CAT UXO
A repository for professionals working in the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) space.
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Description
Disclaimer: This website contains information about ordnance, explosives, and related items for educational and reference purposes only. The content should not be used for: (1) attempting self-guided disposal of explosive devices; (2) manufacturing explosive devices or components; (3) handling unexploded ordnance without proper training; (4) any illegal activities involving explosive materials.
CAT-UXO (Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance) is a repository of explosive ordnance (EO) information that is both a web-based platform and a mobile application. It is a collective awareness platform for unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive hazards.
The database is designed to help explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) professionals ("EOD operators, Military, Police, NGOs, divers, dog handlers, medics, and mine risk managers") identify dangerous munitions they might encounter in the field. However, the information provided by CAT-UXO can be repurposed for open-source investigations.
Based on our examination, CAT-UXO has 16 categories of EO, an additional related category for IED (Improvised Explosive Device) Incidents and a separate for Terrorist Groups. It has categorized hundreds of unique models of EO from various countries.
EO TYPES COVERED BY THE TOOL: Landmines, Submunitions, Grenades, Aircraft Bombs, Rockets, Missiles, Mortars, Projectiles, Firing Devices, Fuzes, Naval Devices, SALW, UCAV, AFV, Miscellaneous, IEDs, IED Incidents, Terrorist Groups
According to the tool provider, the data comes from:
Paid member contributors. Supporting CAT-UXO via paid membership allows members to contribute technical information on existing EO or contribute a new hazard to the online database.
For each unique model, the database provides images of the EO and a detailed description.
Some of the practical applications of this tool for open-source researchers are:
Visual Aids/ Visual Matching: Open-source researchers verifying conflict-related imagery can use the repository to check if any physical characteristics match or if they are similar.
Applicable technical specifications: Open-source researchers can find useful specific technical information (i.e. dimensions, colors, documented markings) to verify munitions identified in news reports or on social media platforms.
EO TYPES AND EXPLAINERS
CAT-UXO groups its information according to 16 EO Types. It also provides introductory information for some of these EO types geared toward beginner users. However, this information is not easy to find on the user interface. To find this information, click on EO Type and then click on the top results with the EO icon:
Click on the EO Type
On the landing page, click on the icon of the EO type you are searching for.
Click on the first result
If available for that category, click on the first result, with the icon identical to the EO type of icon. For example, you can see that the rocket icon looks the same as on the results page.
As of now, only these types of EO have introductory information, mostly sourced from Wikipedia: Landmines; Submunitions; Grenade (Hand Grenade and Projected Grenade); Rocket; Fuze (Delay Fuze, Pibd, (AWAF) All-Ways Acting Fuze, Firing Pin).
SEARCHING FOR EO
SEARCH BAR AND SEARCH QUERY
To get the best results, it is helpful to know how the search bar works. The search functionality is versatile. It operates on keyword-based retrieval, matching search queries against indexed fields.
It also handles logical combinations of attributes, such as “Chinese fuze” or “81mm mortar,” as well as exact model designations such as “type 58 landmine.” It returns results when keywords appear in either the description or title. Partial words (i.e. “frag” for fragmentation) will also return results.
The system also seems to search the description for physical characteristics (also known as identifiers) if available. "Identifiers" can refer to distinctive markings (manufacturer stamps, lot numbers), number or arrangement of holes or attachment points, grooves or bands on the casing, tail shape, or colors.
Example: Searching for an identifier such as "Yellow band" generated results of EO types containing that physical feature
TIPS FOR SEARCHING:
Terminology matters: Based on our own tests, the database appears to mostly index content using standardized military/technical naming conventions rather than casual language variations.
Example: “anti-tank” (the common EO term referring to a purpose or function of ordnance) returns more results than “anti tank” without the hyphen since it’s more likely to appear in formal descriptions.
Foreign Language Search: Based on our tests, it can search using the Cyrillic alphabet if the characters appear in the title or description.
DROP-DOWN FILTERING OPTIONS
The interface also uses GUI-driven filtering without Boolean operators. This allows users to refine searches further using a dropdown filtering menu rather than advanced search syntax.
An additional list of filtering options can be found in the expandables below.
Cost
Info on paid membership can be found here: https://cat-uxo.com/sign-up
You cannot sign up for a free account. Signing up for an account requires payment.
The version used for this test is both the public/free version and a paid version.
Important main differences between the public and paid account, are as follows:
Description
Basic description
Basic description + More technical information (i.e., diameter, length, fill, all-up weight (AUW), propellant, fill, fuze, function, warhead)
Introduction/Explainers
Basic description
Basic description + additional slideshow of information
Additional Member Contribution
Non accessible
Accessible (helpful for images sourced in social media and in conflict zones)
Associated EO
Accessible
Accessible
Level of difficulty
User interface difficulty is level 2 as searching and filtering are mostly intuitive
Requirements
Payment and login required for paid version. Technical subject matter knowledge may be helpful when using the tool.
Limitations
Note on Accuracy:
The Terms and Conditions state: "The information contained within this website is obtained from varying open-source information and individuals. The information is no way exhaustive or considered fully accurate and therefore qualified EOD trained persons should always adhere to authorised employers Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when working with explosive hazards." It is advisable to combine this tool with other similar tools to verify information.
Navigation inefficiency - The search bar functionality is limited to the landing page and search results page, and does not appear on other pages. This might disrupt research workflows when working on time-sensitive research.
Limited multilingual support - Insufficient foreign names or markings and local terminology for international search matching. This may be critical for those working with Soviet, Chinese, or any locally-manufactured ordnance with local designations.
Restricted filtering options - No filters for color, shape, and other potentially useful physical features, which may be helpful if beginners do not have a background in ordnance.
Images of intact EO vs. Remnants of EO – The site has limited images of EO on the battlefield or that are shown in fragments. Open-source investigators who look at social media to determine types of EO used in conflict are usually confronted with pieces of EO fragments or partial images. They are most likely seeing EO partially buried or obscured in conflict zones. It is helpful to filter based on what can be observed in this limited context, such as color, shape, and markings. However, to mitigate this, paid users can sometimes access additional information from contributors/other paid members, which may include social media images from conflict zones or images that show EO in partial form.
No offline functionality - Absence of an offline version creates challenges for field users with limited connectivity (unlike, for example, Bulletpicker.com)
It's unclear what quality requirements CAT-UXO has for contributors or how they review information before adding it to the database.
Possible Gaps in Country Coverage and Documentation - At the time of the current update, the tool covers about 71 manufacturing countries and approximately 165 countries where the EO are/were used. The tool has collated information from a representative list of conflict zones. However, it is possible that not all countries are equally documented. Some countries have more data than others.
Ethical Considerations
Users must use this weapon information responsibly and legally. Follow all site warnings and restrictions.
There are liability and safety considerations. The Terms and Conditions state that it does not teach or endorse EOD practices
Guide
No guides available at the moment.
Use cases:
Carlos Gonzales, Mike Yambo, and Jackline Macharia, "Kenyan Weapons Linked to Sudan's Civil War," Bellingcat, June 15, 2025.
Waters, Nick. "Investigating War Crimes: Banned and Restricted Weapons." Global Investigative Journalism Network, 2023.
Tool provider
Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance (CAT-UXO), UK
Advertising Trackers
Afton
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