See this at: nationmaster.com| Added on 01/30/09

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai?), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World... See more

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai?), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.[1] The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking the offensive weapons typically handled by naval forces of equivalent size. Currently, its main tasks are to maintain control of the nation's sea lanes and to patrol territorial waters. Recently it has also stepped up its participation in UN-led peacekeeping operations (PKOs). The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has an authorized strength of 46,000 and maintains some 45,800 personnel and operates 146 major warships, including twenty-one submarines, fifty-five destroyers and frigates, thirty-three mine warfare ships and boats, nine patrol craft, and nine amphibious ships. It also flies some 179 fixed-wing aircraft and 135 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are... See less

See this at: fas.org| Added on 01/30/09

Two kinds of operations are conducted by the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force [JMSDF] for the purpose of defending Japan: securing maritime traffic and securing Japanese territory. For Japan, which relies on foreign countries for the supply of... See more

Two kinds of operations are conducted by the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force [JMSDF] for the purpose of defending Japan: securing maritime traffic and securing Japanese territory. For Japan, which relies on foreign countries for the supply of almost all energy and food, the influence to national life is quite serious in case that maritime traffic is cut off. It can also be said that the impact to the world economy is significant in such case. Therefore, the JMSDF must be able to secure maritime traffic against attack by enemy submarines, surface ships and aircraft by effectively combining each operation such as surveillance, escort and defense of ports and straits. In case of aggression which aims at territorial occupation, it is necessary to stop it at sea in order to prevent direct damage to our territory. For that purpose, the JMSDF, in cooperation with the JGSDF and the JASDF, contributes defense of Japan by destroying enemy surface ships aircraft and, according to the situation,... See less

See this at: bose.com| Added on 01/30/09

Military studies show that reducing noise improves mission effectiveness. Clearer audio ensures communications are heard and understood the first time. This is especially important during combat operations. Bose research has led to the development of... See more

Military studies show that reducing noise improves mission effectiveness. Clearer audio ensures communications are heard and understood the first time. This is especially important during combat operations. Bose research has led to the development of the TriPort® Tactical Headset (TTH) and Product-Improved Combat Vehicle Crewman Headset (PICVC). The TTH is designed for use in tactical wheeled vehicles with infantry ballistic helmets such as PASGT and ACH. The PICVC is intended for use in tracked armor, such as the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Each delivers an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, comfortable fit and clearer audio for demanding missions. These benefits help soldiers worldwide in tactical wheeled vehicles, tanks, armored personnel carriers and cargo trucks. Studies conducted by the US Army Research Laboratory indicated that the Bose Combat Vehicle Crewman Headset, in conjunction with the current-generation intercom system, significantly improved speech... See less

See this at: africom.mil| Added on 12/12/08

AFRICOM Public Affairs Office United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, one of six of the Defense Department's regional military headquarters, was declared a fully unified command on October 1, 2008. As such, Africa Command has administrative... See more

AFRICOM Public Affairs Office United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, one of six of the Defense Department's regional military headquarters, was declared a fully unified command on October 1, 2008. As such, Africa Command has administrative responsibility for U.S. military... (Full Fact Sheet) FACT SHEET: U.S. Africa Command Emblem and Insignia AFRICOM Public Affairs Emblem Description: On a light blue oval edged white, two palm fronds Proper crossed at base supporting a red oval-shaped shield coming to a point at the top and bottom, surmounted by a blue shield edged white bearing the... (Full Fact Sheet) U.S. Africa Command Informational Brochure See less

See this at: youtube.com| Added on 12/12/08

Stewker: actually yes there has.. I'm at VMMT-204 and i can assure you that i've been there for 3 crashes. A/C 04 in 2004, hyd failure, crashed on ramsey rd in jacksonville nc both pilots and crew died. A/C 11 2007, engine fire caused an emergency... See more

