Collection · COL-01

The Arsenal

Weapons, defense and the factories behind them.

34 case files · 68 quiz questions · Military, History, Tech, Locations, Space, Science

34 case files in this collection

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Free PDF: every quick fact with its ID, the write-ups, sources and a quiz with an answer key.

What Is in The Arsenal?

34 case files on the hardware of war: nuclear tests, an interceptor that carries no explosives, Israel's short-range rocket defense, a swing-wing bomber, a Mach 3 bomber that never went to war, missiles that maneuver above Mach 5, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, carrier catapults, a startup that builds drones and missiles on its own money, Iran's underground missile bases, a Serbian truck-mounted howitzer built to fire and move, a 1950s bomber still flying, the Navy's newest nuclear carrier, refueling in midair, a Soviet missile carrier that skimmed the sea, a contractor that builds stealth bombers and space telescopes, a one-man Army helicopter steered by leaning, a Soviet radar the world heard as the Woodpecker, the company behind Patriot, the B-2 stealth bomber, the SR-71 Blackbird, the Tiger II tank, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Eurofighter Typhoon, how submarines dive, the Apache helicopter, railguns, surface-to-air missiles and the steel mill behind it all. Atomic Annie, the M65 280mm Atomic Cannon, is the only artillery piece ever to fire a nuclear shell. DD-004 The Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle carries no explosive. It destroys ballistic-missile warheads in space by colliding with them ('hit-to-kill'). DD-011

The Case Files, in Order

  1. 01
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Atomic AnnieDD-004

    DD-004Military+ History

    Atomic Annie

    The M65 280mm Atomic Cannon, nicknamed Atomic Annie, is the only artillery piece ever to fire a nuclear shell.

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  2. 02
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Cannikin QuakeDD-026

    DD-026Military+ History

    Cannikin Quake

    America's biggest underground nuke shook the ground like a magnitude 7 quake.

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  3. 03
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    EKV: Exoatmospheric Kill VehicleDD-011

    DD-011Military+ Tech

    EKV: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle

    This interceptor kills warheads without any explosives.

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  4. 04
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Mobile MortarsDD-021

    DD-021Military+ History

    Mobile Mortars

    Soldiers fire this weapon by dropping a shell down the tube.

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  5. 05
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Sending EMALSDD-025

    DD-025Military+ Tech

    Sending EMALS

    Carrier catapults fling fighter jets to flying speed in about two seconds.

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  6. 06
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Supersonic StrikerDD-036

    DD-036Military+ History

    Supersonic Striker

    The B-1 was built to carry nukes but now flies conventional only.

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  7. 07
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    XB-70 ValkyrieDD-048

    DD-048Military+ Tech

    XB-70 Valkyrie

    A Mach 3 bomber that never went to war.

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  8. 08
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    AndurilDD-727

    DD-727Military+ Tech

    Anduril

    A defense tech company building autonomous weapons.

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  9. 09
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Bethlehem SteelDD-010

    DD-010History+ Locations

    Bethlehem Steel

    This steel mill helped build the Golden Gate Bridge.

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  10. 10
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Hypersonic MissilesDD-059

    DD-059Military+ Tech

    Hypersonic Missiles

    Mach 5 isn't the new part.

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  11. 11
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Iranian Missile CitiesDD-733

    DD-733Military+ Locations

    Iranian Missile Cities

    Iran's tunnel bases for missiles and drones.

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  12. 12
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Shoot-and-ScootDD-736

    DD-736Military+ Tech

    Shoot-and-Scoot

    Serbia's wheeled 155 mm howitzer, the NORA B-52.

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  13. 13
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    B52 StratofortressDD-708

    DD-708Military+ History

    B52 Stratofortress

    Built in the 1950s, flying into the 2050s.

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  14. 14
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    USS Gerald R. FordDD-710

    DD-710Military+ Tech

    USS Gerald R. Ford

    Launching jets without steam.

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  15. 15
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Gassed Up...Way UpDD-711

    DD-711Military+ Tech+ History

    Gassed Up...Way Up

    Filling up mid-flight.

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  16. 16
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    EkranoplanDD-704

    DD-704Military+ Tech+ History

    Ekranoplan

    Too low to be a plane.

