Glossary of military abbreviations

List of terms, acronyms, information, related to modern armour, artillery, infantry, weapons, and related military subject matter.

A

• AA anti-aircraft
• AAA anti-aircraft artillery "Triple A"
• AAAV Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle
• AAD Armoured Amphibious Dozer
• AAG Anti-aircraft gun
• AAK Appliqué Armor Kit (US)
• AAN Army After Next
• AAPC Advanced Armoured Personnel Carrier (Turkey)
• AARADCOM Army Armament Research and Development Command
• AAR After Action(s) Review
• AAV Amphibious Assault Vehicle
• AB Air Burst
• ABC Atomic, Biological, Chemical (replaced by chemical, biological, radiological (CBR), and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC))
• ABC Automatic Brightness Control
• AB(C) Aviation Battalion (Combat)
• ABIT Advanced Built-In Test
• ABM Air Bursting Munition
• ABM Anti-ballistic missile
• ABMS Air Bursting Munition System
• ABRO Army Base Repair Organisation
• ABS Aww-Busting System
• ABS Anti-skid Braking System
• ABSV Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle
• A/C Aircraft commander
• AC Alternating current
• ACA Ammunition Container Assembly
• ACAVP Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform (UK)
• ACCE Abrams/Crusader Common Engine
• ACCV Armored Cavalry Cannon Vehicle (US)
• ACE Armored Combat Earthmover (US)
• ACH Advanced Combat Helmet (MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmet)
• ACLOSAutomatic Command to Line of Sight
• ACOG Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
• ACP Automatic Colt Pistol
• ACR Advanced Combat Rifle
• ACR Armored Cavalry Regiment
• ACRV Armoured Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle
• ACS Artillery Communications System
• ACU Army Combat Uniform
• ACV Aardvark Cleaning Vehicle (US)
• ACV Armoured Combat Vehicle
• ACVT Armored Combat Vehicle Technology Program (US)
• ADA Air Defense Artillery
• ADAM Area Denial Artillery Munition
• ADAMS Air Defense Advanced Mobile System (US)
• ADATS Air Defence Anti-Tank System
• ADC-A Assistant Division Commander - Fire and Maneuver
• ADC-B Assistant Division Commander - Combat Support
• ADEA Army Development and Employment Agency
• ADI Australian Defence Industries
• AE Action Express
• AEF Allied Expeditionary Force
• AESA Active Electronically Scanned Array
• AEV armoured engineer vehicle
• AF air force
• AFA/ARA Aerial Field Artillery/Aerial Rocket Artillery (USA, Vietnam war era Attack Helicopter Batteries employing 2.75 in. FFAR)
• AFARV Armored, Forward Area, Re-arm Vehicle (US)
• AFAS Advanced Field Artillery System
• AFC Australian Flying Corps
• AFCS Automatic Fire-Control Systems
• AFD automatic feeding device
• AFRO Black, Colored, or Negro personnel
• AFSC Air Force Specialty Code
• AFSV Armoured Fire Support Vehicle
• AFV Armored Family of Vehicles (US)
• AFV armoured fighting vehicle
• AGC Automatic Gain Control
• AGF Army Ground Forces
• AGL above ground level
• AGL Automatic Grenade Launcher
• AGLS Automatic Gun Laying System
• AGS Armored Gun System (US)
• AGV Assault Gun Vehicle
• AGVT Advanced Ground Vehicle Technology
• Ah ampere hour
• AHC Attack Helicopter Company (USA)
• AICS Accuracy International Chassis System
• AICW Advanced Individual Combat Weapon
• AIF Australian Imperial Force (Australia, WWI
• AIFS Advanced Indirect Fire System
• AIFV armoured infantry fighting vehicle
• AIPS Advanced Integrated Propulsion System (US)
• ALAAVS Advanced Light Armored/Amphibious Vehicle System (US)
• ALC Advanced Land Combat (US)
• ALICE All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
• ALS Advanced Laying System
• ALSV Armoured Logistics Support Vehicle
• ALT Armoured Launching Turret
• AMC United States Army Materiel Command
• AMC Advanced Mortar Carrier (Turkey)
• AMCCOM Armament Munitions and Chemical Command
• AMDS Anti-Missile Discarding Sabot
• AMF Amphibische Mehrzweck-Fahrzeuge (multipurpose amphibious vehicle)
• AML Automitrailleuse Légère (light armoured car)
• AMLCD Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display
• AMOS Advanced Mortar System
• AMR Anti-materiel rifle
• AMR Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance
• AMRWS Advanced Multi-Role Weapon Station
• AMS Armoured Mortar System
• AMS-H Advanced Missile System - Heavy
• AMX Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux
• ANAD Anniston Army Depot
• ANZAC Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
• ANZUS Australia New Zealand United States Treaty
• AOI Arab Organisation for Industrialisation
• AOS add-on stabilisation
• AP Anti-Personnel
• AP armour-piercing
• APAM anti-personnel, anti-matériel
• APBC armour-piercing ballistic cap
• APC armoured personnel carrier
• APC armour-piercing capped
• APCBC armour-piercing capped ballistic cap
• APC-T armour-piercing capped - tracer
• APCT-BF armour-piercing capped tracer - base fuze
• APCNR armour-piercing composite non-rigid
• APCR armour-piercing composite rigid
• APCRBC armour-piercing composite rigid ballistic cap
• APDS armour-piercing discarding sabot
• APDS-T armour-piercing discarding sabot - tracer
• APE Amphibisches Pionier-Erkundungsfahrzeug (amphibious front-line reconnaissance vehicle)
• APEP Armour-Piercing Enhancement Programme
• APERS anti-personnel
• APERS-T anti-personnel tracer
• APFIDS armour-piercing fragmentation incendiary discarding sabot
• APFSDS-T armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot - tracer
• 'APFSDS(P) armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (practice)
• APFSDSDU Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot, Depleted Uranium
• APG Aberdeen Proving Grounds
• APGM Autonomous Precision-Guided Munition
• APHC armour-piercing hard core
• APHE armour-piercing high explosive
• API armour-piercing incendiary
• APIT armour-piercing incendiary tracer
• APM anti-personnel mine
• APS Advanced Propulsion System
• APS Artillery Pointing System
• APSA Armour Piercing Secondary Effect
• APSE armour-piercing secondary effect
• APSE-T armour-piercing secondary effect - tracer
• APT armour-piercing tracer
• APTE Abrams Power Train Evolution (US)
• APU auxiliary power unit
• APV armoured patrol vehicle
• AR Assault Rifle
• AR/AAV Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (US)
• ARD Anti-Reflective Device
• ARDEC Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
• ARDNOT Automatic Day/Night Optical Tracker
• ARE Atelier de Construction Roanne
• ARETS Armour Remote Target System
• ARFORGEN Army Force Generation
• ARMAD Armoured and Mechanised Unit Air Defence
• ARMSCOR Armament Manufacturing Corporation (South Africa)
• ARMVAL Anti-Armor Vehicle Evaluation (US)
• ARP anti-radiation projectile
• ARP Armoured Repair Plates
• ARRADCOM Armament Research and Development Command
• ARRV Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
• ARSV Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle (US)
• ART Armoured Recon Transport
• ARV armoured recovery vehicle or Armed Robotic Vehicle
• ASAAdvanced Security Agency
• ASAP As Soon As Possible
• ASARC Army Systems Acquisition Review Council
• ASCOD Austrian Spanish Co-operative Development
• ASM Armored Systems Modernisation (US)
• ASP Automatic, Self-Powered
• ASTROS Artillery Saturation Rocket System (Brazil)
• ASV Armored Security Vehicle (US)
• ASV ammunition supply vehicle
• AT anti-tank
• AT Ape Tape
• ATACS Advanced Tank Cannon System (US)
• ATAS Automatic Target Acquisition System
• ATCAS Advanced Towed Cannon System
• ATD Advanced Technology Demonstration
• ATD Advanced Technology Demonstrator (US)
• ATD Automatic Target Detection
• ATDT Automatic Target Detection and Tracking
• ATDU Armoured Trials and Development Unit (UK)
• ATFCS Automated Targeting and Fire Control System
• ATG Anti-tank gun
• ATGL Anti-tank grenade launcher
• ATGM Anti-tank guided missile
• ATGW Anti-tank guided weapon
• ATK Alliant Techsystems
• ATLAS Advanced Technology Light Artillery System
• ATLV Artillery Target Location Vehicle
• ATM Anti-tank mine
• ATR - EDS Automotive Test Rig - Electric Drive System
• ATS Atelier de Construction de Tarbes
• ATTC All Terrain Tracked Carrier
• ATTS Air Transportable Towed System
• ATV All-terrain vehicle
• ATV Armoured TOW Vehicle (Turkey)
• AUG Armee Universal Gewehr
• AVF Armoured Fighting Vehicle
• AVGP Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (Canada)
• AVH Armoured Vehicle Heavy
• AVL Armoured Vehicle Light
• AVLB armoured vehicle-launched bridge
• AVM Armoured Vehicle Medium
• AVR armoured vehicle reconnaissance
• AVRE Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (UK)
• AVT Advanced Vehicle Technologies (US)
• AWE Advanced Warfighting Experiment
• AWOL Absent Without Official Leave

