The terms conventional weapons or conventional arms generally refer to weapons that are in relatively wide use that are not weapons of mass destruction (e.g. nuclear , biological , and chemical weapons ). Conventional weapons include small arms and light weapons, sea and land mines , as well as (non-weapons of mass destruction) bombs , shells , rockets , missiles , and cluster munitions . These weapons use explosive material based on chemical energy , as opposed to nuclear energy in nuclear weapons .
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 Ottawa Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty) and Arms Trade Treaty .
External links [ edit ]