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  17. 17
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Ballistic TridentDD-627

    DD-627Military

    Ballistic Trident

    Launched from under the sea.

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  18. 18
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Northrop GrummanDD-604

    DD-604Military+ Tech+ Space

    Northrop Grumman

    From flying wings to Webb's sunshield.

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  19. 19
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    The Iron DomeDD-606

    DD-606Military+ Tech

    The Iron Dome

    Only the rockets that matter.

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  20. 20
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Flying BikeDD-584

    DD-584History+ Military+ Tech

    Flying Bike

    A helicopter you flew standing up.

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  21. 21
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    DugaDD-592

    DD-592Military+ History+ Tech

    Duga

    A radar the whole world could hear.

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  22. 22
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    RaytheonDD-621

    DD-621Military+ Tech

    Raytheon

    It started with a radio tube.

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  23. 23
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    2-Billion Dollar B=2DD-295

    DD-295Military+ Tech

    2-Billion Dollar B=2

    Twenty-one bombers cost $44.7 billion.

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  24. 24
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    BlackbirdDD-117

    DD-117Military+ Tech

    Blackbird

    No crewed jet has officially flown faster than the SR-71.

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  25. 25
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    King TigerDD-146

    DD-146Military+ History

    King Tiger

    The Tiger II weighed nearly 70 tonnes.

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  26. 26
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    DestroyerDD-147

    DD-147Military+ Tech

    Destroyer

    Arleigh Burke-class destroyers carry the Aegis radar system.

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  27. 27
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    TyphoonDD-148

    DD-148Military+ Tech

    Typhoon

    The Eurofighter Typhoon is built to be unstable on purpose.

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  28. 28
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    SubsDD-149

    DD-149Military+ Tech+ Science

    Subs

    A submarine dives by flooding its ballast tanks.

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  29. 29
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    HeloDD-150

    DD-150Military+ Tech

    Helo

    A pinnacle landing puts a helicopter down on a mountaintop.

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  30. 30
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    RailgunsDD-151

    DD-151Military+ Tech+ Science

    Railguns

    A railgun fires without any gunpowder.

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  31. 31
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    SAMsDD-152

    DD-152Military+ Tech

    SAMs

    A SAM can home in by radar, infrared or both.

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  32. 32
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    The Atomic GunDD-083

    DD-083Military+ History

    The Atomic Gun

    The U.S.

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  33. 33
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Angel of DeathDD-436

    DD-436Military

    Angel of Death

    An AC-130 releasing flares can trace the shape of wings.

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  34. 34
    DID YOU
    KNOW?    Tanking RailwaysDD-411

    DD-411Military

    Tanking Railways

    Trains carry tanks on heavy-duty flatcars.

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Collection Quiz

All quizzes →

68 questions from all 34 case files in The Arsenal. Test Your Knowledge: answers are revealed instantly.

  1. How much did Atomic Annie, the M65 280mm Atomic Cannon, weigh?

    1. 8 tons
    2. 30 tons
    3. 83 tons
    4. 250 tons
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 83 tons Now You Know: Atomic Annie weighed 83 tons. Source: DD-004 · Atomic Annie · Write-up · Exhibit A (M65 280mm Atomic Cannon)

  2. On what date did Atomic Annie fire its nuclear shell in the Grable test?

    1. May 25, 1953
    2. July 16, 1945
    3. August 6, 1945
    4. October 30, 1961
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. May 25, 1953 Now You Know: The Grable test took place on May 25, 1953, in Nevada. Source: DD-004 · Atomic Annie · Write-up · Exhibit B (The Grable test)

  3. Where was the Cannikin test conducted?

    1. Nevada Test Site
    2. Bikini Atoll
    3. Amchitka Island, Alaska
    4. White Sands, New Mexico
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Amchitka Island, Alaska Now You Know: Cannikin was fired beneath Amchitka Island in the Aleutians on November 6, 1971. Source: DD-026 · Cannikin Quake · Write-up · Exhibit A (When and where) · Project CANNIKIN D+30 Day Report: Preliminary Operational and Test Results Summary (AEC, via OSTI); At the Frontier of Missile Defense, 1971 (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory history); Cannikin (Wikipedia)

