Excalibur: GPS Guided Artillery Developed by Raytheon

Raytheon has developed the first of its kind GPS guided artillery which is ready for deployment in Kuwait after 8 years of research and development.
The artillery was tested in Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. During the test 13 out of 14 managed to hit targets with only 10 meters of error when fired from a distance of 24 km, even when it was aimed 15 degrees off target.
But the major concern for anything that runs on GPS signals is that these signals can be easily hampered by clouds and rain.
Via: Gizmodo

An Invisible Drone to Enhance Intelligence Gathering

VeraTech, a USA based firm has claimed to develop invisible drone named Phantom Sentinel. The company has applied for the patent of this technology.

Here a peep into the theory of its working.
“Persistence of vision” turns a fast moving object into a blur. Remember how the rotors of a helicopter are blurred and not easy to see. The whole body of the aircraft spins and turns into a blur thus by avoiding visual identification, but cannot evade radars.

The so called Phantom Sentinel aircraft is Y-shaped and consists of a single long wing attached to two short aerodynamic extensions. The weight is carefully balanced around the center of mass. When the rotors are moving the solid part moves around this center of mass thus creating a blur.

Making the plane sky blue, or largely transparent, should help conceal it further. The camera can be placed near the centre of mass and used to build a panoramic picture of the ground below, after software processing.

The compact size and light weight make it easy to fold, field pack, and hand launch.

It gives near invisible surveillance for close in intelligence and has several launching options like throw and go, Canister launch and Remote launch.

Via: Newscientisttech

MIT Develops Test Platform for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

Unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming more and more popular with the military forces all around the world. But the only hindrance is that these UAVs need skilled operators. Now, MIT researchers have developed a multiple-UAV test platform which can be controlled by anyone with a speedy Internet connection.

The interesting part is that these unmanned helicopters can stay in air for around a week and come back to the base for recharging their batteries. Jonathan How, an associate professor at MIT cited:

Ultimately, when you are taking these devices out into real-world applications, you want people to perform a task like surveillance of the border. You don’t want them spending a lot of time figuring out how to fly the vehicle.

Each UAV that costs about $700 is networked to a PC. The test platform comprises five minuscule “quadrotor” helicopters with four whirling blades. There is a indoor positioning system and many tiny autonomous ground vehicles that can be tracked by the UAVs. A video camera attached to the UAV makes use of a visual target to find out the vehicle’s distance to the landing platform. This tech can be further used to land these UAVs on a ship at sea.

Read more about MIT’s intelligent aircraft
Via: Primidi

Navy’s Aegis Radar is Working Consistently Even After 20 Years

Weapons made for wars do not last long and are replaced by latest ones. This is mandatory, as a war cannot be won with old weapons based on outdated technologies. But Navy’s Aegis radar is working consistently even after 20 years of its manufacture. The radar coupled with Raytheon SM-3 missile is still one of military ballistic missile defense systems working up to the mark. The radar was built by Lockheed Martin to defend aircraft carriers from Soviet missile attacks.

The main reason behind the success of this radar is its raw power and smart program management. It has adopted a commercial open architecture in order to keep up with rapid advancements in computing which makes it equipped with modern technologies and ready to meat ever-increasing pace of technological development.

Via: defensetech

2008 Dodge Viper - The powerful Reptile

A grand big center stage car from Chrysler Group i.e 2008 Dodge Viper, 600-horsepower, 8.4-liter V10 engine with 560 lbs of torque will make other models like 500-horsepower Corvette ZO6 and 500-horsepower BMW M6 search for corners. Ohhh, how 500 horsepower seems child’s play now..
Chrysler primarily focused on the Dodge brand in the final press conference at 2007 North American International Auto Show at Detroit and as expected their highlight was on official curtain raiser for the 2008 Dodge Viper.
2008 Dodge Viper would zoom from 0-60mph in just under 4 seconds and 0-100-0mph in 12 seconds. Now, that is impressive. The problem for the car is that it is outrageously powerful and not just powerful. Once you zoom on the road with the new Viper expect the world to follow behind you, i.e the power of 600 hp. Now it is going to be interesting war of horsepower and more auto rockets could be seen in near future.
The increased horsepower comes from extra 0.1 liter of displacement, new cylinder heads and variable valve timing. The other prominent cosmetic change include new and improved hood that has a larger scoop for air intake and louvers thus improving engine cooling. 5 body colors will be added in 2008 Viper which will take the total color count to 8. The interior styles are going to be wide with 5 interior color combinations and a choice of bezel and center console finishes.

Magnetic Launch Pad of the Future

Today’s Astronauts are trained to handle forces up to 9Gs. Comparing it with normal humans we cannot with stand forces more than 3Gs. Well breaking all rules a California based company, Launchpoint Technologies is developing a new technology that will exert a 10,000G force on the payload.
The design looks simple on paper with huge magnetic motors that will accelerate the payload in a circular 1.5-mile radius tunnel until the projectile reaches a speed of 6 miles per hour.On reaching the critical speed a laser will direct the projectile to the launch ramp and into space. The projectile will only be equipped with a small rocket engine that will guide it to orbit once it is out of the earth’s atmosphere.The U.S. Air Force is showing some interest in the idea and has granted the company a $500,000 capital to prove the idea. Launchpoint Technologies believes that the launch will cost under $50,000 and will be beneficial to provide food and other supplies to the astronauts.The company also commented that anything that can handle the intense 10,000 G force can be shot into space with the technology that the company aims to fully develop in the next four years.

Via: popsci

2009 Toyota Supra

Lot of rumors are making rounds on web about future 2009 Toyota Supra and if these are to be believed then the next generation Toyota Supra will certainly poised to displace Nissan 350Z which is THE most popular sports car in Japan. With the launch of this vehicle Toyota will no longer be viewed as only makers of successful hybrid cars with their stunning 2-seaters which is going to come with Coupe and Convertible versions at the same time.

Under the hood the Coupe is expected to be equipped with 5.0 liter V8 engine which will produce 450 bhp and 383 ln-ft of torque. Rigidity issues are going to prevent this engine from coming in open air models.

2009 Toyota Supra is rumored to have rear wheel drive and a 7 speed sequential auto with a great acceleration where the car will cover 0-60mph in less then 5 seconds and yet provide 30mpg of fuel efficiency. The Zapper is expected to wear similar look of Lexus supercar LF-1.

