5.7x28MM

The weapon allegedly used by Nidal Malik Hasan in the Fort Hood shooting has been in the headlines before. But the story begins long before it hit the headlines. In fact, the story of the Five-seveN starts in 1990.

MASSACRE AT FORT HOOD

5 November, 2009 has become a date that will live in infamy. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly used a personally owned Fabrique Nationale Five-seveN handgun to shoot nearly four dozen of his fellow soldiers. 13 were dead, and at least 30 were wounded.

The investigation into the shooting at Fort Hood, allegedly carried out by Nidal Malik Hasan, is continuing. That said, a number of lessons are already emerging –lessons necessary to prevent the next such attack (or much worse).

THE THREAT

A LONG, UNCERTAIN SEARCH

Para USA was not always known as Para USA. It may be better known to many readers as Para-Ordnance. Ironically, the company that took the M1911 to new heights was not from America, it was from Toronto, Canada.

MEET THE RAPTOR

The F-22 Raptor is widely described as the best fighter in the world. First flown in 1997 (the prototype YF-22 first flew in 1990), it entered service in 2005 and has dominated in exercises.

CLOSING THE GAP

Russia and China could not help but have been worried in the wake of Operation Desert Storm. During that war, the Coalition led by the United States shot down 42 aircraft – including four MiG-29s.

SAS troopers carried out their first major parachute operations since the 1956 Suez Crisis in Iraq, targeting insurgent leaders and bomb-making factories.