B

• BAe British Aerospace
• BAM Broad Assed Marine: i.e., female Marine (US, vulgar)
• BAR M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
• BARV Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle
• BASE British Aerospace Systems and Equipment
• BATES Battlefield Artillery Target Engagement System
• BAT Biometrics Automated Toolset
• BB Base bleed
• BBSP Blowback shifted pulse
• BC Battery Commander
• BCC battery control centre
• BCP Battery Command Post
• BCT Brigade combat team (US)
• BCT Basic Combat Training
• BCV Battle Command Vehicle
• BD base detonating
• BDA Browning Double Action or Bomb Damage Assessment
• BDM Bunker Demolition Munition
• BDU Battle Dress Uniform
• BE base ejection
• BFA Blank-firing adaptor or blank firing attachment
• BFV Bradley Fighting Vehicle
• BGT Brigade Combat Team
• bhp brake horsepower
• BIFF Battlefield Identification Friend or Foe
• BILL Bofors, Infantry, Light and Lethal
• BITE built-in test equipment
• BL Blank
• BL-T black tracer
• BLITS Beta Lighted Infantry Telescope System
• BLT Battalion Landing Team
• BLR Blindado Ligero de Ruedas
• BMF Belgian Mechanical Fabrication
• BMNT Begin Morning Nautical Twilight
• BMP Pronounced "bimp". A Former Warsaw Pact IFV
• BMR Blindado Medio de Ruedas
• BMS Battalion Mortar System
• BMS Battlefield Management System
• BNCC (USAF) Base Network Control Center
• BNS Bill Night Sight
• BOCV Battery Operations Centre Vehicle
• BOG-Dwell Boots on the Ground - Dwell (Down Time)
• BOL Bearing Only Launch
• BOLTS Bolt On Loading Tray System
• BOSS Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System
• BPS Battery Power Source
• BSP Bright Source Protection
• BSSG Brigade Service Support Group
• BST Basic Skills Trainer
• BT Boat Tail
• BT Bullet Trap
• BTA best technical approach
• BTU Bullet Trap Universal
• BUA BILL Under Armour or built-up area
• BW Bacteriological warfare
• BX Bionix AFV