Lobbying for an Arms Trade Treaty

Lina Holguin, works on the Control Arms Campaign and is based in Canada with Oxfam-Quebec. I come from Armenia, a small city in Colombia, and I never imagined that I would be meeting and lobbying diplomats at the UN. The first time I came to the UN was in June during the Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons. My NGO colleagues and I were very disappointed when governments did not reach an agreement, but like others, I never lose hope! Now I am back, with the energy and arguments needed to convince countries that they must act to stop the horrors caused by the easy availability of weapons. This is definitely the most empowering experience I have ever had. The Control Arms Campaign is in a lobby marathon to get a majority of governments supporting the ATT resolution that will be tabled on Wednesday by Costa Rica, Argentina, UK, Kenya, Finland, Australia and Japan. Our delegation consists of about 15 people, representing thousands around the world who are asking governments to establish an ATT based on human rights and humanitarian law. We have divided the regions we need to lobby, and I have focused on the Latin American countries because I am from the region and speak Spanish. Here, and in West African countries things are going well: several of them have already said they will co-sponsor the resolution. I also lobby francophone countries, particularly Canada, as this is where I live and where I have been working on the Control Arms Campaign since 2003. Yesterday it was encouraging to hear the Canadian delegation speaking in favour of referring to human rights in the resolution, but I am still waiting for them to say that they will also co-sponsor it. Canada said in June that they supported in principle the idea of an ATT, and has repeated it on other occasions. But now Canada needs to turn words into action! And this is how lobbying gets done ... The First Committee meets in conference room 4, a huge room in the basement of the UN building, with a chair assigned to every country. There are no windows and I think the only public building where you can smoke in New York is here at the Vienna Cafe outside conference room 4, where most of the lobby meetings take place. Every time a delegate comes out of the conference room, I approach them to deliver our messages and get information. You literally have to catch them as they run out, and you have to be ready to deliver the message in 2 minutes. If I talk to them in the conference room, I don’t know how they will react, but it is worth taking the risk. We have long days here at the smoky basement of the UN, but it is encouraging to see the commitment of all my colleagues that come from India, Senegal, France, Kenya, the UK and Italy. It is also empowering to see that our efforts are paying off and that the countries co-sponsoring the ATT resolution are hearing the voices of those who joined the Million Faces Campaign. I am glad I am here today to remind the country delegates that this is about real people dying and suffering every day because of the uncontrolled arms trade. I am glad I am able to contribute to a world of peace.

Chopper Shield to Combat RPG’s

If we put some light on choppers worst disasters from the day the war began in Iraq, the reports reveals that somewhere around 28 people’s died in different attacks due to helicopter’s crash via RPG(Rocket propelled grenade) artillery. Now, to surmount the RPG guns New Jersey-based inventor Richard Glasson, has developed the first-ever anti-RPG system for aircraft which is a volley of nets that catch the grenades before they hit.
To develop this high-tech innovation Glasson a chief engineer at Control Products, a company that designs sensors for aerospace and defense and who has also worked on sensors that protect gearboxes from overheating on the president’s Marine One choppers and in jet engines on most commercial airliners, was inspired by the Mark Bowden’s best seller Black Hawk Down which gives an account of the 1993 killing of 18 U.S. soldiers in Somalia when an RPG brought down their chopper. Glasson said:
I couldn’t believe that such a low-tech weapon could take down a several-million-dollar aircraft,” that’s a spectacular outcome for a 40-year-old technology.
It is noteworthy that other countermeasures, such as radar jammers and flares are also proved worthless against hand weapons like RPGs. Defense companies are also working on some new systems that would fire projectiles at the grenades to demolish them and according to the Glasson this new system will be just ‘like hitting a bullet with a bullet’.
Therefore, instead of supporting the above mentioned concept to combat RPG’s he advised defense, as RPGs targets are amazingly straightforward and far much slower than the heat-seeking missiles he developed a new system that would block or at least avert the grenades before they hit the chopper.
Normally, RPG takes four to six seconds to explode when fired (unless it hits solid object- then it detonates on impact) it doesn’t explode after being fired (unless it hits a solid object—then it detonates on impact) but Glasson’s this new system enables chopper radar to calculate the speed and trajectory of an incoming grenade within milliseconds .
Half a second later, pods of launch tubes bundled on the helicopter aim and fire between one and eight unguided yard-long rockets on an intercept course with the grenade. The aim of rocket doesn’t have to be precise because each drags a braided steel-cable parachute woven with Kevlar and in the next second, these fast-opening chutes blow-up to form a series of six-foot-wide bombproof nets to catch the grenade and to drag it to the ground.
However, Glasson is still not sure about all the functioning of its new system until his will test the system on a real helicopter for which he will need the support of Pentagon or some of the contractors. Pentagon on the other hand does not seem to be much interested in the system, they told the developer that they are much interested in a laser based protection system, which is years from development. Glasson still is not losing hope, he is of the belief that the recent crashes will convince Pentagon to give at least one try to the system developed by him.
All the best Glasson.
Via: Popsci

2008 Altima Coupe Nissan

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe, the all new 2 door coupe version for the present 2007 Altima sedan will be the first 2 door Altima and does not look like a sedan on which it is based. Introduced in Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the best selling vehicle from Nissan is going to solidify its position further. The sedan based 2 door version will catch the fancy of its riders with its perfect magnetic styling, height that is lower the sedan, shorter wheelbase and overall shorter length.

The XM Real-time traffic reporting, push-button starter the standard “Intelligent Key”, nine-speaker Bose audio, touch screen navigation system, Bluetooth phone connectivity are some of the features of 2008 Altima Coupe Nissan for its gizmos friendly riders. Get ready to be tumbled upon by the great things it has in store beneath its sheet metal body too. The choice of 3.5-liter 270-hp, 258-lb-ft, V-6 engines coupled to either 6 speed manual or CVT transmissions and a 175-hp, 180 lb-ft, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is going to woo its users.

The highly praised “D” platform based vehicle is optimized to give a sporty feel with great handling and responsiveness which is provided by its Xtronic CVT transmission. The Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage front supplemental air bags, front seat side impact supplemental air bags for chest protection and roof-mounted curtain side impact air bags for front and rear outboard occupant head protection and Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones are some of its over the top safety features.

According to Bill Bosley, vice president/general manager, Nissan, “Rather than just eliminating two doors from the Altima Sedan, we gave the Altima Coupe its own style, its own dimensions and its own interpretation of Nissan’s exhilarating driving pleasure”.

2007 Nissan Altima Sedan, 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe and now what…. What about a convertible??

2008 Mercedes Benz P8

The growing popularity of 360 Modena and recently launched Gallardo is worrying Mercedes Benz and they are up to launch their new Mercedes Benz P8 as a 2008 model. Well, mid engine super car segment is quite lucrative and Mercedes people do not want to fall behind.

Mercedes is focusing on taking its place between $370,000 SL 55 AMG and the $1 million SLR with its smaller, lighter, more focused mid-engine model in performance and price.

2008 Mercedes Benz P8 is officially a concept, which means that the cost proposal is still under way, hence no guesses for the prices. Convertible is expected for the car with regular coupe. According to Mercedes boss Jurgen Hubbert, “We are looking at a mid-engine road car, but there is no decision on production.”

Any guesses for the prices. It might cost somewhere about $450,000 and could have a higher price tag then the cars it is going to compete i.e. Ferrari 360 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Whether this car will see the light of the day is not very clear. McLaren claims that the car has simply been delayed further than its projected 2007 instigated date.

