The 2012 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT) was held again in Las Vegas from Tuesday, 17 January, to Friday, 20 January. Over the last few years, it has become traditional to hold a “Range Day” at a local range where a number of SHOT venders make their products available to an ever growing number of journalists, self-styled and otherwise, to shoot free ammo and generally gaggle/babble about. More than a few of these boobs tend to wave muzzles around in the air, so I simply pass.

Mortars, artillery and rockets have been the weapon of choice for insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are mobile and can be easily hidden, giving Coalition soldiers just seconds to take cover when they are launched.

The Army, taking a note from Navy warfare technology, adopted the C-RAM system or Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar system. Known to the Navy as the Phalanx, this "system of systems" detects, warns and intercepts incoming rocket, artillery and mortar rounds at forward operating bases and significant targets in Iraq and now Afghanistan.

Navy unmanned aircraft will be able to distinguish small pirate boats from other vessels when an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-funded sensor starts airborne tests this summer, officials said April 5.

First appearing at the end of the 19th century, self-loading pistols have been produced in almost every conceivable caliber and size and in several materials. Such guns have also been designed in most recognized operating systems, all being a function of expanding gas.

These operating systems include short recoil, long recoil, simple blowback, retarded blowback and delayed blowback. Confused? Let’s take a closer look at these operating systems.

Video by Defense Media Activity - Marines

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, invited senior members of the Marine Corps and members of the media to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., for a demonstration and first-hand opportunity to feel the effects of the U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate’s Active Denial System March 9, 2012.

The Active Denial System is an advanced non-lethal technology that projects a long range, man-sized beam of millimeter waves at a range of up to 1000 meters to counter personnel.

Video by Oreet International Media

The top leadership from the Program Executive Office for Aviation, along with project officers for the Project Office for Armed Scout Helicopter's Kiowa Warrior Product Office, announced Feb. 28 that three OH-58F Kiowa Warriors will be built at an Army facility in the Huntsville area.

The name Walther (pronounced Valter), in the international arms industry, evokes iconic images of Walther PP, PPK and P38 pistols of WWII Axis fame. However, the firm originally manufactured rifles for civilian use and it wasn’t until 1908 that pistols became part of their production. During WWII, slave labor was used to produce the Luger’s replacement, the above mentioned 9x19 mm double / single action P38 pistol. Post-war efforts were mainly confined to match pistols for competition and equipping the new German Army with a sidearm.