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

Snowcloud One's flight into the eye

Environment

Inside the deadly heart of 1964’s Hurricane Cleo Inside the deadly heart of 1964’s Hurricane Cleo

By Popular Science, December 1964, by E.D. Fales Jr.

How to build a medieval crossbow

DIY

How to build a medieval crossbow How to build a medieval crossbow

By William Gurstelle

Build a gas-powered marshmallow shooter

DIY

Build a gas-powered marshmallow shooter Build a gas-powered marshmallow shooter

By William Gurstelle

The Cottonmouth amphibious vehicle could carry Marines into future battles

Technology

The Cottonmouth amphibious vehicle could carry Marines into future battles The Cottonmouth amphibious vehicle could carry Marines into future battles

By Kelsey D. Atherton

How a ransomware attack shut down a major US fuel pipeline

Technology

How a ransomware attack shut down a major US fuel pipeline How a ransomware attack shut down a major US fuel pipeline

Staff Sgt. Brandon Trinidad, 621st Contingency Response Squadron security forces, attends Android Tactical Assault Kit app training Oct. 8 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Airmen from across the CRW participated in the training sponsored by the 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luther Mitchell Jr.)

Technology

Smartphone location data still poses a real security risk for the military and its personnel Smartphone location data still poses a real security risk for the military and its personnel

By Kelsey D. Atherton

fire proof clothing

Technology

Fire-resistant clothing is a hot choice. Here’s how it works. Fire-resistant clothing is a hot choice. Here’s how it works.

The Royal Navy’s jetpack demo is astonishing—and impractical

Technology

The Royal Navy’s jetpack demo is astonishing—and impractical The Royal Navy’s jetpack demo is astonishing—and impractical

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A defensive weapons system station inside a US aircraft.

Technology

Russia is building a tank that can pick its own targets. What could go wrong? Russia is building a tank that can pick its own targets. What could go wrong?

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Senator Tammy Duckworth stands on a helicopter.

Technology

Senator Tammy Duckworth on why AI should never fully replace humans in the cockpit Senator Tammy Duckworth on why AI should never fully replace humans in the cockpit

an anti-drone weapon

Technology

The US military is testing a microwave anti-drone weapon called THOR The US military is testing a microwave anti-drone weapon called THOR

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A soldier looks at a gun sight.

Technology

The Army is giving its gun sights a seriously high-tech upgrade The Army is giving its gun sights a seriously high-tech upgrade

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A F/A-18 Super Hornet is refueled the traditional way: by an aircraft with humans on board.

Technology

This drone will refuel Naval fighter jets by 2024 This drone will refuel Naval fighter jets by 2024

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A robotic dog and its handler.

Technology

The Air Force’s new guard dogs are robots The Air Force’s new guard dogs are robots

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Russian fighter pilots could soon fly alongside bomb-filled combat drones

Technology

Russian fighter pilots could soon fly alongside bomb-filled combat drones Russian fighter pilots could soon fly alongside bomb-filled combat drones

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A military drone deploys a smaller drone in flight.

Technology

The future of air combat is drones launching more drones The future of air combat is drones launching more drones

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Soldiers wearing augmented reality headsets while sitting in a vehicle.

Technology

These augmented-reality goggles let soldiers see through vehicle walls These augmented-reality goggles let soldiers see through vehicle walls

By Kelsey D. Atherton

This remote-controlled landmine will attack tanks from above

Technology

This remote-controlled landmine will attack tanks from above This remote-controlled landmine will attack tanks from above

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Stars seen from a cave.

Technology

DARPA wants cave robots that can scout ahead for threats or missing people DARPA wants cave robots that can scout ahead for threats or missing people

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Watch the Navy’s new drone fly using just sunlight and hydrogen

Technology

Watch the Navy’s new drone fly using just sunlight and hydrogen Watch the Navy’s new drone fly using just sunlight and hydrogen

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A bomber is refueled behind a tanker airplane.

