Soviet Union

This bird is an enduring symbol of Soviet resistance—and perseverance—during the darkest days of what Russians refer to as the “Great Patriotic War.”

The Su-27’s legacy for Russian military aviation cannot be understated.

The Nazi invasion galvanized these women into action, and they served with distinction.

The Night Witches used the Polikarpov PO-2 to make life miserable for Wehrmacht ground troops.

Pavlichenko attained a final kill tally of 309, making her one of the top five deadliest snipers, period.

The Mig-25 Foxbat was designed to directly counter American aerial might.

In essence, the Viggen was an investment in countering Soviet air capabilities. And the investment would yield a capable aircraft.

The Soviet Mi-24 was a testament to the Soviet preference for brute force and power over finesse or whiz-bang technological wizardry. These flying beasts were killers.

Russia is clearly committed to the Lada-class. But it is a submarine that does not—and will never—live up to the expectations.

Yes, there were Soviet troops in North Vietnam, and in significantly larger numbers than their Korean War predecessors. Although the Cold War never turned into a “hot war,” i.e., full-blown World War...

The unusual titanium submarine broke new ground—and the Soviet Union’s naval budget.

To compensate for the considerable advantages the F-4 Phantoms had over MiG-21s, the North Vietnamese developed innovative hit-and-run tactics.