Name: The C-5M Super Galaxy: Defying Limits in Global Aviation
Uploaded: 2023-07-24T19:00:00+00:00
Description: The C-5 Galaxy, vital to America's airlift operations, retains 80% of its structural lifespan despite prolonged use.

Meet the record-breaking C5M Super Galaxy! Its unmatched cargo capabilities and impressive resilience have rewritten aviation history.

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The C-5 Galaxy, an iconic titan of global aviation, has played a pivotal role in America&#39;s strategic airlift operations for generations. Despite the challenges posed by prolonged usage, recent tests have showcased the remarkable durability of the C-5 fleet, with a staggering 80% of its structural lifespan still intact. Instead of retiring these colossal workhorses, a visionary proposal by <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/general-dynamics-lockheed-martin-army-jammer" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/general-dynamics-lockheed-martin-army-jammer">Lockheed Martin</a> in September 1998 paved the way for a remarkable transformation, turning the aging C-5s into cutting-edge powerhouses with modern avionics and engines. The result? The awe-inspiring C-5M Super Galaxy – a record-breaking marvel that stands tall among the giants of the skies.The C-5M Super Galaxy&#39;s sheer scale and power are nothing short of astonishing. To put its dimensions into perspective, this behemoth surpasses two-and-a-half times the length of an NBA basketball court. Rising as high as a six-story building, its wingspan stretches beyond half the length of an American football field. With a maximum takeoff weight equivalent to approximately 210 large sedans, the C-5M is primed to carry colossal loads across great distances.A distinctive feature that sets the C-5M apart is its cavernous cargo compartment, enabling it to transport a staggering range of equipment and machinery. From the 74-ton mobile scissors bridge to two mighty <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/combat-tech/season-2/ep-1-m1a1-abrams-leopard-2-challenger-2-vs-russian-armor-how-are-western-tanks-going-to-help-ukraine" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/combat-tech/season-2/ep-1-m1a1-abrams-leopard-2-challenger-2-vs-russian-armor-how-are-western-tanks-going-to-help-ukraine">M1 Abrams tanks</a>, this beast can handle almost any air-transportable combat equipment the Army needs. The C-5M Super Galaxy takes pride in being a dependable ally for military operations worldwide.The evolution of the C-5 Galaxy into the C-5M Super Galaxy marks a pivotal moment in aviation history. It demonstrates the significance of investing in modernization rather than discarding proven assets. Lockheed Martin&#39;s foresight and innovation revitalized an aging fleet, setting a precedent for future advancements in aviation technology.As the sun sets on one era and rises on another, the C-5M Super Galaxy stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination. Its transformation from a reliable workhorse to the ultimate record breaker showcases the unlimited potential of aviation engineering. With the C-5M Super Galaxy leading the charge, the future of global aviation looks brighter than ever before, promising more milestones and unprecedented achievements in the skies above.

The C-5 Galaxy, vital to America's airlift operations, retains 80% of its structural lifespan despite prolonged use.

The C-5M Super Galaxy: Defying Limits in Global Aviation

How the C5M Super Galaxy broke 89 world records

Watch Military Mechanics videos on Interting Engineering. Military Mechanics will delve into the world of defense forces and have a look at the technology that is used to aid in their mission. A look from the past to the future of warfare.

Military Mechanics Videos | Interesting Engineering Original Videos

Anti-ship missiles are an important part of any country's armed forces armory. These missiles are a huge threat to surface ships, which have very distinct silhouettes whilst sailing around the oceans.

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There are many dates in history that mark the turning point in military history. But one of the most crucial was May 4, 1982. On this day, the British Type 42 guided-missile destroyer, the HMS Sheffield, was dealt a fatal wound by an Argentinian aircraft-deployed anti-ship missile. Even though the HMS Sheffield had very advanced radar and ship defense systems, they were not enough to stop the most advanced anti-ship weapons of the time. The missile in question, the French-made Exocet, was able to penetrate the defenses of the Royal Navy task force and send one of their most advanced warships to Davy Jones’ locker.Fast forward to 2022, and the mighty Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskova, was equally defeated by the Ukrainian-developed, aptly-named R-360 “Neptune” missile.Named after the capital of Russia, this ship was the pride of the Russian fleet. She had a crew of about 500 people and was fully stocked with anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and air defense missiles. Yet, despite having the best air defense systems in the fleet, the Moskova could do nothing to save itself from a pair of relatively cheap anti-ship missiles. The missiles, developed by Ukraine in 2014, were based on the Soviet X-35 Zvezda missile and incorporated significantly improved range and electronics. Specifically designed to hunt and destroy targets with displacements over 5,000 tons, these missiles can be launched from land-based, surface-based, or air-based launchers. The missile has an updated target-seeking device, altimeter, starting engine, wings and fins, gyroscopes, and navigation system, too, meaning that once a ship is in its sights, its fate is already sealed. Like other anti-ship missiles, the “Neptune” skims the sea surface at high speed at the height of around 150 feet (50 meters) or as low as 15 feet (5 meters).This makes them very difficult to detect at long range, reducing the ability of a target ship to respond before it is too late. Ships are lumbering beasts in comparison, and unless they can counter with their own missiles or automated guns, they have little hope of getting out of the way. Officially adopted in 2020, the Neptune missile cost around $40 million to develop. By Western standards, that is a genuine bargain. While the missile comes in a variety of flavors, even its most advanced and expensive versions cost around $1.5 million apiece. To put that into perspective, this missile is able to destroy vessels that cost significant multiples of that. Talk about asymmetric warfare. The loss of Moskova was a very real morale boost for Ukraine, but it also raised eyebrows around the world. This is especially the case with reports that China is developing its own anti-ship missiles, like the Dong Feng 21.To this end, many nations are now working feverishly to find ways to keep their surface fleets safe from weapons like the “Neptune.” Until reliable systems can be developed, they will remain vulnerable to these relatively cheap ship killers.

There are many dates in history that mark the turning point in military history. But one of the most crucial was May 4, 1982.

The Future of Cruise Missiles: What You Need to Know

The future of cruise missiles: What you need to know

The infantry has been the literal beating heart of any army throughout history.

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The infantry has been the literal beating heart of any army throughout history. While other units like cavalry or tanks tend to get all the glory, you can only take and hold a position with soldiers on foot. However the infantry is often the most numerous part of an army, but it is also the most vulnerable. Soldiers have had different kinds of personal armor over the years, but the invention of guns made personal armor ineffective. This is one of the reasons that armored fighting vehicles, such as tanks, were first developed to cross the war-torn battlefields of World War I. Yet, even with a tank’s impressive armor and firepower, the infantry is the only way, ultimately, to win a war. Military strategists quickly realized that what was needed was a vehicle that had the durability and protection of tanks and more room to move troops into the middle of the battle. And so the concept of mechanized infantry was born.Armored personnel carriers (APCs) soon appeared during the Second World War and proved incredibly effective at increasing the survivability and effectiveness of an army’s precious troops. No longer would they need to cover a lot of open ground unprotected. But these early APCs lacked the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the heaviest enemy battle tanks. A new kind of vehicle was needed: the infantry fighting vehicle, or IFV for short. First developed by the Soviets, the Americans quickly followed suit with the development of the now-famous Bradley IFV. During the “Cold War,” added threats to soldiers came from potential nuclear fallout and chemical and biological attacks, for which troops also needed adequate protection. To this end, the first iteration of the Bradley, the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle was developed, which combined the properties of an armored personnel carrier (APC) and a light tank.It proved a great success and has since cemented its role in the United States Army to the present day. But even the impressive M2 and M3 are now aging and in dire need of an upgrade. But how can you improve on perfection? Well, hybridization might be the answer. The U.S. Army is looking into whether a hybrid electric and combustion engine would improve the already impressive Bradley IFV. This will enhance its fuel efficiency and provide other benefits like reducing its heat signature and offering a “silent running“ mode. Hybridization will also reduce the number of moving parts needed for the machines, with knock-on benefits of reduced maintenance time and costs. Both of these would prove invaluable on the battlefield for obvious reasons. The new Bradley, called the BHEV, is currently undergoing evaluation and, if successful, could provide the basis for the next iteration of this already highly impressive piece of military hardware.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle which is known for its survivability, mobility, and lethality is now adding hybrid electrification to its attributes.

The Future of War - Bradley HYBRID Electric Vehicles

The future of war - Bradley HYBRID electric vehicles

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter has passed the initial operational test and evaluation phase of its development ahead of its entry into service in 2022.

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The US Marine CH-53K King Stallion helicopter is worthy of its name.

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion: The biggest helicopter in the US military

The US Marine CH-53K king stallion helicopter is worthy of its name

These minehunters are designed to detect the latest mine threats – and reduce the risk to the lives of those searching for them.

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Drone technology has been commonly associated with military aviation. Drones or remote-controlled aircraft like UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) have gained tremendous popularity over the past few months due to their high performance in the Russia-Ukraine war. As a result, different military branches are testing this technology. Many defense contractors have started working on ground systems to get effective outcomes. Specifically, the navies are interested in this technology to carry out their multiple crewless high-sea missions. But the point is, can drone technology be successfully used in naval wars? This video by Military Mechanics gives insight into the Crewless Mine Hunters tested by the Royal Navy under its crewless mine hunting program, project Wilton. It is named after the Navy&#39;s HMS Wilton, an experimental coastal minesweeper launched in 1972. The project aims to develop and deliver the navy&#39;s unmanned or crewless minehunting and survey programs to replace Britain&#39;s aging minehunter warships.  Presently, the plan is to retire six surviving hunt class MCMVs (mine countermeasure vehicles) between 2029-31, and the seven Sandown class will sooner or later retire between 2023-31. Minesweeping has been practiced since 1855, but it is a dangerous process. New technologies like robots and drones reduce the risk for divers involved in managing and disposing of underwater ammunition. These drones can work remotely in different configurations and detect mines in real time. Currently, the navy team is undertaking trials to check its operations on the naval battlefield. Interestingly, this new naval drone system can detect those signals that conventional mine sweepers can&#39;t and can be deployed quickly around the world for surveys. The system employs an unmanned surface vessel or vehicle that tows three coil auxiliary boats (naval ships that support combatant ships). Each of the three boats in the system emits magnetic, electric, and acoustic signals capable of detonating various mines, including the most technologically advanced, which can detect and target passing ships overhead.As per the naval traditions, all three boats have names; RNMB Hazard, RNMB Harrier, and RNMB Hebe. Compared to the other two, Hebe is more advanced and is specially designed for uncrewed MCM (mine countermeasure) operations. It can detect and classify mines even while sailing at 13 knots. When it comes to controlling the craft, the MCM team can operate and coordinate all three boats simultaneously, allowing Hebe to function as a mobile-controlled platform. Further, the system can also be controlled by a land-based remote control center which is suitable when deploying boats in restricted zones where forces cannot help. Another uncrewed surface vessel-based system, RNMB Hydra, developed by Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK), marine technology and ammunition developers, will be fitted with the existing system for better operations. The system will be delivered to the Royal Navy by late 2022 and deployed for operations in early 2023. These machines will empower the navy with their high functionality and flexibility.

Drone technology has been commonly associated with military aviation.

Autonomous Minehunters Protect The Seas

Autonomous minehunters protect the seas

Warfare is filled with high-tech innovations. But all of these innovations rely on electricity. Is it possible to have a battlefield where the electricity is never cut off?