  4. What was Cannikin's approximate yield?

    1. 15 kilotons
    2. About 1 megaton
    3. Just under 5 megatons
    4. 50 megatons
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Just under 5 megatons Now You Know: The official yield was 'less than five megatons', the largest U.S. underground test. Source: DD-026 · Cannikin Quake · Write-up · Exhibit B (America's biggest underground blast) · Project CANNIKIN D+30 Day Report: Preliminary Operational and Test Results Summary (AEC, via OSTI); Seismic effects of the MILROW and CANNIKIN nuclear explosions (Engdahl, BSSA, 1972); Cannikin (Wikipedia)

  5. What does EKV stand for?

    1. Explosive Kinetic Vehicle
    2. Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle
    3. Extended Kill Vector
    4. Exo-Kinetic Validator
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle Now You Know: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, the intercept part of the Ground-Based Interceptor. Source: DD-011 · EKV: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle · Write-up · Exhibit A (Part of a bigger system) · Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (Raytheon / RTX); Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System (L3Harris)

  6. How does the EKV destroy a warhead?

    1. A large explosive charge
    2. A laser
    3. A direct high-speed collision
    4. An electromagnetic pulse
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. A direct high-speed collision Now You Know: It's 'hit-to-kill': no warhead, just the force of the collision. Source: DD-011 · EKV: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle · Write-up · Exhibit C (Hit-to-kill) · Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (Raytheon / RTX); Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System (L3Harris); Raytheon kill vehicle destroys complex, long-range ballistic missile target in space (Raytheon, Jun 22, 2014)

  7. What are the three main parts of a typical mortar?

    1. Barrel, bipod and baseplate
    2. Barrel, breech and recoil spring
    3. Tube, tripod and trigger housing
    4. Barrel, turret and tracks
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Barrel, bipod and baseplate Now You Know: A mortar is a barrel (tube) on a bipod, seated in a baseplate that pushes the recoil into the ground. Source: DD-021 · Mobile Mortars · Write-up · Exhibit B (Tube, bipod, baseplate) · 81 mm, 82 mm & 120 mm Medium and Heavy Mortars (Characterisation of Explosive Weapons, Annex C); Organic Support Weapons: 60-mm Mortar and AT4 (US Navy NRTC 14234, ch. 14, via GlobalSecurity)

  8. In drop-fire mode, what actually fires a mortar round?

    1. A crew member pulls a lanyard on the breech
    2. The round hits a fixed firing pin at the bottom of the tube
    3. An electric igniter wired to a battery
    4. A slow-burning fuse lit by hand
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The round hits a fixed firing pin at the bottom of the tube Now You Know: The round slides tail-first down the tube and hits a fixed firing pin, which sets off its ignition cartridge. Source: DD-021 · Mobile Mortars · Write-up · Exhibit C (Drop it and it fires) · Mortar projectiles (Open Source Munitions Portal); Organic Support Weapons: 60-mm Mortar and AT4 (US Navy NRTC 14234, ch. 14, via GlobalSecurity); 81 mm, 82 mm & 120 mm Medium and Heavy Mortars (Characterisation of Explosive Weapons, Annex C)

  9. What does EMALS stand for?

    1. Electronic Missile Alert and Launch System
    2. Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
    3. Emergency Marine Air Lift System
    4. Electric Motor Arrested Landing System
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System Now You Know: EMALS is the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, built for Ford-class carriers. Source: DD-025 · Sending EMALS · Write-up · Exhibit A (Same job, new machine) · Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), NAVAIR product page; Navy completes EMALS shared generator testing (NAVAIR)

  10. Which U.S. carriers use EMALS?

    1. All of them
    2. Only the Ford class
    3. Only the Nimitz class
    4. None yet
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Only the Ford class Now You Know: USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and later Ford-class carriers have EMALS. Nimitz-class carriers use steam. Source: DD-025 · Sending EMALS · Write-up · Exhibit B (Most of the fleet still runs on steam) · Sailors Talk First USS Gerald R. Ford Trap, Launch (USNI News, 2017); Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs? (DTIC report ADA602992)