C

• C3I Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence
• CAB Combat Aviation Battalion
• CAD computer-assisted design
• CAG Commander of the Air Group
• CAL Canadian Arsenals Limited
• CAP Civil Air Patrol (USAF Civilian Auxiliary)
• CAP Combat Air Patrol
• CAP Combustible Augmented Plasma
• CARRV Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
• CAS Close Air Support
• CASEVAC Casualty Evacuation
• CAT/FCS Command Adjusted Trajectory/Fire-Control System (US)
• CAT/LCV Combined Arms Team/Lightweight Combat Vehicle (US)
• CATT Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (UK)
• CATT-B Component Advanced Technology TestBed (US)
• CAV Composite Armored Vehicle (US)
• CAWS Cannon Artillery Weapons Systems (US)
• CAX Combined Arms Exercise
• CBR Chemical, Biological, Radiological
• CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear
• CCC combustible cartridge case
• CCD charge-coupled device
• CCO Close Combat Optic
• CCP Computer Control Panel
• CCR Crown Copyright Reserved
• CCTV closed-circuit television
• CCU Central Control Unit
• CCV Close Combat Vehicle
• CCV Command and Control Vehicle (US)
• CCV-L Close Combat Vehicle - Light
• cd candela
• CDA Combat Defensive Action
• CDM Coastal Defence Missile
• CDU Command Display Unit
• CDU Computer Display Unit
• CE Chemical Energy
• C/E Crew/Enlisted (Enlisted Aircrew Member)
• CECOM Communications-Electronics Command
• CEFO Combat Equipment Fighting Order (webbing contents)
• CENTCOM Central Command
• CENTO Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
• CEOI Communications Electronics Operating Instruction
• CEP Circular Error of Probability
• CEPP Controlled Effect Police Projectile
• CET Combat Engineer Tractor
• CEU Computer Electronics Unit
• CEV combat engineer vehicle
• CF Canadian Forces
• CF controlled fragmentation
• CFE Conventional Forces Europe
• CFV Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (US)
• CG Commanding General
• CGS Crew Gunnery Simulator
• CHA Cast Homogeneous Armour
• CHARM Challenger Chieftain Armament
• CHIP Challenger Improvement Programme
• CIFV Composite Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• CILAS Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers
• CIS Chartered Industries of Singapore
• CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
• CITV Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (US)
• CIWS Close-In Weapons System
• CLAMS Clear Lane Marking System (US)
• CLASS Computerised Laser Sight System
• CLAWS Close Combat Light Armor Weapon System (US)
• CLGP Cannon-Launched Guided Projectile (US)
• CLOS Command to Line Of Sight
• CLU Command Launch Unit
• CM Colour-Marking or "Continue Mission"
• CMS Common Missile System
• CMS Compact Modular Sight
• CMT Cadmium Mercury Telluride
• CMV Combat Mobility Vehicle (US)
• CNVD Clip-on Night Vision Device
• COB Close of Business
• CO Commanding Officer
• COG Course Over Ground
• Comp B Composition B
• COMVAT Combat Vehicles Armament Technology (US)
• COMZ Communications Zone
• COP Combat Out Post
• COS Chief of Section
• COSCOM Corps Support Command (US Army)
• CofS Chief of Staff
• COTAC Conduite de Tir Automatique pour Char (tank automatic fire)
• COTS Commercial-off-the-shelf
• COV Counter Obstacle Vehicle (US)
• CP concrete-piercing
• CPR Common Practice Round
• CPS Cardinal Points Specification (UK)
• CPV command post vehicle
• CQB Close Quarters Battle
• CQBW Close Quarters Battle Weapon
• CR Capability Requirement
• CRISAT Collaborative Research Into Small Arms Technology
• CRM Composite Risk Management (US)
• CROWS Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station
• CRR Carro de Reconhecimento Sobre Rodas (reconnaissance tracking scout car)
• CRT cathode ray tube
• CRU Cable Reel Unit
• CS Communications Subsystem
• CS Confined Space
• CS (USAF) Communications Squadron
• CSB Combat Support Boat
• CSF Combined Service Forces
• CSI computer-synthesised image
• CSS Computer Sighting System
• CTA Case Telescoped Ammunition
• CTD Concept Technology Demonstrator
• CTI Central Tyre Inflation
• CTIS Central Tyre Inflation System
• CTO Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
• CTR Close Target Recce
• CTRA Carro de Transporte Sobre Rodas Anfibo (amphibious tracking scout car)
• CTT Challenger Training Tank
• CV90 Combat Vehicle 90
• CVAST Combat Vehicle Armament System Technology (US)
• CVR(T) Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (UK)
• CVR(W) Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled) (UK)
• CVRDE Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (India)
• CVT controlled variable time
• CVTTS Combat Vehicle Targeting System
• CW Chemical Warfare
• CWR continuous wave radar
• CWS cupola weapon station

D

• DA Double Action
• DAHA dual axis head assembly
• DAO Double Action Only
• DARCOM US Army Matériel Development and Readiness Command
• DAREOD Damaged Airfield Reconnaissance Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (US)
• DAS Deep Air Support
• DAS Defensive Aid System/Suite
• DASP Demountable Artillery Surveillance Pod
• DC Direct Current
• DCA Défense Contre Avions (anti-aircraft)
• DCCT Dismounted Close Combat Trainer
• DD Detroit Diesel
• DDA Detroit Diesel Allison
• DDS Department of Defense Support
• DDU digital display unit
• DECA Digital Electronic Control Assembly
• DEFA Direction des études et Fabrications d'Armement
• DERA Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (UK)
• DESO Defence Export Sales Organisation (UK)
• DFCS Digital Fire-Control System
• DFSV Direct Fire Support Vehicle
• DFV Desert Fighting Vehicle
• DHSS Data Handling SubSystem
• DIA Defense Intelligence Agency (US)
• DICON Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
• DIP driver instrument panel
• DISA Defense Information Systems Agency
• DISCOM Division Support Command
• DIVARTY Division Artillery
• DMC Digital Magnetic Compass
• DMR Dedicated Marksman Rifle
• DMU Distance Measurement Unit
• DNRS Day/Night Range Sight
• DoD Department of Defense (US)
• DOIM (US Army) Directorate of Information Management
• DOP Department of Productivity
• DP Demonstration Purpose
• DP Dual Purpose
• DPA Defence Procurement Agency (UK)
• DPICM Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (US)
• DPTR Diopter
• DRA Defence Research Agency (UK)
• DROPS Demountable Rack Offloading and Pick-up System
• DS/T practice discarding sabot/tracer
• DSACS Direct Support Armored Cannon System (US)
• DSETS Direct Support Electrical Test System
• DSO Defence Sales Organisation
• DSRV Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (US)
• DSWS Division Support Weapon System
• DTAT Direction Technique des Armements Terrestres
• DTT Driver Training Tank
• DU depleted uranium
• DV Demining Vehicle
• DVE Driver's Vision Enhancer
• DWFK Deep Water Fording Kit