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Warfare is filled with high-tech innovations. But all of these innovations rely on electricity. Is it possible to have a battlefield where the electricity is never cut off?Climate change is a major concern everywhere you look, and the battlefield is no exception. This has increased national security efforts to find new ways to supply energy and power to the battlefields of the future. A 2021 report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine stated that by 2035, purely battery-powered combat vehicles would not be technically feasible. The report also pointed to a drastic increase in energy use per soldier since WWII. All of this highlights the importance of managing the energy supply and making it more efficient. So, the U.S. Army has set out to prepare its first-ever energy strategy. Cutting-edge tactical systems are being developed that can be hand-held or worn by a soldier. To address the problem of the increased load of devices worn by soldiers, the Army&#39;s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance — or C5ISR — Center is investing in new battery and power management technologies that will hopefully relieve soldier workloads and improve efficiency.This office is working on many new technologies, including a small tactical universal battery system. It is also trying to come up with a more flexible power source, deploying generators with mobile microgrid systems and battery storage. Wearable solar panels, portable fuel cells, and a backpack that harnesses the energy created by the bounce of a moving soldier are all things that are also being experimented with.All of this would create more mobile power sources on the battlefield, which is what troops need to operate all of their advanced, wearable tech. The NETT Warrior is one such example that relies on battery power often from a Conformal Wearable Battery (CWB). These give a soldier 18-24 hours of power and are a size of a notebook. The Army has developed a universal charging station within a vehicle&#39;s power system so these CWBs can charge. That&#39;s one step forward, but they still have a long way to get where they need to be. We&#39;re looking forward to seeing what is next for the future of more energy-efficient battlefields.

Electricity is vital on the 21st Century battlefield, but it is not always readily available. New battery technology is allowing soldiers to operate longer in the theater of war.

How Important Is Electricity In A War?

How important is electricity in a war?

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, is a stealth, multirole, unmanned aerial vehicle in development by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force.

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“No man is an island,” as the famous saying goes. For combat pilots, this is especially true. Having a friendly aircraft, or several, fighting together as a cohesive unit is a time-tested way to leverage the combat effectiveness of each pilot and their machine. This is the concept of &quot;wingmen&quot; and a strategy almost as old as aircraft technology itself.While it is difficult to ascertain when it was “invented,” one of the first occurrences of it was in 1915. One German pilot, Oswald Boelcke is recorded as downing a French biplane chasing his co-combatant Max Immelmann. This a clear example of the benefit of not flying alone in battle, and one that has been employed ever since. But, the benefits of wingmen are only as good as the discipline of the pilots providing the role. They must always maintain sight of their flight leader and only break formation when explicitly instructed and authorized. While the role of a wingman was developed during the days of dogfighting (now very rare) they are still critical for situational awareness when the lead aircraft needs to focus on engaging a target or vice versa. All pilots usually faithfully fulfill such an important task, but humans are only human, and mistakes can happen. For this reason, modern Air Forces are looking for ways to ease the pressure on already stressed pilots with “wingmen drones.” One example is currently in development by the Royal Australian Air Force (AAF). Called the MQ-28A “Ghost Bat,” the AAF’s loyal wingman unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) is currently being developed by Boeing. This drone is powered by jets and is made to work independently with the most advanced fighter jets in the AAF, such as the F-35A, F/A-18F, and E-7A.The drone will also incorporate technology from some select domestic suppliers, making it the first aircraft to be built on home soil in over 50 years. The self-piloting drone will be run by artificial intelligence and take the place of human pilots as wingmen. It was made to be both offensive and defensive.The new wingman drones are being designed to be able to keep up with their jet-powered human comrades and will have an operational range of 2300 miles (3700 km).The AAF currently has orders for 3 such craft, which will bring its total stockpile to around 6 working drones. Initially, their role will be for surveillance and reconnaissance, but more violent variants are bound to be on the books in the future. Time will tell if the “Ghost Bat” will live up to expectations, but this might be a glimpse of the future of air combat.

Time will tell if the “Ghost Bat” will live up to expectations, but this might be a glimpse of the future of air combat.

Is the concept of "wingmen" and a strategy almost as old as aircraft technology itself.

Ghost bat is an aircraft like no other

Born during the height of the "Cold War," the B-52 "Stratofortress" has fascinated children and put the "fear of god" into the enemies of the United States for almost 70 years.

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Born during the height of the &quot;Cold War,&quot; the B-52 &quot;Stratofortress&quot; has fascinated children and put the &quot;fear of god&quot; into the enemies of the United States for almost 70 years. Propelled by no less than eight jet engines, the B-52 has an unparalleled payload capacity, range, and survivability of any long-range bomber in history. The United States has around 740 of these aerial monsters, and each can carry nuclear-tipped or conventional warheads to any target within its 8.780-mile (14,162 km) range. This range can be extended almost indefinitely thanks to mid-air refueling. The B-52 is not just powerful on paper. It has been involved in most U.S. military engagements, from the Korean War to Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s and beyond. The B-52, it appears, refused to die. Most bombers have been upgraded and modernized over the decades since they entered service, with only the original metal airframes remaining from the day they rolled off the Boeing production line. A perfect example of the legend of the &quot;Ship of Theseus,&quot; the B-52 appears to have many more years of service on the cards.Undergo another round of upgrades under its Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP). This is especially true since it was just announced that the U.S. B-52 fleet would get more upgrades as part of the Commercial Engines Replacement Program (CERP). As the name suggests, this program aims to improve and replace all jet engines on planes that are already in use. Designed by Rolls-Royce, Boeing will receive and integrate the engines once proven. If all goes according to plan, the engines will be replaced ad hoc, as each B-52 is scheduled for planned maintenance over the years. The F130 engine is a military version of Rolls-Royce&#39;s commercial BR725, are used by the Air Force on the C-37 VIP transport and the E-11 BACN. Boeing is making a new housing, or nacelle, for the B-52&#39;s engines. This will allow the engines to fit into the current B-52s. This is especially the case on the B-52, as it features a near-unique set of twin-engine nacelles on each wing. The new engines are about 30% more efficient than the old ones. Replacing them will make the B-52&#39;s already impressive range even better. They will also dramatically reduce maintenance times and costs while also future proofing them for spare parts. Boeing is planning on beginning the upgrades in 2024, and the overall program will cost somewhere in the region of $2.6 billion. However, the new engines&#39; cost savings will more than pay for this over time. Not only are they getting new engines, but B-52s are also scheduled to be upgraded to carry and deploy the U.S.&#39;s AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW for short. The integration of America&#39;s first proven hypersonic missile, ARRW, further secures the B-52s&#39; future. The mighty B-52, it seems, will be around for quite some time yet.

Why B-52 Will Outlive Everything

Why B-52 will outlive everything

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are a country’s nuclear weapon system. ICBMs have a minimum range of 3,100 miles (5,000 km).

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World War II was a period of great suffering for many countries worldwide. Millions of combatants and civilians were slaughtered in their millions on land, at sea, and in the air. But it was also a period of incredible technological improvement. Jet engines became viable, medicine was revolutionized, true computers emerged, and the atom was split. And one other technology emerged, rockets. Born from Germany&#39;s desire to deal death at a distance, the early &quot;Vengeance Weapons&quot; of the Third Reich culminated in creating the first long-range, large payload rocket platforms, the V2 rockets. Terrifying and impressive in equal measure, these rockets became the basis of feverish study in the postwar period. After years of study, and trial and error, these early rockets would evolve into enormous missiles capable of launching humans into space or delivering humanity&#39;s newest mass destructive weapons halfway around the world.The era of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) had arrived. Able to send multiple nuclear warheads into Earth&#39;s orbit to rain down on the world below, these missiles would dictate national defense strategies for most of the world&#39;s great powers for decades to come. Early examples like the United States famed &quot;Minuteman&quot; ICBMs would lead to 40 years of a tense standoff between the East and West with the promise of mutually assured destruction, or MAD for short. Later improvements would enable ICBMs to be deployed inside submarines, but ultimately their main purpose would remain the same; the promise of complete devastation to an enemy&#39;s cities without risking soldiers&#39; and pilots&#39; lives.But, with the &quot;Cold War&quot; over, many have questioned whether ICBMs have outstayed their welcome. Large, relatively slow, and expensive to maintain and build, could more recent developments in rocketry, like hypersonic missiles, mean the end of the ICBM? If recent news from the United States is any indication, it appears not. The United States Air Force has recently contracted Northrop Grumman to replace its aging ICBM stockpile with a new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) called &quot;Sentinel.&quot;Effectively thoroughly modernized versions of the current &quot;Minuteman III&quot; ICBMs, this new system emphasizes future-proofing current missile stockpiles and facilities. The new ICBMs will be more modular, enabling them to be quickly modernized over time. Over time, this will make maintaining and upgrading them a lot more cost-effective in the future. This will reduce the cost of maintaining and upgrading them over time. If implemented, it should allow the GBSD system to remain viable well into the 2070s. GBSD also aims to dramatically improve launch facilities and command and control systems, and increase the safety and security of the United States&#39; nuclear deterrent. In a world where the threat of nuclear war is rearing its head again, innovations like GBSD could arguably be well overdue. Let&#39;s just hope they will never have to be used for real.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are a country’s nuclear weapon system.

What is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)?

Season 1

Although originally developed in 1918 and technically first adopted by the US military in 1922, these guns are still in ubiquitous, widespread service today.

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It is tricky to know what the longest-serving weapon of all time is, but the bow and arrow, sword, and spear rank high above them. With the advent of gunpowder, the average lifespan of weapons fell dramatically. Still, some standout examples exist, like the famous British Land Pattern Musket, affectionately called the &quot;Brown Bess,&quot; or the American Springfield M1903, which are some of the longest-serving. But one developed over 100 years ago is still a vital component of the United States Army today: the legendary M2 Browning Machine Gun. For developed in 1918, the M2 .50 caliber machine gun has been in active service for 104 years now and counting. Nicknamed &quot;Ma-Duece,&quot; this weapon has seen action in most major and minor conflicts around the world ever since. The weapon was basically a Browning M1917 machine gun that had been beefed up. American General John J. Pershing had asked for a heavier machine gun.And so, the great gunsmith John Browning modified the M1917 design to accept larger-caliber rounds developed by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. After being made and tested for only a short time, the weapon was made official in 1921. Because of its unique design, the weapon&#39;s receiver can be set up in seven ways. This, in part, would be the secret to its longevity. With the advent of World War 2, the M2 would prove instrumental, not for the army (though it was used extensively there), but as the primary armament for several iconic aircraft of the period. The British Mark 1 Spitfire had eight, and the main guns on the American P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang were also modified M2 Brownings. They were also the main guns for defense on many bombers, like the famous USAF B-17 Flying Fortresses. They were also the main guns for defense on many bombers, like the famous USAF B-17 Flying Fortresses. After the war, aircraft were mostly armed with cannons and then missiles. The M2 Browning was once again the army&#39;s main reserve and served with honor worldwide. However, today, the AN/M3 variant can be seen on some modern aircraft. Its most modern variant, the M2HB variant manufactured by General Dynamics, has a cyclic rate of 450 to 600 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 809 m/s! The M2 has been improved over the years, and now the M2A1 is being added to many US military stocks.Because changing the barrel took so much time, a better QCB (quick change barrel) was made. A lighter version was also made, only 24 lb (11 kg) lighter, or 60 lb (27 kg). Because these guns don&#39;t wear out to the point where a few parts can&#39;t be repaired and put back in service, replacing them with anything brand new is not cost-effective.So, 100 years after its adoption by the US military, &quot;Ma Deuce&quot; is still very much alive and literally kicking!