  11. What is the B-1 Lancer's nickname?

    1. The Bone
    2. The Buff
    3. The Warthog
    4. The Spirit
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The Bone Now You Know: An early newspaper wrote 'B-ONE' without the hyphen, and it stuck. Source: DD-036 · Supersonic Striker · Write-up · Exhibit G (The 'Bone') · Rockwell B-1 Lancer (Wikipedia)

  12. When did the B-1B reach initial operating capability?

    1. 1974
    2. 1986
    3. 1997
    4. 2005
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 1986 Now You Know: IOC was October 1, 1986, on nuclear alert. Source: DD-036 · Supersonic Striker · Write-up · Exhibit B (Into service) · Rockwell B-1 Lancer (Wikipedia); B-1B Lancer fact sheet (U.S. Air Force); B-1B 'Lancer' fact sheet, Hill Aerospace Museum (Hill AFB, archived)

  13. What speed was the XB-70 designed to cruise at?

    1. Mach 1
    2. Mach 2
    3. Mach 3
    4. Mach 5
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Mach 3 Now You Know: It was designed to fly the whole mission at Mach 3. Source: DD-048 · XB-70 Valkyrie · Write-up · Exhibit A (Built to outrun) · XB-70 Valkyrie (NASA); Summary of preliminary data derived from the XB-70 airplanes (NASA TM, 1966); North American XB-70 Valkyrie (Wikipedia)

  14. What helped kill the B-70 bomber program?

    1. Stealth aircraft
    2. Surface-to-air missiles and ICBMs
    3. A fuel shortage
    4. A treaty ban
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Surface-to-air missiles and ICBMs Now You Know: A high-flying bomber no longer looked survivable. Source: DD-048 · XB-70 Valkyrie · Write-up · Exhibit B (Undone by missiles) · North American XB-70 Valkyrie (Wikipedia)

  15. When was Anduril founded?

    1. 1999
    2. 2010
    3. 2017
    4. 2023
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 2017 Now You Know: It was incorporated on April 20, 2017. Source: DD-727 · Anduril · Write-up · Exhibit A (Who founded it) · Anduril Industries (Wikipedia)

  16. What does Lattice do?

    1. Builds jets
    2. Fuses sensor data into one picture
    3. Makes VR headsets
    4. Prints circuit boards
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Fuses sensor data into one picture Now You Know: It's the software at the core of Anduril's products. Source: DD-727 · Anduril · Write-up · Exhibit B (Lattice) · Anduril Industries (Wikipedia); Behind Anduril's Effort to Create an Operating System for War (Wired, 2020)

  17. What was the name of Bethlehem Steel's earliest predecessor, formed in 1857?

    1. Saucona Iron Company
    2. Carnegie Steel
    3. Lehigh Iron Works
    4. Pittsburgh Forge
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Saucona Iron Company Now You Know: The Saucona Iron Company was formed in South Bethlehem, PA, in 1857. Source: DD-010 · Bethlehem Steel · Write-up · Exhibit A (Older than the name) · Bethlehem Steel: History timeline (bethsteel.com); Bethlehem Steel (Wikipedia)

  18. What 1908 Bethlehem product made the skyscraper age possible?

    1. Stainless steel
    2. The wide-flange structural beam
    3. Steel cable
    4. Rebar
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The wide-flange structural beam Now You Know: Its Grey mill rolled the nation's first wide-flange structural sections. Source: DD-010 · Bethlehem Steel · Write-up · Exhibit B (The beam that built skyscrapers) · Bethlehem Steel: History timeline (bethsteel.com)

  19. What two types of hypersonic weapons does CRS describe?

    1. Boost-glide and scramjet cruise
    2. Drones and shells
    3. Torpedoes and mines
    4. Lasers and railguns
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Boost-glide and scramjet cruise Now You Know: Glide vehicles ride a rocket booster; cruise missiles use scramjets. Source: DD-059 · Hypersonic Missiles · Write-up · Exhibit A (Two kinds) · Hypersonic weapons: background and issues for Congress (CRS R45811); Defense primer: hypersonic boost-glide weapons (CRS IF11459, updated May 14, 2026)

