GLOSSARY
Common words and terms related to Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Note: Terminology varies by nation, service branch and doctrine. The alternatives listed below reflect widely encountered usage in multinational and coalition environments.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Anti-handling Device (AHD)
Definition:
A component or feature designed to function if a device is disturbed or tampered with.
Common alternatives:
-
Anti-disturbance device – Various
-
Booby-trap device – Various
-
Tamper switch – Various
-
Victim Operated (VO) – Various
Ammunition Technical Officer
Definition:
A qualified military specialist responsible for the technical management, inspection, safety and support of ammunition and explosives.
Common alternatives:
-
Ammunition Technical Warrant Officer – UK
-
Ammunition Technician Officer – Commonwealth
-
Ordnance Officer (Ammunition) – Various
Advanced High Risk Search Teams
Definition:
Specialist teams trained to conduct systematic searches in environments where an explosive threat is suspected or assessed to be high risk.
Common alternatives:
-
High Risk Search Teams – UK
-
Specialist Search Teams – Various
-
Advanced Search Teams – Various
Ammunition Technician
Definition:
A qualified specialist responsible for the inspection, maintenance, handling and technical management of ammunition and explosives.
Common alternatives:
-
Ammunition Technician (AT) – UK
-
Ammunition Specialist – Various
-
Ordnance Technician (Ammunition) – Various
B
Bomb Disposal Officer
Definition:
A trained specialist responsible for the safe identification, assessment, and disposal of explosive devices.
Common alternatives:
-
EOD Officer – Various
-
EOD Operator - Various
-
IEDD Operator – Various
-
C-IED Operator – Various
Bomb Data Centre
Definition:
A specialist unit or capability responsible for the collection, analysis and management of information relating to explosive devices, incidents and associated technical data.
Common alternatives:
-
IED Intelligence Cell – Various
-
Explosive Incident Analysis Cell – Various
-
Technical Intelligence Cell – Various
C
Centre of Excellence – IED Madrid
Definition:
A specialised international centre based in Madrid that provides training, doctrine development, and knowledge-sharing for Counter-IED operations.
Common alternatives:
-
COE – IED Madrid – NATO / International
-
Counter-IED Centre of Excellence – Various
-
IED Training Centre – Various
Counter-IED (C-IED)
Definition:
The full range of measures used to prevent, detect, mitigate, neutralise and exploit IED threats across their entire lifecycle.
Common alternatives:
-
Counter-IED operations – Various
-
IED defeat – US
-
C-IED capability – Various
Clearance Diver
Definition:
A qualified military diver trained to locate, identify and dispose of explosive ordnance in the maritime environment.
Common alternatives:
-
Mine Clearance Diver – UK
-
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Diver – Various
-
Naval EOD Diver – Various
D
De-armer / Dearmer
Definition:
A precision tool designed to defeat or disable fuzing systems or internal mechanisms with a controlled effect.
Common alternatives:
-
Firing-chain defeat tool – Various
-
Initiation-system disruptor – Various
Defence Against Terrorism – Ankara, Turkey
Definition:
A specialised military and civilian training and research centre in Ankara, Turkey, focused on Counter-IED, counter-terrorism, and related defence measures.
Common alternatives:
-
DAT Ankara – Turkey
-
Defence Against Terrorism Centre – Various
-
Counter-Terrorism Training Centre – Various
Disruptor
Definition:
A tool that delivers a controlled energetic or projectile effect in order to physically disrupt key components of an explosive device/IED.
Common alternatives:
-
Disruption tool – Various
-
Projectile disruptor – Various
-
Water disruptor – Various
E
Electronic Warfare
Definition:
The strategic use of the electromagnetic spectrum to detect, disrupt, or protect against adversary communications, sensors, or electronic devices.
Common alternatives:
-
EW – Various
-
Electromagnetic Operations – NATO / International
-
Signals Warfare – Various
Electronic Warfare Countermeasures
Definition:
Techniques, devices, or procedures used to protect personnel, equipment, or systems from adversary electronic warfare threats.
Common alternatives:
-
EW Countermeasures – Various
-
Electronic Protection Measures – NATO / International
-
Counter-EW Systems – Various
Explosive Ordnance (EO)
Definition:
All munitions and devices containing explosives, including military ammunition, improvised devices and unexploded ordnance.
Common alternatives:
-
Explosive hazards – Various
-
Ammunition and explosives – Various
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Definition:
The specialist capability responsible for the identification, assessment, render-safe, recovery and disposal of explosive ordnance.
Common alternatives:
-
Bomb disposal – Various
-
IEDD (Improvised Explosive Device Disposal) – Various
-
Ammunition & explosives disposal – Commonwealth
Exploitation
Definition:
The systematic collection and analysis of device components, materials and construction methods following neutralisation.
Common alternatives:
-
Technical exploitation – Various
-
Post-incident exploitation – Various
-
Device exploitation – Various
-
Weapon Technical Intelligence/WTI – Various
H
High Risk Search Teams
Definition:
Specialist teams trained to conduct systematic searches in areas where there is a suspected or confirmed explosive threat.