100 years after its adoption by the US military, "Ma Deuce" is still very much alive and literally kicking!

M2 Browning. A Legend from The Greatest Generation

M2 Browning : A legend from the greatest generation

When the first tanks rolled off the production line in the 1910s, their impact on the battlefield was immediate and striking.

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When the first tanks rolled off the production line in the 1910s, their impact on the battlefield was immediate and striking. Clad in armor, they were impervious to all but the largest caliber of weapons. Early models were, to put it mildly, not very reliable, but they soon became very powerful and fearsome weapons of war. Effectively heavily armored self-propelled guns, tanks today still play a vital role in many armed forces around the world. But they are far from invulnerable. With all the best will in the world, you can only add so much metal to a machine before it becomes too heavy to move. For this reason, tank designers must handle a series of trade-offs to prioritize where and how much armor a tank has. One of the main areas where a tank&#39;s armor is at its thinnest is on top. Normally unlikely to receive direct impact, this is one area where the tank can save weight.However, it also has a potential weakness to be exploited. And that is exactly what weapons like the FGM-148 &quot;Javelin&quot; were designed to do. The &quot;Javelin,&quot; also called the Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), is a portable anti-tank missile system made in the United States. First introduced in 1996, it has been constantly improved over its service life. In the US military, it was designed to replace the M47 &quot;Dragon&quot; anti-tank missile.Its innovative fire-and-forget design uses automatic infrared guidance, which lets the user take cover as soon as the shot is fired. This differs from wire-guided systems, like its predecessor, the &quot;Dragon,&quot; that required the user to guide the weapon throughout the fight. With its powerful high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, this system can destroy modern tanks by coming at them like regular missiles, then arcing up and dropping on top of them just before impact.This makes it hard to stop the missiles, but it also takes advantage of a real chink in the tank&#39;s armor. The warhead itself is another innovation in the field of battle. A shaped charge, the warhead works because an explosive charge inside the warhead collapses a metal liner into a high-speed explosively formed penetrator (EFP) jet. This jet can penetrate armor steel to a depth of seven or more times the diameter of the charge. The effect of the EFP&#39;s jet is only kinetic; the round has no explosive or flammable effect on the target. HEAT warheads don&#39;t have to be fired at high speed like an armor-piercing round because they rely on the kinetic energy of the EFP jet to do their job.While it has served the United States Army for many years, the &quot;Javelin&quot; has become a household name thanks to the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. It has proven so effective that of the 112 or so missiles launched, 100 have hit and destroyed their targets. This has proved critical for the conflict, so much so that some newborn Ukrainian children have been christened &quot;Javelin&quot; or &quot;Javelina.&quot;

This has proved critical for the conflict, so much so that some newborn Ukrainian children have been christened "Javelin" or "Javelina."

The Patriot and S-400 missile systems are used to defend the sky from enemies.

S400 vs Patriot: Best air defense choice?

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Is space the final frontier of warfare? We have already witnessed a significant buildup of space warfare capabilities from many of the leading world powers. Will satellites and space systems be the path forward in defense? Will terrestrial warfare become a thing of the past?Anti-satellite weapons, or ASATs, are objects that can temporarily impair or permanently destroy an orbiting satellite. Anti-satellite warfare is made up of technology that many of you are probably already familiar with.ASATs have been around since the 1960s, and to date, the US, Russia, China, and India have all displayed their abilities to attack orbiting satellites. These satellites are important as they transmit GPS and communications and help us forecast the weather. It doesn’t take much to disturb a satellite - they are fragile and easily permanently damaged. Regardless of the ease, there are still few nations with the technology and finance to build these anti-satellite weapons. The four countries with this technology are on a quest to show off their biggest and best new weapons. This has, however, created debris that remains in low-Earth orbit, threatening other satellites. To address this, the United States became the first country to adopt a voluntary moratorium on direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems, which are shot from Earth to destroy a satellite passing overhead. However, there is still no international framework that prohibits these tests.These direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems aren’t the only way to shoot down a satellite. More advanced and unconventional weapons continue to be developed. Hold on, this gets pretty sci-fi! The Russians and Chinese have been working on satellites that can attack other satellites, clawing and grabbing with robotic armor! Seen in a simulated space battle, the Chinese have created an anti-satellite AI that learned to trick its target and send smaller satellites to capture a larger one! Now that’s wild!Microwave devices that can jam satellite communications, generating 100 times more energy than most communications devices, and satellite-mounted solid-state pulse lasers are just two more high-powered weapons the Chinese have engineered. Regardless if we are for or against the idea of space warfare, it does seem to be inevitable. Space is simply too important to remain a safe haven.

The militarisation of space is happening right now, just like it did in the sea and the air.

How Will War in Space Look Like?

How will war in space look like?

The Navy has been hard at work engineering! Unmanned vehicles, or UVs, are just one line of defense the military has been pursuing to combat increasing threats around the world.

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The Navy has been hard at work engineering! Unmanned vehicles, or UVs, are just one line of defense the military has been pursuing to combat increasing threats around the world.UVs can be equipped with sensors, weapons, and other payloads. They can be operated remotely, semi-autonomously, or autonomously.  There are three types of large unmanned vehicles: Large unmanned service vehicles (LUSVs),  medium unmanned service vehicles (MUSVs), and extra-large unmanned undersea vehicles (XLUUVs).The Navy’s new division, called the Unmanned Surface Division One, will experiment with unmanned surface vessels and fleet advocacy for the surface force. The Navy wants these unmanned vessels to help them shift to a more distributed fleet architecture. This new fleet will have fewer large ships, such as large-deck aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, large amphibious ships, and large supply ships. Instead, the new focus will be on LUSVs, including frigates, corvettes, smaller amphibious ships, and smaller resupply ships. The ideal size of these LUSVs would be 200 to 300 feet and would have full load displacements between 1,102 to 2,204 tons - making them about the size of a corvette. The Navy envisions these new ships to be low-cost, high-endurance, and reconfigurable - all based on commercial ship designs.Referred to as UVs, LUSVs are really more accurately lightly-manned or optionally manned as they sometimes do have onboard assistants.  These ships will be capable of weeks-long deployments and even trans-oceanic transits.The XLUUV or Orca Program was established by the Navy to address a joint emergent operational need. These XLUUVs are UUVs with a diameter of 84 inches, making them too large to be launched from a manned submarine, so instead, they will be launched from a pier.The hammerhead mine will also be covertly deployed using XLUUs. This is a planned mine that would be tethered to the seabed and armed with an anti-submarine torpedo.The XXLUV or Orca will be open architecture - meaning it will be reconfigurable and have a modular construction. The Orca’s cousin, the Echo Voyager, is slightly smaller, about the size of a subway car at 51 feet long, 55 tons, and with a range of 6,500 nautical miles. And since it’s also modular, it can be added on to, increasing its length to up to 85 feet. Impressive!In the quest to reconfigure dominance of the sea, it looks like AI and UVs will play a vital role in the future of navies around the world. We look forward to seeing what’s more to come.

The US Navy has established a new division tasked with overseeing operations of all its medium and large unmanned vessels.

The Navy has been hard at work engineering

Captain A.I. - The future of military intelligence

The new generation of special SOF land vehicles are as cool as they come.

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The special forces require a lot out of their transport vehicles, and this new generation is as cool and high-tech as they come. Meet the M1297 Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (AGMV). This is a U.S. Army, air-droppable, light off-road vehicle. The modular vehicle can be customized for deep reconnaissance, strike missions, and other various configurations. How Transformers do it!This 17-foot-long vehicle has a curb weight of 6,834 lb and a payload capacity of 6,172 lb. The roll bar can withstand the entire weight of the vehicle, and the M1297 can even be topped with a 30mm cannon, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm minigun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher! This would have definitely been G.I. Joe’s go-to jeep!Our second new-generation special transport vehicle is the High Mobility Transport (HMT) - Extenda! This guy is a bit bigger and looks more like a fire truck. Already in use in six nations, the Extenda comes in 44 and 66 configurations. 228 inches and 10,802 lb, or 277 inches and 1,3000 lb, respectfully! That’s a lot of vehicle!However, this beast is agile, mastering a 60% gradient! The Extender can be equipped with mine blast, ballistic protection kits, a variety of weapons, communications, ISTAR, mission hampers, and force protection equipment. Scaling down a bit, we have the HD4 — a new category of SOF vehicle. This is an electric, four-wheeled, all-terrain scooter! The scooter can carry two standing soldiers and is 66 inches long with a maximum payload of 440 lb. A trailer and a seat can also be attached, and the rider can choose between four-wheel or rear-wheel variants, making this scooter super efficient on any type of terrain. Staying on the smaller side, meet the Christini All-Wheel Drive Motorcycle. This is an absolutely outstanding motorcycle! It has a 450cc four-stroke engine and a light frame, giving this bike the kick fit for a SOF operator. These bikes are customized for each SOF’s team mission and application and are already in use from the U.S. Navy to Jordanian Special Forces. While everyone would surely like to get behind the wheel or handlebars of these special forces transport vehicles, the level of training and exams one needs in order to get the privilege of operating them is immense. So, I guess we’ll have to leave these to the professionals for now.

The special forces require a lot out of their transport vehicles, and this new generation is as cool and high-tech as they come.

How The Special Forces Transport Their Displays and Prop Signs

How the special forces transport their displays and prop signs?

These aircraft are designed in such a way that they will destroy any enemy system they encounter before these systems even notice their presence.

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In the vaults of Lockheed Martin&#39;s secretive Skunk Works, engineers toiled for decades on an innovative aircraft that would shock the world when it was first unveiled in the late-1980s. Called the F1117-A &quot;Nighthawk,&quot; this alien-looking aircraft proved incredibly effective during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. A flying set of angles, the &quot;Nighthawk&quot; looked like no other aircraft ever produced. But its strange shape was not the brainchild of some insane impressionist artist; it had a purpose. Stealth. Able to reduce its radar signature until it got close to the enemy, the &quot;Nighthawk&quot; ushered in a new age of aircraft design.The F117A was quickly followed by the famous B-2 &quot;Spirit&quot; stealth bomber, cementing America&#39;s air dominance for many decades and culminating in the development of some of the most advanced flying machines ever seen, the F-35 and F-22. But in the true spirit of war, new air defense systems were developed to help level the playing field. Some countries, like the Russian Federation and the People&#39;s Republic of China, are said to have made systems like the HQ-9 and S-400 that can find and shoot down even the most advanced stealth aircraft, like the F-35.While such claims could be &quot;hot air,&quot; the United States has taken them seriously. To maintain its dominance in the air, they are looking at the next generation of stealth to stay ahead of the game. And so, in 2020, the U.S. announced its intentions to develop the newest stealth aircraft they&#39;ve been brewing for several years, the NGAD fighter and B-21 &quot;Raider.&quot;Little is known about the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter beyond some leaked renderings, but the B-21 &quot;Raider&quot; has been an open secret for several years.In development by Northrop Grumman, the planned successor to the &quot;Spirit,&quot; the &quot;Raider,&quot; will be able to deal with death from a distance long before the enemy even knows they are in trouble. The new B-21 is supposed to be able to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. Over the next few years, it is expected to replace the old B-20, which is getting old. As for the NGAD fighter, if renderings are accurate, it appears to push the boundaries of what we understand as an aircraft, just like the F117A did. The new fighter would only look out of place in a science fiction film with vertical stabilizers.But it is not just innovative in its airframe design. The NGAD will come with a set of systems that will increase its effectiveness, operational range, and ability to work with other military assets. Autonomous wingmen drones will also fly with the pilots as part of the package. And all this while still being stealthy as hell.Once deployed, the B-2 &quot;Spirit&quot; and NGAD fighters are shaping up to be superb replacements for America&#39;s already impressive fleet of stealth fighters and bombers. Undoubtedly, they will also refine, once again, how nations design their future aircraft and air defense systems.

