Military

Explaining the software, tech, and design behind military tools, whether they're deployed on land, at sea, in the sky, or in space.

Latest in Military

The blast at the Port of Beirut from August 4 seen on a rendered satellite map.

Technology

Why the Beirut blast created a mushroom cloud Why the Beirut blast created a mushroom cloud

Technology

Japanese anime remembers the atom bomb, decades after Hiroshima Japanese anime remembers the atom bomb, decades after Hiroshima

By Frank Fuller/The Conversation

Thales mine system

Technology

This robotic maritime bomb squad keeps humans a safe distance away This robotic maritime bomb squad keeps humans a safe distance away

By Christina Mackenzie

A man with a beard draws back on a hand-made bow and arrow set.

DIY

How to build your own bow and arrows when you’re lost in the wild How to build your own bow and arrows when you’re lost in the wild

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

Three rocket parts and an American flag housed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Technology

Militaries around the world are already rocketing beyond the scope of space law Militaries around the world are already rocketing beyond the scope of space law

By Ramin Skibba/Undark

Technology

Downing a drone: Systems work together to fend off attacks Downing a drone: Systems work together to fend off attacks

By Raytheon Technologies

F-35 Nellis Air Force Base

Technology

The US’s flagship fighter jet simulator is now multiplayer The US’s flagship fighter jet simulator is now multiplayer

Technology

Inside a training mission with a B-52 bomber, the aircraft that will not die Inside a training mission with a B-52 bomber, the aircraft that will not die

Kampfmittelaufklärung und-identifizierung

Technology

This 1.9-ton steel arm can spot bombs and lift soldiers out of harm’s way This 1.9-ton steel arm can spot bombs and lift soldiers out of harm’s way

By Christina Mackenzie

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

Technology

General Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a historic choice to lead the Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a historic choice to lead the Air Force

By Dan Pimentel/Flying Mag

Police spraying pepper spray

DIY

How to handle a pepper spray attack How to handle a pepper spray attack

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

police body camera

Technology

Police body cameras were supposed to build trust. So far, they haven’t. Police body cameras were supposed to build trust. So far, they haven’t.

Protesters in Washington, D.C. faced off with canisters of tear gas at the end of May.

Health

Tear gas during COVID-19 is a public health disaster Tear gas during COVID-19 is a public health disaster

police at a protest

Technology

How to protect yourself from rubber bullets—and why these ‘nonlethal’ weapons are so dangerous How to protect yourself from rubber bullets—and why these ‘nonlethal’ weapons are so dangerous

By Candice Wang

Boeing Loyal Wingman drone

Technology

Boeing’s new autonomous fighter jet has a pop-off, swappable nose Boeing’s new autonomous fighter jet has a pop-off, swappable nose

Technology

China’s ambiguous missile strategy is risky China’s ambiguous missile strategy is risky

By P.W. Singer and Ma Xiu

air refueling system

Technology

Refueling fighter jets mid-flight is complex, but new tech from Airbus could simplify the process Refueling fighter jets mid-flight is complex, but new tech from Airbus could simplify the process

By Christina Mackenzie

Thunderbirds Blue Angels

Health

Everything to know about the fighter jets in the ‘America Strong’ flyovers Everything to know about the fighter jets in the ‘America Strong’ flyovers

English setter puppy works on basic retrieving with a pigeon.

Technology

‘Super puppies’ keep calm and carry on in the most stressful situations ‘Super puppies’ keep calm and carry on in the most stressful situations

By Brad Fitzpatrick/ Outdoor Life

C-17 coronavirus transport

Health

First mission for the Air Force’s flying hospital pods: Pulling COVID-19 patients from Afghanistan First mission for the Air Force’s flying hospital pods: Pulling COVID-19 patients from Afghanistan

Health

How the National Guard dresses for COVID-19 and other disasters How the National Guard dresses for COVID-19 and other disasters

Health

The huge Navy hospital ships in Los Angeles and New York have a rich history The huge Navy hospital ships in Los Angeles and New York have a rich history

BeiDou-3 satellite system China GPS

Technology

China’s version of GPS is almost complete. Here’s what that means. China’s version of GPS is almost complete. Here’s what that means.

By P.W. Singer and Taylor A. Lee

Morphee French flying hospital

Health

Inside the flying military hospital that’s treating COVID-19 patients Inside the flying military hospital that’s treating COVID-19 patients

By Christina Mackenzie

Technology

This new 1.2-ton torpedo can hit a target 31 miles away This new 1.2-ton torpedo can hit a target 31 miles away

By Christina Mackenzie

Technology

China’s missile force is growing at an unprecedented rate China’s missile force is growing at an unprecedented rate

By P.W. Singer and Ma Xiu

Marines board the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima

Technology

The Pentagon aims to bridge the divide between climate believers and deniers The Pentagon aims to bridge the divide between climate believers and deniers

By Michael Klare/The Conversation

Health

Tasty homemade ‘energy balls’ could help French soldiers get the fuel they need Tasty homemade ‘energy balls’ could help French soldiers get the fuel they need

By Christina Mackenzie

special forces dog goggles

Technology

These camera-equipped dog goggles keep special-forces canines connected to their handlers These camera-equipped dog goggles keep special-forces canines connected to their handlers

By Christina Mackenzie

F-15 fighter jet

Technology

A pilot passed out while flying an F-15 over Oregon. Here’s what happened next. A pilot passed out while flying an F-15 over Oregon. Here’s what happened next.

