Archives
IRANIAN AM-50 12.7 × 99 MM ANTI-MATERIEL RIFLE
For this Technical Report, a CAR field investigation team disassembled a recovered AM-50 anti-materiel rifle and comprehensively documented its component parts. This report provides a technical analysis of each of these components, highlighting key identifying features and yielding new insight into Iran’s weapon manufacturing practices.
DEVELOPING RFID SOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT AND POST-DIVERSION TRACING
As part of the European Union-funded ‘Field Forensic Firearms Exploitation’ (F3E) project, CAR and implementing partner TTE-Europe GmbH are developing innovative solutions to enhance the capability of states to manage and trace SALW, using radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders. This report discusses the research and development activities conducted during 2020.
PROCUREMENT NETWORKS BEHIND ISLAMIC STATE IMPROVISED WEAPON PROGRAMMES
The findings of an 18-month investigation mapping the human and financial networks behind the global procurement of goods and technologies for Islamic State weapons production. Shows how Islamic State procurers concealed their efforts behind front companies, pseudonymous communications and proxy purchasers.
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DIVERSION DIGEST – ISSUE 3
An analysis of: Conflict Armament Research’s trace response archive; the processes that underpin tracing; and tracing as a tool to combat diversion.
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THE IED THREAT IN BAHRAIN
This report shows that external supply chains have provided components for the construction of IEDS to Bahraini militants. This materiel is identical to materiel captured from Houthi forces in Yemen and demonstrates Bahraini militants’ capability to manufacture explosives and IEDs domestically.
DIVERSION DIGEST – ISSUE 2
This second edition of CAR’s Diversion Digest analyses a sample of end-user documents in CAR’s archive that relate to actual deliveries of conventional weapons and ammunition. The analysis finds increased risk of illicit arms transfers due to “deeply inconsistent” export certification practices.
CONVENTIONAL AMMUNITION DIVERSION
This technical report addresses the need for a supply chain security approach to detect and react to cases of diversion of conventional ammunition. Based on CAR’s field data, this report profiles how ammunition is commonly diverted, outlines the limitations in how international arms control instruments address this issue, and details the mutually reinforcing control measures that make up ‘ammunition supply chain security.’
MINES AND IEDs EMPLOYED BY HOUTHI FORCES ON YEMEN’S WEST COAST
The report provides an extensive overview of landmines and IEDs being employed by Houthi forces on the west coast of Yemen. CAR’s investigations reveal that a significant portion of landmines are improvised and produced, domestically, by Houthi forces.
DIVERSION DIGEST – ISSUE 1
This first edition of CAR’s Diversion Digest presents a statistical analysis of how weapons diversion occurs. It looks at more than a thousand cases where weapons and ammunition have been captured, lost, stolen or otherwise diverted to illicit actors, and considers how the international Arms Trade Treaty might address these main causes of diversion.
ISLAMIC STATE RECOILLESS LAUNCHER SYSTEMS
In 2017, Islamic State forces deployed four different models of improvised recoilless launcher well suited for urban warfare. This report studies the features and components of these sophisticated inventions.