Section 2. CAF-Issued Weapons and Ammunition
4. Canada is obligated to review new weapons, means and methods of warfare for compliance with LOAC before they are authorized for CAF use. CAF commanders and members can have confidence that CAF-issued weapons and ammunition are lawful for use in their intended circumstances.24
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Section 5. Captured, Improvised or Altered Weapons and Ammunition
8. During the conduct of hostilities, CAF members may capture weapons and ammunition from enemy forces. Operational circumstances may also lead CAF members to improvise or alter weapons and ammunition.
9. In normal circumstances, commanders should seek support from a LEGAD before authorizing the use of captured, improvised or altered weapons and ammunition. However, subject to orders, commanders may temporarily authorize the use of captured, improvised or altered weapons and ammunition without a formal legal review if urgent battlefield circumstances so require. They may only do so if satisfied that such use would comply with LOAC as set out in this chapter. For example, a commander would be required to deny authorization to use a weapon that has been altered for the purpose of increasing suffering.27
24 AP I Art 36.
27 AP I Art 36; DM/CDS Directive Article 36 Legal Review of Weapons.
Office of the Judge Advocate General, National Defence Headquarters, The Soldier’s Handbook on the Law of Armed Conflict Applicable to Land Warfare (National Defence, September 2025) chapter 6 https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/policies-standards/legal-policies-directives/soldier-handbook-law-armed-conflict-land-warfare/ch-6-weapons-ammunition.html