How The US Stealth Aircraft Will Keep Its Superiority

How the US stealth aircraft will keep its superiority?

V-22 Osprey: America’s first fully operational tilt-rotor military transport is both helicopter and airplane and can now fly across the Pacific Ocean.

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This American multi-mission, tilt-rotor military aircraft can take off and land vertically as well as take off and land as a plane.Such a vehicle was requested by both the Military and the Navy in the 1980s. The Osprey is the first production tilt-rotor aircraft and typically operates as a helicopter. Once airborne, the vertical nacelles rotate 90 degrees in less than 20 seconds — readying the craft for horizontal flight! This converts the V-22 into a more fuel-efficient, high-speed, and long-range turboprop aircraft. The body is lighter than it may look, thanks to composite materials making up much of its frame. The rotors fold in 90 seconds for storage, and its wings rotate to align front to back with the fuselage. Why does it do this? So it is ready to pick up and get out of the way as quickly as possible should it need to and take up as little. This speedy wing folding also decreases the risk of accidents. However, this design is not without drawbacks. In order for the rotors to fold, they are five feet less than the optimal for vertical takeoff, which means the aircraft actually rarely takes off vertically. Instead, it uses its short takeoff ability to increase the maximum load.The craft has two Rolls Royce AE1107C engines that are connected to a central gearbox so that one engine can power both prop rotors. Meaning if one engine fails, the other is able to safely power the Osprey. However, it really can’t hover on one engine.The V-22 is like a cargo helicopter - it can seat 24 troops, 32 troops floor loaded, 20,000 libre of internal cargo, or 15,000 libre of external cargo!The Osprey boasts three variants: CV-22B, CMV-22B, and MV-22B. CV-22B is the U.S. Air Force variant, which conducts long-range, special operations missions and has an increased fuel capacity.CMV-22B is the U.S. Navy’s variant. This has an extend-range fuel system, high-frequency radio, and a public address system. The MV-22B is the U.S. Marine Corp’s variant and is an assault transport for troops, equipment, and supplies. It can be equipped with a 7.62 by 51-millimeter NATO 0.308 caliber M240 machine gun or a 0.50 caliber 12.7-millimeter M2 machine gun in the rear loading rack! Plus, a remotely operated gun turret system in the belly of the craft!The Osprey aircrafts have supported the U.S. for over 15 years and look to be relied on far into the future.

V-22 Osprey - The Helicopter and Airplane That Changed The Game

V-22 Osprey - The helicopter and airplane that changed the game

In a contested air environment of a modern warzone, legendary tank hunter aircraft like the A-10 Warthog or the Apache AH 64 will suffer a degree of attrition that may quickly become unacceptable.

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When tanks were first unleashed on the battlefields of World War I, their impact (literally and figuratively) was devastating on the enemy. Even though the first tanks were unreliable and hard to move, it was clear that the technology had a lot of potential. By the time of the Second World War, tanks had grown in size and power, solidifying their place in many armies worldwide. Tanks had come of age, from the mighty German Panzer to the British Churchill. But they were not invulnerable to attack from the ground or, more importantly, from the air. Early tank killer aircraft soon earned their stripes during the conflict, with aircraft like the British Hawker Typhoon or American P-47 Thunderbolt becoming legends in very short order. Post-war developments in jet engines and rocketry quickly influenced tank defenses and aircraft offensive capabilities in a classic arms race that led to the development of the famed Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ”Warthog” and Boeing AH 64 “Apache” helicopter.The former, an instantly recognizable, cantilever low-wing monoplane with rear-mounted engines and an unparalleled capacity to carry a variety of munitions, put the fear of God into any tank commander unlucky enough to be in its sights. Beloved by their pilots, these aircraft are highly effective and mean machines, especially when decked out with their famous shark mouth decals on the nose. The latter was first introduced in the 1980s and can kill tanks using tactics “Warthog” pilots could only dream of. Both legends in their own right, these tank-busting aircraft would cement their places in history as the bane of many tanks. But, after decades of faithful service, recent advances in anti-aircraft systems and drone technology could mean the end of these well-known engineering marvels that can break through tanks. These technologies have advanced to such a degree that continued use of such aircraft would likely yield an unacceptable and irreplaceable loss of units and pilots in the future. This has led many military strategists in America to consider a new method of knocking out tanks from the air.This is where drones will likely become more important in the future.Even the most advanced Russian tanks were no match for drones in Ukraine. This suggests that drones should be used instead of manned aircraft to fight tanks. Drones like the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 have shown that they can do a great job of taking the place of the A-10 and Apache, which may be taken out of service soon. Drones like the TB2 can hang around for a long period and be outfitted with the most advanced anti-tank weapons.They are also easy to move around, not too expensive, and can be used more aggressively than piloted planes since they are relatively disposable.But, for the time being, legends like the “Warthog” and “Apache” are to be consigned to the graveyard of battle machines.

Easy to move around, not too expensive, and can be used more aggressively than piloted planes since they are relatively disposable.

The Rise and Demise of Tank Hunter Aircraft

The rise and demise of tank hunter aircraft

Season 2

This weapon, which can disable a multi-million dollar jet on the ground with a two-dollar bullet, has repeatedly proven its worth in numerous conflicts, including the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan.

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A popular weapon in computer games like Call of Duty 4 and the movie Battleship, the Barrett M82 is now a living legend of a weapon. But what makes this gun so popular? Put simply; it is almost unparalleled in its firepower. The Barrett M82 is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle developed by the American company Barrett Firearms Manufacturing. It is chambered in .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) and is known for its long-range accuracy and powerful cartridge. It is primarily used by military and law enforcement for long-range target engagement, including taking out equipment and fortifications. It is also used for hunting big game and for long-range shooting competitions. The U.S. military also refers to the M82A1 as the SASR—&quot;Special Applications Scoped Rifle,” and it is still utilized as an explosive ordnance disposal weapon and an anti-material rifle.The weapon is also known as the &quot;Light Fifty&quot; since it fires the.50 BMG 12.799mm NATO round, comes in three different variations: the original M82A1 (and M82A3) models, the bullpup M82A2 model, and the Barrett M107A1 with an added muzzle brake (designed to accept a suppressor, and made out of titanium instead of steel). But where did this mighty weapon come from?Barrett hand-drew a design for a. 50-caliber rifle despite having no background in or training in firearms design. Barrett drew it in three dimensions to demonstrate how the weapon should operate. He then presented his concept to nearby machinists. Nobody wanted to assist him because they thought a. 50-caliber rifle would have been invented when he needed one. Bob Mitchell was the sympathetic machinist Barrett eventually located, and the two got to work. After less than four months, they produced a working rifle prototype.The Barrett.50 BMG, Barrett&#39;s first firearm, was finished in 1982. The Barrett.50 BMG was a semi-automatic shoulder-fired rifle built for the.50 BMG round. The Barrett rifle&#39;s barrel recoiled after shooting, which is unusual among guns. A rotating-lock breech block with an accelerator arm used some of the energy from the recoil to push the block back after firing. This loaded a fresh bullet from a steel magazine holding ten rounds, cycled the action, and cocked the firing pin.The result was a weapon that should produce enough recoil to cause discomfort during repeated firings but felt recoil was decreased due to the weapon&#39;s weight and utilization of recoil energy to cycle the action. Later, a double-baffle muzzle brake with exhaust gas vents to the left and right was installed to lessen recoil further.Barrett published an advertisement in The Shotgun News after producing thirty initial production rifles. As soon as the initial order ran out, Barrett expanded production. After noticing the advertisement, the Central Intelligence Agency ordered firearms to supply the Mujahideen rebels battling the Soviet Army occupiers in Afghanistan. The CIA deemed the Barrett rifle the best weapon for long-range combat with the Soviets. The Barrett&#39;s capacity to use heavy weaponry to destroy enemy battle equipment, including trucks, guns, and other things. The antimaterial rifle was a new weapon made possible by the 50 BMG bullet.Since its production, the weapon has seen many major actions over the last few decades. For example. during the “Desert Shield” and “Desert Storm” wars in Kuwait and Iraq in 1990, the US military put the M82A through its paces. The American Marine Corps first purchased 125 rifles, and the Army and Air Force soon placed orders. Today, military and police forces from at least 30 nations, including Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, and others, purchased Barrett M82 rifles.The rifle&#39;s extreme range and stopping power have made it popular among long-range shooters, law enforcement, and military units.

Barrett M82A1 is probably the best known .50 calibre "sniper rifle" in the world.

Ronnie Barrett, the guy who designed this gun, has a really cool story.

Barrett M82A1: A misunderstood legend

HIMARS, lightweight mobile launchers that are mounted on military vehicles, have proven to be formidable weapons in Ukraine against Russian forces.

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HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed by Lockheed Martin. It is designed to provide artillery support to ground forces by firing rockets and missiles up to 186 miles (300 km) away, but most have an effective range of up to 57.2 miles (92km).The system is mounted on a wheeled vehicle, making it highly mobile and able to be transported by aircraft. Created for the American Army in the late 1990s, the system has proven it&#39;s worth time and time again ever since. Six GMLRS rockets or one ATACMS missile are carried by one pod on the HIMARS. It is based on the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) five-ton trucks used by the US Army. It can fire every rocket listed in the Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM). While HIMARS ammo pods can be used with the M270 MLRS, there is only room for one rather than the two normal for the M270 and its variants.This system has been exported to Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, and of course, Ukraine in an attempt to resist the Russian invasion.Regarding the latter, HIMARS turned out to be a very precise and lethal system. These artillery rocket systems damaged numerous Russian command centers, ammunition depots, troop, and armored vehicle concentrations, and bridges. The majority of the objectives were situated far from the front lines. According to Ukrainians, there have been instances where a building would be hit by a HIMARS GMLRS missile and then be struck again by a different rocket through the same opening. Russian air defense systems are ineffective against HIMARS strikes that have been saturated.Estonia purchased 6 HIMARS systems in 2022, and Taiwan intends to buy 29 HIMARS launchers in 2023.Although it only has one pack with 6 missiles, the HIMARS fires the same rockets as the M270 MLRS. It provides half the M270 MLRS&#39;s firepower. The HIMARS can launch the M270 rocket family, including rockets with cluster and high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warheads.A standard 227 mm rocket is the M26. It is 13 feet (3.96 meters) long and weighs 677 pounds (307 kg). Its range is 20 miles (32 kilometers). It has a dual-purpose warhead weighing 265 pounds (120 kg) and 644 bomblets, which work well against soldiers and vehicles. The M26, however, had a 25-year storage life. Rockets with more capability and accuracy were developed during that period. The M26 was taken off the road. The US military removed its stock of more than 360,000 M26 artillery rockets from inventory in 2009.The original equipment manufacturer of the FMTV, BAE Systems Mobility &amp; Protection Systems (formerly Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group Tactical Vehicle Systems Division), created the FMTV vehicle that carries the HIMARS. From 2010 until 2017, the Oshkosh Corporation produced it.Currently, Lockheed Martin Missiles &amp; Fire Control in Camden, Arkansas, manufactures both the chassis and the launcher system.For anyone looking to get their hands on one, you get all that firepower for as little as $3.8 million per unit (excluding munitions, of course). A bargain, we think you’ll agree.

