Awesome Military

This unmanned off-road vehicle is built for military missions. Its long-travel suspension and chunky tires help it tear through just about any terrain in any weather. Its modular design offers versatile payload options, and its systems can drive it to waypoints, assemble in formation, and provide remote controls to keep humans safely away from combat.

This military-style zippered pouch is ideal for carrying small tools, accessories, and emergency supplies. It has offset elastic loops for holding tools, and its clamshell design can be opened either flat or into a 90º platform configuration. Made from 1000D Nylon with dual zippers and metal snaps for attaching to MOLLE webbing.

In 1969, Lockheed developed one of the strangest aircraft ever, the CL-1201. The experiment studied how large an airplane could be. The jet and nuclear-powered plane would deploy up to 24 fighter jets and cruise missiles. Another variant would carry nearly 900 troops. Mustard offers a deep yet speculative look at the top-secret plane. (Thanks, Chad!)

The single-seat Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, aka A-10 Warthog, is one of the most successful military aircraft ever made. The USA Military Channel posted this fascinating footage captured from the underbelly of an A-10 as it performs operational tests of weapon deployments after software and systems upgrades.

The idea of a tank that hops around on one leg seems like something a little kid might come up with. But as Found and Explained shows us, the hopping tank was a concept designed by an actual engineer. This unusual military vehicle was shaped like a giant pill, could pogo in any direction, and had six turrets. While it was never produced, the design was patented.

Say you need to cross a river where there is no bridge. The EasiBridge can span up to 18 meters (59 feet) and be deployed by a single person. Once it’s opened and its supports flipped over, it can carry people on a rolling belly slide. Since the prototype shown in this video, the company continued development and testing and was acquired by BANAIR.

A rugged and versatile shoulder bag for your everyday loadout. It’s made from waterproof and fade-resistant 1000D nylon fabric. It has a large central compartment that can hold a 14″ laptop, multiple external pockets, MOLLE-compatible webbing, and a hook-and-loop patch panel. Available in coyote brown or basic black.

They say necessity is the mother of invention. And apparently, war creates a lot of necessities. So it’s no wonder so many things get invented for the military. Mental Floss digs into nine popular items that you probably didn’t know started with a military purpose from Silly Putty to Slinkies to powdered cheese.

Kings Wild Project pays tribute to the men and women of the United States Marine Corps with this special playing card deck. The vintage-style deck features the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem, a two-card homage to the flag raising on Iwo Jima, and a sword logo on the tuck case. Just 800 decks will be produced.

Formed in 2019, the U.S. Space Force has had its share of detractors, but the idea of having a military branch focused on the safety and security of the space above Earth isn’t a bad idea. Like other military branches, they now have an official theme song, entitled Semper Supra – the latin phrase for “Always Above.”

Featuring a face inspired by military aviation, Citizen’s Avion Weekender watch has a solar-powered drive mechanism so it never needs batteries or winding. It has a handsome black stainless steel case, a matching leather strap, a spherical mineral crystal, and is water resistant to 100 meters.

Military vehicle camouflage typically relies on paint or netting, but that limits safe movement. French defense company Nexter is testing an adaptive camouflage system that uses moving mirrors to reflect and blend into its surroundings. We’re not sure how well it works when viewed from different angles though.

South Korea is developing a weapon-defense system that can protect against long-range missiles. The “kill vehicle” can rapidly adjust its position using thrusters on its sides, making it difficult to avoid. See it in action at the 26-second mark in the video, right after Korea shows off their own long-range surface-to-air missiles.

As part of a promotional event, members of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard strutted their stuff in New York’s Times Square. Among their routines was this impressively choreographed sequence in which a sergeant marches through a line of soldiers spinning and tossing bayonet-tipped rifles.

Guitarist Andre Antunes has unofficially joined the US Navy. He took footage from Communication Specialist Josiah Trombley’s awesome call-and-response Steamroller troop march, and turned it into a heavy metal song. Seriously, they could go into the studio and record this.

Carry your computer and organize your everyday work essentials in this military-style messenger bag from Mercury Tactical Gear. Its main compartment is padded and includes a removable laptop case with its own handle, while its exterior features MOLLE webbing and three detachable accessory pouches.