E

• EAAK Enhanced Appliqué Armor Kit (US)
• EAOS Enhanced Artillery Observation System
• EBG Engin Blindé Génie (armoured combat vehicle)
• EBR Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance (armoured reconnaissance vehicle)
• EBRC Engine Blindé à roues de Contact
• EC Enhanced Carbine
• ECM Electronic countermeasures
• ECOS Enhanced Combat Optical Sight
• ECS Environmental Control Subsystem
• ECV Enhanced Capacity Vehicle
• EDS Electric Drive System
• EFAB Etablissement d'Etudes et de Fabrications d'Armement de Bourges
• EFC equivalent full charge
• EFCR equivalent full charge rounds
• EFM Explosives Factory Maribyrnong
• EFP Expanded Feasibility Phase
• EFP Explosively Formed Penetrator
• EFV Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (New name for AAAV)
• EFVS Electronic Fighting Vehicle System (US)
• EG External Gun
• EGLM Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module
• EI Engineering and Installation
• EIS Engineering and Installation Squadron
• EI SIT Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team
• ELB Extended Life Barrel
• ELKE Elevated Kinetic Energy Weapon (US)
• ELS Electromagnetic Launcher System
• ELSAP Elektronische Schiessanlage für Panzer (electronic fire system for tanks)
• EM electromagnetic
• EMC Executive Management Committee
• EMD Engineering and Manufacturing Development
• EMDG Euromissile Dynamics Group
• EMG externally mounted gun
• EMP electromagnetic pulse
• ENGESA Engesa Engenheiros Especializados (Brazil)
• EOD explosive ordnance disposal
• EOR Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
• EOTS Electro-Optical Tracking System
• EPC electronic plane conversion
• EPC Engin Principal de Combat (future main battle tank)
• EPG Enhanced Performance Grenade
• EPG European Production Group
• EPG European Programme Group
• EPS Electrical Power Subsystem
• EPU Electronics Processing Unit
• ER enhanced radiation
• ER extended range
• ERA explosive reactive armour
• ERA extended range ammunition
• ERC Engin de Reconnaissance Canon
• ERFB extended range full-bore
• ERFB-BB extended range full-bore - base bleed
• ERGFCDS Extended Range Gunnery Fire-Control Demonstration System
• ERGP extended range guided projectile
• ERMIS Extended Range Modification Integration System
• ERP Extended Range Projectile
• ERSC extended range subcalibre
• ERV emergency rescue vehicle
• ERV Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle
• ES Extreme Spread
• ESAF Elecronic Safety and Arm Function
• ESD Electronique Serge Dassault
• ESLDE Eyesafe Laser Daylight Elbow
• ESPAWS Enhanced Self-Propelled Artillery Weapon System (US)
• ESRS electro-slag refined steel
• ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
• ETC ElectroThermal Cannon
• ETD Estimated Time of Departure
• ETM Electronic Technical Manuals
• ETS Elevated TOW System
• ETS Engineer Tank System
• EW electronic warfare
• EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern Gцppner
• EWS external weapon station

F

• FAAD Forward Area Air Defense
• FAAR Forward Area Alerting Radar (US)
• FAARP Forward Area Arming & Refueling Point
• FAASV Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (US)
• FAC Forward Air Control(er)
• FAC-A Forward Air Control(er)-Airborne
• FACE Field Artillery Computer Equipment
• FAL Fusil Automatique Légère
• FAPDS Frangible Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot
• FARP Forward Arear Refueling Point
• FARS field artillery rocket system
• FARV-A Future Armored Resupply Vehicle - Artillery (US)
• FAST Forward Area Support Team
• FAV Fast Attack Vehicle (US)
• FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
• FBRV Future Beach Recovery Vehicle (UK)
• FCC Fire Command Centre
• FCC Fire-Control Computer
• FCCVS Future Close-Combat Vehicle System (US)
• FCE fire-control equipment
• FCLV Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (UK)
• FCS fire-control system/subsystem
• FCS Future Combat System
• FCU Fire Control Unit
• FDC fire direction centre
• FDCV fire direction centre vehicle
• FDSWS Future Direct Support Weapon System
• FEBA Forward Edge of the Battle Area
• FEP Firepower Enhancement Programme
• FET Future Engineer Tank
• FFAR Folding Fin Aerial Rocket
• FFE Fire for Effect
• FFSS Future Fighting Soldier System
• FG field gun
• FH field howitzer
• FIBUA Fighting In Built-Up Areas
• FID Foreign Internal Defenses
• FIFV Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle (US)
• FIRM Floating Integrated Rail Mount
• FIS Fuze Interface System
• FISH Fighting In Someone's House (UK) (Colloquial. Slang term for FIBUA)
• FIST Future Integrated Soldier Technology (UK), Fire Support Team (US)
• FISTV Fire Support Team Vehicle (US)
• FITOW Further Improved TOW (US)
• FLEA Frangible Low Energy Ammunition (i.e. a fragmentation grenade or a low yield IED)
• FLIR forward-looking infra-red
• FLOT forward line of own troops
• FLSW Future Light Support Weapon
• FM U.S. Army Field Manuals
• FM Titanium tetrachloride (code designation)
• FMBS Family of Muzzle Brake/Suppressors
• FMC Food Machinery Corporation
• FMF Fleet Marine Force
• FMJ Full Metal Jacket
• FMJBT Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
• FMJLF Full Metal Jacket Lead Free
• FMS Foreign Military Sales
• FMTV Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
• FN Fabrique Nationale (Manufacturer)
• FO Forward Observer
• FOB Forward Operating Base
• FOC Full Operational Capability
• FOD Foreign Object Damage (i.e. damage not caused by enemy fire. Includes bugs, dirt, etc.) (Aviation)
• FOG Fibre Optic Gyro
• FOM Fibre Optic Missile
• FOO forward observation officer
• FORTIS Forward Observation and Reconnaissance Thermal Imaging System
• FOTT Follow On To TOW
• FOV field of view
• FPA Focal Plane Array
• FRAG fragmentation
• FRAGO FRAGmentary Order. (see OPORD)
• FRES Future Rapid Effect System
• FROG free rocket over ground
• FSCL fire support coordination line
• FSCM fire support coordination measure
• FSCV fire support combat vehicle
• FSE fire support element
• FSED full-scale engineering development (US)
• FSSG Force Service Support Group
• FST Future Soviet Tank/Follow-on Soviet Tank
• FSV fire support vehicle
• FSV Future Scout Vehicle (US)
• FTA Frangible Training Ammunition
• FTMA Future Tank Main Armament
• FTS Future Tank Study
• FTT Field Tactical Trainer
• FUBAR Fouled/Fucked Up Beyond All Reason/Recognition/Repair
• FUE First Unit Equipped
• FUG Felderitц Usу Gépkosci
• FV fighting vehicle
• FV/GCE fighting vehicle gun control equipment
• FVDD Fighting Vehicle Development Division
• FVRDE Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (UK)
• FVS Fighting Vehicle System (US)
• FVSC Fighting Vehicle Systems Carrier (US)
• FY fiscal year

