weapons of mass destruction

Definition/Scope: (JP 1-02) Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high-yield explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or propelling the weapon where such means is a separable and divisible part of the weapon. (AAP-6) A weapon that is capable of a high order of destruction and of being used in such a manner as to destroy people, infrastructure or other resources on a large scale. According to the 9/11 Act, “the term `weapons of mass destruction information' means “information that could reasonably be expected to assist in the development, proliferation, or use of a weapon of mass destruction (including a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapon) that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization against the United States, including information about the location of any stockpile of nuclear materials that could be exploited for use in such a weapon that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization against the United States.''

Use:

mass destruction weapon

Acronym:

WMD

Broader Terms:

counterproliferation
National Counterintelligence Strategy
Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination
US Strategic Command, Combatant Command, Unified

Narrower Terms:

biological weapon
CBRN
CBRNE
CBRNE Consequence Management
forensic analysis
Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 7
Non-State Actor
weapons of mass destruction - civil support teams

Related Terms:

20th Support Command
CBRN operations
Chemical and Biological Division
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives consequence management
counterterrorism
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Intelligence Community
Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group
Mutual Assured Destruction
National Military Command System
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
on-scene commander
Operations Support Command
sensitive site exploitation
terrorism