Program Description

As seen on Discovery’s Military Channel

Discover the technology that drives military conflicts 

On land, at sea, and in the air, the story of modern warfare is the story of weapons races. This series looks at eight of these high-stakes contests. Featuring informative expert commentaries by renowned military analysts, archival footage, and illuminating graphics, it shows how technological advances have transformed warfare in today’s world.

Follow the weapons races as they pass through the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam, the Cold War, and the various conflicts of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, right up to the 21st century. Trace the stages of each race, from original concept and early breakthroughs to enemy countermeasures and current state of the art. Finally, learn how innovators have pushed the technological limits—of speed, endurance, maneuverability, range, accuracy, and firepower—to produce the killing machines of today.

Since 1990, the British team of Philip Nugus and Jonathan Martin has created popular, critically acclaimed historical documentaries, including Hitler’s Bodyguard and The Century of Warfare. 

BONUS FEATURES

• 16-page viewer’s guide with articles on the Bletchley Park decryption center, the history of dogfighting, antinuclear movements in Europe, Reagan’s Star Wars program, and the Skunk Works advanced development facility 
• Biographies of notable weapons innovators