DARPA to Fix Intelligent Star Wars Binoculars Right into Soldiers’ Brain

The U.S Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA ) will soon develop an extraordinary and avant-garde pair of high-tech binoculars for their Special Forces that will be 10 times more powerful than anything available today.
This new amplified device with an alerting system actually taps the wearer’s prefrontal cortex (anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain, lying in front of the motor and premotor) to caution secret threats detected by the soldier’s subliminal.
According to DARPA this advanced prototype model of binoculars is stimulated by ‘Luke’s Binoculars’ that Luke Skywalker used in Star Wars. Now, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has planned to create their own version of this science-fiction hardware whose prototype will be handed to troops in next three years.
The agency also asserts that no scientific advancement is required on the project that is officially named as Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System because DARPA hopes to assemble their cooked technologies already kept in their laboratories from years. The technology ranges from flat-field wide-angle optics, to the use of advanced electroencephalograms, or EEGs, to rapidly recognize brainwave signatures.
According to the presentations from the meeting held by DARPA in March at Arlington, Virginia where scientists and defense contractors were expected to participate, the agency demanded that binoculars should have a viewing range of 1,000 to 10,000 meters as compared to the current generation binoculars whose ranges are only 300 to 1,000 meters.
The agency also demanded that these binoculars should grant 120-degree field view and should be able to spot moving vehicles as far as 10 kilometers away.But the most notable thing is that these binoculars have nothing to do with the optics because it is just DARPA’s desire to amalgamate EEG electrodes that scrutinize wearer’s neural signals to aid the soldiers to identify the targets with an ease.
According to an expert in this field, Dennis McBride, president of the Potomac Institute DARPA’s goals are based on detailed research, he further quoted that:
This is all about target recognition and pattern recognition. It turns out that humans in particular have evolved over these many millions of years with a prominent prefrontal cortex.
He further described that prefrontal cortex permits brain to lift patterns instantly and also exercises strong impulse control to prohibit false alarms. He also said that EEG will surely permit binoculars to avoid inhibitory reaction and will help the wearer to detect possible threats.
According to John Murray, a scientist at SRI International and one of the participants in last month’s DARPA workshop believes that technology is viable in a demonstrative environment but to take it in a field is a different issue. He further added that in few years the capability to measure signals and to analyze them quickly is radically advanced and in this kind of situation lots of other subjects are also involved to build and deploy this technology.
It is also not clear that how the final device will look like but the agencies presentations unveils soldiers wearing EEG sensors attached helmet on their heads. However, DARPA’s presentations clearly denote that size and power are also some serious issues that need to be solved but to create a system less than five pounds is still a challenge.
If we take an example of another important aspects of binoculars to detect threats by using neuromorphic engineering- the science of using hardware and software to mimic biological systems. Paul Hasler, a professor of Georgia Institute of Technology who specializes in this area and attended DARPA’s workshop describes it by giving an example that if an effort is made to use neural computation to “emulate the brain’s visual cortex” by creating sensors like brain, it will scan large area and will also help the troops to visualize important activities of their foes.
Though companies are not sure to bid on this project but DARPA believes that when the prototype of this high-tech device will be offered to U.S Special Forces and when the military will demand the binoculars after trial it will be the true success for DARPA and for the whole team who all conducted detailed research at DARPA’s workshop to develop this ultramodern device.
Via: Wired

AN/PVS-14 Night Vision Device

AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device (MNVD) is a light-weight, third generation night vision device that gives the soldier the operational advantage to “see at night.” NVDs (known also as Night Vision Goggles) are electro-optical devices that intensify (or amplify) existing light instead of relying on a light source of their own.
The devices are sensitive to a broad spectrum of light, from visible through infrared. An accessory illuminator can increase the light available at the infrared end of the spectrum by casting a beam of light that is not visible to the human eye. When a soldier looks "through" a NVD, an amplified electronic image is seen on a phosphor screen, giving the soldier the ability to operate with little or no illumination from the moon, stars, or other ambient light sources.
The PVS-14 system can be used with the head mount, as shown, or with a Kevlar helmet mount.
Field of View (degrees): 40 degreesMin Focus Range: 40 cmWeight (unit): 420 gramsInfrared light emitting diodeAutomatic brightness protectionVariable gain control knobLow battery indicatorPower Source: 2) AA batteries (Alkaline)Operating temperature: -51 C to + 49 CStorage temperature: -51 C to + 85 CImmersion: 1 meter for 30 minutes

Chameleon A8 - an Audi that drives like an Elise, GTI, Getz and E-Class!

Audi has seen the future, and the future is exciting; at least in Ingolstad. Engineers at Audi have cooked up the automotive equivalent of the Focusrit Liquid Mix. An A8L has been pressed into service as the basis for Audi's emulator, having been modified with extra hydraulics, an active steering system and hardware to steer the rear wheels, as well. Dubbed HORST, for Handling Online Research Simulation Tool, the car was initially developed to ape the dynamic responses of an E-Class Benz. More cars have been added as "presets," and engineers can switch from a range of vehicles, including a VW GTI, a Lotus Elise, even a Hyundai Getz, all at the behest of a laptop.

[Source: Auto Express]A

Daniel Searles Bowie Knife:

Well the new knife everyone has been waiting on came in. The Daniel Searle Bowie knife from Generation 2! The first batch of 25 came in and went straight out the door. We have had allot of great responses (and we are not saying that just because it is our knife), folks we have said it and the response we have received says it all. This is the BEST looking Bowie Knife we have made yet! It has been talked about quite a bit on the different forums. Just GOOGLE Daniel SearlesBowie Knife you will find the link to 3 of the main forums that talk about it. We are now taking orders on the next batch of 25. These are due in, in April sometime. Of course this batch will be pre-sold before it gets here, as with the last 2 knives we did. So orders yours now. Here is the Link: Searles Bowie

NASA Puts Together Ground Testing for X-48B Blended Wing Body Concept

NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California is all set, with two steadfast 21-foot wingspan models, for ground testing of the X-48B Blended Wing Body (BWB) by early 2008, where it will go through ground testing to certify its engine- and fuel-system integrity, battery endurance, telemetry link communication, flight-control software, and low- and high-speed taxiing characteristics as well.
The purpose behind the trial is to search and certify the structural, aerodynamic and operational advantages of the BWB concept. Sensing the potential of the aircraft, U.S. Air Force has designated, the prospect military aircraft, with X-48B. Three turbojet engines of the X-48B will accede to a flight about 120 knots and 10,000 feet in altitude during flight testing.
To quote Norm Princen, Boeing Phantom Works chief engineer for the X-48B program,
Earlier wind-tunnel testing and the upcoming flight testing are focused on learning more about the BWB’s low-speed flight-control characteristics, especially during takeoffs and landings. Knowing how accurately our models predict these characteristics is an important step in the further development of this concept.
Via: gizmag

CV-22 Ospreys Makes Its Debut with Special Forces

The United States Special Forces have been well known for its best equipments and latest warfare.
CV-22 Ospreys will soon join the list. The Air Force’s newest addition, the CV-22 Osprey, has been in the limelight since its arrival in March. What makes the CV-22 so unique is something no other aircraft in the world can do. Its tiltrotor capability allows the aircraft to travel long distances at speeds similar to a C-130, but take off and land like a helicopter. This capability of this aircraft makes it the best suited for adverse conditions like landing on mountains or anywhere it finds a dry spot. The aircraft can also travel long distances without need of refueling.Bell-Boeing will provide performance-based support for the first nine production CV-22s for aircraft maintenance, reliability, supply and repairs, technical data and interactive electronic technical manuals, engineering, information technology, field service and logistics support.As the Osprey enters the force in the years ahead, the Forces plans to trim their weapon program to maintain a steady economy of 3% defense spending.
Via: gizmag

