Military

Irgun (National Military Organization in the Land of Israel) Irgun Irgun was a Revisionist Zionist paramilitary organization active in Mandatory Palestine (1931–1948), known for armed struggle against British rule and campaigns that remain controv…

Irish Republican Army (IRA): history, splits, tactics and legacy Irish Republican Army Overview of the Irish Republican Army: origins, campaigns, major splits, role in the War of Independence and The Troubles, peace process, and later dissident groups; distinctions w…

Ironclad warship Armored naval vessels protected by iron or steel plates, first recorded in East Asia and later widely adopted by Western navies in the 19th century, transforming naval combat and s…

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) — overview, history and impact Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL (also ISIS, IS, or Daesh) is a Salafi‑jihadist militant group that declared a caliphate in 2014. This article outlines its origins, ideology, territorial rule, tactics, affili…

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) — Tzahal Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are Israel’s military organization, combining army, air force and navy, with a reserve-based structure and universal conscription shaping its role i…

Israeli Air Force Museum (Hatzerim Airbase) Israeli Air Force Museum A museum at Hatzerim Airbase near Beersheba chronicling the history, technology, and people of the Israeli Air Force with aircraft, artifacts, restorations and educational exhibits…

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: overview, history, key issues, and proposed solutions Israeli–Palestinian conflict Long-running political and territorial dispute between Israel and Palestinians over land, governance, refugees and security. Deep historical roots, regional impact, and competing p…

Italian Campaign Military operations fought in and around the Italian peninsula across history — most commonly Napoleon’s 1796–97 campaign and the First and Second World War campaigns — and their s…

Italian Campaign (World War I): The Alpine Front, 1915–1918 Italian Campaign (World War I) An overview of Italy’s mountain war with Austria-Hungary (1915–1918): political origins, the Isonzo and Caporetto battles, mountain warfare, logistics, outcome and the campaign’s l…

Mare Nostrum: fascist usage and historical meanings of 'Our Sea' Italian Mare Nostrum Mare Nostrum — Latin for 'Our Sea' — originally described the Mediterranean in Roman times and was revived by Mussolini's regime as a fascist slogan and geopolitical claim during W…

Jackson's Valley Campaign (1862) Jackson's Valley Campaign A concise, balanced overview of Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Shenandoah Valley operations: objectives, movements, principal engagements, strategic effects and enduring military legacy.

Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War I) German fighter wing commanded by Manfred von Richthofen and successors. Known as the 'Flying Circus', it concentrated several Jastas into a mobile, heavily painted formation on the…

James Mattis James N. Mattis is a retired U.S. Marine four‑star general who served as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense (2017–2019) and previously commanded U.S. Central Command, noted for his…

Janjaweed A loosely organized Arab militia active in Darfur and eastern Chad since the early 2000s, associated with widespread violence, displacement and links to Sudanese state authorities…

Jewish Parachutists of Mandate Palestine Jewish Parachutists of Mandate of Palestine Volunteer fighters from the Yishuv who trained with British forces in WWII to parachute into Nazi-occupied Europe; commemorated at a national burial site on Mount Herzl in Jerusale…

Jōdō (Jojutsu): The Japanese art of the short staff Jodo Jōdō or jōjutsu is the classical Japanese system of fighting with the jō, a short wooden staff, emphasizing distance, timing and defense against the sword through kata and partnere…

John McHugh (American politician and former United States Secretary of the Army) John McHugh John McHugh is a Republican politician from upstate New York who served in the U.S. House (1993–2009) and as the 21st U.S. Secretary of the Army (2009–2015).

Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam Combined U.S. Navy and Air Force installation on Oʻahu, Hawaii, formed by the 2010 consolidation of Pearl Harbor and Hickam; a major Pacific military hub and historic site linked t…

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Joint Direct Attack Munition JDAM is a modular guidance kit that converts unguided bombs into accurate, all-weather precision weapons using INS/GPS guidance and a standardized GBU designation.

Junkers Ju 52: German tri-motor transport and airliner Junkers Ju 52 Three-engine German transport and airliner introduced in 1932. Rugged, corrugated-metal design used by Lufthansa and the Luftwaffe; built in Germany, France and Spain and widely em…

Junkers Ju 87 (Stuka): German World War II Dive Bomber Junkers Ju 87 The Junkers Ju 87, widely known as the Stuka, was a German two-seat dive bomber of WWII noted for its precision dive attacks, siren, and later anti‑tank adaptations; more than 6,50…

Junkers Ju 88 — German World War II Multirole Aircraft Junkers Ju 88 A versatile German twin-engine military aircraft of WWII, the Junkers Ju 88 served as bomber, night fighter and reconnaissance platform; first flown in 1936 and used extensively by…

Kadena Air Base — major U.S. Air Force installation in Okinawa, Japan Kadena Air Base Kadena Air Base is a large United States Air Force installation on Okinawa Island, Japan, serving as a strategic hub for operations, logistics, and regional deterrence in the Asia–…

Kaiten: Japan’s World War II manned torpedo Kaiten Kaiten (回天) were manned, torpedo-like suicide craft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy late in World War II. This article explains their design, deployment, combat record and legac…

Kansas in the American Civil War (1861–1865) Kansas in the American Civil War A concise account of Kansas’s role in the Civil War: free-state origins, border violence and guerrilla raids, military contributions to the Union, key events like the Lawrence Mass…

Kansas National Guard State military force of Kansas comprising Army and Air National Guard units; serves both state and federal roles, led by the Governor in state service and overseen by the Adjutant…

Karabiner 98k (Kar98k) — German bolt-action service rifle Kar98 rifle The Kar98k is the shortened, widely used German bolt-action rifle of World War II. This article explains its design, history, variants, battlefield use and postwar legacy.

