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Cold War

Military 101: Modern Assault Rifles: A Global Perspective

M16 AK47 Assault Rifle Weapon Military

The M16 and AK-47 are iconic assault rifles with distinct characteristics: the M16, designed by Eugene Stoner and adopted by the U.S. military, is a lightweight, accurate, gas-operated rifle firing 5.56x45mm NATO rounds, offering a high rate of fire and effective range of around 600 meters, but it requires regular maintenance to avoid jamming in harsh conditions; in contrast, the AK-47, designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov for the Soviet Union, is a rugged, reliable, gas-operated rifle using 7.62x39mm rounds, with a shorter effective range of about 400 meters and less accuracy but superior durability and ease of use in adverse environments, making it a favorite in guerrilla warfare and among militaries worldwide. Image source: Wikipedia/Auge=mit – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Prepping 101: Doomsday Bunker – Part 1: Original Idea & Interesting Samples

Svalbard Global Seed Vault Doomsday Bunker

One of the more famous doomsday bunkers in the world is the bunker for seeds – Svalbard’s Global Seed Vault that holds more than a million varieties of seeds of food crops and it is protected from natural disasters and the temperature is regulated to ensure long term storage of the seeds. Image source: Wikipedia.

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History 101: The Fearless Malayan Special Forces in Congo 1961

Congo UN Malaysia MALBATT

It is said that Malaysia had participated in about 30 UN peacekeeping missions since its first mission in Congo back in 1960 and is actively involved in other UN missions. The more famous ones would be in Somalia (famed for Black Hawk Down) and in Bosnia and Herzegovina where it was said that the Serbians were terrified of the Malaysian battalion after hearing that the Malaysians are the famous head-hunters. Image source: Malay Mail.

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Military 101: The Fuss About Israel’s Iron Dome Air Defence System

iron dome Israel air defence system military missiles

In recent days, the world saw the interesting show of force from Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system against the Hamas’ rockets fired from Gaza. The question is whether this is a new concept or it is an evolution of an old aged air defence system that integrates air radars, fire control station and fast intercepting missile? Image source: India Today

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World Mysteries 101: UVB-76 – The Ghostly, Strange Radio Station

Russia UVB-76 Radio Cold War Soviet Spy

UVB-76, often referred to as “The Buzzer,” is a notorious shortwave radio station that broadcasts a repetitive buzzing sound, which has been transmitting since the late 1970s. The signal, typically consisting of a short buzz tone repeating at a steady rate, is occasionally interrupted by voice messages in Russian. While the exact purpose of UVB-76 remains a subject of speculation, it is widely believed to be linked to the Russian military, serving as a means of communication or a method for testing the network’s readiness. Image source: Slavorum)

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Military 101: The Agile, Beloved F-5E The Tiger II Fighter

RMAF TUDM F-5E Freedom Fighter

(Small, sleek, agile but seriously packed with a powerful punch, Northrop’s F-5E Tiger II – the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s first supersonic fighter jet and the first that was considered as the most advanced fighter jet in its inventory in the 1970s and 1980s. Image of the F-5F the two-seater variant source: Wikipedia)

I always have the special fondness when it comes to the military especially when it is related Malaysian military. I had always found some similarities between the military and the kind of work I do. Well think about – every time I go out for projects, there is no difference with the military going for a critical mission. Both have specific objectives, timeline and always comprised of trained and specialised team members.

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