The arrival of HIMARS (an abbreviation for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) in Ukraine altered the nature of combat.

How HIMARS is helping Ukraine’s war effort?

With an impressive legacy of roughly 60 years of service, the M134 Minigun was created in 60s for use by the US military in Vietnam.

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Named in honor of the Roman god of fire, the “Vulcan” minigun could not be more aptly named. More formally known as the M61, or M134 Minigun, this six-barreled monster of a weapon has delivered hell on Earth to any who find themselves unlucky enough to be in its sights. The M61 is a 7.62mm <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nato-may-be-planning-to-build-solar-panel-powered-tanks" title="NATO" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nato-may-be-planning-to-build-solar-panel-powered-tanks">NATO</a>-round six-barrel rotary machine gun with a rapid-fire rate of 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute. It has a spinning barrel assembly in the Gatling style with an external power source, typically an electric motor. &quot;Mini&quot; refers to smaller-caliber models with rotary barrels, like General Electric&#39;s earlier 20 mm M61 Vulcan. In contrast, &quot;gun&quot; refers to using rifle ammunition rather than autocannon rounds. The name &quot;minigun&quot; originally referred to a particular sort of weapon that General Electric built. Still, it has since spread to mean any externally driven rotary gun with a rifle caliber. Regardless of the source of power or caliber, the word is occasionally used informally to describe weapons with comparable rates of fire and configurations.But where did it all begin? Richard Jordan Gatling created a hand-cranked mechanical device in the 1860s that served as the forerunner to the contemporary minigun. Later, he switched a rifle-caliber Gatling gun&#39;s hand-cranked mechanism for an electric motor, which was still a relatively recent innovation. The new electric-powered Gatling gun had a theoretical rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute even after Gatling slowed the mechanism, which is nearly three times the pace of a typical modern, single-barreled machine gun. On July 25, 1893, Gatling&#39;s electric-powered invention was granted U.S. Patent #502,185. Despite his advances, the Gatling gun was abandoned in favor of less expensive, lighter, recoil-operated machine guns; Gatling even briefly declared bankruptcy.Several German businesses were developing similar externally propelled guns for use in aircraft during World War I. The Fokker-Leimberger, an externally powered 12-barrel rotary gun that fired the 7.9257mm Mauser round, is likely the most well-known of these today. It was advertised as having a firing rate of nearly 7,000 rpm but frequently experienced cartridge-case ruptures due to its &quot;nutcracker&quot; rotating split-breech design, which differs significantly from traditional rotary gun designs.None of these German weapons entered production during the conflict. However, a Siemens prototype competed with them and was tested on the Western Front, winning an aerial battle (perhaps employing a different action). During the 1950s, the British tried out this style of the split breach, but they also failed. But, where they all failed, the United States would succeed in the 1960s with the “Vulcan” cannon. And so, the United States Armed Forces started looking into contemporary versions of the revolving barrel, electric-powered Gatling-style weapons in the 1960s for use in the Vietnam War. They succeeded, with the weapon originally designed for use in helicopters but has since been adapted for various other aircraft and ground-based infantry use. The U.S. military has used the M134 extensively in several conflicts, including in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Other countries and non-governmental organizations have also used the weapon. The weapon is still in use today in various forms and platforms.Several U.S. military branches employ the Minigun. The American Army has version M134, and the American Air Force and the American Navy have GAU-2/A and GAU-17/A, respectively. The weapon is typically mounted on vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft and is operated by a single gunner. It has been used by various <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics" title="military" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics">military</a> forces worldwide and is still in service today.

The M134 Minigun was created in 60s for use by the US military in Vietnam.

The not-so-mini: M134 Minigun

The not-so-mini, M134 Mini Gun

The past seven months of combat in Ukraine have demonstrated that the reign of artillery on the  battlefield is far from over.

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Something of a hybrid between a cannon (or simply &quot;gun&quot;) and a mortar, howitzers are especially useful pieces of kit for any modern infantry. Able to be depressed to below 45 degrees, they can pummel enemies&#39; infantry, armor, and positions with excellent accuracy. But, like a mortar, they can also fire at higher angles (between 45 and 90 degrees) to provide indirect fire on enemy positions from places of relative safety. This flexibility in modes makes howitzers incredibly useful in modern combat. They first appeared around the late 16th century but rapidly developed into what most people think of when they hear the words &quot;cannon&quot; or &quot;artillery&quot; today. During the 20th century, these weapons got more complicated and bigger. The big howitzers of the First World War were mostly to blame for the terrible things that happened there. The howitzer still retains its place among the ranks of many armies and will likely do so for the foreseeable future. Of the howitzers used by armed forces today, the M777 is among the best on the market. It was developed by the British in the early-2000s; this 6.1-inch (155 mm) towed howitzer is used by many armed forces, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States.Designed and built by BAE Systems&#39; Global Combat Systems division, the weapon was first unleashed on the world in 2005. Lightweight at only 10000 lbs (4,218 kg) apiece, the M777 is one of the lightest howitzers of its size anywhere in the world. In fact, due to its titanium and aluminum alloy construction, it is not less than 41% lighter or 15,772 lb (7,154 kg) slimmer than the M198 howitzer it replaced for the U.S. Army. Weight savings were also made by its clever design to have dual functions for some parts, like its suspension hydraulics also serving as a jack for the weapon. And its weight is one of its main benefits, as it is light enough to be carried into battle by land or air with relative ease. If push comes to shove, a crew of 5 soldiers can also manhandle the weapon. It can also be deployed and relocated in only a matter of minutes. When emplaced, the gun has a very low profile, meaning it can be hidden in plain view relatively easily.The M777 has a fire rate of 4 rounds per minute for a short period, with a long-term sustained rate of fire of 2 rounds per minute. It can also fire a variety of rounds (like the M982 Excalibur) depending on the intended target over a range of 25 miles (40 km) with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 16 feet (5 m).Needless to say, that is very accurate. Even more so thanks to its computer-aided aiming and fire control systems. The M777 has already earned its place in military history and will continue to do its part, especially in places like Ukraine.

Something of a hybrid between a cannon (or simply "gun") and a mortar, howitzers are especially useful pieces of kit for any modern infantry.

M777 is Dead On!

M777 is dead on!

The Gerald R. Ford is the most expensive and largest carrier ever constructed and is scheduled to join the United States Navy fleet in late 2022.

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Since the Second World War, the aircraft carrier has been the most common way for the navy to show its power. Its predecessor, the battleship, while the peak of naval power at the time, was quickly proven vulnerable to aerial attack thanks to battles like the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway in the Pacific. Since then, the United States Navy has become the world’s most powerful naval force, with its aircraft carriers forming the tip of its spear. Literal floating airfields, the U.S. Navy’s fleet of 11 nuclear-powered supercarriers can project the United States’ power anywhere in the world. Each of these ships, capable of carrying around 80 fighters and other support aircraft, has impressive destructive potential in its own right. The most recent version of these amazing engineering feats, the Gerald Ford class of supercarriers, is already set to keep the U.S. navy in the lead for many years to come. The most advanced and most expensive surface ship ever built, the first of its class, the USS Gerald Ford, cost an estimated $14 billion to build.With an approximate displacement of 97,000 tons, this ship is enormous. Her length is 1,092-foot (333 meters) with a 134-foot (41 meters) waterline beam, 252-foot (76.8 meters) flight deck, and a height of nearly 250-foot (76 meters).But, despite her size, she is still very fast for her size. While her top speed is an official U.S. Navy secret, she can make 30 knots (34.5 mph) without breaking a sweat. Each of the Gerald Ford-class of carriers will carry a mixture of the U.S.’s latest fighters, like the navalized F-35, F-18 Superhornet, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, as well as a mixture of other support craft. The carriers are also equipped with the latest in U.S. drone technology, like the MQ025 Stingray refueling and reconnaissance UAV. Impressive enough, but the class of ship also integrates a suite of other gear to make it one of the most advanced things afloat. Designed using computer-aided-design, the ship uses an advanced electrically powered aircraft launch and recovery system called the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Using the power of electromagnetism, these launch systems are far superior to their steam-powered predecessors. So much so, in fact, that they can launch 25% more sorties. The ship is also able to defend itself. The combination of its Dual Band Radar, which combines the X-Band AN/SPY-3 Aegis radar and the S-Band Volume Surveillance Radar, missile systems, and Phalanx Close-in Weapon systems, the ship is one tough nut to crack. The second of the class, the USS John F. Kennedy, is currently under construction, and it will be the second aircraft carrier named after the thirty-fifth president of the United States. It should be ready for service in 2024.The third carrier USS Enterprise is also being built and will join the fleet in the late 2020s. The future of the U.S. Navy’s dominance, for now, at least, appears to be in safe hands.

Since the Second World War, the aircraft carrier has been the most common way for the navy to show its power.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is The Most Technologically Advanced Warship Ever Built

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the most technologically advanced warship ever built

This weapon is a fire and forget missile capable of guiding itself to the most vulnerable region of a tank from miles away which changed the tide of Ukraine-Russia conflict.

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When the first tanks rolled off the production line in the 1910s, their impact on the battlefield was immediate and striking. Clad in armor, they were impervious to all but the largest caliber of weapons. Early models were, to put it mildly, not very reliable, but they soon became very powerful and fearsome weapons of war. Effectively heavily armored self-propelled guns, tanks today still play a vital role in many armed forces around the world. But they are far from invulnerable. With all the best will in the world, you can only add so much metal to a machine before it becomes too heavy to move. For this reason, tank designers must handle a series of trade-offs to prioritize where and how much armor a tank has. 
One of the main areas where a tank’s armor is at its thinnest is on top. Normally unlikely to receive direct impact, this is one area where the tank can save weight.However, it also has a potential weakness to be exploited. And that is exactly what weapons like the FGM-148 “Javelin” were designed to do. The &quot;Javelin,&quot;  also called the Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), is a portable anti-tank missile system made in the United States. First introduced in 1996, it has been constantly improved over its service life. In the US military, it was designed to replace the M47 “Dragon” anti-tank missile.Its innovative fire-and-forget design uses automatic infrared guidance, which lets the user take cover as soon as the shot is fired. This differs from wire-guided systems, like its predecessor, the &quot;Dragon,&quot;  that required the user to guide the weapon throughout the fight. With its powerful high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, this system can destroy modern tanks by coming at them like regular missiles, then arcing up and dropping on top of them just before impact.This makes it hard to stop the missiles, but it also takes advantage of a real chink in the tank&#39;s armor. The warhead itself is another innovation in the field of battle. A shaped charge, the warhead works because an explosive charge inside the warhead collapses a metal liner into a high-speed explosively formed penetrator (EFP) jet. This jet can penetrate armor steel to a depth of seven or more times the diameter of the charge. The effect of the EFP&#39;s jet is only kinetic; the round has no explosive or flammable effect on the target. HEAT warheads don&#39;t have to be fired at high speed like an armor-piercing round does because they rely on the kinetic energy of the EFP jet to do their job.
While it has served the United States Army for many years, the “Javelin” has become a household name thanks to the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. It has proven so effective that of the 112 or so missiles launched, 100 have hit and destroyed their targets. This has proved critical for the conflict, so much so that some newborn Ukrainian children have been christened “Javelin” or “Javelina.”