Stewker: actually yes there has.. I'm at VMMT-204 and i can assure you that i've been there for 3 crashes. A/C 04 in 2004, hyd failure, crashed on ramsey rd in jacksonville nc both pilots and crew died. A/C 11 2007, engine fire caused an emergency landing, a/c burned to the ground, pilots and crew were safe. A/C 16 2006 uncommanded Vert take off from taxiway, R/h wing and nacelle broke off, pilot and crew safe. See less

See this at: air-attack.com| Added on 12/12/08

* Exterior Setup: Four turbofan jet engines, high-set wing (swept 25 degrees), T-tail, forward and rear cargo loading assemblies, and a visor-type upward-hinged nose. * Upper-Deck Accommodations: The forward upper deck (flight deck) seats a cockpit... See more

* Exterior Setup: Four turbofan jet engines, high-set wing (swept 25 degrees), T-tail, forward and rear cargo loading assemblies, and a visor-type upward-hinged nose. * Upper-Deck Accommodations: The forward upper deck (flight deck) seats a cockpit crew of six, a relief crew of seven, and eight dignitaries or couriers; it also has two bunk rooms with three beds in each. The rear upper deck (troop compartment) seats 73 passengers and two loadmasters. Both upper deck compartments are fully pressurized, air-conditioned and incorporate galleys for food preparation and lavatories. * Cargo Compartment: Capacity: 36 fully-loaded 463L-type cargo pallets (88" x 108" @ 10,000 pound (4,536kg) capacity); 270 passengers in the air-bus configuration*; six transcontinental buses; two M1-A1 Abrams main battle tanks; seven UH-1 Huey helicopters; one U.S. Army 74-ton mobile scissors bridge. (A combination of pallets and wheeled vehicles can be carried together when required.) * Landing Gear: The... See less

See this at: sandia.gov| Added on 11/22/08

Sandia is a multiprogram engineering and science laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia's enduring mission is to provide engineering and... See more

Sandia is a multiprogram engineering and science laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia's enduring mission is to provide engineering and science support for America's nuclear weapons stockpile. Sandia applies cutting-edge technologies in integrated microsystems, computer modeling and simulation, robotics and intelligent machines, sensors, microelectronics and photonics, nanotechnology, renewable energies, combustion research, biotechnology, computation and information sciences, electronics, materials and process sciences, pulsed power sciences, and environmental sciences. See less

See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 11/17/08

The F-22 is a fifth generation fighter that is considered a fourth-generation stealth aircraft by the USAF.[34] Its dual afterburning Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans incorporate pitch axis thrust vectoring, with a range of ±20 degrees. The... See more

The F-22 is a fifth generation fighter that is considered a fourth-generation stealth aircraft by the USAF.[34] Its dual afterburning Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans incorporate pitch axis thrust vectoring, with a range of ±20 degrees. The maximum thrust is classified, though most sources place it at about 35,000 lbf (156 kN) per engine.[35] Maximum speed, without external weapons, is estimated to be Mach 1.82 in supercruise mode; as demonstrated by General John P. Jumper, former US Air Force Chief of Staff, when his Raptor exceeded Mach 1.7 without afterburners on 13 January 2005.[36] With afterburners, it is "greater than Mach 2.0" (1,317 mph, 2,120 km/h), according to Lockheed Martin; however, the Raptor can easily exceed its design speed limits, particularly at low altitudes, with max-speed alerts to help prevent the pilot from exceeding them. Former Lockheed Raptor chief test pilot Paul Metz stated that the Raptor has a fixed inlet; but while the absence of variable intake... See less

Highlights: Program cost US$62 billion[3] | Unit cost US$137.5 million (2008 flyaway cost)[4] | Variants X-44 MANTA FB-22

See this at: fas.org| Added on 06/08/07

The Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD) Storm Shadow missile system has been selected for the RAF to meet SR (A) 1236, the Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile (CASOM). The contract was awarded to MBD in February 1997 after an international competition with... See more

The Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD) Storm Shadow missile system has been selected for the RAF to meet SR (A) 1236, the Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile (CASOM). The contract was awarded to MBD in February 1997 after an international competition with six other companies. The Storm Shadow missile system proposed by MBD is based on the flight-proven Apache air vehicle, and is optimised to meet UK requirements. The Storm Shadow system will provide long range firepower for the Royal Air Force's Tornado, EF 2000 and Harrier GR7 aircraft, ensuring aircrews no longer to enter heavily defended enemy airspace in order to destroy high value targets. The French SCALP EG (Emploi Général / General Purpose) is the same weapon as Storm Shadow apart from national aspects related to both countries. The two similar, but not identical, Government technical requirements have been fully harmonised into a single common technical solution. The design was selected by the French government in December 1994... See less

See this at: naval-technology.com| Added on 06/08/07

The Astute Combat Management System (ACMS) is being supplied by BAE Systems Insyte (formerly Alenia Marconi Systems) and is a development of the Submarine Command System (SMCS) currently in service in all classes of UK submarines. ACMS receives data... See more

The Astute Combat Management System (ACMS) is being supplied by BAE Systems Insyte (formerly Alenia Marconi Systems) and is a development of the Submarine Command System (SMCS) currently in service in all classes of UK submarines. ACMS receives data from the sonars and other sensors and, through advanced algorithms and data handling, displays real time images on the command consoles. Factory acceptance of the operational software was received from the Astute Prime Contract Office in July 2002. EADS Defence & Security Systems Ltd and EADS Hagenuk Marinekommunikation were awarded the contract to provide the external communications systems for the Astute in August 2005. Strachan and Henshaw are to provide the Weapon Handling and Launch System (WHLS). See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 04/01/07

The killing of six suspected members of the al-Qaeda network by America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Yemen on Monday has drawn attention again to the US ability to use hi-tech weapons to attack its enemies. The six were killed when their... See more

The killing of six suspected members of the al-Qaeda network by America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Yemen on Monday has drawn attention again to the US ability to use hi-tech weapons to attack its enemies. The six were killed when their car was hit by a missile fired by a CIA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone, according to unnamed sources. The BBC's Defence Correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says that the CIA has been using Predator drones armed with anti-tank missiles in Afghanistan. It is likely that this was the sort of drone used in the Yemen attack. It could have been launched by US forces in Djibouti, across the Red Sea from Yemen. On 25 October, the US Defense Department admitted for the first time that it was using armed drones to attack targets which threatened US and British air patrols over southern Iraq. In the past, drones have been used as a cheap form of aerial reconnaissance which avoided endangering pilots' lives The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of... See less

See this at: globalsecurity.org| Added on 04/01/07

FY01 Annual Report The Predator medium altitude endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system is a theater asset intended to provide a cued and non-cued reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting acquisition capability. The long dwell capability is... See more

FY01 Annual Report The Predator medium altitude endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system is a theater asset intended to provide a cued and non-cued reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting acquisition capability. The long dwell capability is intended to provide the theater commander with continuous imagery coverage of any area of interest. A capability is also being developed for the Predator to carry and fire the Hellfire laser-guided antitank missile, making it the first U.S. unmanned system to employ live weapons. The Predator system comprises both air and ground segments. The air segment consists of four full composite air vehicles powered by turbo-charged Rotax 914 engines. The air vehicle can carry simultaneously Electro-Optic, Infrared (EO/IR) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor payloads. Four EO/IR payloads and three SAR payloads will be provided for each system of four air vehicles. The system will be required to operate in less than ideal weather conditions,... See less

See this at: gruntsmilitary.com| Added on 04/01/07

The RQ-1A/B Predator is a system, not just aircraft. A fully operational system consists of four aircraft (with sensors), a ground control station (GCS), a Predator Primary Satellite Link (PPSL), and 55 personnel for continuous 24 hour operations.... See more