Common alternatives:
-
HRST – UK / NATO
-
Specialist Search Teams – Various
-
Advanced Search Teams – Various
Home‑Made Explosive (HME)
Definition:
An explosive substance manufactured from commercially available or improvised materials, rather than from standard military or industrial explosives.
Common alternatives:
-
Homemade explosive – Various
-
Improvised explosive material – Various
-
Improvised explosive substance – Various
Human Intelligence – Oradea, Romania
Definition:
A specialised centre in Oradea, Romania, focused on training and operations for the collection and analysis of intelligence derived from human sources.
Common alternatives:
-
HUMINT Oradea – NATO / International
-
Human Intelligence Centre – Various
-
Human Source Intelligence Training – Various
I
IEDD Operator
Definition:
A qualified operator trained specifically to deal with improvised explosive devices.
Common alternatives:
-
EOD operator – Various
-
C-IED operator – Various
-
Bomb disposal operator – Various
International Mine Action Standards
Definition:
A set of guidelines and best practices developed to ensure safe, effective, and consistent mine action operations worldwide.
Common alternatives:
-
IMAS – NATO / International
-
Mine Action Standards – Various
-
Global Mine Clearance Standards – Various
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
Definition:
A device fabricated in an improvised manner and incorporating destructive, lethal or disruptive components, such as noxious gas, pyrotechnic, or incendiary substances.
Common alternatives:
-
Improvised bomb – Various
-
Home-made explosive device – Various
Improvised Explosive Device Countermeasures (IEDC)
Definition:
Techniques, tools, and procedures used to reduce the risk, detect, or mitigate the effects of improvised explosive devices.
Common alternatives:
-
IED Countermeasures – Various
-
Counter-IED Measures – NATO / International
-
IED Mitigation Techniques – Various
Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD)
Definition:
The specialist capability and procedures used to identify, assess, and render safe improvised explosive devices.
Common alternatives:
-
Bomb disposal – Various
-
EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) – Various
-
IED neutralisation – Various
Initiator / Detonator
Definition:
The component that provides the initial explosive or energetic output to initiate the main charge.
Common alternatives:
-
Blasting cap – Various
-
Primary detonator – Various
-
Initiation device – Various
M
Manual Neutralisation
Definition:
The physical access and defeat of a device by an operator, normally using specialist tools and personal protective equipment.
Common alternatives:
-
Hands-on neutralisation – Various
-
Close-access render safe – Various
-
Direct intervention – Various
-
Manual techniques – Various
Metropolitan Explosives Officer
Definition:
A law enforcement officer trained to safely identify, assess, and dispose of explosive devices within urban or metropolitan environments.
Common alternatives:
-
Explosives Officer – Various
-
Police Bomb Technician – Various
-
Metropolitan EOD Officer – Various
Military Engineering – Ingolstadt, Germany
Definition:
A specialised centre in Ingolstadt, Germany, providing training and doctrine in military engineering, including explosive ordnance management and field construction.
Common alternatives:
-
Military Engineering Centre – Germany
-
Combat Engineering Training – Various
-
EOD & Engineering Training Centre – NATO / International
P
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Definition:
Specialist protective equipment worn by EOD operators to mitigate blast, fragmentation and over-pressure effects.
Common alternatives:
-
EOD suit – Various
-
Bomb suit – Various
-
Protective ensemble – Various
Post-Blast Investigation (PBI)
Definition:
The investigation and technical examination of a scene following an explosive event.
Common alternatives:
-
Post-blast analysis – Various
-
Blast scene investigation – Various
-
Explosive incident investigation – Various
R
Remote-controlled Vehicle (ROV)
Definition:
A ground robotic platform used to remotely inspect, access and deploy tools against suspected explosive threats.
Common alternatives:
-
Robot – Various
-
EOD robot – Various
-
UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) – Various
Render Safe Procedure (RSP)
Definition:
A specific technique or method used to neutralise an explosive device so that it can be safely handled, recovered or disposed of.
Common alternatives:
-
Render-safe action – Various
-
Defeat procedure – US
-
Neutralisation procedure – Various
S
Secondary Device
Definition:
An additional explosive device intended to target responders, operators or follow-on activity.
Common alternatives:
-
Follow-on device – Various
-
Secondary IED – Various
-
Secondary threat – Various
Stand-off Neutralisation
Definition:
Neutralisation of a device from a distance using remote tools, robotics or projected disruption systems.
Common alternatives:
-
Remote neutralisation – Various
-
Remote intervention – Various
-
Distance defeat – Various
T
Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs)
Definition:
Established methods and approaches used by military or specialist units to carry out operations effectively and consistently.
Common alternatives:
-
TTP – NATO / International
-
Operational Procedures – Various
-
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – Various
W
Weapons Intelligence Teams
Definition:
Specialist teams responsible for collecting, analysing, and reporting information on weapons, explosive devices, and related threats to support operational planning and mitigation.
Common alternatives:
-
WIT – NATO / International
-
Weapons Analysis Teams – Various
-
Ordnance Intelligence Teams – Various
