What is a Lethal Autonomous Weapon?

Introduction Lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) are a type of autonomous military system that can independently search for and engage targets based on programmed constraints and descriptions. Refer to Overview of Fictional Military Robots and Artificial Intelligence Arms Race. LAWs are also known as lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), autonomous weapon systems (AWS), robotic weapons or… Read More

An Overview of Dynamite

Introduction Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and stabilisers. It was invented by the Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germany, and was patented in 1867. It rapidly gained wide-scale use as a more robust alternative to the traditional black powder explosives. It allows… Read More

What is IMX 101?

Introduction IMX-101 is a high-performance insensitive high explosive composite mixture developed by BAE Systems and the United States Army to replace TNT in artillery shells. Refer to Dunnite and Dynamite. Background IMX stands for “Insensitive Munitions eXplosives”, which refers to the purpose of IMX-101: to provide explosive force equivalent to TNT without its sensitivity to… Read More

An Overview of TNT

Introduction Trinitrotoluene, more commonly known as TNT – more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene – is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. Refer to Dynamite, IMX 101, and Dunnite. TNT is occasionally used as a reagent in chemical synthesis, but it is best known as an explosive material with convenient… Read More

Building Physical and Mental Recovery after Your Boot Camp Experience

Introduction There are few better experiences than boot camp when it comes to building physical and mental rigour. However, it can be challenging. As Military.com notes, even modern-day boot camps, on which training experiences are modelled, have had to tone down some of their activities in order to help manage stress in participants. It is not the… Read More

What is a Reactive Material?

Introduction In the US military, reactive materials (RM) are a new class of materials currently being investigated by the Office of Naval Research and others as a means to increase the lethality of direct-hit or fragmentation warheads. Refer to Insensitive Munition and Dunnite. Outline Reactive materials are similar to insensitive high explosives, but are usually… Read More