Boeing 747-400F Airborne Laser Aircraft to Make Star Wars Fantasy a Reality

US Air Force has some of the best planes with latest technology installed. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s modified Boeing 747-400F will add up to the list very soon.
The aircraft is an airborne laser aircraft designed to destroy enemy missiles. The craft will be of immense use for the air force as the aircraft has a laser weapon system installed in it, which is capable of detecting, tracking and destroying ballistic missiles in their boost fight phase and is hence capable of changing the whole course of war.
via: physorg

Virtually Undetectable Stealth Radar System Sees Through Walls

Technology has seized everything tangible or intangible that surrounds us; alarm clocks rule our sleep, wheels make us move, pills fulfill our body needs, and not to forget the accomplishments made in the field of defense.
Take the latest radar system that is virtually undetectable owing to its signals that resembles random noise. The foolproof system, developed by Ohio State engineers, could be successfully used in law enforcement, military, disaster rescue and medical imaging.
Eric Walton, senior research scientist in Ohio State’s ElectroScience Laboratory, explains:
Almost all radio receivers in the world are designed to eliminate random noise so that they can clearly receive the signal they’re looking for. Radio receivers could search for this radar signal and they wouldn’t find it. It also won’t interfere with TV, radio or other communication signals. It doesn’t interfere because it has a bandwidth that is thousands of times broader than the signals it might otherwise interfere with.The cost-effective radar system, costing less than $100, can easily penetrate through solid walls, allowing army to detect enemy hideouts without any clues.
Via: scienceahead

Swiss Mini Guns: Tech Elegantly Fastooned with Art

Swiss mini guns are considered as the leading brand amongst Gunslingers. They are spectacular because of their elegance and simplicity. This charm is bestowed by the world class illustrious technologies of the Swiss Watch and Jewellery Industry. These firearms are a scaled-down model of the much-admired Colt Python with features as of the real size gun.
Some of Swiss mini guns may look like keys but actually, they are minute functional revolvers. One tiny glowing gun measures just 5.5 cm with 0.35-inch long cartridges. The most amazing part of the guns is their glittering metal; it even outshines the gold. So do not take them as a weapon they can embellish your drawing room.
Image credit: terpsboy

Lockheed Martin’s Private QSST Jet Ready for Supersonic Excursion

Jet manufacturer Lockheed Martin has planned to thrill you with taking-off in your own plane. The manufacturer introduces new supersonic jet, named QSST (for Quiet Supersonic Travel) that will go with a very high velocity.
A supersonic travel was firstly provided to travelers with Concorde that cruises faster than velocity of sound. Travelers had to face the very loud roar while crossing the speed of sound whereas QSST bangs hundred times lesser than that of Concorde because of inverted V-tail design.QSST is priced at $80 million
via: mobilemag

Antonio Riello’s Ladies Weapon: Designed to Kill

Antonio Riello, apparently impressed with mafia and gaming world, gave rise to this “Ladies Weapons”.
His “fashion-fiction” passion intermixed the traditional ‘female stuff’ like fashion with the ‘male stuff’ like guns and carved out guns with a tinge of army weapons from German HK 33, American M-16, Israeli UZI, Russian Kalashnikov, etc. giving way to these fashionable guns for ladies, of course, for the kill. Using leopard skins, inset jewels, brightly lacquered colors, and fake furs, he creates assault rifles, pistols, hand grenades, rocket launchers, sub machine guns etc.
A simple and effective way to give vent to your artisanship.
VIA:boingboing

Air Drop Payload Acquires Accuracy with GPS

U.S. Air Force is practicing these days with cargo airdrop system that brings in use GPS signals to help drop parachuted bundles on targeted area on the ground. Before this, GPS-led bombs revolutionized the history of air- attacks.
The creation is named Joint Precision Air Drop System. The system has been debuted by Air Force C-130 by carrying some supplies to battalions in Afghanistan. The system enables to drop 2000 pounds of stuff from up to height of 25000 feet and land smoothly accurately within few feet the targeted area.
The GPS led system would definitely modernize the relief work during the war and other natural calamities to help out the victims.
Via: therawfeed

Mollie Vest

MOLLE is an Army and Marine Corps item that replaces the aging ALICE (All-purpose, Lightweight, Individual Carrying Equipment) pack and Integrated Individual Fighting System introduced in 1988. One of the main components of the MOLLE system is the nylon mesh vest that has removable pockets to accommodate different carrying needs.
Some of the new technology centers on the MOLLE's frame. Instead of the tubular aluminum used with the ALICE, a new anatomically-contoured frame made with plastic originally used in automobile bumpers has dramatically increased durability, functioning in temperatures ranging from -40 to 120 degrees F. MOLLE also advances load-carrying ability with its new suspension system. Heavily-padded shoulder straps and waist belt are adjustable for varying torso lengths, eliminating the two sizes of ALICE. More weight is distributed at the shoulders and hips, and during a prolonged road march, soldiers can shift the weight to where it feels more comfortable. Additionally, the Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) replaces the Load Bearing Equipment (LBE) web belt and suspenders of the ALICE.
Soldiers and Marines can significantly increase the amount of ammunition they carry, and weight is evenly distributed across the torso. The vest has no metal clips or hooks that can be awkward and dig into the skin, and it has an H-harness in back to minimize heat buildup. It's adjustable to all sizes, and because the vest sits high, soldiers can fasten the MOLLE frame waist belt underneath the FLC to distribute some of the load to the hips. Three flap pockets on the FLC each hold two 30-round magazines, two grenade pockets and two canteen pouches.

eBay Find of the Day: Corvette supercar prototype

What you see above is the original 1992 Marocco II Corvette Prototype Supercar. What is that? We're not exactly sure. Even though the eBay seller has plenty of magazine articles pictured, information is thin on the ground for this car. It apparently went for $156,564 in 1992, which is about $123,000 above the purchase price of a Corvette at the time. What you got for your money (and still will) is an optioned up C4 with a Superblock 350 CI engine that puts out 500 hp and 500 ft-lbs. Not only does the seller claim the car does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, it does the quarter in 11.6 seconds, tops 200 mph, gets 29 mpg on the highway, and has near zero emissions. That's right, near zero -- at least, according to the hydrocarbon test it took in New Jersey in 1993. And then there's the bodywork, which, well, doesn't suit us, but it is original. And it is one of a kind. $250,000 gets you into the action.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: eBay]