G

• g gramme(s)
• G gendarmerie
• GAMA Gun Automatic Multiple Ammunition
• GAO General Accounting Office
• GAP Gun Aiming Post
• GBAD Ground Based Air Defence
• GCE gun control equipment
• GCT Grande Cadence de Tir (high rate of fire)
• GCU Gun Control Unit
• GCW Gross Combat Weight
• GD General Dynamics
• GDLS General Dynamics Land Systems
• GDU Gun Display Unit
• GFE Government Furnished Equipment
• GH gun-howitzer
• GIAT Groupement Industriel des Armements Terrestres
• GL Grenade Launcher
• GLATGM Gun Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile
• GLC gun lay computer
• GLDNSM Grenade Launcher Day-Night Sight Mount
• GLH-H Ground-Launched Hellfire-Heavy (US)
• GLLD Ground Laser Locator Designator (US)
• GLS Gesellschaft für Logistischen Service
• GM, MVO General Motors, Military Vehicle Operations
• GMC General Motors Corporation
• GMG Grenade Machine Gun
• GMLRS Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
• GMS Gun Management System
• GOCO government-owned, contractor-operated (US)
• GOP General Out Post
• GP General Purpose
• GP guided projectile
• GPMG General Purpose Machine Gun
• GPO gun position officer
• GPS Global Positioning System
• GPS gunner's primary sight
• GPSS Gunner's Primary Sight Subsystem
• GREM Grenade Rifle Entry Munition
• GRU Glavnoe Razvedyvatel'noe Upravlenie, meaning Main Intelligence Directorate
• GSR General Staff Requirement (US)
• GSRS General Support Rocket System
• GST General Staff Target
• GST Gesellschaft fьr System-Technik
• GTCS Gun Test and Control System
• GTI German Tank Improvement
• GVW Gross Vehicle Weight
• GW guided weapon

H

• h hour(s)
• H&K Heckler and Koch
• HAB Heavy Assault Bridge (US)
• HAG Heavy Artillery Gun
• HALO High Altitude Low Opening, High Activity/Low Observable
• HAMS Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron - Marine Aircraft Group (USMC)
• HAWK Homing-All-the-Way-Killer (US)
• HB heavy barrel
• HBAR Heavy Barrel Assault Rifle
• HC Hexachloroethane/zinc
• HC high capacity
• HC Hollow Charge
• HCER high-capacity extended range
• HCHE high-capacity high explosive
• HCT HOT Compact Turret
• HDS HOLOgraphic Diffraction Sight
• HE high explosive
• HE-APERS high-explosive anti-personnel
• HE-FRAG high-explosive fragmentation
• HE-FRAG-FS high-explosive fragmentation - fin-stabilised
• HE-FS high-explosive - fin-stabilised
• HE-S high-explosive spotting
• HE-T high-explosive tracer
• HE/PR high-explosive practice
• HEAA High Explosive Anti-Armour
• HEAB High Explosive Air Burst
• HEAP High Explosive Armor Piercing
• HEAP-T high-explosive anti-personnel - tracer
• HEAT high-explosive anti-tank
• HEAT-FS high-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilised
• HEAT-MP high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose
• HEAT-MP(P) high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose (practice)
• HEAT-T high-explosive anti-tank - tracer
• HEAT-T-HVY high-explosive anti-tank - tracer - heavy
• HEAT-T-MP high-explosive anti-tank - tracer - multipurpose
• HEAT-TP-T high-explosive anti-tank - target practice - tracer
• HED-D Hybrid Electric Drive-Demonstrator
• HEDP high-explosive dual-purpose
• HEER High-Explosive Extended Range (US)
• HEF High Explosive Fragmentation
• HEFT High Explosive Follow Through
• HEI high-explosive incendiary
• HEIT high-explosive incendiary tracer
• HEL High-Energy Laser (US)
• HEL Human Engineering Laboratory (US)
• HELP Howitzer Extended Life Program (US)
• HEMAT Heavy Expanded Mobility Ammunition Trailer (US)
• HEMP High Explosive Multi-Purpose
• HEMTT Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (US)
• HEP high-explosive plastic
• HEP-T high-explosive practice - tracer
• HEPD high-explosive point detonating
• HERA high-explosive rocket-assisted
• HESH high-explosive squash head
• HESH-T high-explosive squash head - tracer
• HET-PF high-explosive tracer - percussion fuze
• HETF High Explosive Time Fuzed
• HETS Heavy Equipment Transport System
• HFCC Howitzer Fire-Control Computer (US)
• HFHTB Human Factors Howitzer TestBed (US)
• HFM Heavy Force Modernisation (US)
• HIFV Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• HIMAG High-Mobility Agility Test Vehicle (US)
• HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (US)
• HIP Howitzer Improvement Program (US)
• HIRE Hughes Infra-Red Equipment
• HITP High Ignition Temperature Propellant
• HIU Heading Indicator Unit
• HMC Howitzer Motor Carriage
• HMD Helmet-Mounted Display
• HMG Heavy Machine Gun
• HMH Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
• HMLC High-Mobility Load Carrier
• HML/A Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron
• HMM Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
• HMMWV High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
• HMX Marine Special Mission Helicopter Squadron
• HOE Holographic Optical Element
• HOT Haute subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé
• How Howitzer
• HP High Power; Hollow Point
• hp Horsepower
• HPFP High-Performance Fragmentation Projectile
• HPS Helmet Pointing System (or Sight)
• HPT high-pressure test
• HRU Heading Reference Unit
• HS Headquarters Squadron - Marine Wing Support Group (USMC)
• HSS Hunter Sensor Suite
• HSTV(L) High-Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) (US)
• HTTB High-Technology TestBed (US)
• HVAP high-velocity armour-piercing
• HVAP-T high-velocity armour-piercing tracer
• HVAPDS-T high-velocity armour-piercing discarding sabot - tracer
• HVAPFSDS high-velocity armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot
• HVCC High Velocity Canister Cartridge
• HVM Hypervelocity Missile
• HVSS horizontal volute spring suspension
• HVSW Hypervelocity Support Weapon
• HVTP-T high-velocity target practice - tracer
• HWSTD High Water Speed Technology Demonstrator
• HYPAK Hydraulic Power Assist Kit

