Aikido weapons include a wooden sword (bokken), a short stick (jo), and a knife (tanto). The focus is on defense, not offense, and using the attacker’s momentum against them. Aikido weapons training is slow and patient, and also lends itself well to spiritual meditation. Aikido weapons include a wooden sword, called a bokken; a short […]
Greece is the largest importer of conventional arms in the EU, including fighter planes, submarines, and rockets. Greece has the highest military spending as a percentage of GDP in Europe. The US is the largest exporter of weapons. Greece is the largest importer of conventional arms into the European Union. Conventional weapons are weapons that […]
Siege weapons were used to breach walls of cities, castles, and fortresses. The first ones were the assault ram and ladder, later evolving into more sophisticated machines such as the catapult, trebuchet, and ballista. Siege weapons were expensive and often built on the battlefield. Siege weapons date back to the early days of warfare and […]
The Chemical Weapons Convention, introduced in 1992, prohibits the development, production, and use of chemical weapons. 183 of the 195 UN member states have signed and ratified the convention. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons oversees implementation and progress. Three classes of chemical weapons are recognized. The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention is a […]
Navy SEALs use a variety of weapons including the Colt M4A1 Carbine assault rifle, sniper rifles, shotguns, machine guns, pistols, grenade launchers, mortars, and rockets. The M4A1 is their weapon of choice and can be equipped with various features. They also use reserve pistols and the Benelli M4 Super 90 rifle. Sniper rifles include the […]
Acoustic weapons use sound to distract, harass, injure or kill targets. The Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) is a high-power loudspeaker used by the US Navy and police. Other experimental weapons include infrasonic emitters, vortex ring guns, and ultrasonic beams. Some hypothetical concepts include resonating buildings to collapse and liquefying living tissue. Acoustic weapons, also […]
Law enforcement officials carry various weapons including clubs, sprays, and guns. Some weapons are only issued under specific circumstances, and their use varies by jurisdiction. Less-lethal weapons like electroshock devices aim to temporarily incapacitate individuals. Excessive use of force can result in legal consequences. Police and other law enforcement officials usually carry guns. These could […]
Futuristic weapons, such as the microwave beam and electromagnetic guns, are being deployed and tested, with the potential for wider use due to their low cost and speed. Some, like the F-22 Raptor’s solid-state laser, have been scrapped. While some weapons have a bad reputation, recent missile defense tests have been effective. Infantry weapons may […]
Nuclear weapons release a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation, causing physical destruction and harm to human, animal, and plant life. They also have political implications and are considered weapons of mass destruction. Control of nuclear weapons remains a significant issue. Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that unleash a tremendous […]
Nuclear weapons are categorized as fission or fusion bombs, with variants such as salt bombs and neutron bombs. They can have a range of yields and sizes, from the powerful Tsar Bomba to small warheads like the Davy Crockett. Early designs used small cannons, while modern designs use implosion assemblies. The military favors small to […]
Biological weapons are made from living organisms harmful to people, animals, or crops. Their use in warfare is prohibited by international agreements, but some nations have ignored the bans. Biological warfare is ancient and includes bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They pose a serious danger as they do not distinguish between friend and foe and can […]
Thrown weapons, such as spears, slingshots, tomahawks, shuriken, and boomerangs, provide distance in combat. They have evolved in various cultures and can also be used for hunting and sport. Thrown weapons are designed to give a warrior the ability to strike from a distance. An important counterweight to hand-to-hand combat weapons, throwing weapons of various […]
Conventional weapons do not cause mass destruction, while weapons of mass destruction (WMD) include nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Many countries have signed treaties banning the use of WMD and some conventional weapons. Modern conventional weapons refer to handguns and chemical explosives. WMD are classified into three categories: nuclear, chemical, and biological. They are criticized […]
