Steyr AUG: The master of modular rifles

Steyr AUG: The master of modular rifles

A more recent Steyr Aug Review can be found here.  When I think of the word bullpup, I think of the Steyr AUG. It has been seen in games, movies, and in militaries all around the globe. It is arguably the most successful bullpup design on the planet. Originally I was not sure how well […]

German cabinet backs continued military mission in Afghanistan

German cabinet backs continued military mission in Afghanistan

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of Germany’s deployment of up to 980 soldiers to Afghanistan through the end of 2017, a government spokesman said. The decision, which must still be approved by parliament, came less than a week after armed Taliban militants stormed the German consulate in the northern Afghan city […]

The New Cold War: Russia and the US aim to upgrade ICBM arsenals

The New Cold War: Russia and the US aim to upgrade ICBM arsenals

ICBMs, or Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, were the weapon of choice for cold war posturing between the Soviet Union and the United States. These towering missiles were designed to travel great distances and unleash devastation upon their targets of a magnitude greater than twenty-seven times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Today’s […]

Suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan kills four and injures 17

Suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan kills four and injures 17

According to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, two US service members and two US contractors died after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside Bagram Airfield. 16 US service members and one Polish soldier were injured in the blast. Those killed and wounded were waiting to participate in the Veteran’s Day 5 K run. The bomb […]

The biggest ammo shipment in 20 years arrives in Germany

The biggest ammo shipment in 20 years arrives in Germany

The largest single Army-run shipment of ammunition to Europe in more than two decades, more than 600 shipping containers worth, arrived in Germany Oct. 29. The Army and Air Force ammunition arrived at the port in Nordenham, Germany, where it was loaded onto trains and shipped to Miesau Army Depot, Germany, for storage and distribution. […]

Election upset: Enter President Trump

Election upset: Enter President Trump

I will be the first to concede that I was wrong about this election, and not just me, but so were the professional statisticians that I was paying attention to.  Donald Trump won the 2016 election in a political upset that will be studied by the political science community for decades to come.  He broke […]

How Churchill paved the way for NATO’s standard ammunition

How Churchill paved the way for NATO’s standard ammunition

At the beginning of World War II, the United States was the only nation that equipped its soldiers with semi-automatic rifles as their standard issue service rifle — in this case, the M1 Garand. These semi-automatic rifles provided greater firepower as they did not require the rifleman to manually cycle the weapon’s action as with earlier […]

German defence minister wants EU military to match NATO

German defence minister wants EU military to match NATO

Germany’s defence minister said on Monday the European Union must modernise its military defence and security to match NATO’s drive to beef up its own security forces in the wake of a major Russian build-up. France, Germany, Italy and Spain are calling for a common European defence policy after Britain’s vote to quit the bloc, […]

NATO Chief Says Alliance ‘Does Not Want New Cold War’

NATO Chief Says Alliance ‘Does Not Want New Cold War’

Nato is not seeking confrontation with Russia and does not want another Cold War, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has told the BBC. The planned deployment of 4,000 extra troops to eastern Europe aims to prevent, not provoke conflict, he said. Despite current tensions, the military alliance does not see Russia as a threat, he added. Relations […]

Sweden Draws Closer to NATO as Russia Tensions Rise

Sweden Draws Closer to NATO as Russia Tensions Rise

The 150 Swedish soldiers dispatched to this Baltic Sea island for short, routine training last month received an unexpected order: Stay put. The decision made them the country’s first permanent force here in more than a decade. The deployment is officially a first step to boost Sweden’s homeland defense at a moment when the Baltic […]

Spain Says Refuelling Request Withdrawn for Russian Warships

Spain Says Refuelling Request Withdrawn for Russian Warships

Russia has withdrawn a request for three warships to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta for refuelling, following concern among Nato allies. The Spanish foreign ministry says the stopovers have now been cancelled. Spain had been under pressure from Nato allies not to allow the refuelling of the Russian warships bound for Syria. Russia’s […]

Britain, U.S. Sending Planes, Troops to Russian Border

Britain, U.S. Sending Planes, Troops to Russian Border

Britain said on Wednesday it will send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATO’s biggest military build-up on Russia’s borders since the Cold War. Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defense ministers meeting in Brussels on the same […]