I

• I Incendiary
• IAFV infantry armoured fighting vehicle
• IAI Israel Aircraft Industries
• IAL Infra-red Aiming Light
• IASD Instant Ammunition Selection Device
• IBAS Improved Bradley Acquisition System
• ICC information co-ordination centre
• ICM improved conventional munition
• ICM BB improved conventional munition base bleed
• ICV Infantry Combat Vehicle
• IDF Israel Defence Forces
• IDW Individual Defence Weapon
• IED Improvised Explosive Device
• IEPG Independent European Program Group
• IFCS Improved/Integrated Fire-Control System
• IFF Identification Friend or Foe
• IFV infantry fighting vehicle
• IFVwCM Infantry Fighting Vehicle with Integrated Countermeasures (US)
• IGLS Individual Grenade Launcher System
• II image intensification/intensifier
• IIR Imaging Infra-Red
• ILL illuminating
• ILMS Improved Launcher Mechanical System
• ILS Integrated Logistic Support
• IM Insensitive Munition(s)
• IMMLC Improved Medium Mobility Load Carrier
• IMU Inertial Measurement Unit
• INSAS Indian Small Arms System
• InSb Indium-antimonide
• IOC initial operational capability
• IOF Indian Ordnance Factory
• IPB Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
• IPF Initial Production Facility
• IPO International Programme Office
• IPPD Integrated Product Process Development
• IR Infra-Red
• IRBM Intermediate-range ballistic missile
• IRU Inertial Reference Unit
• IS internal security
• ISD In Service Date
• ISGU Integrated Sight and Guidance Unit
• ISR Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
• ISU Integrated Sight Unit
• ISV Internal Security Vehicle
• ITAS Improved Target Acquisition System
• ITOW Improved TOW
• ITPIAL Infra-red Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser
• ITT Invitation To Tender
• ITV Improved TOW Vehicle (US)
• IVPDL Inter-Vehicle Positioning and Data Link (US)
• IW Individual Weapon
• IWS Improved Weapon System

J

• JBMoU Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding
• JDAM Joint Direct Attack Munition
• JERRV Joint Engineer Rapid Response Vehicle
• JGSDF Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force
• JHP Jacketed hollow point
• JLTA Javelin Composite Launch Tube
• JMAC Joint Medium-calibre Automatic Cannon
• JPO Joint Project Office
• JSC Joint Steering Committee
• JSCS Joint Service Combat Shotgun
• JSDFA Japanese Self-Defence Force Agency
• JSP Jacketed Soft Point
• JSSAMP Joint Services Small Arms Master Plan
• JSSAP Joint Services Small Arms Programme

K

• KAAV Korean Armoured Amphibious Vehicle
• KAC Knight's Armament Company
• KE Kinetic energy
• KEC Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation
• KEM Kinetic Energy Missile (US)
• kg kilogramme(s)
• KIA Killed in Action
• KIFV Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• KPA Korean People's Army

L

• LAAG light anti-aircraft gun
• LAAM Light Anti-Aircraft Missile
• LAAW Light Anti-Tank Assault Weapon
• LAD light aid detachment
• LADS light air defense system (US)
• LAG Light Artillery Gun
• LALO Low Altitude Low Opening
• LAM Laser Aiming Module
• LAPES Low-Altitude Parachute Extraction System
• LAR Light Automatic Rifle
• LASER Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
• LASIP Light Artillery System Improvement Plan
• LATS Light Armoured Turret System
• LAU Light Armoured Unit
• LAV Light Armored Vehicle (US)
• LAV Light Assault Vehicle (US)
• LAV-AD Light Armored Vehicle - Air Defense
• LAW light anti-tank weapon
• LB Long Barrel
• LC Laser Collimator
• LCD Liquid crystal display
• LCS Loader Control System
• LCU Landing Craft Utility
• LCV Light Contingency Vehicle (LCV) (US)
• LD Low drag, Line of Departure
• LE Law Enforcement
• LED light emitting diode
• LEP Life Extension Programme
• LEU Launcher Erector Unit
• LF ATGW Light Forces' Anti-Tank Guided Weapon
• LF Linked Feed
• LFHG Lightweight Fragmentation Hand Grenade
• LFL Light Fighter Lethality
• LIA Linear Induction Accelerator
• LIMAWS Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System
• LION Lightweight Infra-red Observation Night sight
• LIW Lyttleton Engineering Works
• LKP Loader Keyboard Panel
• LLAD low-level air defence
• LLLTV low light level television
• LLM Launcher Loader Module
• LMAW Light Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
• LMG light machine gun
• LNS Land Navigation System
• LNS Laying and Navigation System
• L/O Liaison Officer
• LOAL Lock-On After Launch
• LOBL Lock-On Before Launch
• LOC Line Of Communication
• LOS Line Of Sight
• LOSAT Line Of Sight Anti-Tank
• LP Liquid Propellant
• LP Listening Post
• LPC Launch Pod Container
• LPC Launcher Pod Carrier
• LPG Liquid Propellant Gun
• LPO Leading Petty Officer
• LPT Low-Profile Turret
• LPTS Lightweight Protected Turret System
• LR Long Rifle
• LR Long-Range
• LRAR Long Range Artillery Rocket
• LRASS Long-Range Advanced Scout System
• LRAT long-range anti-tank
• LRBB long-range base bleed
• LRD Long Range Deflagrator
• LRF laser rangefinder
• LRF Low Recoil Force
• LRHB long-range hollow base
• LRIP Low-Rate Initial Production
• LRM Laser Rangefinder Module
• LRN Lead Round Nose
• LRN Low Recoil NORICUM
• LRRP Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
• LRSA Long Range Sniper Ammunition
• LRSU Long Range Surveillance Unit
• LRU Launcher Replenishment Unit
• LRU Line Replacement Unit
• LRU line-replaceable unit
• LSS Lightweight Shotgun System
• LSW Light Support Weapon
• LTA Launch Tube Assembly
• LTD laser target designator
• LTFCS Laser Tank Fire-Control System
• LTP Laser Target Pointer, Luminesant Training Projectile
• LUTE Lightweight Uncooled Thermal Imager Equipment
• LVA landing vehicle assault (US)
• LVS Lightweight Video Sight
• LVT landing vehicle tracked (US)
• LVTC landing vehicle tracked command (US)
• LVTE landing vehicle tracked engineer (US)
• LVTH landing vehicle tracked howitzer (US)
• LVTP landing vehicle tracked personnel (US)
• LVTR landing vehicle tracked recovery (US)
• LWC Lead Wad Cutter
• LWIR Long Wave Infrared
• LWL LightWeight Launcher
• LWML LightWeight Multiple Launcher
• LWMS LightWeight Modular Sight
• LWS laser warning system
• LWT light weapon turret
• LZ landing zone

