- [Narrator] For as long as we've existed, humans have been hellbent
on destroying one another with weapons ranging
from clubs to cannons. In more recent times, however,
militaries across the globe have developed much more
destructive firearms to trump their foes. From tank-toppling terrors, to 20,000 mile an hour projectiles, here are the most unbelievable missiles and artillery systems deployed by the most powerful
militaries in the world. (upbeat music) Before we start, I want to
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from this video's upload. Now that we're battle-ready, let's take a look at
some awesome artillery. FGM-148 Javelin. At almost four feet long and weighing a hefty 49
pounds, the FGM-148 Javelin is certainly one hefty firearm. Now, you're probably wondering
why any handheld weapon needs to be that chunky. Well, the Javelin isn't
any old handheld weapon. It's a portable anti-tank missile. This bad boy, designed for the U.S Army by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, first came into service in 1996. The Javelin uses infrared
guidance to fix on targets by tracking their heat signatures. As a result, it's known as a
fire-and-forget missile system, meaning that operators
can shoot their shot and then move for cover, all while the missile
is fixed on the target. (missile booming) Being an anti-tank projectile, the Javelin needs to work
fast when it's in the field. And considering the launcher
can fire a Javelin missile over 1.5 miles at speeds over 300 mph, it certainly does that. If that wasn't enough, the Javelin can use a
top attack flight profile when attempting to take down tanks. This sends the missile up
to heights of 490 feet, before crashing down
on the tank from above, where their armor is weakest. Tank armor at its thickest
can exceed 13 inches, but while its blast yield is considered classified information, it's
estimated that the Javelin's 19 pound warhead has a blast
yield penetration of 30 inches on rolled homogeneous armor. But you didn't hear that from me. Unsurprisingly, this wicked
weapon don't come cheap. In all, the Javelin is said to cost around $178,000 per unit. But considering the kick-ass
capabilities of this thing, I think it sounds like
a bargain, don't you? Dongfeng-41. If you thought the Javelin was bulky, then you've seen nothing yet. Introducing the Dongfeng-41,
otherwise known as DF-41. This intercontinental
ballistic missile, or ICBM, developed in China,
weighs a whopping 88 tons, and is 72 feet long, making it similar in size
to an adult sperm whale. In case you were wondering,
an ICBM is a missile that can be launched across the world, with a minimum range of 3,400 miles. In all, the DF-41 has a
range of some 8,100 miles, making it one of the world's
longest-ranged weapons. For some context, that's
further than the distance between Shanghai and New York. So, the DF-41's huge and it
can whizz around the world, but what exactly is this thing packing? Well, while the specifics are classified, it's believed to contain 10 multiple independently-targetable
reentry vehicles, or MIRVs. A MIRV is a type of ballistic missile that contains several nuclear warheads, each of which are independently targeted to different locations. So, in regards to the DF-41, this missile has the capacity to drop 10 independently-targeted nuclear warheads all around the world. And considering the potential
power of this weapon, you don't want one dropping near you. Chinese military analyst, Xi Yazhou, claimed that one DF-41 could
hit and destroy mega cities such as New York without a problem. Man, a whale-sized missile
that can travel the world and munches on mega cities for breakfast. Anyone else fancy a trip
to, oh, I don't know, Mars? Hwasong-17. Across the border, China's
infamous neighbor, North Korea, is best known for the
dynastic dictatorship of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. But aside from that, this
country has also become notorious for its military obsession. In 2022 alone, North Korea launched at least 95 missiles, which averages out at one
missile launch every four days. And according to the
U.S State Department's World Military Expenditures
and Arms Transfers report, North Korea spent about $4
billion on defense in 2019. A staggering 26% of its GDP. Clearly these guys like their weapons. Yet, there's one particular
armament that's adored even more than the rest. The Hwasong-17. This missile takes the title for North Korea's most powerful weapon. It's an ICBM, first
unveiled in October 2020, that's 85 feet long and
is believed to weigh up to 165 tons, making it twice as heavy as the imperious DF-41. The exact capabilities of the missile aren't yet confirmed, however, the Japanese Ministry of
Defense estimated that the range of this weapon
could be even greater than the DF-41, reaching a