Kargil War (1999) — India–Pakistan conflict in the Kargil sector Kargil War The Kargil War was a limited high‑altitude conflict between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 over positions along the Line of Control in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, ending w…

Kashmir conflict: overview, history, territorial divisions, and current issues Kashmir conflict A concise, neutral summary of the long-running territorial and political dispute over Kashmir involving India, Pakistan and China, its origins, major events, and contemporary statu…

Katana: The traditional Japanese curved samurai sword Katana The katana is a curved, single-edged Japanese sword long associated with the samurai. This article explains its form, history, making, uses in martial arts and cultural significanc…

Kendo: The Japanese Art of the Sword Kendo Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art derived from swordsmanship. It emphasizes discipline, precise striking with a shinai, protective armor, kata, and competitive and educational…

Killed in Action (KIA): definition, usage, and distinctions Killed in action Killed in Action (KIA) is a military casualty classification for personnel who die as a direct result of combat. Definitions and reporting practices vary between services and natio…

King Philip's War (Metacom's War) King Philip's War A concise, neutral overview of King Philip's War (1675–1676), its causes, main actors, course, and consequences for New England Native peoples and English colonists.

Kite shield: medieval protective shield used by cavalry and infantry Kite shield A large, tapered medieval shield shaped like a kite, used from the 10th–13th centuries to protect riders and foot soldiers. Noted for its length, straps, and evolution into later s…

Knight (medieval mounted warrior and social rank) Knight A medieval knight was an armoured mounted warrior and often a landed vassal in the feudal system, governed by military duties and the ideals of chivalry. This article outlines thei…

KNIL — the Royal Dutch East Indies Army KNIL KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger) was the Dutch colonial army stationed in the East Indies. This article explains its origins, organisation, roles, wartime history and l…

Korean Air Lines Flight 007: 1983 shootdown and international consequences Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was a scheduled New York–Seoul flight shot down by a Soviet interceptor on 1 September 1983, killing all 269 aboard and prompting major political, aviat…

Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) Kosovo Liberation Army Armed Albanian movement active in Kosovo in the 1990s that led an insurgency against Yugoslav/Serbian forces and played a central role in the 1998–99 conflict and its aftermath.

Krav Maga: Israeli self‑defense and close‑combat system Krav Maga Krav Maga is an Israeli self-defense and close-quarters combat system developed by Imi Lichtenfeld. It stresses practical, simple techniques, situational awareness, and training fo…

Kriegsmarine: Germany's Navy, 1919–1945 Kriegsmarine The Kriegsmarine was the naval force of Germany between 1919 and 1945, succeeding the Imperial Navy and serving as one branch of the Wehrmacht. Overview, organization, campaigns, n…

Kukri (Khukuri): the Nepalese inward-curved knife of the Gurkhas Kukri The kukri (khukuri) is a traditional Nepalese inward-curved blade used as a multipurpose tool, weapon, and ceremonial symbol closely associated with Gurkha soldiers and Nepalese cu…

Kung-fu: Chinese martial art, cultural practice, and the meaning of gōngfu Kung-fu Kung-fu (gōngfu, 功夫) broadly refers in English to Chinese martial arts and the idea of skill gained by effort; it encompasses fighting techniques, training methods, styles, history…

L118 Light Gun (105 mm field howitzer) L118 Light Gun A lightweight 105 mm British towed howitzer introduced in the 1970s. Air-portable and widely exported; the United States adopted a modified version as the M119 series.

Lance (cavalry spear and pole weapon) Lance A lance is a long, non‑throwing pole weapon used primarily by mounted troops. It evolved for shock cavalry tactics, had distinct parts such as a vamplate, and remained in use cerem…

Lance Corporal A junior military rank found in many armed forces and some uniformed services. It sits below corporal, often carries a single-chevron insignia and denotes a first level of small-te…

Land Forces of the National People's Army (LaSK) Land Forces of the National People's Army Overview of the Land Forces (LaSK) of East Germany's National People's Army: organization, history, doctrine, equipment, roles, and legacy following German reunification.

Land mine A land mine is an explosive device placed on or under the ground that detonates when triggered by people or vehicles. It raises military, humanitarian, legal and technical issues a…

Landing craft Small to medium boats designed to move troops, vehicles and supplies from transport ships to a beach when a port is unavailable, using shallow‑draft, flat‑bottom designs and often…