Assessing technologies to counter the
diversion of small arms and light weapons
Sarah Grand-Clément (UNIDIR)
PROJECT D-TECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Based on a series of stakeholder engagements, this paper examines the relevance and appli-
cability of 14 technologies to support or strengthen eorts to counter the diversion of small
arms and light weapons (SALW). The technologies examined are: 2D codes, chemical encoding,
DNA coding, document authentication, electronic seals, GNSS and mobile tracking, near-eld
communication, radio-frequency identication, sensors, Internet of Things, distributed ledger
technology, big data analysis, natural language processing, and computer vision.
All technologies were assessed as having potential relevance in helping to counter SALW
diversion. The types of technologies identied as most relevant tended to dier depending on
the life cycle stage (i.e., pre-export, transfer or post-delivery) and counter-diversion element
(i.e., prevention, detection or identication), with technologies better suited at detecting or
identifying diversion rather than preventing its occurrence. However, because the choice of a
specic technology should be based on context and need, this paper does not recommend
specic technologies, or a combination thereof, to help counter diversion.
Infrastructural and cost requirements were assessed as posing the highest barriers to the
successful implementation of the technologies. Additionally, the adoption of a technology will
also necessitate overcoming several systemic barriers. These include fragmentation among
the multiple actors involved in SALW, practicalities of technology development and adoption,
lack of infrastructure (digital, physical, regulatory) surrounding the technology, cost of tech
-
nology, national security considerations, lack of sucient knowledgeable personnel, and need
for data and data management.
The paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of possible options which could be undertaken
to overcome or mitigate these barriers, including strengthening international and regional
collaboration and inter-agency cooperation, building up the evidence and knowledge base,
reinforcing or establishing the appropriate physical, regulatory and digital infrastructure, and
undertaking institutional capacity-building and individual training.
June 2024
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