Tactical(Page 2)

Latest in Tactical

Marines crossing a rice paddy while on patrol, holding an M-60 machine gun in Vietnam, 1966. (PhotoQuest/Getty Images)

The M60 ‘Pig’ caught plenty of hate, but the love was real

By Adam Gramegna

army infantry xm7 range dvids

The infantry hates the XM7 rifle (and why the Army doesn’t care)

By Adam Gramegna

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle, assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, takes off June 3, 2022, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. The 104FW is trained to provide around-the-clock Aerospace Control Alert, providing armed F-15 fighters ready to scramble in a moment’s notice to protect the northeast United States from any airborne threat. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Hanna Smith)

The time an F-15 set off an earthquake panic

By Miguel Ortiz

ramages rampage

‘Ramage’s Rampage’ saw a World War II sub sink 5 ships in 40 minutes

new Special Operations rifle sons of liberty mk1

The new special operations rifle takes the classic M4 to the next level

By Miguel Ortiz

m240b training iraqi army army An Iraqi soldier assigned to the 71st Iraqi Army Brigade fires his weapon during an M240B machine gun range at Camp Taji, Iraq, Oct. 14, 2015. Iraqi soldiers were firing their newly issued weapons provided through the Iraq Train and Equip Funding program, to become familiar with their capability. The training received from coalition members at Camp Taji will aid the soldiers in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. William Marlow/Released)

Why the M240B earned cult status with GWOT veterans

By Adam Gramegna

The ‘Chopper Popper’ scored the A-10’s first air-to-air kill against an Iraqi helicopter

The ‘Chopper Popper’ scored the A-10’s first air-to-air kill against an Iraqi helicopter

By Blake Stilwell

An unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 01:35 a.m Pacific Time Nov. 5, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. ICBM systems require regular testing to verify system performance and identify any potential issues. Data gathered from Glory Trip 254 helps to identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring the continued accuracy and reliability of the ICBM force.(U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Draeke Layman)

‘Today is not the day:’ Inside the 9,600-square-mile mission to guard America’s nuclear missiles

By Adam Gramegna

Naval Base San Diego Commanding Officer Capt. Robert A. Heely trains with a ballistic shield during a tactical training exercise. The training is designed to enhance law enforcements' ability to respond effectively to high-risk situations, ensuring readiness in operational environments. The ballistic shield provides added protection for personnel during potential threats, improving safety and mission success. (U.S. Navy photo by Aegis Fire Controlman 1st Class Bryce Cothran.)

This compact ballistic shield was designed with and for special operators

By Miguel Ortiz

military weapons

These are 10 of the longest-serving weapons in the US combat arsenal

By James Elphick

myths and facts ak-47 Monument to the weapons developer Mikhail Kalashnikov on blue sky background. The creator of the Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-47, soviet and russian designer of small arms

Myths and facts about the rifle that never quits: the AK-47

By Adam Gramegna

A Marine fires an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during weapons systems training conducted by Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 25, 2017. By keeping all Marines in the unit qualified on weapons systems, the Marines will be proficient and capable of providing ground security for any fixed-wing components of the aviation combat element. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/ Released)

Why the M249 SAW still echoes in every grunt’s heart

north korea intercontinental ballistic missile kim jong un kcna

North Korea showed off its new intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade

By Radio Free Asia

house of dynamite netflix screenshot

‘A House of Dynamite’ makes hard nuke questions accessible to everyone

russian superweapons putin

Rattling the world’s dumbest nuclear sabers

The Healing Warriors Of India CALICUT, KERALA, INDIA - JANUARY 01: If the existence of the flexible sword is mentioned in Nothern Ballads (popular songs of Kerala, composed on the XVIth centuary), its description is vague and they are no evidences that the weapon practised in today gymnasium looks like the original. Further more, no oral command has been found. Master Shathrughnan (on the right) asserts that the practise of this weapon is dangerous. Injuries to the head often occurs. Gymnasium is Hindustan Kalari of Calicut Kerala on January 01, 2010 in Calicut Kerala, India. (Photo by Herve BRUHAT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

The 5 best exotic weapons in history

By Adam Gramegna

Russia torpedo Poseidon doomsday device russia

Putin says Russia tested a new, nuclear-capable remote torpedo dubbed ‘Doomsday Machine’

Mike Eckel, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Navy SEAL Mk 17 SCAR-H

The War on Terror’s iconic FN SCAR is dead

By Miguel Ortiz

Beretta's new, bayonet-ready configuration of the A300 Ultima Patrol semi-auto 12-gauge, in frogskin camo.

Beretta’s Marine Corps 250th birthday shotgun is a vibe

By Miguel Ortiz

An artist's rendering of Shield AI's X-BAT drone by Shield AI

This AI-powered fighter jet doesn’t need a pilot… or a runway

By Miguel Ortiz

A-10 Pilot's Coloring Book

The A-10 training guide from the 1970s was a hilarious coloring book

By Blake Stilwell

A prototype XC-142A making a vertical takeoff.

The powerful tilt-wing XC-142A was your granddaddy’s Osprey

By Friedrich Seiltgen

The u-hawk autonomous drone helicopter by lockheed.

Sikorsky’s new autonomous unmanned Black Hawk helicopter is here

By Miguel Ortiz

Students in the Infantry Mortar Leader Course conduct mortar training on the 60, 81, and the 120mm mortars at Red Cloud Range, Fort Benning, Georgia.