TOW Missile System

The tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile is a crew-portable, vehicle-mounted, heavy anti armor weapon system consisting of a launcher and one of five versions of the TOW missile. It is designed to defeat armored vehicles and other targets such as field fortifications from ranges up to 3,750 meters. After firing the missile, the gunner must keep the crosshairs of the sight centered on the target to ensure a hit. The system will operate in all weather conditions in which the gunner can see a target throughout the missile flight by using either a day or night sight. The TOW system is used on the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), the M151 jeep, the armored personnel carrier, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), COBRA helicopters, the Improved Tow Vehicle (ITV), and the USMC light armored vehicle. Three of the five TOW missile versions—Basic TOW, Improved TOW, and TOW 2—are no longer being produced for U.S. forces. However, these versions are used by 43 allied countries, and Switzerland co-produces the missile system. In the late 1980s, Hughes Aircraft Company, prime contractor for the TOW weapon system, began producing the TOW 2A which gave the system the capability of defeating reactive armor. The TOW 2B provides additional capability against future armored threats.
In May 1972, U.S. soldiers used the TOW in combat during the Vietnam War. This was the very first time that American troops had ever fired an American-made missile under wartime conditions. The system has also seen action in various clashes between Israel and Syria as well as during the Iran/Iraq war. The TOW was one of the earliest missile systems to arrive in Southwest Asia and proved to be highly effective throughout Operation Desert Storm.

Two-Wheel EV whizzer: The evDaytona electric motorcycle

GoWheel brings you an electric motorbike that's going to cost you some money, but it looks and goes just like the real thing. Almost. Starting with a Triumph Daytona, the folks at Go replace the inline DOHC 3-cylinder with a li-ion battery pack that adds 100-190 pounds depending on how many batteries you want. The bike still gets to 60 in 2.9 seconds, and will cruise at 93 mph for 143 highway miles or 49 miles of hard street use. As this whole electric thing gathers steam -- no pun intended -- it's nice to see more and more rides that look like their fire-powered equivalents. But for now, there are always caveats: the bike isn't DOT approved, and it sports an enormous Plexiglas fairing to improve aero efficiency that looks more like a giant shield. And one more thing -- if the bike ever gets made, it will cost you $77,000 to ride in silence.
[Source: Motorbiker via Engadget

Saddam Hussein’s Golden AK-47 Still Holds the Glitter

While Saddam Hussein is busy playing a different game in the precincts of courts, let us dissect his golden AK-47, somehow dug out by the U.S. Army, most probably at the Heathrow Airport. One of his sons presented this gold plated automatic Kalashnikov to the former President.
As you can read the inscription in Arabic on the rifle - “Gift to Mr. President Saddam Hussein, President of the Republic of Iraq”.
Via: smugmug

EBay Selling Blade Runner Blaster M2019 Prop Gun Replica

eBay is selling this ultimate limited edition rare gun replica straight out of the hands of Harrison Ford of the Cult Classic film, Blade Runner. You can grab it now for $1,750. The hand built blank firing blade runner M2019 Chief Special is a 6mm airsoft gas propelled pistol produced by Hartford Company of Japan.
The rare replica of the Plager Katsumate Series-D Blaster 6mm airsoft pellet firing revolver features a functional metal trigger and 4 L.E.D. Light Package. The masterpiece comes to life with a foam lined hardshell carry case, full inscriptions and logos, 4 functional L.E.D. lights and spring loaded metal trigger, 5 round metal cylinder, metal bolt handle and chromed bolt and breach section. The Blaster weighs just 3-pounds.

L.A. Police to Curb Crime with Airborne Drones

Be on your heels, the future of law enforcement is here and the big brother will now keep a constant eye on you from the sky. The LA Sheriff’s Department will soon carry out surveillance with the help of airborne drones to check increasing crime.
The unmanned hi-tech drone, dubbed as SkySeer, will zap the situation live within minutes, streaming live information to computer systems far away. The SkySeet weighs just 2.3 kg and can reach a maximum speed of up to 48 kmph. The autonomously drone equips GPS and infrared technology turning out an ultimate night surveillance device. Just wait and watch how far the $30,000 flying eye keeps up the work into the smoggy Los Angeles sky.
Via: unobtainable

Javelin Antitank Missile

The Javelin is a manportable, fire-and-forget, antitank missile employed by dismounted infantry to defeat current and future threat armored combat vehicles. Javelin is intended to replace the Dragon system in the Army and the Marine Corps. JAVELIN has significant improvements over DRAGON.
The Javelin's range of approximately 2,500 meters is more than twice that of its predecessor, the Dragon. The Javelin has secondary capabilities against helicopters and ground-fighting positions. It is equipped with an imaging infrared (I2R) system and a fire-and-forget guided missile. The Javelin's normal engagement mode is top-attack to penetrate the tank's most vulnerable armor. It also has a direct-attack capability to engage targets with overhead cover or in bunkers. Its "soft launch" allows employment from within buildings and enclosed fighting positions. The soft launch signature limits the gunner's exposure to the enemy, thus increasing survivability. JAVELIN is also much more lethal than DRAGON. It has a top attack dual warhead capability which can defeat all known enemy armor systems.
The Javelin is a tactical precision engagement system that enhances the Army's ability to dominate the ground maneuver battle. The Javelin's impact on scout capabilities will be significant. It will allow dismounted scouts to execute reconnaissance and combat patrols with a relatively lightweight thermal sight. It will also give dismounted patrols the capability of dealing with unexpected armored vehicle threats. (Scouts, however, will not use the Javelin to seek out and destroy enemy armor in offensive operations.)