The RQ-1A/B Predator is a system, not just aircraft. A fully operational system consists of four aircraft (with sensors), a ground control station (GCS), a Predator Primary Satellite Link (PPSL), and 55 personnel for continuous 24 hour operations. The basic crew for the Predator is one pilot and two sensor operators. They fly the aircraft from inside the GCS via a C-Band line-of-sight data link or a Ku-Band satellite data link for beyond line-of-sight flight. The aircraft is equipped with a color nose camera (generally used by the aerial vehicle operator for flight control), a day variable aperture TV camera, a variable aperture infrared camera (for low light/night), and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for looking through smoke, clouds, or haze. The cameras produce full motion video and the SAR still frame radar images. The three sensors are carried on the same airframe but cannot be operated simultaneously. In the future, Predators will carry the Multispectral Targeting System (MTS)... See less

See this at: globalsecurity.org| Added on 11/11/06

The GBU-43/B is large, powerful and accurately delivered. high explosive. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb [MOAB] weapon is a 21,000 lbs total weight GPS-guided munition with fins and inertial gyro for pitch and roll control. MOAB is a... See more

The GBU-43/B is large, powerful and accurately delivered. high explosive. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb [MOAB] weapon is a 21,000 lbs total weight GPS-guided munition with fins and inertial gyro for pitch and roll control. MOAB is a guided bomb which delivers the 18,700 lb BLU-120/B warhead bomb with KMU-593/B GPS/INS. The MOAB is the largest-ever satellite-guided, air-delivered weapon in history [not the largest ever, but the largest satellite guided]. The 21,600-pound MOAB is an improved replacement for the unguided 15,000-pound BLU-82 Daisy Cutter. It is 30 feet long with a diameter of 40.5 inches. The warhead is a blast-type warhead. It was developed in only nine weeks to be available for the Iraq campaign, but it was not used in combat. The 21,700-pound [9,500 kilogram] bomb contains 18,700 pounds of H6, an explosive that is a mixture of RDX (Cyclotrimethylene trinitramine), TNT, and aluminum. H6 is used by the military for general purpose bombs. H6 is an Australian... See less

See this at: jsf.mil| Added on 11/04/06

The F-35 Lightning II Program (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter Program) is the Department of Defense's focal point for defining affordable next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The... See more

The F-35 Lightning II Program (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter Program) is the Department of Defense's focal point for defining affordable next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The F-35 is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battlespace of the future. The JSFs advanced airframe, autonomic logistics, avionics, propulsion systems, stealth, and firepower will ensure that the F-35 is the most affordable, lethal, supportable and survivable aircraft ever to be used by so many warfighters across the globe. All four Joint Strike Fighter X-plane demonstrators are now on display in museums. You can visit the aircraft in person at the following locations: See less

See this at: globalsecurity.org| Added on 11/02/06

The Guided Bomb Unit-24 (GBU-24) Low Level Laser Guided Bomb [LLLGB] consists of either a 2,000-pound MK-84 general purpose or BLU-109 penetrator bomb modified with a Paveway III low-level laser-guided bomb kit to add the proportional guidance in... See more

The Guided Bomb Unit-24 (GBU-24) Low Level Laser Guided Bomb [LLLGB] consists of either a 2,000-pound MK-84 general purpose or BLU-109 penetrator bomb modified with a Paveway III low-level laser-guided bomb kit to add the proportional guidance in place of the bang-bang type used in the Paveway II. The GBU-24/B was originally designed to be installed on the MK-84 General Purpose Bomb. In 1985 with the availability of the BLU-109/B Penetrator bomb the Paveway III was made to adapt it and thus was re-designated GBU-24A/B. The GBU-24B/B (PAVEWAY III) is a converted BLU-109A/B 2000 pound class bomb designated as a hard target penetrator (HTP). The associated components required for conversion are fuze, airfoil group, FZU generator, adapter group, and guidance control unit. The heavy walled case of the bomb provides the penetration capability of 4 to 6 feet of reinforced concrete. The GBU-24B/B has a thermal protective coating applied to the surface to extend the cook-off time. The GBU-24B/B... See less