This is how an Army mortar works (from an 11C)

By Adam Gramegna

Basiji militants march while holding AK-47 rifles during a parade of an alleged 110,000 paramilitary Basij and IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) forces in downtown Tehran, Iran, on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Hossein Beris / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

This is how an AK-47 works

By Adam Gramegna

The LICC-IWS weapon being tested by soldiers.

The military’s irregular warfare researchers are testing a new round, rifle, and machine gun

By Miguel Ortiz

The Army’s (possible) future grenade launcher is like a rifle on steroids

By Miguel Ortiz

F-111s at Red Flag

Why Australia buried all of its old F-111 Aardvark tactical aircraft

By Blake Stilwell

army ammo problem army

Delta Force legend Larry Vickers says the Army has an ammo problem

By Miguel Ortiz

special operations command rifle

This is the Special Operations Command’s new $92 million rifle

By Miguel Ortiz

narco-terrorist drug boat

3 cheaper ways the Navy could destroy a narco-terrorist drug boat

By Miguel Ortiz

cribbage navy submariners

How cribbage became the card game that rules the Navy’s Submarine Force

By Daniella Horne

black hawk drone mothership

New Army contract will turn Black Hawk helicopters into drone-launching motherships

By Miguel Ortiz

SR-71 blackbird revealed getty

Why the SR-71 Blackbird is the only aircraft with the SR designation

By Blake Stilwell

bill weaver mach 3 lockheed

A pilot survived a Mach 3 ejection from the edge of space by not ejecting at all

By Friedrich Seiltgen

ukraine massive rifle

Ukraine is using this massive rifle that’s bigger than a Barrett .50 cal

By Miguel Ortiz

army m17 sig sauer p320 fix

A new patent says the Sig Sauer P320 is unsafe—but offers a fix

By Miguel Ortiz

Gee bee racer jimmy doolittle

The Gee Bee Racers of the early 1930s created winners and widows

By Friedrich Seiltgen

first jump jet hawker kestrel air force

The world’s first jump jet: How we got the legendary Harrier II

By Friedrich Seiltgen

XM17 competition

Why the Army didn’t finish testing the Sig Sauer P320 during the XM17 competition

By Miguel Ortiz

saddam air force

Why Saddam Hussein buried Iraq’s air force in the desert

By Blake Stilwell

Sidewinder loading

The Navy is spending $1.1 billion on the most successful air-to-air missile in the world

By Miguel Ortiz

Air Force major command allegedly stops using Sig Sauer’s M18 following death of airman

By Miguel Ortiz

Maj. Jonathon Bless tests optics on XM7 rifle on Oct. 16, 2024 at Fort Campbell, Ky. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) leads the Army's Transformation-in-Contact initiative with the 1st Brigade Combat Team "Bastogne" conducting situational training and live-fire exercises as a part of the Headquarters, Department of the Army's (HQDA) operational assessment.

Why the Army doesn’t need the Sig Sauer M7 rifle

By Miguel Ortiz

The surprising FBI evaluation and ICE ban of the troubled Sig Sauer P320

By Miguel Ortiz

air force fighter

If the F-47 is named after Trump, here are the namesakes of America’s other fighter jets

fighter jets can headbutt enemy planes

How fighter jets can ‘headbutt’ enemy planes

the B-2 longest bombing mission

Midnight Hammer was the second-longest bombing mission: The B-2 also flew the longest

By Miguel Ortiz

robot bomb remote control tank

These robot bombs and remote-control tanks almost made it to combat

By Bethaney Phillips

Nasa armored personnel carrier APC nasa

Why Cold War NASA had 4 armored personnel carriers

sig sauer p320 banned

Sig Sauer’s P320 banned by Chicago Police Department and other law enforcement agencies

By Miguel Ortiz

stealth bomber designer

Why a principal designer of the Stealth Bomber is in a supermax prison

By Blake Stilwell

This look inside the B-2 Bomber is so detailed it should be classified

By Warrior Scout

A thermal camera image shows an Iranian F-14 on the ground with targeting sites overlaid on it.

Aviation nerds are mourning Iran’s F-14 Tomcats

Massive ordnance penetrator

The Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb

By Miguel Ortiz

Ukrainian border guards check their UAVs not the "Dildo of Consequences"

Ukraine’s new, drone-delivered weapon is basically a phallic claymore

A rack filled with multiple black rifles standing upright, with visible barrels and handguards. The rifles have attached scopes or optical sights at the bottom of the image. The rack is metallic and olive green in color, and the rifles are closely arranged in rows. The lighting is dim, highlighting the rifles' details and textures.

7 companies you didn’t know made firearms for the military

By Miguel Ortiz

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) Fires a three-gun salvo from her forward 16/50 gun turret, during bombardment duty off Korea. Photograph is dated 30 January 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Here’s what happened when North Korea actually hit an American battleship

By Blake Stilwell

U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard train with RQ-28 short range reconnaissance quadcopters during a field training exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Oct. 19, 2024. Instructors with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute led the training, where Soldiers gained the most up-to-date knowledge and readiness with these drones. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Aliyah Vivier)

Being a drone operator is getting harder and harder

The ArmaLite in Irish music isn’t the AR-15

The ArmaLite in Irish music isn’t the AR-15

By Miguel Ortiz

A gift from his dad saved this Marine’s life in Fallujah

A gift from his dad saved this Marine’s life in Fallujah

By Miguel Ortiz

the flint machine gun

You have to see this Flintlock Machine Gun from the 1700s

By Blake Stilwell

Delta Airlines used to fly the Lockheed Hercules cargo plane

Delta Airlines used to fly the Lockheed Hercules cargo plane

By Miguel Ortiz

WATM year in review

Our top articles and memorable moments from 2024

By Tessa Robinson