Postwar Air Weapons 1945-Present: The Essential Weapons Identification Guide

The Essential Weapon Identification Guide: Postwar Air Weapons 1945–Present is a highly illustrated guide to the air-launched weapons used by the world’s armed forces since World War II, outlining their capabilities, deployment, and use in combat. This compact volume includes every major weapon currently employed by the world’s air forces today, from the 250-pound (113-kg) Small Diameter Bomb employed by US forces in Afghanistan, to the Russian/Indian Brahmos cruise missile currently being tested. Also featured are major types in use since World War II, including the US Tomahawk cruise missile and the Soviet-era AA-6 Acrid air-to-air missile.

Organised by type of weapon and within this by country of origin, the book offers a comprehensive survey of air-launched weaponry in the modern era, including examples produced by the US, Russia, China, Sweden, the UK and France. Individual sections detail the weapons used by forces fighting in current and recent conflicts including Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and Georgia.

All the key air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons are featured, including variations of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the various types of JDAM employed by US forces, and a wide range of Russian guided missiles and bombs. Packed with more than 200 full- colour artworks and photographs with exhaustive specifications, The Essential Weapon Identification Guide: Postwar Air Weapons is a key reference guide for military modellers and aviation enthusiasts.