
Behind the scenes at military factories, where raw materials become products ready for combat.

The Colt C7 assault rifle, used in the Gulf War, Rwanda and Afghanistan, starts off as a seven-pound bar of solid steel.

Used by military operatives, drug enforcement agents and first responders, lightweight aluminum is forged into the frame of a personal flying machine.

The AX-338 Sniper Rifle, the most accurate weapon on earth, is formed from a block of metal in 48 hours.

Through snow, sand, or water, the armored amphibious personnel carrier Viking BVS10 can get troops in and out of any combat zone; a steel plated hull becomes fitted with controls and tracks.