mind-blowing 9,300 miles. If that wasn't terrifying enough, the missile is also believed
to have the capacity to carry between three or four MIRVs,
allowing this ICBM to attack several locations simultaneously. Much is still unknown
about the capabilities of North Korea's Hwasong-17, being developed by a country
that is shrouded in secrecy. But any projectile that weighs 165 tons and can travel close to 10,000 miles gets my vote for being up there with the world's most
unbelievable missiles. Astra Mk-1. As we've seen with the
DF-41 and the Hwasong-17, modern missile technology
is pretty mind-blowing. But what's one way to
make it even more metal? Well, to have it launched
from a plane, of course. Turns out that's exactly what
happens with the Astra Mk-1, an air-to-air-missile
launched from aircraft, with the goal of taking out enemy planes. India's Defense Research
and Development Organization unveiled the Astra Mk-1 in 2017. In all, their incredible creation, costing over $900,000
per unit, is 12 feet long and weighs 340 pounds, making it light enough to
be carried on an aircraft without hindering its maneuverability. But despite its size, you shouldn't take this missile lightly. With a firing range of up to 68 miles, the Astra Mk-1 is capable
of taking out aerial targets far and wide. This missile also uses
active radar homing, a guidance system that relies on a radar transmitter in the missile that emits a signal towards the target. The signal bounces off the target, before being directed by
a receiver on the missile, allowing it to track enemy aircraft. Oh, and if being tracked by one of these while flying through
the air wasn't enough, the Astra Mk-1 is also
capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 4.5, which
is close to 3,500 mph. And the final piece de resistance. This missile carries a 33
pound high-explosive warhead. So, anything this fearsome
flyer crashes into can expect to be obliterated. That's okay. I never wanted to fly
anywhere ever again anyway. Schwerer Gustav. Wicked weapons aren't something the world's most powerful militaries have just recently discovered though. In fact, to find the heaviest
artillery piece ever built, you've got to go all the way back to 1937. Nearly 100 years ago. It was at this time that the
German manufacturer Krupp devised the Schwerer Gustav, a
155-foot long killing machine that weighed an unreal 1,490 tons. For perspective, that's more
than six times the weight of the Statue of Liberty. In total, this machine set Germany back seven million Reichsmark, the equivalent to about $30 million today. But it's not hard to see why. The Schwerer Gustav was so large that, aside from occasionally being
mistaken for a mountain, to reach the battlefield
it had to be broken down and transported on 25 railway wagons. The question is, who needs
such a whopping weapon? Well, as World War II drew closer, Germany was determined to invade France by destroying the French Maginot Line, the strongest fortification
that had ever existed. The Schwerer Gustav seemed
the perfect candidate for the job. As it happened, this big boy
wasn't completed until 1942, at which point Germany had
already invaded France. So, the gigantic Gustav
was wheeled to Crimea on the eastern front instead. It was here, at the siege of Sevastopol, the awesome artillery
would finally be tested. In all, it took 4,000 men some five weeks to get the gun ready. But eventually, by June 1942, the Schwerer Gustav was good to go, which was bad news for
the city of Sevastopol. This metal monster had
two sinister shell types that it peppered the city with. Firstly, seven ton
concrete-piercing shells that could fly 24 miles through the air. One such projectile was
reported to have penetrated 100 feet into the ground, destroying a Russian
underground ammunition store. Alongside that, this
artillery could also unleash five ton shells, packed with over 1,500
pounds of explosives, some 30 miles into the air. Although this mega machine
blew Sevastopol to pieces, the Germans ended up
destroying the Schwerer Gustav just a few years later, to prevent its seizure by the Allies. Anyone else thank their lucky stars that they'll never get blown
to bits by this nightmare-fuel? Paris Gun. Surprising as it sounds, there's one piece of mobile artillery that comes close to
rivaling the Schwerer Gustav in terms of sheer size. At first glance, this may look
like a half-completed bridge. But what you're looking
at is the Paris Gun, a long-range siege weapon
that was used in 1918, at the end of World War I. In total, this colossal
canon was over 110 feet long, with a barrel length close to 70 foot. For reference, the barrel
alone was over twice the length of a standard school bus. Despite the name, France
