The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO for short, is a military alliance of about 30 member states providing Military Support. Member states also get access to some of the world’s most powerful military technologies.
NATO has some of the most advanced weapons and tech on the planet. Here is the list of the 15 most advanced weapons NATO has.
15 F-35 lightning 2
Lockheed Martin developed it alongside the Northrop Grumman and BAE systems for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Force and navy. The F-35 Lightning II was the latest design single-seater, single-engine stealth multi-role combat aircraft.
The F-35 measures 51.4 feet long and has a wingspan of about 35 feet. It’s powered by a pratt and Whitney f-135 pw100 after-burning turbofan engine, which allows it to reach a maximum speed of 1.6 times the speed of sound with an operating Range of up to 1700 miles.
It has the newest technology, including an E.O. targeting system, a distributed aperture missile warning system, a CNI communication suite, and a barracuda electronic warfare system. It can be outfitted with various missiles and bombs, and guns depending on the mission.
There are variants for normal takeoff and landing, short takeoff and landing, and aircraft carrier catapulted takeoff. Several other options are currently in the works for introduction in the coming decades.
14. M142 High Mars Rocket Artillery System.
The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a Powerful system designed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Army in the late 1990s and is now employed by various NATO allies.
The M142 HIMARS has played a crucial role in military engagements over the past two decades. Its speed and agility make it stand out from other available options.
Mounted on an FMTV truck 23 feet long and just under 8 feet wide, it carries a pod with either six guided multiple-launch rockets and ATACMS surface-to-surface missiles or two precision strike GPS-guided missiles.
Boasting an operational range of 300 miles and able to travel at speeds of up to 53 miles per hour, it has an effective firing range depending on the munitions being used between 5 and 310 miles.
So far, about 540 of these systems have been built, and each one is estimated to cost around $3.5 million.
In the early summer of 2022, the United States declared that four would be dispatched to Ukraine, armed with shorter-range GMLRS rockets to aid Ukrainian forces in their defense against Russian aggression.
13. Leopard 2A7+ Main Battle Tank
The German-made 
went into service for the first time in 1979, but it has been updated to keep up with the changing nature of battlefields. The latest version is the 2a7 Plus, which costs about $6 million, is 33 feet long, is just over 12 feet wide, and weighs about 68 tons.
Operated by a four-person crew, the leopard 2a7 plus has a 1400 horsepower Liquid-cooled V12 engine, this allows it to reach a top speed of 42 miles per hour with a range of about 250 miles.
In terms of weaponry, it is fitted with a 120-millimeter Rheinmetall smoothbore gun along with four 762-millimeter machine guns. A huge effort has been put into its defensive capabilities to make it one of the best-protected tanks used by any military.
It has modular armor that protects it from RPGs and roadside explosives and also has a remote-controlled mobile weapons platform that can automatically engage in combating incoming threats.
Currently, this improved model is only used by Hungary and Qatar, but it will soon be introduced to the German military as well. It will become their main battle tank before a newly developed design, which is being developed in collaboration with the French, can enter service in the 2030s.
12. B2 Spirit
Often simply known as the stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a stealth strategic heavy bomber that officially entered service in 1997.
It is the most expensive plane ever built, and the costs keep rising depending on what is included in the final tally. In total, 21 of them have been produced, and while the official price for each one was 737 million dollars, the procurement cost, which includes spare parts, retrofitting, and software upgrades, is around 929 million dollars. When development, engineering, and testing costs are included, each jet cost around 2.1 billion dollars in 1997 prices.
With a two-person crew, the bomber is 69 feet long, has a wingspan of 172 feet, and is powered by four General Electric non-afterburning turbo fans, which allow it to reach a top speed of about 630 miles per hour and a range of up to 6,900 miles.
It has two internal bays with an official payload capacity of 40,000 pounds, which equates to 80 Mark 82 bombs or 16 B61 or B83 nuclear bombs.
The biggest advance in the development of the B-2 was the flight profile and materials used in the construction, making it extremely difficult to detect and allowing it to effectively enter any region and deliver its payload before being spotted.
It was first used to drop conventional weapons in combat in the 1999 war in Kosovo. Since then, it has been used in many campaigns, but with 20 still in active service, the program is scheduled to end in 2032.
At this point, the B-2s will all be decommissioned and replaced with a new design, the B-21 Raider, which has been recently unveiled by the united states air force and Northop Gruman.
11. MQ1 Gray Eagle Attack Drone
Built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and first introduced in 2009, the MQ-1 Gray Eagle attack drone is described as a medium-range, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system.
It was created for the U.S. Army as an upgrade to the Predator drone, and plans are in place for other NATO countries and allies to operate them.
Measuring 28 feet long with a wingspan of 57 feet, each one is powered by a Thielert Centurion 1.7 heavy fuel engine that gives it a top speed of 192 miles per hour and the ability to stay airborne for up to 36 hours at a time at an altitude of around 25,000 feet.