M

• m metre(s)
• m/s metres per second
• MAB Marine Amphibious Brigade
• MABS Marine Air Base Squadron
• MAC Medium Armored Car (US)
• MAC Military Airlift Command
• MACS Modular Artillery Charge System
• MACS Marine Air Control Squadron
• MADLS Mobile Air Defence Launching System
• MAF Marine Amphibious Force
• MAG Marine Aircraft Group
• MAGTEC Marine Air/Ground Training & Education Command
• MAGTF Marine Air/Ground Task Force
• MALOS Miniature Laser Optical Sight
• MALS Marine Air Logistics Squadron
• MAMBA Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar
• MAOV Mobile Artillery Observation Vehicle
• MAP Military Aid Programme
• MAPS Modular Azimuth Position System
• MAR Micro Assault Rifle
• MARDI Mobile Advanced Robotics Defence Initiative (UK)
• MARDIV Marine Division (US)
• MARS Military Amateur Radio Station
• MARS Mini Assault Rifle System
• MARS Multi-purpose Aiming Reflex Sight
• MARS Multiple Artillery Rocket System
• MASS Marine Air Support Squadron
• MATCS Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron
• MATSG Marine Air Training Support Group
• MAU(SOC) Marine Amphibious Unit (Special Operations Capable)
• MAV maintenance assist vehicle
• MAVD MLRS Aim Verification Device
• MAW Marine Air Wing (US)
• MBA main battle area
• MBB Messerschmitt-Bцlkow-Blohm
• MBC Mortar Ballistic Computer
• MBT main battle tank
• MCLOS Manual Command to Line Of Sight
• MCRV Mechanised Combat Repair Vehicle
• MCS Microclimate Conditioning System
• MCS modular charge system
• MCSK Mine Clearance System Kit (US)
• MCT Medium Combat Tractor (US)
• MCT Mercury Cadmium Telluride
• MCV Mechanised Combat Vehicle
• MCWL Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
• MCWS Minor Calibre Weapons Station (US)
• MDMP Military Decision Making Process
• MDU Map Display Unit
• MEB Marine Expeditionary Brigade
• MEDEVAC Medical Evacuation
• MEF Marine Expeditionary Force
• MENS Mission Element Need Statement (US)
• MEP Modular Explosive Penetrator
• MEPSMilitary Entrance Processing Station
• METO Middle East Treaty Organisation; CENTO or Baghdad Pact
• METL Mission Essential Task List
• METT-TC Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available—Time available, Civilians
• MEU(SOC) Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)
• MEV medical evacuation vehicle (US)
• MEWS Mobile Electronic Warfare System
• MEWSS Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System
• MF multifunction
• MFC Mortar Fire Control(ler)
• MFCS Multi-Fire Control System/Mortar Fore Control System
• MFCV Missile Fire-Control Vehicle
• MFF munition filling factory
• MG machine gun
• MGB Medium Girder Bridge
• MGL Multiple Grenade Launcher
• MGS Mobile Gun System
• MGTS MultiGun Turret System
• MGU Mid-course Guidance Unit
• MI Military Intelligence
• MIA Missing In Action
• MICOM Missile Command (US)
• MICV mechanised infantry combat vehicle
• MILAN Missile d'Infantrie Léger Antichar (light infantry anti-tank missile)
• MILES Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (US)
• MILSPEC Military Specification
• MILSTAN MILitary STANdard
• MILSTAR MILitary Strategic and Tactical Relay (US)
• MIPS Medium Integrated Propulsion System (US)
• MLA Manufacturing Licence Agreement
• MLC Military Load Class
• MLC Modular Load Carrier
• MLF Marine Logistics Force
• MLR Marine Logistics Regiment
• MLI Mid-Life Improvement
• MLO Muzzle Loaded Ordnance
• MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System (US)
• mm millimetre(s)
• MMBF mean miles between failures
• MMG Medium Machine Gun
• MMS mast-mounted sight
• MMS Modular Mounting System
• MNVD Monocular Night Vision Device
• MoA Memorandum of Agreement
• MOA Minute Of Angle
• MoD Ministry of Defence
• MODA Ministry of Defence and Aviation
• MOLF Modular Laser Fire Control (Germany)
• MOLLE MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
• MOPP Mission Oriented Protective Posture (US)
• MOS Military Occupational Specialty (US)
• MoU Memorandum of Understanding
• MOUT Military Operations in Urban Terrain (urban warfare) (US)
• MP Machine Pistol
• MPBAV MultiPurpose Base Armoured Vehicle
• MPC MultiPurpose Carrier (Netherlands)
• MPGS Mobile Protected Gun System (US)
• MPI Mean Point of Impact
• MPIM MultiPurpose Individual Munition
• MPM MultiPurpose Munition
• MPS Maritime Prepositioning Ships (US)
• MPV Multi-Purpose Vehicle
• MPWS Mobile Protected Weapon System (US)
• MR Medium Range
• MRAP Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (Vehicle)
• MRAR MultiRole Assault Round
• MRAV MultiRole Armoured Vehicle
• MRBF mean rounds before failure
• MRBS mean rounds between stoppages
• MRE Meal Ready to Eat
• MRS multiple rocket system
• MRS muzzle reference system
• MRSI Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact
• MRV(R) Mechanised Recovery Vehicle (Repair)
• MRVR Mechanised Repair and Recovery Vehicle (US)
• MSSG MAU/MEU Service Support Group (USMC)
• MSR Missile Simulation Round
• MSR Main Supply Route
• MSTAR Man-portable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar
• MSV Modular Support Vehicle
• MT mechanical time
• MTB Mobility TestBed
• MTBF Mean Time Between Failure
• MTI moving target indication
• MTL Materials Technology Laboratory (US)
• MTR Mobile Test Rig (US)
• MTSQ mechanical time and super-quick
• MTSQ Mechanical Time Semi-Quick
• MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union
• MTVL mobile tactical vehicle light
• MUGS Multipurpose Universal Gunner Sight
• MULE Modular Universal Laser Equipment (US)
• MUSS Multifunctional Selfprotection System
• MV muzzle velocity
• MVEE Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (UK)
• MVRS Muzzle Velocity Radar System
• MWCS Marine Wing Communications Squadron
• MWHS Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron
• MWS Manned Weapon Station (US)
• MWS Modular Weapon System
• MWSG Marine Wing Support Group
• MWSS Marine Wing Support Squadron

