Since 1970, armed groups have hit dozens of civilian aircraft with man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), killing more than 1,000 civilians. The international community has taken numerous steps to reduce illicit proliferation, but armed groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continue to acquire and use these systems.

The Small Arms Survey held an online event on Friday, 26 April 2024, organized by its Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) project, and marking the launch of its publication, Persistent Perils: The Illicit Proliferation of MANPADS in the Middle East and North Africa.

Improvements in technology and information sharing have transformed PMFs from crude, impractical homemade devices of limited value to most criminals into highly functional weapons that are increasingly viewed as viable substitutes for factory-built firearms. The effectiveness of national and international small arms control regimes are gradually being eroded; the lack of serial numbers on such weapons, for example, undermines tracing efforts that have been a cornerstone of investigations. 

The following Weapons ID Sheets present comprehensive visual identification information for some of the most common small arms and light weapons.

Anti-materiel rifles

• Barrett M82

Assault rifles

The purpose of the North Korean Small Arms and Light Weapons: Recognition Guide is to increase the capacity of UN investigators and government officials to detect and interdict illicit transfers of small arms and light weapons by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its affiliates by enabling key stakeholders to:

The Survey developed a set of firearm identification cards in Spanish—similar to the standard English version— with a focus on weapons more common in Central and South America. These Spanish-language cards were published in partnership with CERAC.

Check out also our other sets of playing cards:

The Survey's Small Arms ID Cards are meant to support the visual identification of a selection of firearms commonly used in contemporary armed conflict and crime. Accurate reporting on small arms and light weapons is essential for research, analysis, and, ultimately, policymaking aimed at curbing their illicit proliferation.

'Agence France Presse estimates that in Burkina Faso alone, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have killed nearly 300 civilians and soldiers since 2018. The Small Arms Survey documents the trafficking of IED components in the Sahel and West Africa, having undertaken fieldwork in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, and Niger, to date. By considering the regional dimensions of the trafficking in question, the aim is to be able to establish an evidence base for developing a regional response...'

This blog post was published as part of the Global Partnership on Small Arms project, which was managed by the Small Arms Survey and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

The Global Partnership on Small Arms was a platform where stakeholders engaged in reducing or preventing illicit arms trafficking were able to interact; exchange information, experience, and knowledge; and give feedback to further their shared goals.