American War and Military Collection

What could we do if we had evidence terrorists were close to acquiring nuclear weapons, or even making their own? How would we defend ourselves from a blast with fireballs hotter than the sun? Today, defiant nations desperately pursue them, while at home, agencies prepare for the worst. National Geographic races from motorcade to helicopter to confidential meeting, as scientists and intelligence experts reveal the hard facts about the world's most lethal weapons-and the unbreakable physical laws that govern them. Find out the actual capacities of a spy satellite, how we can be sure if an underground test is really atomic, and why terrorists might prefer to leave a "dirty bomb" unexploded.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, on August 6, 1945, was a moment that changed the world. Power that fueled the stars had been unleashed and turned into a lethal technology. Now learn the second-by-second story of that defining moment through those hit hardest by that weapon - the survivors. Interwoven throughout the survivors' stories, we hear from atomic bomb experts like Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Theodore Postol and "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" author Richard Rhodes, who draw from declassified military reports to break down the bomb's devastating effects and the lasting implications of humanity's newfound power to destroy the world.

With unprecedented access, this film documents the efforts of the American Special Forces and their decisive role in the war on terror around the globe. National Geographic goes deep into the secret world of U.S. Special Operations and tells the story of this highly skilled, elite group of soldiers from the inside out. With roots traceable to the French and Indian War, the Special Forces military unit has evolved over several centuries to serve an integral role in the U.S. military campaign. Inside Special Forces follows these soldiers as they make their way from the training camp to the battlefield to face an unpredictable enemy in an unfamiliar land.

The USS Eisenhower is the pinnacle of aircraft carrier technology. The 97,000-ton steel monster boasts next-generation radar and combat capabilities and is run by 6,000 personnel. See it in action during her final trials before combat.

US Marines in Afghanistan are about to face one of the deadliest months in the eight year long Afghan War. Ramadan comes to an end and insurgents increase their bomb, rocket and mortar attacks.

In the brief but brilliant "Age of the Helicopter", there have been many contenders for the title of "Super Chopper", but one of the newest copters that brings it all home is the EH101. Recently chosen to be the next "Marine One"-the U.S. Presidential Helicopter, the EH101, will be specially outfitted as the new Oval Office in the sky. Helicopters are a monumental human achievement, a technological feat that's become so common place we don't blink an eye at them anymore. But National Geographic takes you for a ride on the EH101 to see why you might want to take a second look.