  20. What distinguishes a hypersonic glide vehicle from a ballistic warhead?

    1. Higher speed
    2. Ability to maneuver
    3. Larger size
    4. Nuclear-only
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Ability to maneuver Now You Know: Ballistic warheads also exceed Mach 5. Source: DD-059 · Hypersonic Missiles · Write-up · Exhibit B (Speed isn't the difference) · Defense primer: hypersonic boost-glide weapons (CRS IF11459, updated May 14, 2026); Hypersonic missile defense: issues for Congress (CRS IF11623)

  21. When did Iran publicize a large underground missile facility?

    1. March 2025
    2. 1979
    3. 2010
    4. January 2026
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. March 2025 Now You Know: State media released video on March 25, 2025. Source: DD-733 · Iranian Missile Cities · Write-up · Exhibit A (What Iran has shown) · Tehran Times (Iranian state-aligned): IRGC unveils one of its largest underground missile cities (March 25, 2025); Al-Monitor: Iran's IRGC unveils underground facility housing thousands of ballistic missiles (2025)

  22. Who uses the term 'missile cities'?

    1. The IRGC, in its publicity
    2. NATO
    3. The UN
    4. NASA
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The IRGC, in its publicity Now You Know: It's the IRGC's own term. Source: DD-733 · Iranian Missile Cities · Write-up · Exhibit E (Contested picture) · The War Zone: Iran Shows Off Underground 'Missile City'; ISW/CTP: Iran Update, July 3, 2025; Iran International: Iran passive defense chief says underground missile sites largely intact (Nov 2025)

  23. What caliber is the NORA-B52's gun?

    1. 105 mm
    2. 122 mm
    3. 155 mm
    4. 203 mm
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 155 mm Now You Know: 155 mm, with a 52-caliber barrel. Source: DD-736 · Shoot-and-Scoot · Write-up · Exhibit A (The gun) · Yugoimport-SDPR: NORA-B52 brochure; Yugoimport-SDPR: NORA-B52 NG brochure (2025)

  24. How many rounds does the NG's autoloader hold?

    1. 6
    2. 12
    3. 30
    4. 100
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 30 Now You Know: 30 rounds, plus 6 stowed on the vehicle. Source: DD-736 · Shoot-and-Scoot · Write-up · Exhibit C (The NG 'Perun') · Yugoimport-SDPR: NORA B-52 NG unveiled at Partner 2023; Yugoimport-SDPR: NORA-B52 NG brochure (2025)

  25. When did the B-52 first fly?

    1. 1945
    2. 1952
    3. 1955
    4. 1962
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 1952 Now You Know: April 15, 1952, as the YB-52. Source: DD-708 · B52 Stratofortress · Write-up · Exhibit A (Origins) · Wikipedia: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress; US Air Force fact sheet: B-52H Stratofortress

  26. How many engines does a B-52 have?

    1. Four
    2. Six
    3. Eight
    4. Ten
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Eight Now You Know: Eight, in four paired pods. Source: DD-708 · B52 Stratofortress · Write-up · Exhibit A (Origins) · Wikipedia: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress; US Air Force fact sheet: B-52H Stratofortress

  27. What does EMALS replace?

    1. Steam catapults
    2. Arresting wires
    3. Jet engines
    4. Radar
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Steam catapults Now You Know: Its linear electric motors replace steam catapults. Source: DD-710 · USS Gerald R. Ford · Write-up · Exhibit C (Launch and recovery) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress; Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford

  28. Roughly how much electrical generating capacity does Ford have compared with a Nimitz carrier, per CRS?

    1. About the same
    2. About 1.5 times
    3. About 3 times
    4. About 10 times
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. About 3 times Now You Know: About three times. Source: DD-710 · USS Gerald R. Ford · Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship) · Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford; Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

  29. In what year did the first air-to-air refueling take place?

    1. 1903
    2. 1923
    3. 1949
    4. 1955
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 1923 Now You Know: June 27, 1923, over San Diego. Source: DD-711 · Gassed Up...Way Up · Write-up · Exhibit A (A hose in 1923) · National Museum of the US Air Force: First Air-to-Air Refueling; Air Force Historical Support Division: 1923, the beginnings of inflight refueling

  30. Which method does the US Air Force mainly use?

    1. Flying boom
    2. Probe and drogue
    3. Wing-to-wing hose
    4. Drop tanks
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Flying boom Now You Know: The flying boom. Source: DD-711 · Gassed Up...Way Up · Write-up · Exhibit B (Probe and drogue) · Wikipedia: Aerial refueling

