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
What Is the Strongest Military in the World?
5 Countries That Ditched Their Military Forces
Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Risk All to Save Lives
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
Learn More / Page 5
The U.S. Pentagon says it is sending two Patriot missile batteries to Poland to help NATO add to its defense strategy against a possible Russian attack. How do Patriot missiles work?
Ordinary bombs can take out surface facilities; but when the target is underground or otherwise embedded, the job requires a bomb with penetrating power. That's where bunker busters come in.
Coalition troops have been surviving mainly on MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for most of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Learn what these portable, adaptable and absolutely essential pieces of military technology are all about.
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How does one of the most valuable pieces of military equipment travel around the world? When they move, an entire fleet of protective air and water craft moves with them. Learn all about carrier battle groups.
Rugged and simple, suitable for downing helicopters, disabling tanks or attacking buildings at close range -- in the hands of a skilled operator, the RPG is a lethal and versatile weapon.
By Shane Speck
To do its job, a projectile must both make contact with the target and hit the target in a critical spot. If a rifle is like using a felt-tip pen, a shotgun is like using a can of spray paint.
By Dave Coustan
For the battlefield of the future, the U.S. Army is developing an infantry uniform that will provide superhuman strength and much more. Learn how the Future Force Warrior will turn a soldier into an "F-16 on legs."
By Kevin Bonsor
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The Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle exemplifies the military trend toward high-tech, low-risk equipment. This remotely-operated spy plane offers the most bang for the human-safety buck.
F/A-18s are now the go-to jet for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The reason? They're plenty fast, they can carry a dizzying array of bombs and missiles, they have amazing onboard electronics and they can be reconfigured to accomplish a range of missions. Check out these amazing military machines.
For most of us, "special ops" is what we see in the movies. But special operations forces are for real, and the U.S. Navy version - the SEALs - completes some of the most dangerous military missions in the world.
There's more to being a sniper than lining up your target in the crosshairs and pulling the trigger -- try lying in the same position for days at a time.
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Guns permeate society -- police officers carry them, wars are fought with them, normal citizens own them. These articles will show you how different types of guns function from trigger to barrel.
Bombs come in many different shapes and sizes -- as small as a grenade to as huge as a thermonuclear warhead. See what the inside of a bomb looks like and learn how it's detonated.
Missiles are widely-used in the military because they can reach targets from miles away. Learn about all types of missiles, including cruise missiles, stinger missiles, patriot missiles and even missile defense systems.
The U.S. military uses the Bradley Fighting Vehicle to scout enemy positions and transport troops into hostile territory. With land and sea capabilities, as well as speed and heavy-duty weapons, it's well-outfitted for the job. Learn all about the Bradley and check out some great action photos.
By Kevin Bonsor
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The U.S. Army's Stryker is a lesson in flexibility: There are as many Stryker configurations as there are tasks to complete in today's military. Plus, it's easier to deploy than the mighty M1. Learn all about the Army's ambitious Stryker project: anywhere in the world within 96 hours.
By Dave Coustan
Soldiers face danger every day -- detecting landmines, deactivating unexploded bombs and scoping out hostile buildings are tasks that don't always require a human presence. That's where military robots come in.
Nations are facing a more guerilla-style warfare - even at sea, and the equipment must evolve to meet new demands. Enter the Sea Fighter. Learn about this experimental, high-speed, "invisible" ship.
By Kevin Bonsor
The 2001 anthrax attacks, the first bioterrorist attacks in the United States, took five lives. Mail was stopped in several cities and it cost more than $1 billion to clean up the spores. So where does the U.S. stand if it's attacked again?
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Companies are reporting waiting lists for gas masks. Learn how these devices work and what they can actually protect you from.
The invention of the machine gun forever changed the battlefield. While soldiers once had to reload after a single shot, they now can fire hundreds of rounds per minute without a single pause.
When humans discovered fire, they learned to cook their food in a controlled environment. What came next? Flamethrowers, of course. What do flamethrowers have in common with their living counterpart -- fire breathers?
By Tom Harris
Grenades are a devastatingly effective weapon on the battlefield. Find out what happens when a soldier pulls the pin and tosses one of these miniature bombs at the enemy.
By Tom Harris
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High-profile shootings often make people wonder if the victim or victims would still be alive if no guns had been available. But is that true? Are people more reckless simply because they have a gun?
From constructing bridges to blowing them up, combat engineers must have a head for spatial thinking and a heart that isn't faint. Ready to learn about these military enlistees who are as much action as they are equation?