The GBU-28 Laser Guided Bunker Buster
Range: 5 miles from plane to target
Depth: 20 feet, reinforced concrete
Weight: 4,700 lbs
Payload: 630 lbs high explosives
Analysis: Nicknamed "Deep Throat" this bunker buster is integral to digging out a well-entrenched enemy and is the largest such bomb in the Israeli arsenal.
There's a certain comfort in the ability to disable well-fortified enemy positions allowed by the GBU-28 and after the US sold Israel 100 of the bombs in 2005, it sold a batch to South Korea in 2009. The South received them just months after the North's successful nuclear test in May of that year.
Depth: 20 feet, reinforced concrete
Weight: 4,700 lbs
Payload: 630 lbs high explosives
Analysis: Nicknamed "Deep Throat" this bunker buster is integral to digging out a well-entrenched enemy and is the largest such bomb in the Israeli arsenal.
There's a certain comfort in the ability to disable well-fortified enemy positions allowed by the GBU-28 and after the US sold Israel 100 of the bombs in 2005, it sold a batch to South Korea in 2009. The South received them just months after the North's successful nuclear test in May of that year.
The M18 Claymore Mine
Service record: Exemplary.
Name: After the large two handed Scottish sword.
Method: A shaped direction charge, either victim operated or command detonated, flings several hundred high-velocity steel ball bearings into the face of the enemy.
Round: 700 1/8 inch steel balls traveling 4,000 feet per second.
Analysis: Not just deadly, but deadly reliable, it's got 60 years of active service. The claymore mine can be used for area denial and alarm systems, as well as for coordinated ambush — and at $110 a unit, America could line it's borders with Claymores.
Name: After the large two handed Scottish sword.
Method: A shaped direction charge, either victim operated or command detonated, flings several hundred high-velocity steel ball bearings into the face of the enemy.
Round: 700 1/8 inch steel balls traveling 4,000 feet per second.
Analysis: Not just deadly, but deadly reliable, it's got 60 years of active service. The claymore mine can be used for area denial and alarm systems, as well as for coordinated ambush — and at $110 a unit, America could line it's borders with Claymores.
M72 Light Anti-Armor Weapon
Caliber: 66 mm
Max Effective Range, Stationary Target: 600 feet
Warheads: fragmentary, anti tank, and a heat and high-pressure thermometric, capable of killing everyone in a room or bunker with air pressure and heat alone.
Analysis: Practicality and Spread are key here. Marines can each carry two of these instead of one AT-4 rocket, at approximately the same cost. It's small size and minimal back blast make it perfect for urban warfare — a favorite of ground troops who know the enemy is behind a wall, or hunkered inside an enclosure.
Max Effective Range, Stationary Target: 600 feet
Warheads: fragmentary, anti tank, and a heat and high-pressure thermometric, capable of killing everyone in a room or bunker with air pressure and heat alone.
Analysis: Practicality and Spread are key here. Marines can each carry two of these instead of one AT-4 rocket, at approximately the same cost. It's small size and minimal back blast make it perfect for urban warfare — a favorite of ground troops who know the enemy is behind a wall, or hunkered inside an enclosure.
The M777 Howitzer
Weight: 9000 lbs
Crew: 7 - 8
Munitions: 155 mm explosive rounds; precision guided rounds; white phosphorous; illumination — many others.
Analysis: Combined with the precision guided round, this weapon can level a building and leave its neighbors rather unscathed.
The variety of rounds and their lethality make the M777 a 21st century force to reckon with.
Crew: 7 - 8
Munitions: 155 mm explosive rounds; precision guided rounds; white phosphorous; illumination — many others.
Analysis: Combined with the precision guided round, this weapon can level a building and leave its neighbors rather unscathed.
The variety of rounds and their lethality make the M777 a 21st century force to reckon with.
Paladin Mobile Howitzer
Weight: 27 tons.
Travel Range: 216 miles at 35 mph.
Firing Range: 11 to 19 miles.
Ordnance: 155 mm shell.
Analysis: Even deadlier than a stationary howitzer, the Paladin self-propelled howitzer can support the initial invasion of one city, move, and support the invasion of another, with little maintenance or delay.
Equipped also with 50 caliber machine guns and thick armor, it's survivability is better than any other version before it or after.
Travel Range: 216 miles at 35 mph.
Firing Range: 11 to 19 miles.
Ordnance: 155 mm shell.
Analysis: Even deadlier than a stationary howitzer, the Paladin self-propelled howitzer can support the initial invasion of one city, move, and support the invasion of another, with little maintenance or delay.
Equipped also with 50 caliber machine guns and thick armor, it's survivability is better than any other version before it or after.
M1 Abrams Tank
Weight: 67 Tons.
Range: 250 miles.
Land Speed: 25 - 35 miles per hour.