See this at: ourbombs.com| Added on 09/19/06

©2006 Higher Media Productions, Inc. | Private Blog

©2006 Higher Media Productions, Inc. | Private Blog See less

See this at: wintec-inc.com| Added on 07/21/06

WINTEC has provided weapons integration and systems engineering support for the development of the next generation Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the MQ-9. WINTEC developed programmable, modular special test equipment and simulation tools to... See more

WINTEC has provided weapons integration and systems engineering support for the development of the next generation Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the MQ-9. WINTEC developed programmable, modular special test equipment and simulation tools to support the prime contractor’s development efforts. See less

See this at: jsf.mil| Added on 07/21/06

All four Joint Strike Fighter X-plane demonstrators are now on display in museums. You can visit the aircraft in person at the following locations:

All four Joint Strike Fighter X-plane demonstrators are now on display in museums. You can visit the aircraft in person at the following locations: See less

See this at: boeing.com| Added on 07/21/06

* can transport 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of internal or external cargo using its medium lift and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities * meets U.S. Navy requirements for combat search and rescue, fleet logistics support, and... See more

* can transport 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of internal or external cargo using its medium lift and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities * meets U.S. Navy requirements for combat search and rescue, fleet logistics support, and special warfare support * matches the U.S. Special Operations Command's requirement for a high-speed, long-range, vertical lift aircraft * can be stored aboard an aircraft carrier because the rotors can fold and the wing rotate * has air-to-air refueling capability, the cornerstone of the ability to self-deploy Boeing is responsible for the fuselage and all subsystems, digital avionics, and fly-by-wire flight-control systems. Boeing partner Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., is responsible for the wing, transmissions, empennage, rotor systems and engine installation. The V-22 provides a significant increase in operational range over the legacy systems it will replace and is the only vertical platform capable of rapid self-deployment to any theater of... See less

See this at: fas.org| Added on 07/21/06

The MiG-29 is marketed worldwide and equals or surpasses the F-15C in several areas. The MiG-29's wings are swept-back and tapered with square tips. LERXs are wide and curved down to the front. LERX begins on the nose below the mid-mount point, and... See more

The MiG-29 is marketed worldwide and equals or surpasses the F-15C in several areas. The MiG-29's wings are swept-back and tapered with square tips. LERXs are wide and curved down to the front. LERX begins on the nose below the mid-mount point, and the wings’ trailing edges end at a high-mounted point. Twin jet engines are mounted low and to the sides of the fuselage. Diagonal-shaped air intakes give a box-like appearance. There is a large exhausts. The fuselage is made of a long, thin, slender body with long, pointed drooping nose. There is a high-mounted bubble canopy. The tail fins have sharply tapered leading edges, canted outward with angular, cutoff tips. Flats are high-mounted on the fuselage, movable, swept-back, and tapered with a negative slant. The MiG-29 is a widely exported aircraft, flown by Iraq, Iran, North Korea and Cuba. The MiG-29 has a few advantages over its more electronically advanced American counterparts. At about 40 miles apart, the American planes have the... See less

See this at: naval-technology.com| Added on 03/04/06

In February 1996 Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, now BAE Systems, won a contract to build three Type 23 Duke Class frigates for the Royal Navy, which brought the total number in service with the Royal Navy to 16. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989.... See more

In February 1996 Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, now BAE Systems, won a contract to build three Type 23 Duke Class frigates for the Royal Navy, which brought the total number in service with the Royal Navy to 16. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989. The new batch comprises: HMS Kent which was launched in May 1998 and entered service in September 2000; HMS Portland launched in May 1999 and commissioned in May 2001; and HMS St Albans launched in May 2000 and commissioned in June 2002. In July 2004, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that the Type 23 fleet was to be reduced to 13. Batch 1 vessels, HMS Norfolk and Marlborough, were decommissioned in 2005 and Grafton will follow in March 2006. In June 2005, the government of Chile signed a letter of intent for the purchase of the frigates. The Type 23 was originally designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), but the addition of MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) Vertical-Launched Seawolf point missile defence system and the Boeing Harpoon... See less

See this at: naval-technology.com| Added on 03/04/06

The Merlin helicopter.

