No doubt, the military make use of some of the most sophisticated machinery available today. These are top tier equipment that are designed to withstand almost anything thrown at them. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone as we all agree that soldiers are often exposed to extreme conditions in a lot of the countries they tour, trying to maintain peace. With that said, it is only fair they get the best set of equipment and machinery that’ll make their job somewhat easier.
The United State military boosts some of the best military gadgets and equipment in use today by any force. From tanks and aircraft to combat gear and weapons, they take the lead by a huge margin. In this article, we’ll examine some of the types of military machinery in use today. We’ll group them into:
- Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
- Weapons
- Gear
- Tanks and combat vehicles
- Support Vehicles
Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
With a wide range of helicopters, fixed-wing aircrafts, and UAVs, the army definitely gets things done with speed and accuracy. Aerial machinery can be used for several missions, including search and destroy, transport, assault, recon, and supply. For tactical strikes and reconnaissance, the army utilizes UAVs without having to risk manpower.
Fixed-winged Aircraft
The most common fixed-winged aircraft is the C-12 Huron which has dual engine and is largely used for scouting and personnel transport.
Helicopters
There are five main helicopters utilized by the army, and they include:
- CH-47 Chinook
- MH-6 Little bird
- UH-72 Lakota
- UH-60 Black hawk
- AH-64 Apache
CH-47 Chinook
This is a heavy-duty transport aircraft designed to convey troops and supplies. The latest models come with an advanced digital cockpit and state-of-the-art cargo-handling features.
MH-6 Little Bird
Also called the “killer egg”, this helicopter is often used for assault and light personnel transport. Weapons like the Hydra 70 rocket pods and the M230 Chain Gun can be mounted on the killer egg for air strikes and ground troop support.
UH-72 Lakota
The UH-72 Lakota is a light twin-engine aircraft that can be used for a wide variety of operations. However, this metal bird is mostly used for transport. Click here to learn more about the UH-72 Lakota
UH-60 Black Hawk
This aircraft is very reliable as it is rugged. It is versatile as it can be used for troop support, combat, and sling load operations.
AH-64 Apache
The primary functions of this aircraft are combat and assault. It has a twine-engine that is sufficient enough to power the four blades mounted on the helicopter. The AH-64 Apache has a weapon system capable of holding Hellfire missile for tactical strikes. A M230 chain gun can also be mounted on it for close combat support.
Weapons
There is a wide range of weapons employed by the military for assault and combat. One of such weapons is the M24 sniper designed to take out enemy targets from a distance without being spotted. It is a 7.62mm bolt action, long-range gun with a 10x magnification lens with adjustable focus that is used to take long-range shot with pin-point accuracy.
Another impressive weapon in the army’s arsenal is the M107 semi-automatic long range sniper rifle (LRSR). This is a .50-caliber gun that is utilized by soldiers to deliver precise, rapid, long-range shots to targets up to 2,000 meters away. The M14 7.62 battle rifle shines in close contact combat operations. It is an enhanced rifle with an aluminum billet stock, a tactical scope on the cantilever mount and is used in the army for the squad designated marksman role.
There’s also the MK 19 grenade machine gun which is designed to fire 40mm grenade rounds that are capable of piercing amors that are up to two inches thick. It can also produce fragments that can kill enemy targets within five meters and wound same who are within 15 meters of its impact.
It is used by the army to deliver accurate, continuous heavy volume fire power to enemy targets and vehicles with light armor. Other weapons include the M4/M4 A1 carbine, M24 sniper, the enhanced sniper rifle, pistols, and so on.
Gear
Military gears available and utilized by soldiers today are very advanced. They serve purposes like mapping, night vision and many others that enable soldiers to carryout missions effectively. Typically, army gears used during missions include but are not limited to:
- AN/PSQ enhanced night vision goggles: This equipment provides soldiers with advanced night vision capabilities by utilizing both thermal and non-thermal image intensifying mechanisms. With this night vision goggles, soldiers are able to see clearly in low-vision/low-light environments, that include fog, heavy rain, smoke, and snow.
- Survival kit ready access modular (SKRAM): This is a survival kit that contains all the essential equipment needed for a soldier to survive for up to 72-hours. It includes life support and survival equipment, sterilizers, water, ammunition, and other survival gear.
Tanks and Combat Vehicles
In times of open battles, foot troops need the support of tanks and combat vehicles. These vehicles are designed to deliver destructive fire power that destabilizes enemy defense lines. One of such vehicles is the Stryker. This military vehicle is strong, fast, and extremely agile, built to maneuver urban landscapes. It is used to quickly deploy soldiers and provide cover from fire in open terrains.
There is also the M1 Abrams tank which is the Army’s primary combat tank. This tank is rugged and can be used in just about any terrain. The M1 Abrams deliver heavy firepower capable of destroying armored enemy vehicles. Visit https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1.htm to learn more about the M1 Abrams.
Support Vehicles
Military support vehicles are extremely strong, rugged, and maneuverable. They are capable of hauling anything and are used to carry supplies to troops. Common examples are palletized load systems, buffalo, family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV), high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), also called HUMVEE. The buffalo is a very interesting support vehicle as it is built with a hydraulic arm used to clear improvised explosive devices (IED), and mines.
Conclusion
Military vessels like the corvette, destroyer, cruiser, and aircraft carriers are also military machinery but are used at sea. They are also sophisticated and can deliver heavy firepower capable of massive destruction.