heavy weapons

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Heavy weapon systems are an important part of modern warfare . Heavy weapons include battle tanks , warplanes , warships and submarines . They differ from small arms and light weapons, biological , atomic or chemical weapons .

history

In the First and Second World War and in other wars of the last century played major weapon a significant role. Developed during World War Tank influenced, for example, the trench warfare on the French front ; in the Second World War it was already an important strategic weapon for all warring parties. To this day main battle tanks are part of modern land warfare in large parts of the world.

In the sea and air battles of World War II, such as the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 or the naval battle of Midway in 1942 in the Pacific, aircraft carriers were increasingly used. Due to their flexible uses, they allowed air superiority and air strikes to be carried out. Since the Cold War , states have demonstrated presence and strength around the world with these military platforms. Submarines also serve a strategically similar purpose.

The importance of combat ships and combat aircraft has also increased steadily over the past six decades. You will e.g. B. also used in current wars and conflicts, such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

grouping

All armor items are called heavy weapons that fit into the following categories:

  1. Armored vehicles ( armored personnel carriers , light tanks, Tank)
  2. Artillery (multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled guns, rifled guns) with a caliber of more than 100 mm
  3. Combat aircraft (attack helicopters, fixed wing fighters)
  4. Capital ships (submarines, surface combat ships larger than corvette size)

Main battle tank

Leopard 2 in action

Although battle tanks are declining in importance, especially in Western Europe and other Western countries, they are still recognized as an important strategic weapon in other countries, such as Latin America or Asia. A possible sale of up to 270 German Leopard 2 tanks to Saudi Arabia may serve as an example.

Combat helicopters and planes

These heavy weapons were widely used in Afghanistan , Iraq and Kosovo . The purchase between Saudi Arabia and the USA of 84 new F-15 fighter aircraft demonstrates the high level of interest in these weapon systems. The US F / A-18 and F-15/ 16 as well as the somewhat older F-5 Freedom Fighter , the Russian MiG-21 , MiG-29 and Su-27 , the French Mirage are among the world's best-selling combat aircraft , the Chinese J-7 fighter aircraft and the Tornado fighter aircraft built in European cooperation (Germany, Great Britain and Italy) .

  • The German Tiger attack helicopter

  • American F-15 in action

Warships and submarines

The importance of the international waterways has risen sharply due to the global interdependence of trade. At the same time, the risk of the world's oceans has increased due to the increase in piracy in the Horn of Africa or in the Strait of Malacca and the rampant drug and weapon smuggling. More and more states are therefore relying on a well-equipped navy to defend their security in their own coastal waters. The US owns the most warships, followed by Russia, China, and India. Less than a dozen states have aircraft carriers (such as USA, France, India, China) available. More states have frigates and destroyers. Long after the end of the Cold War, submarines are an important strategic weapon. Although only Russia, France and the USA have nuclear-powered submarines , conventionally powered submarines from Russia and some Western European countries such as Germany, France and Sweden also have them and Spain meet growing sales markets worldwide.

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