Technology

Refueling B-52s in the sky is hard, so the Air Force is trying VR simulators Refueling B-52s in the sky is hard, so the Air Force is trying VR simulators

An F-15EX arrives at Eglin Air Force Base.

Technology

Everything to know about the Air Force’s new fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II Everything to know about the Air Force’s new fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II

Black Hawk helicopter in field.

Technology

Senator Tammy Duckworth describes the day her Black Hawk was shot down Senator Tammy Duckworth describes the day her Black Hawk was shot down

By Tammy Duckworth

US Army soldier running on a track in a bomb suit

Technology

Meet the woman who set a record for running in a 96-pound bomb suit Meet the woman who set a record for running in a 96-pound bomb suit

By David Roza/Task & Purpose

Corroded munitions with sea life grown over.

Environment

The ocean is a giant dump for chemical weapons. Can we clean it up before it’s too late? The ocean is a giant dump for chemical weapons. Can we clean it up before it’s too late?

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Technology

Gallery: From hatch to dials, a look around and inside a B-52 bomber Gallery: From hatch to dials, a look around and inside a B-52 bomber

China WeChat Weibo

Technology

How China has shaped information about the Wuhan coronavirus online How China has shaped information about the Wuhan coronavirus online

Technology

A plastic gun from a 3-D printer isn’t the safety concern you’d imagine A plastic gun from a 3-D printer isn’t the safety concern you’d imagine

Russia Now: Object 2014-28E, Soviet Anti Satellite weapon concept art

Science

What Would Happen If China Destroyed A U.S. Military Satellite? What Would Happen If China Destroyed A U.S. Military Satellite?

Rugged Paragliding Drone Provides Supplies In Face Of Danger

Technology

Rugged Paragliding Drone Provides Supplies In Face Of Danger Rugged Paragliding Drone Provides Supplies In Face Of Danger

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Illustration of deformation mechanisms in laminates

Technology

MIT Researchers 3D-Print Body Armor Inspired By Fish Scales MIT Researchers 3D-Print Body Armor Inspired By Fish Scales

By Kelsey D. Atherton

DARPA’s Virtual Therapist Is ‘Like Talking To A Dog’

Technology

DARPA’s Virtual Therapist Is ‘Like Talking To A Dog’ DARPA’s Virtual Therapist Is ‘Like Talking To A Dog’

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Hypersonic Gliders, Scramjets, And Even Faster Things Coming To China’s Military

Technology

Hypersonic Gliders, Scramjets, And Even Faster Things Coming To China’s Military Hypersonic Gliders, Scramjets, And Even Faster Things Coming To China’s Military

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

A 120mm mortar fires from a military vehicle.

Technology

Laser detection and GPS guide this new mortar to its target with better accuracy Laser detection and GPS guide this new mortar to its target with better accuracy

By Kelsey D. Atherton

The NASA STS-39 shuttle crew in orange astronaut suits on a space backdrop

Technology

What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space? What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space?

By Scott Murdock/Task & Purpose

A helicopter named Elvis parked on the tarmac.

Technology

Elvis (the helicopter) is cheating death by becoming a drone Elvis (the helicopter) is cheating death by becoming a drone

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Greenland's ice sheet

Technology

How a top-secret nuclear project became a gold mine for data on Greenland’s ice sheet How a top-secret nuclear project became a gold mine for data on Greenland’s ice sheet

By Ellie Shechet

A Raytheon drone on display.

Technology

The Coyote swarming drone can deploy for aerial warfare—or hurricanes The Coyote swarming drone can deploy for aerial warfare—or hurricanes

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Three paratroopers walk across a snowy field.

Technology

The Army put fitness trackers on paratroopers in Alaska to fine-tune its training The Army put fitness trackers on paratroopers in Alaska to fine-tune its training

An autonomous ship called the Sea Hunter in 2018.

Technology

DARPA wants designs for robotic warships that won’t need a crew DARPA wants designs for robotic warships that won’t need a crew

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A Boeing drone flying in Australia.