didn't have the honor of owning this gun. It was a German weapon. The Paris Gun got its pretty apt nickname when the Germans used it to
bombard the city of Paris. The artillery's projectile
was a three foot long shell, composed of thick steel. To make matters more grizzly, each shell was packed with
around 15 pounds of TNT that would explode when they crash landed. When the gun was first deployed, Parisians believed they
were being bombed by a high-altitude Zeppelin plane, as the sound of neither a
plane nor gun could be heard. That's because the shells
were coming from Crepy, the site where the Paris Gun was based, some 80 miles north of Paris. Around 350 shells were fired in total, and they caused some serious carnage. However, in 1918 when Germany
lost, the gun was destroyed to prevent the Allies from
getting their hands on it. Well you know what they say. What goes around comes around. Shrapnel Shell. 130 years before the
Paris Gun's invention, another piece of awesome
artillery was created. Well, an artillery munition to be precise. Henry Shrapnel is the British Lieutenant responsible for devising
the shrapnel shell way back in 1784. An artillery munition packed
with individual bullets inside its casing. When fired, a timed fuse inside the shell ignites an explosive charge, causing the case to burst open in mid-air. With that, metal bullets spray outwards, creating an arrow of deadly shrapnel that descends towards the enemy. During World War I, shrapnel
shells like this British one were fired against troops in the open, as the fragments could cover a wide area, inflicting casualties on a
large number of soldiers. The gunner set the shell's fuse time so that it would burst
as it was angling back towards the ground, around 450 feet before
it reached the enemy. A trained gun team could
fire 20 shrapnel shells every minute. And, with each shell containing
around 300 lead pellets, that'd result in the
enemy being sprayed by 6,000 individual shrapnel
balls per minute. Terrifying as endless waves
of shrapnel bullets sound, they weren't a constant in the war. New weapons and tactics
were quickly deployed, minimizing the effect of these terrors, which were eventually phased out in favor of more explosive shells. Hmm, I must say, I'm not sure
if being riddled head-to-toe with sharp shrapnel
sounds that much better than being blown to pieces. Which do you think sounds worse? For shrapnel, hit that like button, and for explosive endings, hit subscribe. All done? Great, what have we got next? S-550. Right, let's bring things
back to the 21st century. And what better way to do that than with this air defense system, whose development was completed
in Russia back in 2021. The S-550, as it's known,
is an air defense missile capable of hitting spacecraft,
with a maximum altitude to be in the thousands of miles. As the projectile is still
in its testing stage, not too much is known about
its full capabilities. However, by looking at its
predecessor, the S-500, we can get an insight
into the potential power of this projectile. Essentially, the S-500
is a grizzly guard dog of a defensive missile. This thing can intercept
and destroy ICBMs. On top of that, it can
intercept and destroy missiles as far as 370 miles away, and destroy aerial targets
traveling at speeds higher than Mach 5, more than 3,800 mph. Basically, you don't wanna
mess with this thing. Now, considering that the
S-550 has been described as a more specialized
derivative of the S-500, chances are that this shiny new toy will be able to intercept and
destroy even faster missiles at an even greater
range than its ancestor. Safe to say that all ICBMs out there are getting a sweat on. Archer Artillery System. Hailing from Sweden, the
Archer Artillery System is every bit as badass as it looks. Today, the Swedish Army owns 26 Archers, first developed by BAE Systems in 1995. And let me tell you, it's not a bad weapon
to have in your arsenal. The Archer, costing around
$4.5 million per unit, is designed for high
strategic, operational and tactical mobility. So, it helps that the
system's fully automated 155 mm gun howitzer and weapon station are mounted on a 6 x 6 chassis that can travel at speeds up to 56 mph. But the Archer's super
speed doesn't end there. This gun system is capable of firing eight rounds per minute, making it the fastest
firing artillery system of its caliber. If that wasn't enough, just 20 seconds after
the final shot is fired, this artillery system
can be on the move again. On top of that, the
howitzer can be loaded with M982 Excalibur rounds,
giving the gun a roomy range of 31 miles. The Excalibur shells are
also corrected in flight towards a pre-programmed target by using a GPS guidance system, allowing the Archer to