  31. What effect lets an ekranoplan fly so efficiently?

    1. Ground effect
    2. Coriolis effect
    3. Doppler effect
    4. Venturi effect
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Ground effect Now You Know: A cushion of air between the wing and the surface. Source: DD-704 · Ekranoplan · Write-up · Exhibit A (Ground effect) · The War Zone (2020): The only missile-toting ekranoplan Russia ever built just took its last trip on the Caspian; RIA Novosti (2021): How the fate of the 'Lun' ekranoplan turned out (Russian)

  32. How many Lun-class craft were completed?

    1. One
    2. Three
    3. Eight
    4. Twenty
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. One Now You Know: Only MD-160. Source: DD-704 · Ekranoplan · Write-up · Exhibit D (One of a kind) · The War Zone (2020): The only missile-toting ekranoplan Russia ever built just took its last trip on the Caspian; RIA Novosti (2021): How the fate of the 'Lun' ekranoplan turned out (Russian); Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Aug 24, 2020): Ekranoplan 'Lun' delivered to Patriot park in Derbent (Russian)

  33. Who is the prime contractor for Trident II D5?

    1. Lockheed Martin
    2. Boeing
    3. BAE Systems
    4. Raytheon
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Lockheed Martin Now You Know: Lockheed Martin builds it for the U.S. Navy. Source: DD-627 · Ballistic Trident · Write-up · Exhibit A (Who built it) · U.S. Navy fact file: Trident II (D5) Missile; Lockheed Martin (Oct 21, 2009): Trident II D5 achieves record 129 successful test flights in a row

  34. When was the D5 first deployed?

    1. 1990
    2. 1965
    3. 1978
    4. 2005
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1990 Now You Know: 1990. Source: DD-627 · Ballistic Trident · Write-up · Exhibit A (Who built it) · U.S. Navy fact file: Trident II (D5) Missile; Lockheed Martin (Oct 21, 2009): Trident II D5 achieves record 129 successful test flights in a row

  35. When was Northrop Aircraft founded?

    1. 1939
    2. 1909
    3. 1969
    4. 1994
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1939 Now You Know: In Hawthorne, California. Source: DD-604 · Northrop Grumman · Write-up · Exhibit A (Started as Northrop) · Northrop Grumman Form 10-K for 2025 (SEC); Northrop Grumman: Our heritage

  36. Which company merged with Northrop in 1994?

    1. Grumman
    2. Boeing
    3. Lockheed
    4. Douglas
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Grumman Now You Know: The combined company became Northrop Grumman. Source: DD-604 · Northrop Grumman · Write-up · Exhibit A (Started as Northrop) · Northrop Grumman Form 10-K for 2025 (SEC); Northrop Grumman: Our heritage

  37. Which company leads Iron Dome development?

    1. Rafael
    2. Lockheed Martin
    3. Elbit
    4. Thales
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Rafael Now You Know: With Israel Aerospace Industries. Source: DD-606 · The Iron Dome · Write-up · Exhibit A (Three parts) · Wikipedia: Iron Dome

  38. When was Iron Dome declared operational?

    1. March 2011
    2. March 2001
    3. March 2016
    4. March 2021
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. March 2011 Now You Know: Near Beersheba, on March 27, 2011. Source: DD-606 · The Iron Dome · Write-up · Exhibit A (Three parts) · Wikipedia: Iron Dome

  39. How did an Aerocycle pilot steer?

    1. By shifting his weight
    2. With a steering wheel
    3. With foot pedals only
    4. By radio control
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. By shifting his weight Now You Know: An idea called kinesthetic control. Source: DD-584 · Flying Bike · Write-up · Exhibit A (Steer by leaning) · Wikipedia: De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle; Wikipedia: Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee

  40. What powered the Aerocycle?

    1. A Mercury outboard motor
    2. A jet engine
    3. An electric motor
    4. A motorcycle engine
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A Mercury outboard motor Now You Know: It made 40 horsepower. Source: DD-584 · Flying Bike · Write-up · Exhibit B (An outboard motor) · Wikipedia: De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