The Merlin helicopter. See less

See this at: eurofighter.com| Added on 03/31/06

Welcome to Eurofighter.com, the website for the world's best selling new generation swing-role combat aircraft - the Eurofighter Typhoon. Developed by Europe’s leading aerospace companies, Eurofighter Typhoon is now in service with the Air Forces of... See more

Welcome to Eurofighter.com, the website for the world's best selling new generation swing-role combat aircraft - the Eurofighter Typhoon. Developed by Europe’s leading aerospace companies, Eurofighter Typhoon is now in service with the Air Forces of Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom and will fulfil Air Force requirements well into the 21st Century. Aircraft production is ongoing and with 638 aircraft under contract to the four Partner Nations and Austria, as the first export customer. The Eurofighter Typhoon website will provide you with an interactive and dynamic tour of the aircraft's capabilities, including its beyond leading edge technologies, as well as a full summary of the latest programme news and images. See less

See this at: wave.prohosting.com| Added on 06/10/06

However, the United States government denies the existence of such an aircraft, and no absolute evidence has ever confirmed the rumors. Speculation about an Aurora project has mostly died away since the late 1990s, and over the years it has acquired... See more

However, the United States government denies the existence of such an aircraft, and no absolute evidence has ever confirmed the rumors. Speculation about an Aurora project has mostly died away since the late 1990s, and over the years it has acquired a reputation as a "flying saucer story." Wherever the truth may lie, it is the goal of the Aurora Aircraft Page to provide information for you to help divide fact from fiction in the quest to solve this elusive story. See less

See this at: abovetopsecret.com| Added on 06/10/06

Does the United States Air Force or one of America's intelligence agencies have a secret hypersonic aircraft capable of a Mach 6 performance? Continually growing evidence suggests that the answer to this question is yes. Perhaps the most well-known... See more

Does the United States Air Force or one of America's intelligence agencies have a secret hypersonic aircraft capable of a Mach 6 performance? Continually growing evidence suggests that the answer to this question is yes. Perhaps the most well-known event which provides evidence of such a craft's existence is the sighting of a triangular plane over the North Sea in August 1989 by oil-exploration engineer Chris Gibson. As well as the famous "skyquakes" heard over Los Angeles since the early 1990s, found to be heading for the secret Groom Lake (Area 51) installation in the Nevada desert, numerous other facts provide an understanding of how the aircraft's technology works. Rumored to exist but routinely denied by U.S. officials, the name of this aircraft is Aurora. The outside world uses the name Aurora because a censor's slip let it appear below the SR-71 Blackbird and U-2 in the 1985 Pentagon budget request. Even if this was the actual name of the project, it would have by now been... See less

Highlights: Officially, the SR-71 was being retired to save the $200-$300 million a year it cost to operate the fleet.

See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 07/17/06

The 132mm BM-13, 82mm BM-8, and 300mm BM-31 Katyusha (Russian "Катюша") multiple rocket launchers were built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II (BM stands for for Boyevaya Mashina, 'combat vehicle'). These launchers acquired this name,... See more

The 132mm BM-13, 82mm BM-8, and 300mm BM-31 Katyusha (Russian "Катюша") multiple rocket launchers were built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II (BM stands for for Boyevaya Mashina, 'combat vehicle'). These launchers acquired this name, unofficial but immediately recognized in the Red Army, from the title of a popular Russian wartime song, "Katyusha". The song is about a girl longing for her beloved who is away from her while serving in the military. Katyusha is a tender Russian diminutive of a female name: Ekaterina (Katherine)→Katya→Katyusha. The term is now often used to describe small rocket artillery in general, especially newer Soviet models such as the 140mm BM-14, 122mm BM-21, and 220mm BM-27 multiple rocket launchers, or ones built in other countries. Individual artillery rockets are sometimes used in guerrilla warfare, for example by the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam, Hezbollah, the Iraqi insurgency, and the Taliban. See less