Initiator

Definition

Starts the explosive train: blasting cap or detonator (electric or non-electric), safety fuse, nitrocellulose fuse, or shock tube.

Related terms

Country-Made Bomb (Desi / Sutli Bomb): Hand-thrown device built around KClO3 plus sulphur (or KNO3 plus S plus C, or amorphous P plus KClO3), wrapped in jute, paper...
Four-Component IED Model: Initiator, main charge, switch (trigger), power source. Plus the container or casing that confines the blast and supplies shrapnel. Every IED maps...
IED (Improvised Explosive Device): Any explosive device built outside the military or commercial supply chain. The explosive, the trigger or the casing (often all three) is...
Main Charge: The bulk explosive. Low explosive (black powder, KClO3 mixtures) for desi bombs; high explosive (RDX, TNT, PETN, ANFO) for pressure-cooker, tiffin and...
Render-Safe Procedure (RSP): NSG / state BDS actions to neutralise a suspect device without detonating it. Tools: disruptors (water-cannon, PAN), portable X-ray, robots (DRDO Daksh,...
Switch (Trigger): Closes the firing circuit. Time-delay, command-wired, radio-controlled (RCIED), or victim-operated (pressure plate, tripwire, anti-handling).
VBIED / SBBIED: Vehicle-Borne IED (truck, car, scooter) and Suicide Bomber-Borne IED (belt, vest, body-worn). Pulwama 2019 was a VBIED; Rajiv Gandhi 1991 was an...

Country-Made Bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)Starts the explosive train: blasting cap or detonator (electric or non-electric), safety fuse, nitrocellulose fuse, or shock tube.