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is a high/medium advanced surface-to-air guided missile air defense system. PAC-3 is a major upgrade to the Patriot system. The PAC-3 Operational Requirements Document (ORD) represents the Army Air Defense need to buy back required battlespace lost against the current and evolving tactical missile and air breathing threat. PAC-3 is needed to ounter/defeat/destroy the 2008 threat and to extend Patriot's capabilities to accomplish new/revised missions. In tandem with the upgraded radar and ground control station, PAC-3 interceptors can protect an area about seven times greater than the original Patriot system.
The PAC-3 Program consists of two interrelated acquisition programs - The PAC-3 Growth Program and the PAC-3 Missile Program. The Growth program consists of integrated, complementary improvements that will be implemented by a series of phased, incrementally fielded material changes. The PAC-3 Missile program is a key component of the overall improvements of the Patriot system, it will provide essential increases in battlespace, accuracy, and kill potential.
PAC-3 is a much more capable derivative of the PAC-2/GEM system in terms of both coverage and lethality. The PAC-3 has a new interceptor missile with a different kill mechanism--rather than having an exploding warhead, it is a hit-to-kill system. The PAC-3 missile is a smaller and highly efficient missile. The canister is approximately the same size as a PAC-2 canister but contains four missiles and tubes instead of a single round. Selected Patriot launching stations will be modified to accept PAC-3 canisters.
Initially the Army did not consider changing the PAC-3 range requirement to give it more of an overlap with THAAD's lower boundary of 40 kilometers. In 1999 Hans Mark, the Pentagon's director of defense research and engineering, suggested that BMDO should consider raising the THAAD intercept requirement from 40 kilometers to 60 or 80 kilometers to simplify the problem of guiding the missile and make operation of the seekers easier to manage.
But by 2002, it was decided that the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile, which provides for greater ranges, will be the objective missile for the system. On 23 June 2003 Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $13,000,000 increment as a part of a $260,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for missile segment enhancement. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on June 24, 2003, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (DAAH01-03-C-0164).
The Battalion Tactical Operations Center (BTOC) is an M900 series 5-ton expandable van that has been modified by the addition of data processing and display equipment, and utilized by the battalion staff to command and control the Patriot battalion. The BTOC allows the staff to perform automated tactical planning, communications link planning, and to display situational awareness information.
In the 1997 budget DOD added about $230 million for the PAC-3 through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) and established a realistic schedule to lower the program execution risk by extending the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the program by ten months. System performance will be improved by re-phasing the missile and radar procurements; upgrading three launchers per battery with Enhanced Launcher Electronics Systems; and extending the battery’s remote launch capability. PAC-3 Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) will begin in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998, and the First Unit Equipped (FUE) date is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1999. The FUE capability will consist of 16 missiles and five radars which will be placed in one battalion. As of 1996, in addition to funds being programmed for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, the Army planned to spend $9.6 billion for all planned purchases of Patriot missiles, $490 million for modifications and $335 million for product improvements.
The Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) began in 2002. The two major objectives of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) are: (1) To assess the improvements in system performance provided by modifications in terms of operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability; (2) to verify that modifications do not degrade the existing capabilities. The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) will be the first operational integration and assessment of the complete Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Configuration 3 system.
The 2nd Battalion 43rd Air Defense Artillery/108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade served as the test unit for the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE). The unit is equipped with the complete package of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Configuration 3 hardware, PDB-5+ software and the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missile. The Patriot Project Office has issued the upgraded equipment to 2-43 Air Defense Artillery. 2-43 has completed New Equipment Training (NET) and supports testing necessary to obtain material release of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile equipment.
The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) is conducted in four phases: (1) The Sustained Operations Phase is a five-day deployment to McGregor Range using approved tactics and doctrine. 2-43 Air Defense Artillery will defend against live aircraft in accordance with threat test support package in a simulated combat environment; (2) The Interoperability Phase is a six-day demonstration of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interoperability with current Army and Joint Theater Missile Defense Systems. This phase is conducted using the Joint Common Simulated Missile Defense System Exerciser or actual tactical equipment; (3) The Flight Mission Simulator (FMS) Phase is a 22-day test of simulated air battles. The mobile Flight Mission Simulator (FMS) is a Patriot missile system simulation used to stimulate and evaluate radar performance, engagement decision and weapon assignment (EDWA) processing and test the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3)’s capabilities against a full spectrum of threat targets; (4) The Missile Flight Test Phase consists of four live missile tests conducted at White Sands Missile Range and Kwajalein Missile Range.

Arrow TMD

Israel began work on a potential theater missile defense (TMD) system in 1986, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States. While the threat posed by ballistic missiles has been a concern for Israel since the mid-1980s, Iraqi ballistic missile attacks during the Gulf War underscored the danger posed by the buildup of missile technology in the region. Given the lack of available Israeli resources for TMD development, the United States agreed to co-fund and co-develop an indigenously-produced Israeli TMD system. In 1988, the US and Israel began what was to evolve into a three-phase program to develop the ARROW series of Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missiles (ATBMs).
Arrow II is intended to satisfy the Israeli requirement for an interceptor for defense of military assets and population centers and will support US technology base requirements for new advanced anti-tactical ballistic missile technologies that could be incorporated into the US theater missile defense systems. The Arrow missile, a joint international project with Israel, is a long-range interceptor that offers the United States technology infusion, including lethality data; development of optical window technology applicable to both THAAD and Navy Area Defense programs; data from stage separation at high velocities and dynamic pressures; and, interoperability development that will allow synergistic operations of Arrow with US TMD systems, if required in future contingencies.
The Citron Tree battle management center, built by Tadiran, guides the Arrow 2 interceptor, developed by Israel Aircraft Industries' MLM Division. The entire anti-tactical ballistic missile project is called Homa.
The Arrow 2 system can detect and track incoming missiles as far way as 500 km and can intercept missiles 50-90 km away [some sources suggest the engagement range is 16 to 48km]. The Arrow 2 uses a terminally-guided interceptor warhead to destroy an incoming missile from its launch at an altitude of 10 to 40km at nine times the speed of sound. Since the missile does not need to directly hit the target--detonation within 40-50 meters is sufficient to disable an incoming warhead. The command and control system is designed to respond to as many as 14 simultaneous intercepts.
Comprised of three phases, this intiative began with the Arrow Experiments project (Phase I) that developed the preprototype Arrow I interceptor. Arrow I provided the basis for an informed GOI engineering and manufacturing decision for an ATBM defense capability.
The Phase II ARROW Continuation Experiments (ACES) Program was a continuation of Phase I, and consisted of critical lethality tests using the Arrow I interceptor with the Arrow II warhead and the design, development and test of the Arrow II interceptor. The first phase of ACES, completed in the third quarter FY 94, featured critical lethality tests using the Arrow I interceptor with the Arrow II warhead. Since program initiation in 1988, Israel successfully improved the performance of its pre-prototype Arrow I interceptor to the point that it achieved a successful intercept and target destruction in June 1994. The ACES resulted in a successful missile target intercept by a single stage ARROW-1 interceptor. The second phase of ACES consisted of the design, development and test of the Arrow II interceptor, which achieved two successful intercepts of simulated SCUD missiles on August 20, 1996 and March 11, 1997. The ACES Program ended in FY 1997, upon the completion of ARROW intercept tests.
The third phase is the Arrow Deployability Project (ADP), which began in FY96, aimed at integrating the entire ARROW Weapon System (AWS) with a planned User Operational Evaluation System (UOES) capability. Continuing through 2001, the ADP will be the cornerstone for US/Israeli BMD cooperation. The Arrow Deployability Program involves a total commitment of $500 million over five years, with $300 million contributed by Israel and $200 million from the United States. This will allow for the integration of the jointly developed Arrow interceptor with the Israeli developed fire control radar, launch control center and battle management center. This project will pursue the research and development of technologies associated with the deployment of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) and will permit the GOI to make a decision regarding deployment of this system without financial participation by the US beyond the R&D stage. This effort will include system-level flight tests of the US-Israeli cooperatively developed Arrow II interceptor supported by the Israeli-developed fire control radar and fire control center.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multirole fighter aircraft.It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to- surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations.
In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.
The F-16 was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands. The consortium's F-16s are assembled from components manufactured in all five countries. Belgium also provides final assembly of the F100 engine used in the European F-16s. The long-term benefits of this program will be technology transfer among the nations producing the F-16, and a common-use aircraft for NATO nations. This program increases the supply and availability of repair parts in Europe and improves the F-16's combat readiness.
USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets.
Originally conceived as a simple air-superiority day fighter, the aircraft was armed for that mission with a single six-barrel Vulcan 20-mm cannon and two Sidewinder missiles, one mounted at each wingtip. Over the years, however, the mission capability of the aircraft has been extended to include ground-attack and all-weather operations With full internal fuel, the aircraft can carry up to 12 000 pounds of external stores including various types of ordnance as well as fuel tanks.
The original F-16 was designed as a lightweight air-to-air day fighter. Air-to-ground responsibilities transformed the first production F-16s into multirole fighters. The empty weight of the Block 10 F-16A is 15,600 pounds. The empty weight of the Block 50 is 19,200 pounds. The A in F-16A refers to a Block 1 through 20 single-seat aircraft. The B in F-16B refers to the two-seat version. The letters C and D were substituted for A and B, respectively, beginning with Block 25. Block is an important term in tracing the F-16's evolution. Basically, a block is a numerical milestone.The block number increases whenever a new production configuration for the F-16 is established. Not all F-16s within a given block are the same. They fall into a number of block subsets called miniblocks. These sub-block sets are denoted by capital letters following the block number (Block 15S, for example). From Block 30/32 on, a major block designation ending in 0 signifies a General Electric engine; one ending in 2 signifies a Pratt & Whitney engine.
The US Air Force took delivery of its last F-16 Fighting Falcon on March 18, 2005, the last of 2,231 F-16s produced for the Air Force. The first delivery was in 1978.

