Weapons
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False economy: Part 2
Where military spending really gets wasted. << False economy: Part 1 TBC >> … … … 2. What about the waste? .. Strategic autonomy Patronage “Red tape” of compliance, testing, etc. (+security clearances) I wrote in the last section about… Continue reading
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False economy: Part 1
Some harsh realities about doing war on the cheap. << The truth about tricked-out weapons False economy: Part 2 >> Hi there. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer. For my US-based readers, I hope you had a wonderful 250th… Continue reading
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The truth about tricked-out weapons
Why military equipment personalisation is not like computer games. << Modern myths about asymmetric war TBC >> Hello and Happy Thursday. This week’s column is based on a reader’s question from a few months back: How much are soldiers allowed… Continue reading
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How Guns Work
Introducing my Military Realism Reports << What if we used every single nuclear weapon? EU and what army? >> Hi there folks. This week I’ve been working on something different. Instead of my usual 2-3k word article, I’ve been putting… Continue reading
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New Year’s Resolutions
For Hollywood action heroes and filmmakers (and bloggers). << Explosive selection boxes How the sausage is made >> Hello there and a Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope you’ve had (or are still having) a wonderful Christmas/Holiday… Continue reading
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Stand still so I can shoot you
Why it’s hard to destroy airborne drones << But WHY did you do it? Three locks for the price of one >> Hi there. This week I’m talking about a topic which has been trending in Ireland over the past… Continue reading
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Double nuclear trouble
The threat posed by nuclear-powered nuclear-armed missiles << Setting the scene Review: A House of Dynamite>> Hi there. I’m interrupting normal service (we were talking about military world-building, and will get back to it) to report on the latest developments… Continue reading
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Silicon psychopaths
AI and the military << Don’t eat the grenade Holy Grail or Poisoned Chalice? >> Hi there. This week I want to talk about the war elephant in the room: artificial intelligence. I’ve been reading, using, and thinking about AI… Continue reading
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Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario
A review of Annie Jacobsen’s terrifying book about nuclear war << Fashion victims Ireland and the Defence Industrial Complex >> Hi there. This week I’m reviewing Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen. Written in 2024, this title does exactly… Continue reading
![Nuclear War: A[n Alarmist] Scenario](https://militaryrealism.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mushroom_cloud001.webp)
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You spin me right round baby…
The science of external ballistics. << Barrel envy Fashion victims >> Hello again. Continuing the ballistics trend, this week I’m talking about external ballistics. So far, we’ve covered wound ballistics, intermediate ballistics (with a deep dive on silencers), and internal… Continue reading
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Barrel envy
Gun design principles and internal ballistics. << The underwater nuclear family You spin me right round baby… >> Hi there and Happy Thursday. This week I’m picking up the ballistics thread again. We covered wound ballistics and intermediate ballistics a… Continue reading
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Unreal Tournament’s Ripper and its improbably bouncing blades
Video game weapon critique #2124 << Neutrality and Ireland (Part 2) The underwater nuclear family >> Hello again. I recently watched the Unreal Tournament: Xan episode of Secret Level. If you’ve taken note of my obsession with the video game,… Continue reading
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Splash damage in video games
Why D&D is more realistic than Call of Duty. << Woke warriors: Sustainability and the military Ireland and Neutrality (Part 1) >> Today I’m going to talk about splash damage in video games. If you enjoyed my article on hitscan… Continue reading
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Woke warriors: Sustainability and the military
Can military operations be sustainable? Should they be? << Send in the troops (Part 2) Splash damage in video games >> Today I want to look at sustainability in the military context. I’m talking about “sustainability” in its everyday meaning… Continue reading
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The science behind the Massive Ordnance Penetrator
A quick guide to bunker-busting bombs. << Send in the troops (Part 1) Send in the troops (Part 2) >> Hello again. This week I rejigged my editorial calendar a bit in order to write about the “bunker busting” bombs… Continue reading
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Silencers: not very silent
The reality of firearm suppressors. 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Bullets flying backwards Send in the troops (Part 1) >> Update: Wow, this article has really blown up. If you’re new here, you… Continue reading
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Bullets flying backwards
The strange world of intermediate ballistics. << Jelly vs. lead Silencers: not very silent >> How time has flown. I started Military Realism a year ago this week with an article marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord (a.k.a. “D-Day.”). I… Continue reading
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Jelly vs. lead
The myths and realities of wound ballistics. << The importance of being alive Bullets flying backwards >> Hello again to all my new and regular readers. Last week’s post was called “The importance of being alive,” but the original working… Continue reading
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Indiscriminate killers?
The reality of cluster munitions << My culture is not your fitness regime Film review: Warfare >> Hello again to all my new and regular readers alike. Cluster munitions have been in the news recently, primarily because of the Russo-Ukrainian War.… Continue reading
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Reacher’s last chance (Part 2)
Season 3: Pedantic points and cargo cult screenwriting << Reacher’s last chance (Part 1) Easter greetings and a bit about me >> Hello again and welcome back. I hope you enjoyed last week’s analysis of the absolutely ridiculous fight scene between… Continue reading
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Reacher’s last chance (Part 1)
My review of Season Three << What do you do in the army? Reacher’s last chance (Part 2) >> Hello again and happy Thursday all. This week (and next, TBC) I’m reviewing Season Three of Reacher, Amazon Prime’s adaptation of… Continue reading
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Magical instant bullets
Unreal Tournament weapons: Part 3 🎧 Audio narration available for subscribers. Sign up below to access. << Flak Cannons and shotguns Custard bombs >> Update: If you want to see more Unreal Tournament articles, check out my pieces on laser… Continue reading
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The Flak Cannon makes no sense, but I love it regardless
Unreal Tournament weapons: Part 2 🎧 Available in audio << Dr. Strangelove and Mutually Assured Destruction Magical instant bullets >> Hello again. This week I’m bringing another instalment in our Unreal Tournament weapon critiques. I’ll turn my beady eyes on… Continue reading
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Weapon critiques: Rocket fails
Badly-behaving rockets in film, TV, and video games << Weapon critiques: HEAT doesn’t melt Film Review: Civil War >> Hello again. This week’s post is a bit of a hybrid. I’m picking up a thread I pulled last week when… Continue reading