Technology

Watch this Boeing fighter jet drone fly for the first time Watch this Boeing fighter jet drone fly for the first time

A US Marine in desert camo about to throw a grenade out of a bunker.

Technology

The Army’s new tool for analyzing bomb shrapnel could lead to better body armor The Army’s new tool for analyzing bomb shrapnel could lead to better body armor

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A robotic underwater vehicle in the ocean.

Technology

The Royal Navy’s robotic sub will be a test bench under the sea The Royal Navy’s robotic sub will be a test bench under the sea

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A drone in a launcher in the back of a cargo aircraft.

Technology

This Airbus prototype could deploy drones from cargo planes This Airbus prototype could deploy drones from cargo planes

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A fighter jet takes off from an Air Force base in Nevada.

Technology

Two fighter pilots passed out over Nevada last year. Software saved them both. Two fighter pilots passed out over Nevada last year. Software saved them both.

A Reaper drone on the ground armed with a missile.

Technology

DARPA’s new combat drones could catch a ride from other aircraft DARPA’s new combat drones could catch a ride from other aircraft

Three U.S. Air Force bombers fly over Super Bowl LV.

Technology

Everything to know about the bombers that flew over Super Bowl LV Everything to know about the bombers that flew over Super Bowl LV

The ElemX liquid metal printer.

Technology

This huge Xerox printer can create metal parts for the US Navy This huge Xerox printer can create metal parts for the US Navy

An Iguana boat perched on the shore.

Technology

This fast French military boat can crawl from water to land without wheels This fast French military boat can crawl from water to land without wheels

By Christina Mackenzie

A rendering of the Defiant X helicopter from Sikorsky and Boeing.

Technology

Check out the double-rotor helicopter that could be the US Army’s next Black Hawk Check out the double-rotor helicopter that could be the US Army’s next Black Hawk

A Black Hawk helicopter with a rescue basket beneath it.

Technology

Getting rescued by helicopter has risks. This gadget could make it safer. Getting rescued by helicopter has risks. This gadget could make it safer.

Air Force One does a practice landing and take off.

Technology

The new Air Force One arrives in 2024. Here’s what we know so far. The new Air Force One arrives in 2024. Here’s what we know so far.

Capitol Hill aerial view with construction vehicles and work

Technology

Washington, D.C. is home to a fascinating labyrinth of tunnels Washington, D.C. is home to a fascinating labyrinth of tunnels

By Joseph Trevithick and Thomas Newdick/The War Zone

A dog in a Paratec dog parachuting harness.

Technology

This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style

By Christina Mackenzie

An F-15C Eagle fighter jet takes off.

Technology

These fascinating flying stories soared above a turbulent year These fascinating flying stories soared above a turbulent year

A U-2 spy plane lands.

Technology

An AI just copiloted a U-2 spyplane for the very first time An AI just copiloted a U-2 spyplane for the very first time

National guard members salute a veteran who died from COVID-19 at the Javits Center field hospital in New York City

Health

Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard

By Jamie Rowen/The Conversation

Technology

France’s new military trucks can form a convoy with just one driver France’s new military trucks can form a convoy with just one driver

By Christina Mackenzie

A SpaceX rocket seen launching from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Science

The military wants one-hour global delivery. SpaceX thinks it can pull it off. The military wants one-hour global delivery. SpaceX thinks it can pull it off.

By Charlie Wood

Technology

This test plane could be a big step towards supersonic commercial flights This test plane could be a big step towards supersonic commercial flights

Technology

The US military’s heat weapon is real and painful. Here’s what it does. The US military’s heat weapon is real and painful. Here’s what it does.

Boom supersonic

Technology

Air Force transport jets for VIPs could have a supersonic future Air Force transport jets for VIPs could have a supersonic future

Technology

Watch a computer clobber a human pilot in a simulated fighter jet duel Watch a computer clobber a human pilot in a simulated fighter jet duel

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