Brent M. Eastwood

The Soviet Union’s Project-685 K-278 Komsomolets (Mike-class submarine) was an advanced nuclear-powered vessel capable of reaching remarkable depths due to its titanium hull. However, a series of malfunctions led to its tragic sinking in 1989, claiming 42 lives.

The USS America, a storied Cold War aircraft carrier, went down in history after being used in a unique 2005 Navy test to gauge carrier survivability. Instead of being preserved as a museum, the retired carrier withstood four weeks of punishing explosions in a “SinkEx” live-fire exercise.

In June 2010, the U.S. Navy conducted a rare display of strength in response to China’s missile testing, surfacing three Ohio-class SSGNs in strategic locations across the Indo-Pacific.

The Kiev-class hybrid aircraft carriers were the Soviet Union’s attempt to counter U.S. naval dominance during the Cold War. Designed with anti-submarine warfare and limited air capabilities, these vessels combined cruiser and carrier elements.

The FB-22 concept, a bomber variant of the F-22 Raptor, proposed by Air Force Secretary James Roche in the early 2000s, aimed to adapt the Raptor into a stealthy, medium-range bomber.

Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, is known for thick black smoke emissions due to its outdated Mazut fuel system, adding to its long list of mechanical issues.

The B-21 Raider bomber, seen as a crucial component in deterring China, is designed to penetrate advanced air defenses and strike key targets with both nuclear and conventional weapons.

The XB-70 Valkyrie was an experimental U.S. nuclear bomber developed in the 1950s and 1960s as a potential replacement for the B-52. Designed to fly at Mach 3 speeds and altitudes of 70,000 feet, it aimed to outrun Soviet air defenses during the Cold War.

The MBT-70 was a joint tank project initiated in 1963 by the United States and West Germany to develop a next-generation main battle tank. Aimed at addressing the vulnerabilities of existing tanks like the Leopard 1 and the M60, the MBT-70 featured advanced technologies such as a 152mm auto-loading main gun capable of firing both conventional rounds and Shillelagh anti-tank missiles.

After its retirement in 1999, the SR-71 Blackbird—a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft—was considered for reactivation following the 9/11 attacks. Supporters within the Department of Defense and Congress believed the aircraft could provide valuable intelligence in the ensuing global war on terror.