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'A DEATHTRAP'

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Developed by a man described as "the greatest charlatan ever to see his name associated with an airplane," the Christmas Bullet was the rare kind of fighter which had a perfect kill ratio: it killed everyone who ever tried to fly it.
NOW IT CAN DRONE ON AND ON

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The Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle demonstrator has added yet another huge feat to its long list of incredible accomplishments, which includes operating from an aircraft carrier. This time, it has demonstrated autonomous aerial refueling, plugging into a aerial refueling basket behind an Omega Air KC-707.
IT BOMBED

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To understand America's first jet bomber, the XB-43 Jetmaster, you have to understand the XB-42 Mixmaster, an aircraft that was equally as impressive and even more exotic. Even though neither of these amazing aircraft made it to the front lines, many of their unique innovations and lessons learned from operating them did.
CANNOT BE PURCHASED AT RADIO SHACK

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What does the Navy do when it needs to know for sure that a new weapon system or electronic countermeasure works, not just under stringent lab-like settings or at a land based range, but in its intended operating environment? They put it to sea on a giant remote controlled Destroyer and throw live missiles at it.
THE END OF 'GRUMMAN IRON'

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Yesterday, four EA-6B Prowlers belonging to Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134 'Garudas' made a triumphant but bittersweet return to NAS Whidbey Island in upstate Washington. The squadron had been deployed aboard the USS George H.W. Bush for the last nine and a half months, and their arrival marked the end of the last EA-6B carrier deployment.
DOES IT COME WITH A TOW ROPE?

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The CCM Mk1, which is built by the increasingly Skunk Works-like boutique maritime defense contractor Oregon Iron Works Marine, was designed to at least partially replace both the slightly larger Mk V Special Operations Craft and the smaller Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat.
WITH GREAT SIZE COMES GREAT CAPABILITY

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Air Independent Propulsion equipped diesel electric submarines offer incredibly stealthy and long diving capabilities, but they have remained somewhat diminutive in size and limited in capabilities compared to their larger nuclear counterparts. Now, renowned French naval ship builder DCNS is looking to change that with their super-sized SMX-Ocean sub concept.
BRINGS NEW MEANING TO 'SUN'S OUT, GUNS OUT'

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The USS New Jersey, one of the great Iowa Class Battleships, was reactivated in the late 1960s to serve during the height of the Vietnam War. Her forward 40mm guns were removed during a very light and expedited refit before deploying. These now empty "gun tubs" were then sealed and piped, painted blue and made into swimming pools.
ATTACKED BY A COLORFUL FALCON

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The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are "America's Ambassadors in Blue," a famed air demonstration squadron. At airshows the announcer always says that Thunderbird aircraft could be ready for action within as little as a few days time. Well, as it turns out, they aren't lying.
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