St. Javelin! The Protector Saint of Ukraine

St. Javelin! The protector saint of Ukraine

With the collapse of USSR and the change of emphasis to littoral operations, the cost of the Seawolf submarines which was to replace Los Angeles class was judged prohibitive.

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On this day, a new kind of vessel, a Confederate submarine, the Hunley, snuck into Charleston Harbor during the height of the American Civil War. Towing a mine, the Hunley targeted the Union warship USS Housatonic and closed the distance. The Hunley, hidden from view under the waves, smashed its mine into the hull of the unsuspecting ship, sending it to the depths in short order. This was the first recorded combat kill of a submarine in history. A small victory that didn&#39;t impact the outcome of the war. The Union side won. After all, it was a sign of things to come. Since that day, the submarine as technology has changed beyond all recognition and was a major factor in the larger world wars of the early 20th century. Throughout the &quot;Cold War,&quot; these amazing pieces of technology would roam the world&#39;s oceans, carrying some of the most destructive weapons our species has ever devised. A role some still provide today. And that brings us to the United States&#39; latest and most modern submarines, the Virginia class. A fourth-generation submarine, the class incorporates the latest in subaquatic stealth technology to make them even more difficult to find and track than submarines already are.The role of submarines, like the Virginia class, has changed a lot since their early days, with the latest subs tasked with anti-ship combat and striking ground-based targets with long-range missiles or providing covert special operation roles. . The replacement for the aging and expensive Seawolf class of submarines, the Virginia class is scaled back, yet still deadly, attack submarine. The first of the class, the USS Virginia, entered service in 2004 and was the first submarine to be developed using 3D visualization technology like CATIA, a computer-aided design software. Another innovative part of their design is the integration of as many off-the-shelf components as possible. They are also modular by design, making them cheaper and easier to upgrade over time. They also integrate cutting-edge technology that will future-proof them for some time to come. One example is their use of photonic sensors instead of a periscope to help them hunt without giving away their position. But, like any large object, they are still susceptible to being discovered using things like radar. However, they are designed to reduce their signature as much as possible using special anechoic coatings, isolated deck structures, and a new propulsor design to achieve a low acoustic signature.They are also heavy hitters armed with a variety of the latest torpedoes and a suite of Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles. The USS Montana joined the existing fleet of submarines on June 25, 2022, to bring the total up to 21. Thirty-eight are scheduled for construction. Virginia-class submarines are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later versions expected to remain into the 2070s.

Virginia class submarines are expected to remain in service until at least 2060 with later versions expected to remain into the 2070s.

The Virginia class submarines were developed immediately after the Seawolf class.

This undersea predator is silent, aware...And strikes without warning!

Season 3

Israel's Iron Beam is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that uses a laser to shoot down incoming UAVs, rockets & mortars at a cost of $3.50 per shot.

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Something of a given in futuristic science fiction media, energy weapons like lasers have thus far failed to live up to expectations in the real world. Whether they be handheld or a planet-destroying battle station in scale, having the ability to destroy targets at a distance using focused light has not yet materialized. But that might be about to change. While some militaries worldwide are working on energy weapons for their warships and aircraft, Israel is looking to replace its &quot;Iron Dome&quot; with lower-cost alternatives. The &quot;Iron Dome&quot; has made it almost impossible for cheap but increasingly sophisticated Palestinian rockets to get through, but resupplying it is very expensive. For reference, each interceptor rocket launched costs somewhere in the region of $100,000–150,000.For large-scale attacks against Israeli cities, this is just not sustainable over an extended period of time.  So Israeli engineers are looking at the potential for developing laser-based alternatives. The so-called &quot;Iron Beam&quot; defensive laser battery system has made a lot of progress since its development started in 2009. While the information on the technical details is, understandably, top secret, some leaked details seem to indicate it has an effective range of 4.35 miles (7 km). It can also knock out incoming airborne weapons like missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, mortar shells, and the like.It is also completely automated. The system, again, according to leaking reports, indicates that once contact is made with a target, the laser system takes as few as 4 seconds to burn it out of the sky. That is pretty impressive in anyone&#39;s book. The system, which has been built and tested for more than five years, will use solid-state lasers to clear the skies over Israel. Supported by funds from the United States, the system comprises an air defense radar, a command and control (C2) unit, and two HEL (high energy laser) systems.Initially, so it is said, the main laser battery will pack a punch of between 100 and 150 kW apiece.Once finished, rather than the &quot;Iron Dome&#39;s&quot; hundreds of thousands of dollars a shot, the new system will provide the same capability for a fraction of that at $3.50 a shot. Now, that is quite the cost savings!However, this does not factor in the running and maintenance costs of the supporting systems for the main laser guns. The system, unlike Israel&#39;s existing rocket defense system, is very susceptible to the weather and, relatively speaking, is less effective at destroying incoming targets. At least for now. For this reason, it is envisaged to combine the power of the &quot;Iron Dome&quot; and &quot;Iron Beam&quot; to get the best of both worlds. Will it prove worthy of the investment? That is anyone&#39;s guess for now, but if the defensive power of the &quot;Iron Dome&quot; is anything to go by, we are confident Israel will make sure it is in the future.

Something of a given in futuristic science fiction media, energy weapons like lasers have thus far failed to live up to expectations in the real world.

Israel's Iron Beam In Action

Protection at the speed of light: Israel's iron beam in action

The M203 is a single-shot 40mm grenade launcher designed for use with the M16 rifle and other similar rifles, allowing infantry to engage targets at greater range and firepower than a standard rifle.

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Grenades have a long history, with early versions dating back to ancient China and Greece. These early grenades were typically made of clay or metal and filled with gunpowder or other explosive materials. Hand thrown for the vast majority of their history, it is only recently that devices were developed to launch them mechanically like grenade launchers. The first modern examples appeared in the early 20th century, with the German and French armies developing the first examples of a dedicated grenade launcher during World War I. These early launchers were typically mounted on rifles and used a &quot;cup launcher&quot; system, in which a grenade was placed in a cup-shaped device attached to the rifle&#39;s muzzle.During World War II, the Germans developed the &quot;Gewehrgranatengerät&quot; (rifle grenade launcher), which was mounted on the barrel of the Karabiner 98k rifle. The launcher used a &quot;rod&quot; system, in which a hollow-charge grenade was placed over a rod protruding from the rifle&#39;s muzzle and then launched using a blank cartridge.After the war, many countries continued to develop and improve upon the concept of the grenade launcher. In the United States, the M79 grenade launcher was developed and used during the Vietnam War. This was a single-shot, shoulder-fired weapon that could fire various 40mm grenades.In the 1970s, the US military developed the M203, a single-shot, 40-mm, shoulder-fired grenade launcher that could be mounted on an M16 rifle or M4 carbine. This design has been widely adopted by military forces worldwide and has seen use in various conflicts.The M203 can be attached to a rifle and fire a 40 mm under-barrel grenade using an independent trigger on the weapon it is mounted upon. It employs the same high-low propulsion system as the older, standalone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which helps to mitigate recoil.As a close-in weapon, the M203 grenade launcher can be used against both point and area targets. This round is intended to cause extensive damage to soft-skinned vehicles, as well as to damage or disable bunkers and emplacements and to produce multiple casualties. For this reason, its main function is to fight off foes in areas where they are completely out of range of any direct fire. A well-trained M203 gunner can effectively suppress the enemy by using their weapon in response to their movement and line of sight. As a bonus, the M203 can be used as a crowd control weapon when coupled with the M651 tactical CS (tear gas) grenade. Against fixed targets, an M203 has an effective range of 492 feet (150 meters), but this can be extended to up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) if pinpoint accuracy is not necessary. Like the M79 it was designed to replace, the M203 is a breech-loaded grenade launcher. The M203 is loaded by sliding its barrel forward and inserting a round into the gun.Today, there is a large variety of rounds available, not just the standard high explosive fragmentation rounds, and 5 to 7 rounds per minute is a reasonable fire rate for an experienced user. The M203&#39;s popularity has only grown since it was made into variants that can be mounted on various weapons. The M203 is widely used in many regions, including the Americas, Asia, and Africa.Today, grenade launchers, like the M203, come in various designs and forms, including standalone weapons, under-barrel attachments for rifles, and even remote-controlled systems. Many countries have developed grenade launchers, essential tools in modern warfare.

Improved grenade launchers like the American M7, designed to attach to the end of the M1 Garand, were used during World War II and the Korean War.

M203 Grenade Launcher: Big power in small package

M203 Grenade luncher: The little BOOM tube

The AC-130J Ghostrider is the latest iteration of the AC-130 series of aircraft, which has a long and storied history of serving in various conflicts around the world.

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The AC-130 “Hercules” is one of the most iconic aircraft. Initially developed as a heavy transport aircraft, the airframe has been heavily modified for specialist roles over the years, including its mighty J gunship variant. With an assortment of cannons, missiles, and bombs, the C-130J certainly is worthy of its classification as a “gunship.”The AC-130J “Ghostrider” variant is modified for close air support, air interdiction, and special operations missions. To this end, it is equipped with various weapons systems, including 30mm and 105mm cannons, AGM-176 Griffin missiles, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, as well as advanced sensors and navigation equipment. And yes, you read that right, an actual howitzer!The “Ghostrider” is an advanced and versatile aircraft that can be used in various mission scenarios, making it a valuable asset to the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).Additionally, the “Ghostrider” is equipped with advanced sensors and navigation equipment, including a LIDAR sensor and a synthetic aperture radar, which allows it to detect and track targets in various weather conditions. The aircraft also has an enhanced communications suite and improved survivability features that increase its operational capabilities. Built by Lockheed Martin and modified by Boeing into a gunship, the AC-130 family, including the “Ghost Rider,” has a long combat history that dates back to Vietnam.With fully integrated digital avionics, it has a cutting-edge two-pilot flying station. Due to the completely integrated navigation systems with dual inertial navigation systems and a global positioning system, the aircraft is capable of exceptionally accurate navigation. Additionally, the aircraft comes with advanced defense systems and color weather radar. The Universal Air Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation system enables air refueling for the aircraft.The Precision Strike Package is another important feature of the AC-130J. It consists of a mission management console, a powerful communications suite, two electro-optical/infrared sensors, advanced fire control equipment, the ability to deliver precision-guided munitions, and trainable 30mm and 105mm weapons. The mission management system creates a common operating picture from sensors, communication, environment, order of battle, and threat information.The AC-130J is a fifth-generation gunship replacing the U.S.’ stock of aging AC-130U/W gunships. For the past forty years, AC-130s have continuously deployed to global hotspots in support of conventional and special operations forces. Gunships have substantially contributed to mission success throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South America.In May 2012, the AC-130J&#39;s official name became “Ghostrider,” and in June 2015, the initial AC-130J aircraft finished its developmental testing and evaluation. Full operational capability is anticipated for 2025, though initial operational capacity was obtained in 2017. The 73rd Special Operations Squadron, the first AC-130J squadron, was activated on February 23, 2018, at Hurlburt Field in Florida. In November of 2022, AFSOC took delivery of its 31st and final AC-130J “Ghostrider,” completing the command’s transition from the legacy AC-130W, AC-130U, and AC-130H fleets.But that doesn’t mean the “Ghostrider” is finished with its development. As for the future of this mighty aircraft, if its current package of firepower wasn’t enough, plans are afoot to mount directed-energy weapons on it too. After completing factory acceptance testing of the system, Lockheed shipped the 60-watt laser to AFSOC in October 2021. If given the go-ahead, the “Ghost Rider’s” future is certainly sitting pretty.

