UXO
Military abbreviation · Military Term
| Stands for | Unexploded ordnance |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
UXO stands for Unexploded ordnance, a military term abbreviation.
Bombs, shells, grenades, mines and other munitions that were fired, dropped or emplaced but failed to explode, remaining dangerous for decades after a conflict ends.
Example: Farmers in Laos still find UXO from the 1960s and 1970s in their rice fields.
Usage notes
World War II bombs are still discovered regularly in Germany and the United Kingdom, forcing evacuations. Laos remains heavily contaminated with unexploded cluster submunitions dropped during the Vietnam War era. Cleanup is handled by explosive ordnance disposal teams and humanitarian demining groups.
Related abbreviations
More military term abbreviations
- TS/SCI – Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information
- TTP – Tactics, techniques and procedures
- UA – Unauthorized absence
- UCMJ – Uniform Code of Military Justice
- UNREP – Underway replenishment
- USO – United Service Organizations
- VBIED – Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device
- VBSS – Visit, board, search and seizure
- WARNO – Warning order
- WIA – Wounded in action
- WMD – Weapons of mass destruction
- XO – Executive officer