Sup' dudes?



Thumb 1:
Sig Sauer P226. Currently the standard sidearm for the British Army, the gun lost to the Beretta M92FS due to the issue of price during the US Army trials for new pistols in the mid-1980's to replace the ageing Colt M1911A1. However, the gun was widely adapted by government, security and law enforcement organization in the US from the FBI, DEA all the way to the Police.
Thumb 2:
A US Airborne soldier. I'm having trouble trying to identify the rifle, but I assume (for now) that it's a specially customized version of the classic M14, called the M14 Mod 0. The addition of Picantiny rail which is now becoming a commonplace in many newer versions of rifles used by the US Army allows easier customization to the user's liking.
Thumb 3:
A Russian-made Tunguska (front-most vehicle, to the left) and a ZSU-23-4 Shilka (background, to the right), both are cost-effective anti-aircraft defense vehicle. The Tunguska carries eight 9M311-M1 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), which was designated as the SA-19 Grison in NATO terminology. Two twin barrel 30mm AA gun are also mounted on the vehicle's turret. The Shilka on the other hand, is armed with a water-cooled, quad-barrel 23mm AA cannon. Its chassis resembles that of an old Soviet BTR APC, with the suspension system borrowed from PT-76 and ASU-85. The Shilka has the capability to acquire and track low-flying aircraft with an effective AA range of 2500m (8202ft). It's capable of firing while moving thanks to its integrated radar/gun stabilization system.
Even though the Shilka managed to reduce the frequency of Allied airstrike/bombings in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad including its other surrounding cities close to it and even downed two C-130s (1 transport, 1 gunship) during the first Gulf War, both vehicles ultimately lost its defensive superiority due to the use and deployment of stealth fighters, high-altitude bombers, saboteur infiltrations by Spec Ops and other 'Smart' weapons being used by the Allies.