GPS technology to help the blind

A new navigation tool to help blind people find their way around city streets is soon to be tested under a European Space Agency project. The hand-held device incorporates ESA's new satellite navigation technologies into the personal navigator for blind people. At present, satellite navigation based on GPS and without the use of inertial systems, is not accurate enough to guide pedestrians, especially around cities. When few GPS satellites are in view because of tall buildings, positioning accuracy can be little better than 30 to 40 m. ESA's EGNOS system, however, improves the accuracy of GPS positions to a few metres, making it sensitive enough to locate obstacles in the street. From the European Space Agency:Space technology to help the blind
A new navigation tool to help blind people find their way around city streets is soon to be tested under an ESA project.

IMI Galil

The Galil is one of the standard assault rifles used by the Israel Defense Forces. It was designed by Yisrael Galili, and bears his name. It is a variant on the AK-47 design, chambered for 5.56 mm NATO or 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

History

The Galil project began after the Six-Day War, and the design was selected by the Israel Defense Forces from two competing designs. The winner was based on the Finnish Rk 62 (itself a locally improved and further developed variant of the AK-47). The first rifles began to arrive in 1974, after the Yom Kippur War. The Galil was designed to be a domestically produced main battle rifle for the IDF, taking the best features of other rifles, such as the FN FAL, M16 and AK-47, and putting them into one rifle. That rifle could be adapted to any number of tasks. The result was the IMI Galil. The Galil was used by Israeli infantry during the Lebanon War in 1982; but towards the mid-1980s, it was determined to be less than optimal.

Variant

Nowadays, there are a number of models used:
Galil AR The main version
Galil ARM Bipod version with carry handle.
Galil SAR ("short") - no bipod or carry handle, shorter barrel.
Galil SNR ("sniper") - bipod, subsonic munition.
Galil MAR ("micro") - which retains the internal features with a completely new frame and even shorter barrel. It has been reported that this weapon is subject to severe overheating, becoming too hot to touch after sustained automatic fire. A redesigned version is now in service with Israeli special forces in undercover operations, small enough to conceal under a jacket, yet extremely powerful. A Galil MAR variant with a redesigned receiver and front sight is in widespread service with Israel's police.
Another version, the Galat'z, has a significantly longer barrel and fires heavier 7.62 × 51 mm ammunition and is intended to be used as a sniper rifle. The successor of the Galat'z is the SR-99. The South African R4, developed in 1982, is based on the Galil. This version was the base for some further variants, the R5, the R6 and a light machine gun
Galil
Type :Assault rifle

Place of origin :Israel
Service history :In service1974–
Used by :Colombia, Estonia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Myanma, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Tonga
Wars:Lebanon War,Operation Restore Hope2003- Operation Iraqi Freedom,Operatio Enduring Freedom/ISAF - Afghanistan
Production history: Manufacturer Bernadelli, Israel Military Industries (IMI) Indumil, Ka Pa Sa State Factories
Variants :See Variants
Specifications
Weight:3.9 kg (8.6 lb) (empty)
Length :979 mm,742 mm stock folded
Cartridge :5.56 x 45 mm NATO or 7.62 x 51 mm NATO
Action :Gas-operated, Rotating bolt
Rate of fire :650 rounds/min
Effective range :450 m (5.56 mm)500 m (7.62 mm)
Feed system :Detachable box magazine35 or 50 rounds (5.56 mm

Types of weapons

There are essentially three facets to classifying weapon types: who uses it, how it works, and what it targets.
Who uses it essentially determines how it can be employed:
Personal weapons (or Small Arms) are designed to be used by an single person.
Crew served weapons are larger than personal weapons, requiring more than one crew member to operate correctly.
Fortification weapons are designed to be mounted in a permanent installation, or used primarily within a fortification.
Mountain weapons are designed for use by mountain forces or those operating in difficult terrain and harsh climates.
Vehicle weapons are designed to be mounted on any type of military vehicle.
Railway weapons are designed to be mounted on railway cars, including armored trains.
Aircraft weapons are designed to be carried on and used by some type of aircraft, helicopter, or other aerial vehicle.
Naval weapons are designed to be mounted on ships and submarines.
Space weapons are designed to be used in or launched from space.
How it works refers to the construction of the weapon and how it operates:
Antimatter weapons combine's matter and antimatter causing a powerful explosion.
Archery related weapons operate by using a tensioned string to launch a projectile at some target.
Artillery are large firearms capable of launching heavy projectiles (normally explosive) over long distances.
Biological weapons spread biological agents, attacking humans (or livestock) by causing disease and infection.
Chemical weapons spread chemical agents, attacking humans by poisoning and causing reactions.
Energy weapons rely on concentrating forms of energy to attack, such as lasers, electrical shocks, and thermal or sonic attack.
Explosive weapons use a physical explosion to create blast concussion or spread shrapnel.
Firearms use a chemical charge to launch one or more projectiles down a rifled or smoothbore barrel.
Future weapons make use of futuristic high tech weapon systems and advanced materials.
Improvised weapons are common objects that were not designed for combat purposes but are used as such in self defense or a violent crime.
rely on combustible materials and an ignition mechanism to cause damage by fire.
Non-lethal weapons are used to attack and subdue humans, but are designed to minimize the risk of killing the target.
Magnetic weapons is one that uses magnetic fields to accelerate and propel projectiles, or to focus charged particle beams.
Mêlée weapons operate as physical extensions of the user's body and directly impact their target.
Missiles are rockets which are guided to their target after launch. This is also a general term for projectile weapons.
Nuclear weapons use radioactive materials to create nuclear fission and/or nuclear fusion detonations above a target ("air-burst") or at ground-level.
Primitive weapons make little or no use of technological or industrial elements, instead being purely constructed of easily obtainable natural materials.
Ranged weapons cause a projectile to leave the user and (ideally) strike a target afterwards.
Rockets use chemical propellant to accelerate a projectile (usually with an explosive warhead) towards a target and are typically unguided once fired.
Suicide weapons are typically explosive in nature and exploit the willingness of their operator to not survive the attack to reach their target.
What it targets refers to what type of target the weapon is designed to attack:
Anti-aircraft weapons target enemy aircraft, helicopters, missiles and any other aerial vehicles in flight.
Anti-fortification weapons are designed to target enemy installations, including bunkers and fortifications. The American bunker buster bomb is designed to travel almost 10 metres underground before detonating, toppling underground installations.
Anti-personnel weapons are designed to attack people, either individually or in numbers.
weapons target enemy sources of electronic radiation, particularly radar emitters.
Anti-ship weapons target enemy ships and vessels on water.
Anti-submarine weapons target enemy submarines and other underwater targets.
Anti-tank weapons are primarily used to defeat armored targets, but may be targeted against other less well armored targets.
Area denial weapons are designed to target territory, making it unsafe or unsuitable for enemy use or travel.
Hunting weapons are designed particularly for use against animals for hunting purposes.
Infantry support weapons are designed to attack various threats to infantry units, supporting the infantry's operations, including heavy machine guns, mortars and pinpoint airstrikes ordered by the infantry, often to strike heavily defended positions, such as enemy camps or extensively powerful machine-gun nests.

Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV-25)

The LAV-25 is an all-terrain, all-weather vehicle with night capabilities. It provides strategic mobility to reach and engage the threat, tactical mobility for effective use of fire power, fire power to defeat soft and armored targets, and battlefield survivability to carry out combat missions. It is air transportable via C-130, C-141, C-5 and CH-53 E. When combat loaded there are 210 ready rounds and 420 stowed rounds of 25 mm ammunition as well as 400 ready rounds and 1200 stowed rounds of 7.62mm. There are 8 ready rounds and 8 stowed rounds of smoke grenades. A supplementary M240E1 7.62mm machine gun can be pintle-mounted at the commander's station in the turret. The LAV-25 is fully amphibious with a maximum of 3 minutes preparation

F-15E Strike Eagle

Although the slogan of the F-15's original design team was "Not a pound for air-to-ground," the F-15 has long been recognized as having superior potential in the ground attack role. In 1987 this potential was realized in the form of the F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15E became the newest fighter in Tactical Air Command when the 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., accepted delivery of the first production model in April 1988. The 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., was the first operational F-15E Strike Eagle wing in the Air Force.
While new to the operational inventory, F-15E Strike Eagles were among the first airframes tasked to react to events in the Persian Gulf in August 1990. The 4th Fighter Wing deployed two F-15E squadrons to Southwest Asia in August and December of that year, and spearheaded an attack on Iraqi forces Jan. 16, 1991. The war was brought to a swift and successful conclusion in late February 1991.
Unlike previous models, the F-15E uses two crew members, a pilot and a weapon systems officer. The two engine dual role fighter capable of speeds up to MACH 2.5. It is capable of carrying an external payload of up to 24,500 pounds, to include fuel tanks, weapons pylons, missiles, and bombs. The maximum takeoff weight ofthe F- 15E is 81,000 pounds. The basic empty weight is 36,500 pounds. Considered to be the most advanced tactical fighter aircraft in the world, the F-15E is the fifth version of the Eagle to come off the McDonnell Douglas assembly line in St. Louis, Mo., since 1972. While retaining the best features of its predecessors, the "E" model is equipped with an array of new avionics and electronics systems.

F-14 Tomcat

By early 2006 only 22 F-14 Tomcats remained in service, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. These last two F-14 squadrons returned from theis last deployment on 10 March 2006. VF-213 Blacklions transition to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in April 2006, and the VF-31 Tomcatters give up their Tomcats in September 2006.
Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 returned home to Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana on Oct. 31, 2004, from a five-month Western Pacific deployment with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). As part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14, the squadron became the last to fly F-14 Tomcats over the skies of the Pacific Fleet.
Besides the United States, Iran is the only other country that deploys the F-14 Tomcat, and sales of military equipment to Iran is prohibited. By the end of 2006, Iran will be the only country operating the F-14. US Customs have made multiple arrests in conspiracies to transship military parts to Iran. One seuzure in 2001 involved 16 pallets containing military aircraft parts, missile parts, and other military items, including a crate containing an entire canopy to an F-14 Tomcat Fighter.
Manufactured by Grumman Aircraft Corporation, the F-14 employs variable geometry wings to optimize aircraft performance throughout the flight envelope. The F-14 swing-wing could be manually controlled by the pilot or shifted automatically according to the plane's speed. It moved forward to allow the plane to land on tiny aircraft carrier decks at relatively low speeds and backward as the plane dashed out to intercept Soviet bombers. The multiple tasks of navigation, target acquisition, electronic counter measures (ECM), and weapons firing are divided between the pilot and the radar intercept officer (RIO).

B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52H BUFF [Big Ugly Fat Fellow] is the primary nuclear roled bomber in the USAF inventory. It provides the only Air Launch Cruise Missile carriage in the USAF. The B-52H also provides theater CINCs with a long range strike capability. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,000 meters). It can carry nuclear or conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
With a gross weight of 488,000 pounds, the B-52H is even today one of the heaviest offensive military aircraft operated by any nation in the world. Maximum speed of the B-52H is 639 miles per hour at 20,700 feet, or a Mach number of 0.91, and cruising speed is 525 miles per hour. Mission radius is 4,480 miles with a weapons load of 10,000 pounds. Many other combinations of payload and range are, of course, possible. Range is, of course, greatly increased by in-flight refueling.
The B-52 was originally designed for high-altitude weapons delivery over the target. Like the B-47, however, the increasing effectiveness of enemy antiaircraft defenses required the development of low-altitude high-speed penetration tactics for the B-52. Again like the B-47, the B-52 has suffered from its share of structural fatigue problems. To cure these problems, many modifications have been made to the aircraft during its long-lived career.
A total of 744 B-52s were built with the last, a B-52H, delivered in October 1962. Only the H model is still in the Air Force inventory and all are assigned to Air Combat Command. The first of 102 B-52H's was delivered to Strategic Air Command in May 1961. The H model can carry up to 20 air launched cruise missiles. In addition, it can carry the conventional cruise missile which was launched from B-52G models during Desert Storm.
Today, 94 B-52H's are all that remain of 744 Stratofortresses built in the '50s and '60s. As part of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed by the United States and Russia, B-52 C/D/E/F/G aircrews flew their planes' final missions to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Commonly known as the "Boneyard," the center became the last stop - but not a resting ground - for many of the old SAC warriors. The bombers, some still wearing faded "Peace is our Profession" emblems, were placed deep inside the sprawling complex, like sacrificial lambs awaiting slaughter. Then stripped of all usable parts, the bombers - which helped end two wars and kept the mighty Soviet Bear in check - were unceremoniously ripped into five pieces by a 13,000-pound steel blade. The modern-day guillotine crashed down four times on each plane, severing the mammoth wings and leaving the fuselage in three pieces. The battered remains sat there for three months, until orbiting Russian satellites confirmed nothing was left but 90 tons of junk.