accurately hit targets at long ranges. Is there anything this system can't do? Well, considering it's Swedish, it's probably flat-pack as well. M142 HIMARS. Across the Atlantic, in the U.S., Lockheed Martin began developing their own awesome artillery
system in the late 1990s. Say hello to the M142 High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System, better known as the M142 HIMARS. This $4 million artillery
system consists of a light multiple rocket launcher that's mounted onto a
five ton truck chassis. Sounds impressive, but
what actually makes this such a formidable artillery system? Well, the HIMARS only carries one pod, which is capable of fitting two different missile configurations. Six Guided Multiple Launch
Rocket System, known as GMLRS, or one Army Tactical
Missile System, or ATACMS. Firstly, the GMLRS rockets
have an extended range, hitting targets up to 93 miles away. Yet, despite the distance, these rockets hit their
targets with accuracy, thanks to their GPS-based guidance system. ATACMS, on the other
hand, is a 13 foot long, two ton mega missile. Yet, even with its chunky size, this thing can be launched some 190 miles, more than twice as far as GMLRS. Like the GMLRS, the ATACMS
system is also GPS-aided, allowing it to strike
precisely where it's needed. Talk about a killer combo. Anti-Tank Missile. Not all artillery systems have made it off the production line, however. Take this mind-blowing military concept conceived by futuristic
design company Dahir Insaat. Known only as Item 1, these
strange looking devices would be dropped onto the battlefield by a cargo plane flying overhead. In mid-air, a parachute opens up, allowing the devices to safely
touch down on the ground. Now, here's where things start to heat up. After the devices make their landing, they become camouflaged
by a grass-like screen, blending perfectly into
their surroundings. You might be wondering what
these things need to hide from. Well, it turns out these
devices are, in fact, anti-tank artillery systems. So, when an unsuspecting tank approaches, each system is triggered into action by a watching drone. At this point, the device activates, spraying enemy tanks with what looks to be one anti-tank missile every second, with a double-ended arm able to fire and reload their
munition simultaneously. Being a concept design,
nothing else is known about the firing rate or force of the munition. But would you really
want to cross that thing? Yet, as cool as it looks, the
concept's far from flawless. With the amount of
time, money and planning that can go into modern-day wars, there's virtually no chance
that a huge cargo plane will get a free ride over the top of a battle-prone airspace. So, none of these devices
would ever get the chance to be dropped onto the battlefield in the first place. But who knows. Maybe we'll soon see a tweaked version of Dahir Insaat's invention
in the coming years. I mean, I hope I don't, because that'll mean they've
dropped it outside my house. SMArt 155. Now, one munition that's
more than just a concept is the SMArt 155, otherwise known as the Sensor-Fused Munition for Artillery. This 155 mm artillery round
was first developed in 1989 by German company Diehl BGT Defence, before starting full-rate production for the German Army in 1998. The 104 pound heavy artillery projectile is designed to be fired from
the Panzerhaubitze 2000, a self-propelled German howitzer. When fired, you'd think the weight alone of the SMArt 155 shell
could do some damage. However, the true power of this weapon doesn't come from its weight. In mid-flight, a timer
fuse inside the shell ignites an ejector in the weapon, dragging two submunitions
out of the shell. Once they've escaped the shell casing, the submunitions drop downwards, falling towards whatever
target they were fired at. Now, here's where the SMArt 155 comes into a league of its own. As the submunitions descend,
they open a parachute. Then, while slowly descending,
the submunitions rotate, scanning the area below
with an infra-red sensor and a millimeter wave radar. Each submunition's internal electronics use a multi-mode sensor system, allowing them to detect targets
and reject false threats. Then, once they've detected
a target beneath them, the submunitions detonate
their explosive payload in close proximity to the target. This creates a high-velocity explosion, striking the target vehicle from above where the armor is typically much weaker. Fair to say the SMArt 155
certainly lives up to its name. Phalanx CIWS. 20 years before the
SMArt 155 was developed, American company General
Dynamics designed what is now one of the most fearsome defense systems the world's ever seen. The Phalanx CIWS is a $5.6
million defensive weapon system used to protect military vessels
against aircraft, missile, and naval threats. This defense system
consists of a Vulcan cannon fitted onto a swiveling base. Any other Mandalorian fans
