INSANELY Futuristic Military Weapons And Tech

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- [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 shout out today's video sponsor, "Conflict of Nations". It's an online PvP strategy game, available for free on PC and mobile, that puts you in charge of any military in the world. Battle it out with up to 128 other players, as you assemble your army with a range of units, including jets, submarines, and, you guessed it, missiles. So, what are you waiting for? Declare war, forge alliances and choose your strategy to lead your nation to glory. And by clicking the link in the description below, you'll receive 13,000 gold plus one-month premium subscription for free, available for 30 days 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 only have 30 days to claim your exclusive gift, so don't miss out. Well, as always, thanks for watching. (gentle music)
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Channel: BE AMAZED
Views: 663,318
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Keywords: beamazed, be amazed, top 10, most powerful weapons in the world, most powerful militaries in the world, most advanced military technology, military technology of the future, how hypersonic missiles work, how supersonic missiles work, what weapons does north korea have, who is the most powerful country in the world
Id: a1wKl1ddxt4
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Length: 31min 19sec (1879 seconds)
Published: Mon May 22 2023
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