Technology

Our highest-flying stories of 2019 Our highest-flying stories of 2019

hands load a gun in front of an american flag

Technology

Congress is putting money toward gun violence research for the first time in decades Congress is putting money toward gun violence research for the first time in decades

Technology

France’s new warship will have an inverted bow and 2.2-ton radar panels France’s new warship will have an inverted bow and 2.2-ton radar panels

By Christina Mackenzie

laser robots fighter jets air force

Technology

The best way to strip paint off a fighter jet? Laser-wielding robots. The best way to strip paint off a fighter jet? Laser-wielding robots.

Autonomous ships could be the new pawns on the naval chessboard

Technology

Autonomous ships could be the new pawns on the naval chessboard Autonomous ships could be the new pawns on the naval chessboard

By Christina Mackenzie

A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics

Technology

A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics A new take on creating an invisibility shield borrows from classical physics

Boeing’s new fighter jet trainer features stadium seating and touchscreens

Technology

Boeing’s new fighter jet trainer features stadium seating and touchscreens Boeing’s new fighter jet trainer features stadium seating and touchscreens

Flow chart for how conspiracies start and proliferate

Technology

How to start a conspiracy theory How to start a conspiracy theory

By Jessica Boddy

Ruffled camouflage is perfect for the tank that wants to blend in

Technology

Ruffled camouflage is perfect for the tank that wants to blend in Ruffled camouflage is perfect for the tank that wants to blend in

By Christina Mackenzie

The coolest planes at the Reno air races

Technology

The coolest planes at the Reno air races The coolest planes at the Reno air races

The next big space race is happening in Asia

Technology

The next big space race is happening in Asia The next big space race is happening in Asia

By Wendy Whitman Cobb/The Conversation

How to protect yourself from nuclear radiation

DIY

How to protect yourself from nuclear radiation How to protect yourself from nuclear radiation

By Chris Roberts

This big drone takes off like a helicopter, flies like a biplane, and can carry 70 pounds

Technology

This big drone takes off like a helicopter, flies like a biplane, and can carry 70 pounds This big drone takes off like a helicopter, flies like a biplane, and can carry 70 pounds

A pilot ejects from a Harrier jet

Technology

What it’s like to eject out of a military jet What it’s like to eject out of a military jet

By Christina Mackenzie

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

Science

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’ Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

By Erin Blakemore

A few small goofs nearly threw the world into nuclear war

Technology

A few small goofs nearly threw the world into nuclear war A few small goofs nearly threw the world into nuclear war

Everything we know about the new airplanes in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Technology

Everything we know about the new airplanes in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Everything we know about the new airplanes in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

France’s new 5,181-ton nuclear submarine has no traditional periscope. Here’s how that works.

Technology

France’s new 5,181-ton nuclear submarine has no traditional periscope. Here’s how that works. France’s new 5,181-ton nuclear submarine has no traditional periscope. Here’s how that works.

By Christina Mackenzie

No, Lyme disease is not an escaped military bioweapon, despite what conspiracy theorists say

Technology

No, Lyme disease is not an escaped military bioweapon, despite what conspiracy theorists say No, Lyme disease is not an escaped military bioweapon, despite what conspiracy theorists say

By Sam Telford/The Conversation

North Korea’s missile program and nuclear weapons: What we know (and don’t)

Technology

North Korea’s missile program and nuclear weapons: What we know (and don’t) North Korea’s missile program and nuclear weapons: What we know (and don’t)

Volvo Group’s new military vehicle can drive sideways, like a crab

Technology

Volvo Group’s new military vehicle can drive sideways, like a crab Volvo Group’s new military vehicle can drive sideways, like a crab

By Christina Mackenzie

Black Hawk helicopters have a flight plan to go autonomous

Technology

Black Hawk helicopters have a flight plan to go autonomous Black Hawk helicopters have a flight plan to go autonomous

A third of youth firearm deaths could be prevented without taking away a single gun

Technology

A third of youth firearm deaths could be prevented without taking away a single gun A third of youth firearm deaths could be prevented without taking away a single gun

Everything you could ever want to know about flying the U-2 spy plane

Technology

Everything you could ever want to know about flying the U-2 spy plane Everything you could ever want to know about flying the U-2 spy plane

Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies

Environment

Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies

By Eleanor Cummins

The US Army is still looking for its perfect quadcopter drone

Technology

The US Army is still looking for its perfect quadcopter drone The US Army is still looking for its perfect quadcopter drone

The weirdest things we learned this week: you can mummify yourself to death and Disney is full of military tech

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: you can mummify yourself to death and Disney is full of military tech The weirdest things we learned this week: you can mummify yourself to death and Disney is full of military tech

By Rachel Feltman

These blades can cut nearly anything

Technology

These blades can cut nearly anything These blades can cut nearly anything

gun mortality by year

Technology

We’re creeping back up to mid ‘90s-level gun death rates We’re creeping back up to mid ‘90s-level gun death rates

By Sara Chodosh

These elite chemical weapons detectives can prove who’s behind deadly attacks

Technology

These elite chemical weapons detectives can prove who’s behind deadly attacks These elite chemical weapons detectives can prove who’s behind deadly attacks

By Bryan Gardiner

Onyx exoskeleton by Lockheed Martin on a soldier's leg

Technology

The greatest security innovations of 2018 The greatest security innovations of 2018

By Eric Adams and Corinne Iozzio

two paramedics prepare to take someone out of an ambulance

Technology

Gunshot wound first aid can save a life. Here’s what to do. Gunshot wound first aid can save a life. Here’s what to do.

By Nicole Wetsman

The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

Science

The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

By Neel V. Patel

Technology

Innovation, war, and glory: the soldier-scientist who unlocked the secrets of the Sahara Innovation, war, and glory: the soldier-scientist who unlocked the secrets of the Sahara

By Vince Beiser