CAT UXO

Tool Description : A specialist open-source database providing information on unexploded ordnance (UXO), explosive remnants of war (ERW), mines, munitions, and other explosive hazards.

CAT UXO

Quick Overview

URL

https://cat-uxo.com/

What it does

Provides searchable information on UXO, mines, munitions, IEDs and other explosive hazards.

How to use it

Search by hazard type, item, incident or other available categories and compare results with other sources.

Cost

Partially Free.

Account required

No for general browsing. Yes for additional member/technical content.

A mixture of analytics, application/session-security and Stripe payment cookies.

Ownership

A registered UK private company with Rachel Stevens, Richard Stevens, and Sophia Stevens listed as Directors.

Use in Reporting

Supports identification, contextualisation and verification of explosive hazards, munitions and UXO-related incidents.

What does CAT UXO do?

CAT UXO (Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance) brings together information from open sources and contributors to create a global database of explosive hazards. Its searchable categories include landmines, submunitions, grenades, aircraft bombs, rockets, missiles, mortars, projectiles, fuzes, naval devices, SALW, UCAVs, AFVs and IEDs, as well as incidents and terrorist-group information.

The stated purpose is to improve awareness of explosive hazards and reduce the risk of injury or death for people working in or travelling through affected areas.

The lowdown: It’s most useful as a specialist reference and verification source when an investigation involves an unidentified munition, suspected UXO, mine, explosive device or historic explosive-hazard incident.

Note: CAT UXO explicitly warns that its database is not exhaustive or fully accurate. It should therefore be treated as supporting intelligence rather than definitive technical identification.

How to Use:

1. Search for the suspected item, munition, hazard type, incident or other relevant identifier.

2. Review photographs, descriptions, technical information and related database entries to develop or test an identification.

3. Cross-check the result against authoritative sources, imagery and qualified technical advice before reporting an identification as confirmed.

Cost

Free
Partially Free
Paid

Data Processing

Account Required:

No for general browsing. Yes for additional member/technical content.

Cookies:

CAT UXO uses an application session cookie (cat_uxo_session) and CSRF security token (XSRF-TOKEN). Google Analytics (_gid) is also present for website analytics. Stripe cookies were observed and appear to support payment, security, fraud-prevention and cookie-consent functions.

Use in Reporting

CAT UXO can be used to:

Identify and contextualise suspected UXO, mines, munitions and other explosive hazards.
Compare an unidentified object against documented explosive-hazard examples.
Research historical or reported explosive-hazard incidents.
Corroborate findings from imagery, military, governmental and specialist EOD sources.
Document relevant terminology, classifications, photographs and database references.
Support investigations involving conflict zones, military activity, historic battlefields or suspected explosive remnants.
Provide supporting context when assessing reports or imagery involving explosive hazards.

As a real-world example, an ICJ document in proceedings re Ukraine v Russia cites CAT UXO's “SPM Limpet Mine” entry as a source alongside Ukrainian forensic evidence and witness testimony concerning a limpet mine discovered in the Kharkiv region. The CAT-UXO page was specifically listed in the judges' materials.

Capabilities

Limitations

Searchable database covering a wide range of explosive hazards.

CAT-UXO states that its information is not exhaustive or fully accurate.

Includes photographs and information that can assist with object comparison.

Database entries may originate from varying open sources and individual contributors.

Covers UXO, mines, munitions, IEDs and related incidents.

A database match does not constitute definitive technical identification.

Can provide useful historical and geographical context.

Some technical information and downloads require membership.

Useful for corroborating open-source imagery and reporting.

User-contributed material may require independent verification.

Allows users to contribute information to the database

Summary

CAT UXO fits best during the discovery, enrichment, analysis and verification stages of the OSINT workflow. Investigators can use it after identifying a suspected munition, explosive hazard, UXO, mine or related incident to establish the identity, characteristics and wider context of the item.

It’s particularly useful for image-based investigations involving military equipment, conflict zones and unexploded ordnance.

Ownership

Owned and operated via CAT UXO Ltd, a registered UK private company (Company No. 07919861) founded in 2012. Public registry data from Companies House lists Rachel Stevens, Richard Stevens, and Sophia Stevens as Directors (possible family team).

Ethical Considerations

Treat CAT UXO entries as indicators, not definitive identification.
Do not approach, move, handle or interfere with suspected explosive devices.
Verify significant identifications using authoritative or qualified EOD sources.
Avoid publishing precise information that could unnecessarily expose people to explosive hazards.
Do not use CAT-UXO information as a substitute for authorised EOD procedures.