The AC-130J Ghostrider is an incredibly powerful and versatile aircraft, and is an invaluable asset to the United States military.

How Powerful is the New AC-130J Ghostrider

How powerful is the new AC-130J ghostrider

THAAD is a crucial component of the US effort to deploy a multi-layered, integrated ballistic missile defense system.

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It is claimed that China fears an American aerial defense system so much that it may have to reconsider how and where it deploys its aerial assets, namely strategic ballistic missiles. The threat could be so severe that this system could, ultimately, threaten its regional security interests.So, what is this magical weapon? Let us introduce THAAD. THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense to give it its full name, is an anti-missile system that shoots down intermediate and short-range ballistic missiles as they approach their targets. To eliminate incoming missiles, it employs hit-to-kill technology, which relies on its kinetic energy to be destroyed. It can intercept missiles inside and outside the atmosphere and can be combined with other missile defense systems.After the Iraqi Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War in 1991, THAAD was developed as a response. The incoming missile is destroyed not by a warhead but by the THAAD interceptor&#39;s impact on the target.Having its origins as an Army program, THAAD is now managed by the Missile Defense Agency. The Navy&#39;s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is a similar program with a land and sea-based component (&quot;Aegis Ashore&quot;). THAAD deployment was initiated in May 2008, although the original deployment date was 2012. The system is currently operational in the UAE, Israel, Romania, South Korea, and the United States. But how does it work? Put simply, THAAD uses cutting-edge sensors to &quot;seek&quot; and lock onto incoming targets, such as enemy ballistic missiles traveling up to 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 kph). This allows the THAAD guidance system to direct the THAAD interceptor toward the threat. THAAD comprises several key components: radar, launchers, interceptor missiles, and a fire control system. The radar detects and tracks incoming missiles, the launchers fire interceptor missiles, and the fire control system directs the interceptors to collide with the incoming missiles. THAAD is designed to operate in both standalone and integrated modes, with the ability to integrate with other missile defense systems to provide enhanced defense against a wide range of missile threats.THAAD’s developer, BAE Systems, has continuously upgraded its sensor designs to boost the performance of precision-guided munitions (PGM) and electronic warfare (EW) systems in response to the growing need to update defense infrastructure to deter aggression.The high-altitude intercept capability of THAAD lessens the destructive potential of enemy intermediate- and short-range ballistic missiles, including hypersonic variants, before they reach the ground, and the system&#39;s hit-to-kill kinetic impact reduces the likelihood of an explosion. BAE Systems, a global leader in military and intelligence sensor technologies for more than 40 years, is performing cutting-edge sensor design work to improve the THAAD missile defense system&#39;s guidance capabilities and neutralize more threats while optimizing manufacturability.With such capable hands behind THAAD’s development and ongoing improvement, it seems China needs to think quickly to find another way to keep its skies safe from incoming threats.

THAAD is a crucial component of the US effort to deploy a multi-layered, integrated ballistic missile defense system

Why China is Against Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

Why China is against THAAD?

Welcome to the Best of Military Mechanics! In this video, we'll be taking a short look at the best-received weapons and systems in our series.

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With 2022 well behind us, we thought it might be nice to round up the most popular episodes of our “Military Mechanics” series. Some will be obvious, but others might be a complete surprise. Let’s get stuck in. First up is the iconic M134 minigun, naturally. Six-barrelled, the electrically-operated M134 minigun can fire 7.62mm NATO-standard ammunition at a ridiculous rate per minute. It was developed by General Electric in the 1960s and is widely used by US and foreign militaries today. This insane gun can fire 6,000 rounds per minute.Each barrel fires while the others cool, allowing the minigun to fire at a high pace without overheating. A feeder-delinker mechanism lets the Minigun employ linked ammunition belts without jamming.Vehicles, helicopters, and watercraft mount the minigun for suppressive fire or rapid target elimination. It has been employed in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Afghanistan, including a few theatres of war. The US Army and Special Operations Command adapted the M134D, a portable, air-cooled, gas-operated, fully automatic, open-bolt weapon. Yes portable. Another of our most popular episodes was on anti-ship cruise missiles.Anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) are designed to, as the name suggests, hunt naval warships like destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Using radar, infrared, or satellite navigation, these missiles can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft, and land vehicles.ASCMs use turbojet or turbofan engines and fly low to avoid ship-borne radar. They can also avoid ship-borne radar and electronic countermeasures using their guidance and navigation systems.They can employ radar, passive radar, infrared, electro-optical, GPS, or inertial navigation systems to hit the ship after reaching it. ASCMs with stealth technology and supersonic speeds are hard to detect and intercept.Due to their vast range and difficulty defending against, ASCMs pose a severe threat to naval warships. Modern naval combat uses ASCM systems from many nations.Notable examples include the SS-N-22 Sunburn, YJ-12, AGM-158C LRASM, Exocet, and BrahMos. The V-22 Osprey was also an IE audience favorite.The tiltrotor military aircraft Boeing-Bell Textron V-22 Osprey combines helicopter vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with fixed-wing aircraft&#39;s long-range, high-speed cruise. The V-22 can fly like a fixed-wing aircraft because its two massive rotors tilt vertically for takeoff and landing and rotate forward for flight. The V-22 takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies faster and farther. It can travel 400 miles (644 km) and hit 275 mph (443 kph).The US military uses the V-22 for troop transport and medium-lift attack. Special operations, search and rescue, and medical evacuation are also possible.The V-22 has evolved over decades. Its high cost and history of testing and operational catastrophes have made it contentious.Everyone loved the Iron Beam laser weapon system.IAI and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed the “Iron Beam” laser weapon system. Its high-powered laser beam can fire down drones, small boats, and other aerial threats.Iron Beam destroys things at several kilometers of distance using a high-energy laser beam. The technology can track and engage multiple targets day and night. The laser beam can warn airplanes or drones to evacuate the airspace or destroy the target by modulating its strength. It can be combined with radar and electro-optical sensors for comprehensive air defense. It may be mounted on vehicles, ships, and fixed mounts.Iron Beam is a game-changer for air defense because it can efficiently, cheaply, and precisely defend against a broad spectrum of airborne and maritime threats without interceptors or munitions. Another popular episode was the MK19 grenade launcher.US-made, the 40mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher MK19 is a legend in its own time. Designed and built by Saco Defense in the 1970s for the U.S. military and other militaries, it can fire smoke, illumination, and high-explosive 40mm grenades. It can fire 325 rounds per minute and has a 2,369-yard (2,212-meter) range.Two or three persons operate the MK19 on cars, boats, or tripods. Electric motors power and cool it. A feeder-delinker mechanism lets the MK19 employ linked ammunition belts without jamming.And finally, the M777 howitzer.BAE Systems created the lightweight 155mm howitzer M777. It gives the U.S. military and other militaries long-range, high-precision weapons. Since it is made from titanium, the M777 is lightweight and transportable, weighing only 4,200 pounds (1,905 kg).It is so light it only requires a six-man crew to people operate and tow; it can even be airlifted by helicopter or plane. The M777&#39;s advanced navigation, aiming, and fire control systems allow it to accurately deliver firepower at 18.6 miles (30 km) with regular projectiles and 31 miles (50 km) with rocket-assisted projectiles.Ideal for modern warfare, the M777 can be flown by helicopter or aircraft to remote positions and transported through rugged terrain and snow due to its lightweight design.And that’s your lot for today. We want to know which weapons systems will be most popular in 2023.

In this video, we'll be taking a short look at the best-received weapons and systems in our series.

Military Mechanics: The Best of 2022

Military Mechanics: The best of 2022

Back in the 90s this aircraft cost almost 30 million dollars. Or, 7 million Pepsi points!

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The Harrier II was one of the unique aircraft in all aviation history. While she wouldn’t win awards for beauty, this aircraft won the hearts of all who flew in it. Based on the groundbreaking British Hawker-Siddelely Harrier (the first-ever operational vertical takeoff and short landing aircraft), the Harrier II was the beefed-up and mightier successor for the United States Air Force. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II was a single-engine ground-attack aircraft that, like its venerable ancestor, was capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). The aircraft was mostly used for light attacks or multi-role tasks, such as armed reconnaissance or close air support for ground troops. She proved so successful that other navies, like the Spanish Navy, the Italian Navy, and the United States Marine Corps (USMC), all operated the AV-8B. The Harrier II’s story began in the early-1970s when the US and the UK collaborated on a project to remedy the operational shortcomings of the first-generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier. This research finally resulted in the development of the AV-8B. Early efforts focused on building a bigger, more potent Pegasus engine to increase the Harrier&#39;s capabilities significantly. Budgetary restrictions forced the UK to discontinue the project in 1975, however. Despite this, McDonnell Douglas heavily reworked the original AV-8A Harrier to produce the AV-8B in response to the UK&#39;s withdrawal. The Harrier II incorporated a new, larger composite wing with an additional hardpoint on each side, an elevated cockpit, a revised fuselage, and other structural and aerodynamic modifications while maintaining the fundamental shape of its predecessor. Not to mention its overhauled Pegasus engine for drastically improved power. The AV-8B flew for the first time in November 1981 and joined the USMC in January 1985. Later modifications gave the AV-8B(NA) and AV-8B Harrier II Plus versions their respective night-attack and radar capabilities. In 1981, the UK re-joined the revised Harrier program as a partner through British Aerospace, giving it a sizable work-share in the project. Boeing and BAE Systems have teamed up to assist the program since business acquisitions in the 1990s. All in all somewhere in the region of 340 were built over 22 years up to the year 2003. AV-8Bs have taken part in several military and humanitarian operations, demonstrating their versatility as assets. They are typically operated from small aircraft carriers, big amphibious assault ships, and straightforward operating sites. Additionally, it has been employed since 2001 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and since 2003 in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya. Harrier II aircraft from Italy and Spain have participated in international battles with NATO coalitions. The time spent in the crucial takeoff and landing phases directly correlates to the AV-8B&#39;s high accident rate throughout its service lifespan.But, all good things must come to an end, and the Harrier II finally retired in 2003. The cutting-edge Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II replaced the aging AV-8Bs used by the USMC and Italian Navy, with the former expecting to continue using its Harriers until 2025.While the Harrier II may now be obsolete, technically speaking, the aircraft will live on forever in the halls of fame of great aircraft.

The AV-8B Harrier II was developed by a team comprised of McDonnell Douglas, British Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce.