Armament: 105 mm and 120 mm canons, one 50 caliber machine gun, and two 7.62 caliber machine guns.
Analysis: Though largely unused since the invasion of Iraq and the second battle for Fallujah, there is simply no replacement for armored "cavalry" in potential ground operations.
It's not very practical, and it's the source of major controversy regarding upgrades and costs. Still, it's a Main Battle Tank and for shock and awe on the ground, up close and personal there's no replacing it.
Range: 250 miles.
Land Speed: 25 - 35 miles per hour.
Armament: 105 mm and 120 mm canons, one 50 caliber machine gun, and two 7.62 caliber machine guns.
Analysis: Though largely unused since the invasion of Iraq and the second battle for Fallujah, there is simply no replacement for armored "cavalry" in potential ground operations.
It's not very practical, and it's the source of major controversy regarding upgrades and costs. Still, it's a Main Battle Tank and for shock and awe on the ground, up close and personal there's no replacing it.
Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor
Weight: 32 tons.
Combat Range: About 500 out and 500 and change for the trip back.
Armament: JDAM, GBU, sidewinders, and the infinitely cool sounding M61A2 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon.
Analysis: Though plagued with problems and sporting an epic price tag, the stealth, lethality, and survivability make this bird one of the deadliest in the flock.
Unfortunately it's not seen a day of combat despite several years of active service and continues to fall out of the sky.
Combat Range: About 500 out and 500 and change for the trip back.
Armament: JDAM, GBU, sidewinders, and the infinitely cool sounding M61A2 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon.
Analysis: Though plagued with problems and sporting an epic price tag, the stealth, lethality, and survivability make this bird one of the deadliest in the flock.
Unfortunately it's not seen a day of combat despite several years of active service and continues to fall out of the sky.
Bell AH-1 Cobra
Crew: 2, pilot and gunner
Range: 315 miles.
Speed: 175 mph
Armament: Three Gatling canons, Hydra missiles, and TOW missiles.
Analysis: A favorite of the U.S. Marine Corps for its ability to act as a guard for helicopter flights as well as for its success in close air support.
The Cobra has outstanding maneuverability under fire, and can coordinate fire to a ten-digit grid on the ground. Its pilots are notoriously cocky and more than willing to jump into the fight.
Range: 315 miles.
Speed: 175 mph
Armament: Three Gatling canons, Hydra missiles, and TOW missiles.
Analysis: A favorite of the U.S. Marine Corps for its ability to act as a guard for helicopter flights as well as for its success in close air support.
The Cobra has outstanding maneuverability under fire, and can coordinate fire to a ten-digit grid on the ground. Its pilots are notoriously cocky and more than willing to jump into the fight.
Joint Direct Attack Munitions - 'The Kit'
Range: 15 nautical miles.
Accuracy: 7 to 13 meters.
Use: Fixed, moving targets, precision strikes.
Analysis: Remember all the talk of bombs flying through windows and down chimneys during Gulf War I? Not without a JDAM Kit.
Shortly after Desert Storm in the early 90s, the Air Force started R&D on guided bombs, what they came up with was the JDAM Kit, which essentially took existing "dumb" bombs and turned them into guided munitions.
Now, they've become a favorite of troops on the ground engaging in combined arms battles. A JDAM can be guided in via a simple map, or "lased" by a troop on the ground.
Accuracy: 7 to 13 meters.
Use: Fixed, moving targets, precision strikes.
Analysis: Remember all the talk of bombs flying through windows and down chimneys during Gulf War I? Not without a JDAM Kit.
Shortly after Desert Storm in the early 90s, the Air Force started R&D on guided bombs, what they came up with was the JDAM Kit, which essentially took existing "dumb" bombs and turned them into guided munitions.
Now, they've become a favorite of troops on the ground engaging in combined arms battles. A JDAM can be guided in via a simple map, or "lased" by a troop on the ground.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Weight: 25 tons.
Combat Radius: About 600 miles out 600 and change for the way back.
Armament: General Dynamics GAU-22/A Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 4-barreled Gatling cannon, with 180 rounds along with more ordnance than we can even name.
Analysis: Again, many problems and costs, but claims it's worth the price — the F-35 is simply the best fighter jet on the planet, much less the American military. Furthermore, it can carry a B61 nuclear weapon, while flying stealth.
Its maneuverability has been called into question, but experts agree the 5th Generation fighter can duke it out in the air as well.
Combat Radius: About 600 miles out 600 and change for the way back.
Armament: General Dynamics GAU-22/A Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 4-barreled Gatling cannon, with 180 rounds along with more ordnance than we can even name.
Analysis: Again, many problems and costs, but claims it's worth the price — the F-35 is simply the best fighter jet on the planet, much less the American military. Furthermore, it can carry a B61 nuclear weapon, while flying stealth.
Its maneuverability has been called into question, but experts agree the 5th Generation fighter can duke it out in the air as well.
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