Fortifications of the Pre-Modern Islamic World: Introduction

Introduction to a series on fortifications of the Islamic east, and the changing character of war. In this first post, a brief look at the layout of Fort Juwayn, Khurasan (a province split between Iran and Afghanistan), as it stood in 1884

Solntsepyok ‘Blazing Sun’ heavy flame-thrower

Солнцепёк (Solntsepyok; ‘Blazing Sun’), Russian heavy flame-thrower is an exceptional weapon delivering thermobaric charges at distances from 1.6–10 km, creating an explosive gas cloud up to 40,000 m2, generating devastating physical and psychological effects.

Myth of the Stinger Missile Winning the Soviet-Afghan War

NATO and its media supporters love wunderwaffen—‘wonder weapons’ that were promised by Herr Hitler to the German people even as Berlin crumbled around the Führerbunker. Challengers, Abrams, Leopards, HIMARS, and F-16s have had their turn as the ‘game-changer’ that will see off the Russians. Stingers entered the ‘game-changer’ phase last summer, with media asking, ‘will … Continue reading Myth of the Stinger Missile Winning the Soviet-Afghan War →