  41. How did Duga see beyond the horizon?

    1. By bouncing signals off the ionosphere
    2. With satellites
    3. By listening for sound waves
    4. With lasers
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. By bouncing signals off the ionosphere Now You Know: That's over-the-horizon radar. Source: DD-592 · Duga · Write-up · Exhibit A (Over the horizon) · Wikipedia: Duga radar

  42. When did Duga-1 operate?

    1. 1976 to 1989
    2. 1945 to 1953
    3. 1991 to 2000
    4. 1962 to 1964
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1976 to 1989 Now You Know: It went silent in December 1989. Source: DD-592 · Duga · Write-up · Exhibit B (1976 to 1989) · Wikipedia: Duga radar

  43. What was Raytheon called when it was founded in 1922?

    1. The American Appliance Company
    2. United Technologies
    3. General Radio
    4. Hughes Aircraft
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The American Appliance Company Now You Know: In Cambridge, Massachusetts. Source: DD-621 · Raytheon · Write-up · Exhibit A (Founded in 1922) · Wikipedia: RTX Corporation

  44. What was the original Raytheon product?

    1. A rectifier tube for radios
    2. A missile
    3. A jet engine
    4. A refrigerator
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A rectifier tube for radios Now You Know: It let radios run on household current. Source: DD-621 · Raytheon · Write-up · Exhibit B (A radio tube) · Wikipedia: RTX Corporation

  45. What helps the B-2 evade radar?

    1. Its flying-wing shape
    2. Its speed
    3. Its paint color only
    4. Its size
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Its flying-wing shape Now You Know: It minimizes radar cross-section. Source: DD-295 · 2-Billion Dollar B=2 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Flying wing) · Wikipedia: Northrop B-2 Spirit

  46. When did the B-2 first fly publicly?

    1. 1989
    2. 1969
    3. 2009
    4. 1979
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1989 Now You Know: It was revealed in 1988. Source: DD-295 · 2-Billion Dollar B=2 · Write-up · Exhibit B (First flight) · Wikipedia: Northrop B-2 Spirit

  47. How fast could the SR-71 fly?

    1. Mach 3+
    2. Mach 1
    3. Mach 10
    4. Subsonic
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Mach 3+ Now You Know: Over three times the speed of sound. Source: DD-117 · Blackbird · Write-up · Exhibit A (Mach 3+) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  48. Who built it?

    1. Lockheed
    2. Boeing
    3. Airbus
    4. Sukhoi
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Lockheed Now You Know: At the Skunk Works. Source: DD-117 · Blackbird · Write-up · Exhibit B (Skunk Works) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  49. Which army used the Tiger II?

    1. Germany's
    2. Britain's
    3. Japan's
    4. Italy's
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Germany's Now You Know: In 1944-45. Source: DD-146 · King Tiger · Write-up · Exhibit A (WWII heavy tank) · Wikipedia: Tiger II

  50. About how much did it weigh?

    1. 68 to 70 tonnes
    2. 7 tonnes
    3. 200 tonnes
    4. 20 tonnes
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 68 to 70 tonnes Now You Know: Very heavy for its time. Source: DD-146 · King Tiger · Write-up · Exhibit B (Weight) · Wikipedia: Tiger II

  51. Which navy operates the Arleigh Burke class?

    1. The US Navy
    2. The Royal Navy
    3. The French Navy
    4. The Indian Navy
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The US Navy Now You Know: Guided-missile destroyers. Source: DD-147 · Destroyer · Write-up · Exhibit A (Guided-missile destroyers) · Wikipedia: Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

  52. When was the lead ship commissioned?

    1. 1991
    2. 1945
    3. 2015
    4. 1960
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1991 Now You Know: USS Arleigh Burke. Source: DD-147 · Destroyer · Write-up · Exhibit B (1991) · Wikipedia: Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

  53. Who builds the Typhoon?

    1. Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo
    2. Boeing alone
    3. Sukhoi
    4. Embraer
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo Now You Know: A European consortium. Source: DD-148 · Typhoon · Write-up · Exhibit A (Consortium) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon

  54. When did it first fly?

    1. 1994
    2. 1964
    3. 2014
    4. 1984
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1994 Now You Know: Service began in 2003. Source: DD-148 · Typhoon · Write-up · Exhibit B (1994) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon

