; heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems; portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS); and mortar of calibers of less than 100 mm. The primary the exporting countries of SALW are; Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, North Korea, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.