Forces – Strategic Articles

Pilum High: The Javelin Anti-Armor Missile

Pilum High: The Javelin Anti-Armor Missile

Javelin, firing (click to view full) The FGM-148 Javelin missile system aimed to solve 2 key problems experienced by American forces. One was a series of disastrous experiences in Vietnam, trying to use 66mm M72 LAW rockets against old Soviet tanks. A number of...

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Tomahawk’s Chops: xGM-109 Block IV Cruise Missiles

Tomahawk’s Chops: xGM-109 Block IV Cruise Missiles

Block IV Cutaway (click to view full) Block IV Tomahawk is the current generation of the Tomahawk family of cruise missiles. The BGM-109 Tomahawk family began life in the 1980s as sub-sonic, low-flying nuclear strike weapons, before being developed into long-range...

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CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program

CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program

CH-53K concept (click to view full) The U.S. Marines have a problem. They rely on their CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships. But the helicopters are wearing out. Fast. The pace demanded by the...

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F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

F-35B: off probation (click to view full) The $382 billion F-35 Joint Strike fighter program may well be the largest single global defense program in history. This major multinational program is intended to produce an "affordably stealthy" multi-role fighter that will...

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