  55. How does a submarine dive?

    1. It floods its ballast tanks
    2. It drops an anchor
    3. It shuts its engine
    4. It deflates
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. It floods its ballast tanks Now You Know: It gets heavier. Source: DD-149 · Subs · Write-up · Exhibit A (Ballast tanks) · Wikipedia: Submarine; Wikipedia: Ballast tank

  56. How does it surface?

    1. Blows water out with compressed air
    2. Pumps in oil
    3. Releases its crew
    4. Opens the hatch
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Blows water out with compressed air Now You Know: It gets lighter. Source: DD-149 · Subs · Write-up · Exhibit B (Compressed air) · Wikipedia: Ballast tank

  57. Why are helicopters so versatile?

    1. They can hover and land almost anywhere
    2. They fly faster than jets
    3. They need no pilots
    4. They float
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. They can hover and land almost anywhere Now You Know: Hover and vertical landing. Source: DD-150 · Helo · Write-up · Exhibit A (Many roles) · Wikipedia: Military helicopter

  58. What kind of helicopter is the Apache?

    1. Attack
    2. Cargo
    3. Firefighting
    4. Airliner
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Attack Now You Know: Built for the US Army. Source: DD-150 · Helo · Write-up · Exhibit B (Apache) · Wikipedia: Boeing AH-64 Apache

  59. What drives a railgun projectile?

    1. Electromagnetic force
    2. Gunpowder
    3. Compressed air
    4. A spring
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Electromagnetic force Now You Know: Huge currents. Source: DD-151 · Railguns · Write-up · Exhibit A (Electromagnetic) · Wikipedia: Railgun

  60. What does the current flow through?

    1. Two rails and the projectile
    2. A rubber band
    3. Water
    4. A fuse
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Two rails and the projectile Now You Know: A loop. Source: DD-151 · Railguns · Write-up · Exhibit B (Two rails) · Wikipedia: Railgun

  61. Where are SAMs launched from?

    1. The ground or ships
    2. Satellites
    3. Submarines only
    4. Airplanes only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The ground or ships Now You Know: Surface to air. Source: DD-152 · SAMs · Write-up · Exhibit A (Ground-launched) · Wikipedia: Surface-to-air missile

  62. What can SAMs target?

    1. Aircraft, drones and missiles
    2. Only tanks
    3. Only ships
    4. Only satellites
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Aircraft, drones and missiles Now You Know: Air threats. Source: DD-152 · SAMs · Write-up · Exhibit B (Targets) · Wikipedia: Surface-to-air missile

  63. What kind of weapon was the Davy Crockett?

    1. A recoilless rifle
    2. A missile
    3. A bomber
    4. A mine
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A recoilless rifle Now You Know: Fired by a crew. Source: DD-083 · The Atomic Gun · Write-up · Exhibit A (System) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

  64. What did it fire?

    1. The M388 projectile
    2. A torpedo
    3. A rocket
    4. Shells only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The M388 projectile Now You Know: Nuclear. Source: DD-083 · The Atomic Gun · Write-up · Exhibit B (Projectile) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

  65. What aircraft is the AC-130 based on?

    1. C-130 Hercules
    2. B-52
    3. F-16
    4. Boeing 747
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. C-130 Hercules Now You Know: Transport. Source: DD-436 · Angel of Death · Write-up · Exhibit A (Aircraft) · Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130

  66. What do flares decoy?

    1. Heat-seeking missiles
    2. Radar only
    3. Birds
    4. Drones
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Heat-seeking missiles Now You Know: Infrared. Source: DD-436 · Angel of Death · Write-up · Exhibit B (Era) · Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130

  67. What rail car carries tanks?

    1. Flatcar
    2. Boxcar
    3. Tank car
    4. Sleeper
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Flatcar Now You Know: Open deck. Source: DD-411 · Tanking Railways · Write-up · Exhibit A (Cars) · Wikipedia: Flatcar

  68. How are they secured?

    1. Chains and chocks
    2. Glue
    3. Magnets
    4. Rope only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Chains and chocks Now You Know: Tie-downs. Source: DD-411 · Tanking Railways · Write-up · Exhibit B (Securing) · Wikipedia: Flatcar