Weapon Systems

Weapon Systems: Air-to-Air Missiles, Radar, and the Tools of Aerial Warfare

Air power is about more than just the planes themselves. Weapons, sensors, and support systems make these aircraft truly effective. In this collection, we have videos about key innovations like infrared-homing Sidewinders and radar-guided Sparrows that changed air combat, as well as airborne early warning networks that improved battlefield awareness. We’ll also look at precision cruise missiles, new ideas like multiple kill vehicles and orbital delivery systems, and advances in camouflage, electronic warfare, guns, bombs, and guidance technology. Discover the stories and tactical impacts behind these tools that give military aviation its advantage. More systems and in-depth features are coming soon. Start watching below.

The AGM-65 Maverick

by AMAH | Weapon Systems

The AGM-65 Maverick transformed air-to-ground warfare. Developed during the Vietnam War to replace the flawed AGM-12 Bullpup, it became one of the world's first truly effective fire-and-forget precision-guided missiles. We explore the Maverick's origins, its...

The Iranian Drone Problem

by AMAH | Middle East, AMAH, Weapon Systems

Cheap, scalable, and relentless—Shahed drones reveal a critical shift in warfare, where economic pressure and persistence matter more than precision or firepower.Since the start of the Iran War, Shahed drones - among other types - have predictably emerged in massive...

Smart + Fast | Australian Autonomous & Hypersonic Weapons Development

by AMAH | Weapon Systems, AMAH, Australian Army, RAAF, Unmanned Systems

Australia is rapidly emerging as a global leader in autonomous hypersonic weapons development through the SMART program and international partnerships like AUKUS and SCIFiRE. Collaborating with Boeing and the US, Australia is testing advanced hypersonic cruise...

Why this bomb is used everywhere | The Mark 80 Family

by AMAH | Weapon Systems, AMAH

The Mark 82 bomb dominates global arsenals as a versatile 500-pound low-drag general-purpose weapon since Vietnam, adaptable with guidance kits like Paveway laser, JDAM GPS, and SDB enhancements for precision strikes. Cost-effective, reliable, and compatible across...

Cruise Missiles

by AMAH | Weapon Systems, AMAH

The evolution of cruise missiles advanced from subsonic, radar-guided weapons like Tomahawk to hypersonic scramjet-powered variants exceeding Mach 5, such as HACM and Precision Strike Missile for rapid, evasive strikes. Integrating autonomy for MITL/MOTL guidance...

AIM-7 Sparrow: The Missile That Changed Air Combat

by AMAH | AMAH, Weapon Systems

The AIM-7 Sparrow missile, a pioneering semi-active radar-guided air-to-air weapon first flown in 1952 and entering US service in 1958, revolutionized air combat by enabling beyond-visual-range engagements over guns. Evolving through variants like AIM-7E (Vietnam with...

AIM-9 Sidewinder: How one missile changed air combat

by AMAH | AMAH, Weapon Systems

The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, a pioneering infrared heat-seeking air-to-air weapon developed by the US Navy in the 1950s, revolutionized air combat by enabling all-aspect attacks beyond tail-chase guns. Scoring the first IR-guided kill in the 1958 Taiwan Strait...

Multiple Kill Vehicle

by AMAH | AMAH, Weapon Systems

The Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) revolutionized ballistic missile defense with kinetic interceptors deploying clusters of small projectiles to neutralize MIRVs and decoys via Raytheon MKV-R or Lockheed MKV-L carrier systems. Evolving from 2002 competitions and 2008...

Evolution of aircraft camouflage

by AMAH | AMAH, Weapon Systems

Evolution of aircraft camouflage progressed from WWI's minimal greys/olives and failed dazzle experiments to WWII's disruptive environmental patterns like earth tones over light undersides, Cold War silver finishes revived in Vietnam for base blending, and modern...

AWACS – A Short History

by AMAH | AMAH, Weapon Systems

A short history of AWACS traces its origins to WWII airborne radar experiments on Vickers Wellingtons and US Operation Cadillac Avengers, evolving to 1950s EC-121 Warning Star for Vietnam MiG detections. The 1977 Boeing E-3 Sentry with rotodome revolutionized...