Information and resources about weapons currently in use or being tested by the branches of the United States Military, including aircraft, ships, submarines, infantry weapons, guns, artillery, bombs, missles, and special operations weapons.
Tired of cold MREs? Then you'll just love the Military's new "kitchen-in-a-box," which prepares hot meals for 18 warriors with just the pull of a tab.
U.S. military members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous areas will soon receive revamped armored vests that provide more side protection. The vest changes are designed to prove effective in protecting servicemembers from shrapnel fragments, especially those who operate gun turrets atop vehicles.
Troops conducting urban operations soon will have the capabilities of superheroes, being able to sense through 12 inches of concrete to determine if someone is inside a building.
A joint-service program office at Picatinny Arsenal has completed development and is managing the purchase of 589 new lightweight 155mm howitzers for the Army and Marine Corps. The M-777A1 will replace all of the corps’ current M-198 towed howitzers and will be the artillery system for the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
Soldiers may have armed robots as battle buddies by early next year. The Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, or SWORDS, will be joining Stryker Brigade Soldiers in Iraq when it finishes final testing in the near future. Different weapons can be interchanged on the system.
Many nations have a considerable variety of lethal and incapacitating chemical agents and the means to deliver them. Here's how the United States Military protects against chemical and biological attacks.
Combat rations and their distribution have improved considerably over the last five to seven years. The Defense Department's Combat Feeding program at the U.S. Army Soldier System Center in Natick, Mass., is a "one-stop shop for all combat-rations development, field food-service equipment and total combat feeding systems.
Hot meals, hot showers and a comfortable place to sleep are some everyday things that Force Provider, the Army's premier base camp, strives to offer troops in the field. This self-sustaining city can house up to 550 troops, covers 7 to 10 acres, and can be tailored to meet the needs of the unit and terrain.
Unmanned aerial vehicles have been stars in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. A recent show at Miramar Naval Air Station in California, displayed what the future may entail for UAVs.
The Army and Marines are rushing to get enough body armor into Iraq and Afghanistan by December (2003) for everyone who needs it, as fast as it comes off the assembly line. The new body armor, which is unisex, is equipped with removable throat and groin protectors, as well as front and back removable plates, which can stop 7.62 mm rounds.
Fact sheet - The characteristics of the M16A2 combat rifle.
The fifth test flight of the prototype National Missile Defense system ended in failure early July 8 when the "bullet" and booster rocket stages didn't separate.
DoD research conducted over the past 30 years has produced innovations such as the global positioning system and stealth and night-vision devices. DOD is nows working on miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicles, improved digital communications systems, remote controlled vehicles to transport supplies, and more precise sensor systems that could be used to detect and destroy hidden surface targets.
FAS has the descriptions and specifications for pretty much every U.S. Military weapons system in use.
Article on the use of smart weapons in the military by your About.com Guide on Artificial Intelligence.
Those big explosions you are seeing on TV are from America's extensive arsenal of non-nuclear missiles and bombs. Part 2 of our Weapons of War series takes a close look at some of these systems.
A study by USJFCOM's Project Alpha is currently testing the viability of what used to be a fanciful notion but is now bordering on reality -- robotic warfare. By as early as 2025, autonomous robots on the battlefield might not be just a notion, but a norm.
The definitive source for military capabilities, equipment, and personnel.
General information and descriptions of UAVs used by the United States Military.
Tomorrow's warfighters will wear uniforms with built-in chemical- biological protection, embedded with electric wires and fiber optics that give sophisticated battlefield capabilities. Uniforms will be waterproof and flame- resistant, with built-in insect repellent, antibacterial agents that help stop open injuries from getting infected, and even antimicrobial agents that keep odor in check.
Charts (with photos) which can help you identify different types of military vehicles.
Information on obtaining reference books and operator manuals for military vehicles.
Downloadable information for a variety to technical issues with military vehicles.
Part 1 of our Weapons of War Series, which examines the weapons and equipment being used by our deployed forces. In part 1, an extensive look at weapons and equipment used by our Infantry and Special Operations units.