The strange-shaped nose was designed to accommodate a synthetic aperture radar system and a multi-spectral targeting system, which allow it to accurately track specific targets while flying so that they can barely be seen from the ground.
They are so precise that they can even detect buried explosives to provide intelligence to ground troops, and of course, they have four hardpoints that can be used to carry Hellfire missiles or Viper Strike-guided bombs.
The Gray Eagle is a highly effective aircraft that can preemptively strike emerging threats or targets, all without risking the life of a pilot. They can be operated from control centers anywhere on the planet thanks to a continual satellite uplink.
10. Harpoon anti-ship missile
The best weapons aren’t always necessarily the newest ones, and that’s definitely the case with the Harpoon anti-ship missile. The first of these all-weather, over-the-horizon missiles entered service in 1977, and while they’ve undergone a number of significant upgrades since then, the basic principles of how they work remain the same.
Used by several NATO members and certain allies, they are built by Boeing Defense and cost around one and a half million dollars per missile.
They are powered by a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet engine that can be used for surface or submarine launches. These Harpoon missiles are about 12 feet long, while the ones that can be air-launched or submarine-launched are slightly longer at 15 feet.
They weigh as much as 1,300 pounds and have a wingspan of about 36 inches, and they can reach speeds of up to 530 miles per hour with a 487-pound warhead that produces a penetration high explosive blast.
They have a range of between 50 and 150 nautical miles and a maximum flight ceiling of about 2,900 feet. Just one of these missiles can, in theory, sink an enemy ship if it strikes the right place, but even if it doesn’t, it’s almost guaranteed to incapacitate the vessel, so it no longer poses a threat, all while the ship firing the missile remains out of sight beyond the horizon.
9. Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon project began in the 1980s as a collaboration between Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo Aerospace. It was intended to be an air superiority fighter.
It resulted in the development a competent aircraft used mainly by the air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with several NATO allies worldwide.
Crewed by either one or two people, the Typhoon is 52 feet long and has a wingspan of about 35 feet. It is powered by two purposely designed Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, which give the jet a top speed of Mach 2, or the equivalent of 1,300 miles per hour.
As a strategic fighter, it is armed with a 27-millimeter Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon and has 13 hard points for missiles and bombs.
After their initial deployment with the Royal Air Force in 2011’s Libya operation, about 600 have been manufactured and are now widely regarded as the key air defense aircraft in all remaining customer nations.
Hundreds are still on order, and with upgraded specs on offer and the ability for owners to customize them to their particular needs, the Typhoons will likely be a powerful tool in the skies for decades to come, with only a handful of other jets able to take them on.
8. Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PZH 2000)
Developed for the German Army by Kraus-Maffai-Vegman in the 1980s and 90s, the PZH 2000 is a 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzer that first entered service in 1998.
It is used by many nations, such as Italy, Greece, Lithuania, and Croatia, and is well regarded for its rate of fire and maximum range.
The 38-foot-long, 12-foot-wide, 61.5-ton vehicle is driven by a five-person crew and has a top speed of around 41 miles per hour. It has a maximum range of 260 miles.
Its main armament is the Rheinmetall 155-millimeter L52 artillery gun, which is supported by a much smaller MG3 machine gun. A thick sheet of welded steel protects it, and the main gun is compatible with various rounds and was specifically designed to fire rapidly.
In a burst fire setting, it can launch three rounds in just nine seconds, and if firing constantly, it can release ten rounds per minute over a prolonged period.
The range of fire depends on the particular munitions being used, but it is typically between 19 and 42 miles, with the top end of this being a recent record set by a newly developed round.
7. Boeing P-8 Poseidon
Designed for the U.S. Navy by Boeing, based on the 737-800, the P-8A is a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft that has become used in recent years by several NATO states for one main reason: it’s an excellent submarine hunter.
With a length of 129 feet and a wingspan of 123 feet, it is powered by two CFM-56 turbo fans, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 564 miles per hour and a combat range of up to 1,381 miles.
Electrical equipment is so abundant that generators on each engine are twice as powerful as those on commercial 737s. Its smoother flight experience helps crews focus on missions.
In addition to its onboard acoustic trackers, surface search radar, and other scanning technologies, each Poseidon is accompanied by an unmanned aerial surveillance drone called a Triton.
This isn’t just about detecting subs, though, as Poseidon also can actively target them. It has 11 hardpoints compatible with a wide range of different weapons and, if necessary, has what it needs to incapacitate a submarine before it can initiate an attack.
6. Javelin missiles
First designed for use by the U.S. Army but now used to varying degrees by most NATO members, Javelin missiles are one of the most effective battlefield solutions used against tanks.
They level the playing field and allow soldiers to target what would otherwise be unassailable machines. Since their introduction in 1997, they have been used in at least 5,000 successful engagements.