think this looks a bit like the long-lost brother of IG-11? Anyway, not only does this
defense system look intimidating. It's also capable of firing
up to 4,500 rounds per minute. And to make it even more metal, the Phalanx CIWS has a muzzle
velocity close to 2,500 mph, making this killer's firing speed over three times the speed of sound. If that wasn't enough, the
Vulcan cannon is radar-guided, allowing the gun to move at rapid speeds and take down targets
with pinpoint precision. In all, it's believed that
it takes just two seconds for the Phalanx's gun to
react to any threat detection. By 2007, around 900
Phalanx systems were built, and 22 countries had these
defense systems deployed in their navies. I can't say I'm surprised. I mean, what nation wouldn't want a laser-guided death
machine version of IG-11 in their arsenal? 3M22 Zircon. Badass as the Phalanx CIWS sounds, it'd have its work cut out for it if it were to come up
against this next missile. Introducing the 3M22 Zircon,
an anti-ship hypersonic missile produced in 2021 for the Russian Navy. But what is a hypersonic missile? Well, first off, these things
travel at, you guessed it, hypersonic speeds, flying
between speeds of Mach 5 to 10, or 4,000 to 7,600 mph. In comparison, supersonic
missiles, like the HD-1 here, can reach speeds up to
Mach 3.5, or 2,700 mph. Anyway, hypersonic lesson over. Let's get back to the Zircon. This missile can travel
at speeds up to 6,900 mph, allowing it to reach Mach 9. Unsurprisingly, this super
speed makes the Zircon extremely difficult to
intercept and defend against, even for IG-11 over there. The high velocity that
the missile travels at also causes air pressure
to form a plasma cloud in front of the Zircon as it moves. This cloud absorbs radio waves, making the missile practically invisible to enemy radar systems. Startling as that is, you probably won't be surprised to know that this missile don't come cheap. While currently classified information, experts believe the Zircon
may cost an eye-watering $211 million per missile. At such a steep price,
this hypersonic missile needs more than speed
to justify its price. And rest assured, it's worth it. The Zircon also has a lengthy range, capable of hitting targets 625 miles away. That means this projectile
could almost reach Oslo from St. Petersburg. Oh, and the trip would
take all of five minutes. Hey Elon, when are we going to Mars again? Is it, is it soon? Please tell me it's soon. Real Railgun. Turns out it's not just
hypersonic missiles that have a fast and furious reputation. Railguns are also known
for their super speed. And before the gaming contingent asks, no, I'm not talking about the
weapon that you can pick up in GTA 5. I'm talking about the linear
motor device that uses electromagnetic force
to help fire projectiles faster than any other
weapon on the planet. This munition monster consists
of two parallel metal rails, along which an electric current is passed. The current creates a
strong magnetic field that propels a metal slug projectile along the rails at super speed. Recently, a U.S. Navy prototype railgun launched a projectile at
Mach 6, around 4,600 mph. Considering that
explosive-powered military guns can't achieve a muzzle
velocity greater than Mach 5.9, railguns are believed to be the fastest firing weapon on Earth. And if brisk bullets weren't enough, railguns with Mach 6 capabilities are also believed to be
capable of firing projectiles close to 110 nautical miles. Recent reports indicate that China are in the
process of developing their own fully-fledged
electrical destruction machine. Their prototype was said to
have launched a projectile well past Mach 7, at a
speed close to 5,500 mph. If that wasn't crazy enough, the projectile was also said
to hit targets 155 miles away. Yet, despite the
capabilities of this weapon, the railgun isn't flawless. The powerful electric currents
generate significant heat, damaging the rails and other
components of the weapon, making the railgun useless
after a few rounds. On top of that, railguns require significant power to operate. A 1947 report theorized these
beasts used enough energy upon firing a single shot
to light up half of Chicago. Unsurprisingly, so much power isn't cheap, with the estimated cost of the
U.S Navy's prototype railgun hitting $500 million. Who knows if we'll see a breakthrough in the railgun world soon. Not that I'm desperate
to co-exist with weapons flinging projectiles seven
times the speed of sound anyway. Before I go, I wanna say
thanks to "Conflict of Nations" for making this video possible. To help support the channel, hit the link in the description below to download this endlessly entertaining military strategy game. And don't forget, you
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