Military
Explore the weapons and combat systems used by the armed services. A broad range of topics in the Military Channel includes tanks, aircraft, biological warfare and stealth technologies.
Watch Your Six: Military Jet Pictures
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Does Army experience help your civilian career?
How NCO Professional Development Ribbons Work
How Army Reconnaissance Jobs Work
How Agent Orange Worked
How Biological and Chemical Warfare Works
How Mustard Gas Works
5 Countries That Ditched Their Military Forces
Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Risk All to Save Lives
How Camp X Worked
Anatomy of an Underwater Explosion
Can You Really Outrun an Explosion?
How Blast-resistant Clothing Works
HowStuffWorks Illustrated: Two Legal Gun Modifications
Gun Pictures
What's the world's smallest gun?
Are robots replacing human soldiers?
Can drones replace fighter jets?
Do wars drive technological advancement?
Submarine Pictures
How the Zumwalt Class Destroyer Works
How Aircraft Carriers Work
How Military Video Conferencing Works
Why a Draft Would Weaken the U.S. Military
What Was the First War?
Top 5 Gadgets on the High-tech Soldier
10 Insane Disguises That Actually Worked
How Code Breakers Work
How Spy Flies Will Work
YOU Can Drive a Tank!
Is the army testing an invisible tank?
Centurion Main Battle Tank
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Body armor is essential for many people in high-risk professions. The strange thing is, the most common armor is actually a high-tech, soft netting. Learn how modern armor technologies stop bullets.
By Tom Harris
Gathering reconnaissance during battle typically puts small teams of soldiers in harm's way. Tiny robotic flyers, called micro air vehicles (MAVs), could do away with this danger. Learn all about spy flies.
By Kevin Bonsor
Camouflage is critical in military operations. Learn about different types of camouflage and see how the art of blending in is keeping up with modern detection systems.
By Tom Harris
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The film "Pearl Harbor" is now playing. Look at the aircraft involved in that battle, technological marvels for their time.
By Jeff Tyson
Landmines are a deadly legacy of 20th century warfare. Independent sources report that since 1975, landmines have killed or maimed more than 1 million people during peace time. Learn about the technology of landmines and their deactivation.
By Kevin Bonsor
The U.S. Navy's new subs will use photonics masts instead of periscopes. Learn how these imaging devices will work.
By Kevin Bonsor
Spy planes play an integral role in international espionage. Take a look at the highly sophisticated technology of a reconnaissance plane.
By Kevin Bonsor
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What once was "Star Wars" under Reagan is now National Missile Defense under Bush. Learn more about the technology behind the system.
By Kevin Bonsor
The Osprey is a unique aircraft. How does it work? And what has caused its recent failures? Get an in-depth look at the aircraft's systems and design.
A gas mask alone won't protect you if enemies lob this chemical weapon at you. Why did so many soldiers learn this the hard way during World War I?
By Josh Briggs
Your most rugged pair of blue jeans can't hold a candle to the cutting-edge blast-resistant clothing and technology. Sure, these fabrics are tough, but can they diffuse bomb blasts?
By Tom Scheve
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Fanciful ideas of underwater submersibles fascinated engineers centuries before the nuclear submarine ever took shape. How did the nuclear submarine evolve? And what, exactly, makes it nuclear?
By Tom Scheve
Professional soldiers have influenced history for centuries, fighting alongside colonists in the Revolutionary War and, more recently, providing private security in Iraq. What's life as a hired gun like?
Early unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) primarily carried out reconnaissance missions in war zones, but the Reaper packs some serious heat. Is there anything more foreboding than a drone with a Hellfire missile?
By Tom Scheve
Bullet-resistant glass seems flimsy once you compare it with transparent aluminum armor. Will this new heavy-duty material soon be shielding soldiers and police officers?
By Tom Scheve
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Laser weapons have been depicted in science fiction for years, but they do exist in real life. How is the military looking to use laser technology?
The M-48 General George S. Patton Medium Tank was developed in anticipation of the Cold War and used in the Korean War. All M-48s were equipped with main guns that can fire a wide variety of ammunition types. Explore the M-48 Patton tank.
The T-34 Medium Tank had few amenities but enough power to help the Soviets beat back a Nazi invasion in World War II. This tank was well armored and heavily gunned, which made it the toughest tank the Germans encountered in Russia. Explore the T-34 Medium Tank.
The T-54/T-55 Main Battle Tank series, one of the most popular in Soviet history, is still in use today. These tanks were more heavily gunned than previous versions and were distributed to military forces around the world. Learn about the T-54/T-55 Main Battle Tank.
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The T-64 Main Battle Tank was long mistaken for another Soviet tank, the T-72. The main weapon on this tank was capable of firing anywhere from 5 to 8 rounds per minute. Explore the features of the T-64 Main Battle Tank at HowStuffWorks.
The Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I was a formidable battle tank in World War II. This tank featured armor that was over four inces thick that hurt this tank's agility. Learn about the design and history of the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I.
The Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank was post-war Germany's first tank designed and built in West Germany. This tank can be sealed and pressurized for use in biological warfare situations. Learn more about the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank.
Whether they're antique rifles or modern handguns and shotguns, firearms are popular in the United States. So which pieces are people packing?
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but so far NATO has refused. Could a no-fly zone bring Putin's invasion to an end? How would it be enforced?
The U.S. Navy SEALs exemplify unconventional warfare. Find out how conventional and unconventional warfare differ in this article.