Crucially, it has a fire-and-forget design, which means it can be deployed by an operator who can then take cover and rely on infrared guidance to take the missile to its target.
Each missile has a highly explosive anti-tank warhead that targets tanks by the top attack, which is the part that is usually covered by the thinnest armor. With a cost of around $200,000 per missile, they have completely changed the face of the battlefield.
5. AH-64 Apache Gunship
Designed and developed by Boeing, the AH-64 Apache gunship was first introduced in 1986 and has become one of the most influential vehicles on the battlefield.
It is classified as a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter, and it has been the primary chopper of its type in campaigns in Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
It has a maximum speed of 182 miles per hour, a range of up to 300 miles, and a length of 58 feet thanks to the two General Electric T-700 engines that drive the 48-foot main rotor.
It is operated by a two-person crew and is fitted with a 30-millimeter M230 chain gun with 1,200 rounds, as well as four hardpoints that can carry a combination of rockets or missiles, which are usually either Hellfire air-to-ground missiles or air-to-air Stingers.
Since their introduction, more than 2,400 have been built, and they are used not only by U.S. forces but by those of seven other NATO countries and allies, including the U.K., the Netherlands, Israel, and Egypt.
4. Virginia-class submarine
The Sea Wolf class of submarines is by far the most powerful in the United States Navy, but their extreme costs mean that the focus is now on the newly designed Virginia class. They are nuclear-powered fast attack subs that first entered service in 2004 and are expected to continue operating until at least 2060.
The subs are 377 feet long and 34 feet wide and have an unlimited range because they have a nuclear fuel cell. They have a crew of up to 135 members, a maximum depth of up to 1,000 feet, and can travel up to 29 miles per hour in silent operation or more if the engine noise is not a concern.
As you’d expect from a new design, Virginia class submarines are equipped with an unbelievable arsenal, some of which have been officially announced in public, and some are just rumors since the full details are classified.
They have 12 vertical launch system tubes used for Tomahawk missiles, four torpedo tubes, and can store 25 torpedoes and 12 missiles at any time.
3. Challenger 2 tank
The Challenger 2 is the main battle tank used by British forces, and it has been a force to be reckoned with since it first entered service in 1998.
Plans have been in place for a while to replace it with a completely redesigned model, but the Challenger 2 has been so effective in the wars of the 21st century that these plans have been put on hold, and efforts have been directed to upgrading a design that has already proved its worth.
The Challenger 2 is 44 feet long, including the gun barrel, up to 14 feet wide with its armor packages, and about eight feet tall. The 82-ton tank is operated by a four-person crew and has a V12 diesel engine that produces over 1200 horsepower. This enables the tank to reach a top speed of about 37 miles per hour with a range of about 340 miles.
The main weapon of the Challenger 2 is an L-30A1 120-millimeter rifled gun that fires high explosive squash head rounds. It also has secondary weapon systems, including a 7.62-millimeter chain gun and a 7.62-millimeter-operated hatch machine gun.
In terms of defensive capabilities, the tank is covered with a second-generation classified composite ceramic armor. This has meant that despite being deployed in various war zones, the only time a Challenger 2 has been destroyed was during an accidental friendly fire incident where the destroyed tank had its hatch open.
2. Patriot missile system
Used by the United States armed forces, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, and Spain, the MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system.
It is designed to intercept enemy aircraft and defend against missile strikes, using aerial interceptor missiles and high-performance radars to track targets and take them out. Its first successful deployment was in the 1991 Gulf War when it was credited with intercepting 40 Iraqi Scud missiles.
It has been a regular sight on battlefields ever since, being used in conflicts in the Middle East in the past decades. With more than 1250 launchers currently in service, the Patriot system is crucial in providing reassurance that, even if an enemy were to launch a missile, there is at least a chance of defending against it.
1. Boeing B-52 straddles Fortress
In the 1950s, Boeing created the B-52 Stratofortress for the American Air Force. 744 of these long-range strategic bombers were produced between 1952 and 1962.
It was a game-changer for the Air Force’s capabilities, allowing them to carry 35 tons of ordnance with a range of 8,800 miles before refueling.
The main purpose of the plane was to carry nuclear bombs during the Cold War, although they have only ever been used to drop conventional bombs.
At 159 feet long and with a wingspan of 189 feet, the Stratofortress requires a five-member crew to operate, including a pilot, co-pilot, weapons systems officer, navigator, and electronic warfare officer.
It has eight Pratt & Whitney TF-33 turbofan engines, which can generate 17,000 pounds of thrust each and weigh more than 132 tonnes empty. The maximum speed of the B-52 is roughly 650 miles per hour, and it can reach an altitude of 50,000 feet.
These are some of the most capable bomber aircraft ever designed, with the capability to carry huge payloads. Despite being an old design, they will remain in service for many decades to come, providing NATO members with aerial dominance if necessary.
