In a world where weapons tech evolves fast and companies fold even faster, hitting the half-century mark is proof you’ve built something that lasts. Aimpoint – the originator and undisputed leader of red dot sighting technology – marks 50 years in 2025. With the first prototype optic developed by a …
Read More »‘Arm Yourself’: We Went to DefCon 2 When North Korea Captured the USS Pueblo
by Ed Meagher, The War Horse I’d been communicating with B-52 pilots on the verge of nuclear war, and I hadn’t even known it. January 23, 1968, was an exciting day for me. I had no idea just how exciting it would turn out to be. I’d recently returned from …
Read More »Wings Over the Jungle: Forward Air Control Heroes in Vietnam
by Friedrich Seiltgen They flew low, slow, and into heavy fire. In Vietnam, Forward Air Controllers were eyes in the sky, helping to prosecute battles, and saving lives with their accurate, real-time intelligence. In the process, three performed with such heroism that they were awarded the Medal of Honor. Here’s …
Read More »Forward Air Controllers Called in Fire From Above in Vietnam
by Friedrich Seiltgen During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force’s Forward Air Controllers (FACs) became critical to the war effort, serving as eyes on the battlefield and marking enemy targets. The overall mission began during World War II with Air Liaison Officers directing close air support from the ground …
Read More »Alice in Chains, a Train Ride, and the Ghosts of Vietnam
by Heath Hansen I take my seat on the train. I’m in the Southwestern part of Drenthe, on the way to Amsterdam, so I’ll be on this ride for a while. As the train departs, I pull out my headphones, and a familiar tune fills the speakers. Rooster, by Alice …
Read More »Four Marines and a Night on the Town: What Possibly Could Go Wrong?
by Al Hagan The night started off fairly typically, just four Marines in a car, going out on the town to slam down beers. And it was innocent for most of the night, drinking and shooting pool. I’ll call my companions Mike, John, and Steve, to pick some random names …
Read More »Russia’s Field-Expedient Bomb Disposal: 44th Army Corps in Action
by A.R. Fomenko VIENNA BUREAU — The men move slowly in single file, scanning the forest floor. They are in Karelia, near Russia’s border with Finland. In footage from one recent patrol, the team encounters a bomb. Like their American and British counterparts, they neutralize the bomb by blowing it up. …
Read More »Russians Work Their Quads: Boot Camp for Killer Drones
COMMENTARY by Susan Katz Keating Russian soldiers have been working their quads – the drone version. We snagged this vid from their Ministry of Defence, showing a quadcopter threading its way through a makeshift obstacle course in the woods. The setup looks crude, almost laughably so, with planks nailed into frames, …
Read More »Radical Firearms 10.5” Pistol: How it Holds Up Over Time
by Greg Chabot For the first test I left the weapon outside in -12 F weather overnight with a full mag and chambered round. I like to review products that working people can afford. There seems to be a trend in publications to review overpriced firearms that work no better …
Read More »Barrett MK22 Sniper Rifle: A Precision Tool Under Fire
by Austin Lee Recent reports of unintended discharges with the MK22 sniper rifle have sent uneasy shockwaves through the military community. Videos are circulating on social media depicting the rifle firing prematurely. This trend demands swift attention, given the MK22’s critical role in high-stakes operations. The Barrett MK22, designated as …
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