AV-8B Harrier II: The Pepsi Plane

AV-8B harrier II: The pepsi plane

M240 is a successful and well-regarded tool of destruction that has proven itself in battle in Afghanistan, Iraq and now in Ukraine

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Few weapons can instill so much fear into an enemy as a machine gun. With a high rate of fire, machine guns can deliver suppressive fire (directly or indirectly), enforce area denial over a region of land with grazing fire, and are utilized against infantry, low-flying aircraft, small boats, and lightly/unarmored ground vehicles.First used en masse during the trench warfare of WW1, machine guns have become a vital part of any army today. But, within this class of weapon, one stands heads and shoulders above the rest, the M240. The M240 is a gas-operated, belt-fed machine gun chambered in the 7.6251mm NATO round, mostly employed by the US military. It is a variation of the gas-operated machine gun known as the FN MAG, which was created in Belgium and has been used since the 1960s. With its rate of fire of up to 950 rounds per minute, this weapon is probably the epitome of a “suppressing fire” weapon. Woe betide anyone unlucky enough to be in its sights. The M240 is crucial because it is a dependable and adaptable weapon that can serve in several capacities, such as a ground-based machine gun, a weapon installed on a vehicle, or a door gun on a helicopter. It is well-known for its durability and accuracy under sustained fire and is also widely employed by other nations.The U.S. military selected the FN MAG for several tasks following extensive searches and competitions worldwide. Considered a general-purpose machine gun, it can shoot accurately from its built-in bipod while mounted on a tripod, ground vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft, exemplifying its adaptability.The U.S. Army first used it in 1977 as a coaxial tank gun before gradually expanding its use in the 1980s and 1990s. This prompted increased acceptance of various applications, particularly for the army and Marine Corps infantry. Despite sharing many of the same fundamental traits as its predecessor, the MAG system is more reliable than the M60 due to its endurance. Even though the MAG has a more complicated gas system than the M60, it offers higher reliability and requires less maintenance, even if it costs more to produce and weighs more.Its rating of 26,000 mean rounds between failure (MRBF) is quite high for its weight compared to other machine guns, which, when it was initially adopted in the 1970s, was around 7,000 MRBF for other machine guns.In case you are unaware, MRBF Mean rounds is a measure of the reliability of a system or component, typically used in engineering, that defines the average number of rounds or cycles of operation that a system or component can go through before it fails. Despite being heavier than some comparable weapons, it is recognised for its dependability, and the fact that it is standardized among NATO states is a significant advantage.All variations can fire the majority of NATO 7.62 mm (.30/.308 cal) ammunition types and are fed from disintegrating belts. Though, non-disintegrating belts can be installed on M240 models. The installation of numerous upgrade kits has allowed the US M240 machine guns to be enhanced and modified over time.The U.S. Army and Marine Corps are exploring new medium and heavy machine gun technology to replace them. Still, even if they are, the M240 has safely sealed its place in military history as the crème de la crème of machine guns.

M240 is a successful and well-regarded tool of destruction that has proven itself in battle in Afghanistan, Iraq and now in Ukraine.

The most reliable machine gun in the world

The M240: The most reliable machine gun in the world

As an Airborne Warning And Control System, or AWACS for short, the E-3 is really just like a flying control tower.

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For as long as war has existed, getting battlefield information has often been pivotal to victory or defeat. While we no longer use fast horse-mounted scouts for this purpose, the role is still vital, albeit changed beyond all recognition, technologically speaking. The modern version of the horse-mounted scout is the &quot;Airborne Warning and Control System,&quot; or AWACS. It provides military commanders with a comprehensive, real-time picture of the battlefield, including the location and movement of friendly and enemy forces. This information can be used to coordinate and direct military operations, as well as to defend against air and missile attacks. In addition, AWACS can also be used for civilian purposes such as air traffic control and search and rescue operations.All very interesting, but what exactly is it? AWACS military aircraft are equipped with radar and other sensors to detect and track aircraft and other airborne objects. Although AWACS refers to a specific system installed in the Boeing E-3 “Sentry” and Japanese Boeing E-767 airborne early warning and control (AEW&amp;C) airframes, it is also used as a generalized synonym for the role they perform.Designed for long-range airborne radar detection of aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles, and other incoming projectiles, this system also functions as a command and control system for the battlespace during an air engagement by directing the strikes of fighter and attack aircraft. Additionally, AEW&amp;C units routinely carry out combat management command, control, and surveillance, including overground targets. The radar on the aircraft can identify and track objects far farther away than a comparable ground-based radar when operated at altitude. It can also tell friendly from hostile aircraft.Similar to a ground-based radar, it can be detected by adversaries, but due to its mobility and wider sensor field of view, it is significantly more resistant to counterattacks. Modern AEW&amp;C systems have a detection range of up to 220 nautical miles (400 km), far beyond the reach of most surface-to-air missiles. A single AEW&amp;C aircraft can cover a 120,000 sq mi (312,000 km2) area while flying at 30,000 ft (9,000 meters). To put that into perspective, three of these planes can cover Central Europe in overlapping orbits. By communicating with friendly aircraft, AEW&amp;C systems direct fighters toward hostile aircraft or any other flying unknown object, provide information on threats and targets, help extend their sensor range, and make offensive aircraft harder to track because they no longer need to keep their radar active (which the enemy can detect) to detect threats.In addition to being a highly mobile and potent radar platform, AEW&amp;C aircraft are employed for defensive and offensive air operations. They are to NATO and US-trained or integrated air forces what the combat information center is to a navy cruiser. The system is used defensively to guide counterattacks against enemy air and ground troops and offensively to lead fighters to their target locations. Because of their high-altitude advantage, command and control planes are sometimes flown by navies from their warships at sea. The US Navy&#39;s supercarriers are equipped with Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW&amp;C aircraft to protect them and improve their onboard command and information centers (CICs). The Fairey Gannet AEW.3 and Lockheed EC-121 “Warning Star,” as well as the RAF&#39;s “Sentry” AEW1, were earlier models of similar aircraft used in the less-demanding radar picket role under the designation &quot;airborne early warning&quot; (AEW), whereas AEW&amp;C emphasizes the command and control capabilities that may not be present on smaller or simpler radar picket aircraft. AWACS, or rather the role it plays, will always be required by military commanders as long as war exists, so while the technology will undoubtedly change in the future, the need for some form of AWACS will likely be around for some time to come.

AWACS is equipped with an integrated command and control battle management, or C2BM, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform.

THE VENERABLE SENTRY

How the AWACS keeps us safe

The B-1 is the backbone of America's bomber fleet.

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With 61 world records for speed, payload, and distance, the B-1”Lancer” bomber is no surprise that this aircraft has made its place in history. Let’s see what makes this aircraft so incredible. The Rockwell B-1, nicknamed the “Lancer,” is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Also called the &quot;Bone&quot; for its &quot;B-One“ variant, it was first introduced in 1986 and is still in active service today. It is famous for its ability to evade radar detection and long-range, allowing it to fly deep into enemy territory with a large payload of bombs and missiles. Additionally, it has been used in various military operations, including “Operation Desert Storm” in 1991 and the War in Afghanistan.As of 2022, it is one of three strategic bombers, the other two being the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-2 Spirit (aka stealth bomber), which is part of the United States Air Force fleet.The B-1, initially intended to replace the aging and venerable B-52 and B-58 “Hustler,” was first envisioned as a platform in the 1960s that would combine the Mach 2 speed of the B-58 Hustler with the range and payload of the B-52. The design competition for the B-1A was won by Rockwell International, now a part of Boeing, after a protracted period of research. This model could travel long distances at Mach 0.85 at very low altitudes and reach a top speed of Mach 2.2 at high altitudes. The AGM-86 cruise missile, which flew at a similar basic speed and distance, as well as the cost of the aircraft, and the early development of the B-2 stealth bomber combined to lessen the necessity for the B-1. To this end, after the B-1A prototypes had been constructed, the program was abandoned in 1977.In 1981, the program was revived, mostly as a stopgap measure, because the B-2 stealth bomber program was experiencing problems. The B-1A design was modified, lowering the top speed at high altitude to Mach 1.25 and raising the speed at low altitude to Mach 0.96. The electrical components improved, and the airframe was upgraded to carry additional fuel and weaponry. Deliveries of the upgraded model, known as the B-1B, started in 1986, the same year it was formally accepted into service by Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a nuclear bomber. All 100 aircraft had been delivered by 1988.The B-1B was modified for a conventional bombing role when SAC was disestablished and transferred to Air Combat Command in 1992. During Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and the NATO operation in Kosovo the following year, it was used in battle for the first time. The B-1B has provided military assistance to American and NATO forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Air Force possesses 45 B-1Bs as of 2021.After 2025, the new Northrop Grumman B-21 “Raider” will start to replace the B-1B, and all B-1s will be phased out by 2036. While it may be replaced, it will likely never be forgotten.Until then, there is no doubt the “Lancer” will continue to provide unparalleled service for the USAF.

B-1B is bad to the bone

Season 4

PATRIOT batteries will start their mission to keep Ukraine’s sky safe with other air defense weapons like Avenger, NASAMS and RIM-7 SEASPARROW loaded BUKs.

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The United States has announced that it will expedite the delivery of M1 Abrams tanks Tand <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-2/ep-7-s400-vs-patriot-best-air-defense-choice" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-2/ep-7-s400-vs-patriot-best-air-defense-choice">PATRIOT</a>  batteries to Ukraine, with PATRIOT being the most expensive weapon system supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine, costing around $1.1 billion in total. The system, along with trained Ukrainian soldiers, will enhance Ukraine&#39;s air defense capabilities and help safeguard its skies.PATRIOT, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, was developed as a replacement for the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/us-global-hawk-black-sea-recon" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/us-global-hawk-black-sea-recon">HAWK</a>  and Nike-Hercules air defense systems from the Cold War era. It has become a crucial component of U.S. power projection and a symbol of U.S. commitment to allies and partners. In recent years, PATRIOT has undergone upgrades to improve its interoperability with other ballistic missile defense systems, such as the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-4/ep-6-why-china-is-against-thaad" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-4/ep-6-why-china-is-against-thaad">Terminal High Altitude Area Defense </a> (THAAD).To prepare for the operation of the PATRIOT system, 65 Ukrainian soldiers have been undergoing training at a U.S. Army base in Oklahoma since January. Once deployed with a fully trained crew, the PATRIOT batteries will work in conjunction with other air defense weapons like Avenger, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-ukraine-advanced-nasams-820m-military-aid" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-ukraine-advanced-nasams-820m-military-aid">NASAMS</a>, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-6/ep-1-rim-7-seasparrow-in-ukraine-nato-missile-meets-an-ussr-launcher" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/military-mechanics/season-6/ep-1-rim-7-seasparrow-in-ukraine-nato-missile-meets-an-ussr-launcher">RIM-7 SEASPARROW</a> loaded BUKs to fill gaps in Ukraine&#39;s air defense capabilities.The delivery of the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/patriot-missile-defense-system-help-ukraine" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/patriot-missile-defense-system-help-ukraine">PATRIOT</a> system to Ukraine marks a significant step in enhancing Ukraine&#39;s defense against potential airborne threats. As tensions remain high in the region, the U.S. support through the provision of advanced military equipment demonstrates its commitment to Ukraine&#39;s sovereignty and security. The system&#39;s deployment is expected to increase Ukraine&#39;s overall capability to protect its airspace and deter potential adversaries.In conclusion, the expedited delivery of the PATRIOT system to Ukraine by the U.S. is a significant development in enhancing <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/air-defense-systems-land-in-ukraine" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/air-defense-systems-land-in-ukraine">Ukraine&#39;s air defense capabilities</a>. The system, along with trained Ukrainian soldiers, will help fill gaps in Ukraine&#39;s air defense and increase its overall capability to protect its airspace. However, it also underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the need for careful diplomacy to prevent further escalation of tensions. The U.S. and its allies&#39; support to Ukraine through international partnerships and alliances highlights the importance of cooperation in maintaining global security.

Enhanced air defense for Ukraine: PATRIOT system delivery by U.S. Strengthening bilateral military cooperation and deterrence against threats.

How the C5M Super Galaxy broke 89 world records

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