N

• NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• NBC Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
• NBMR NATO Basic Military Requirement
• NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service (US)
• NCO Non-Commissioned Officer (US, E-4 - E-9)
• NCOIC Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
• NDI Non-Developmental Item
• NDU Navigation Display Unit
• NFOV Narrow Field Of View
• NG New/Next Generation
• Ni/Cd Nickel Cadmium
• NLAW Next Light (weight) Anti-armour Weapon
• NLOS-C Non-Line Of Sight-Cannon
• NLOS-M Non-Line Of Sight-Mortar
• NRF NATO Response Force
• NS Network Services
• NTC National Training Center (USA)
• NUGP nominal unit ground pressure
• NV Night Vision
• NVD Night Vision Device
• NVE Night Vision Equipment
• NVESD Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate
• NVG Night Vision Goggle
• NVS Night Vision System
• NZDF New Zealand Defence Force
• NZEF New Zealand Expeditionary Force (in WWI & WWII)

O

• OBR Optical Beam-Riding
• OCC Obus à Charge Creusé (shaped-charge shell)
• OCOKA Observation and fields of fire, Cover and concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, and Avenues of Approach.
• OCSW Objective Crew-Served Weapon
• OCU Operational Centre Unit
• ODE Ordnance Development and Engineering (Singapore)
• OEG Occluded Eye Gunsight (a type of Collimator sight)
• OEO optical and electro-optical
• OFSA Objective Family of Small Arms
• OFSA One Size Fits All
• OFW Objective Force Warrior
• OHWS Offensive Hand Weapon System
• OIC Officer In Charge
• OICW Objective Individual Combat Weapon
• OOTW Operations Other Than War
• OP Observation post
• OP Operators Panel
• OPCON OPerational CONtrol
• OPDW Objective Personal Defense Weapon
• OPORD OPerations Order
• OPSEC OPerational SECurity
• OPV Observation Post Vehicle
• OSW Objective Sniper Weapon
• OSS (USAF) Operational Support Squadron
• OSW (USAF) Operational Support, Weather
• OT operational test
• OTA overflight top attack
• OTEA Operational Test and Evaluation Agency (US)

P

• P How pack howitzer
• P3I Pre-Planned Product Improvements
• PAR pulse acquisition radar
• PAT power-assisted traverse
• PC Personal Computer
• PCB printed circuit board
• PCC Police Compact Carbine
• PCI Pre-combat inspection
• PD Point Defense
• PD point detonating
• PD Point of Departure
• PDNA Positioning Determining/Navigation Unit
• PDRR Program Definition and Risk Reduction
• PDW Personal Defence Weapon
• PE MoD Procurement Executive (UK)
• PE Peace Enforcement (US DoD)
• PEC Printed Electronic Circuits
• PFD proximity fuze disconnector
• PFHE prefragmented high explosive
• PFPX prefragmented proximity fuzed
• PGMM Precision Guided Mortar Munition
• PH Probability of Hit
• Pi Probability of incapacitation
• PIAT Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank
• PIBD Point Initiating Base Detonated
• PID Positive Identification
• PIE pyrotechnically initiated explosive
• PIP Product Improvement Programme
• PL Phase Line
• PLA People's Liberation Army
• PLARS Position Location And Reporting System (US)
• PLC Programmable Logic Control
• PLO Palestinian Liberation Army
• PLOS Predicted Line Of Sight
• PLS Palletised Load System (US)
• PM porte mortier (mortar carrier)
• PM Product Manager
• PMCS Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services
• PMEE U.S. Air Force abbreviation for Prime Mission Electronic Equipment
• PMO Program Management Office (US)
• PMO Provost Marshall's Office
• PMOD Platform Modifications
• PMS Pedestal-Mounted Stinger
• PNU Position Navigation Unit
• POA&M Plan Of Action & Milestones
• POF Pakistan Ordnance Factory
• POS Postes Optiques de Surveillance
• POW Prisoner(s) of War
• PPI plan position indicator
• PPS Precise Positioning Service
• PRAC practice
• PRAC-T practice tracer
• PRI projector reticle image
• PRP Personnel Reliability Program (screening and monitoring of individuals with access to "special" weapons)
• PSD Propulsion System Demonstrator
• PSO Peace Support Operations
• PSS Primary Sight System
• PTO power take-off
• PVP Petit Véhicule Protégé
• PW Prisoner of War
• PWI-SR(GR) Panser Wagen Infanterie-Standaard (Groep)
• PWP Plasticised White Phosphorus

Q

• QCB Quick Change Barrel
• QE Quadrant Elevation
• QRF Quick Reaction Force

R

• RA Royal Artillery
• RAAM Rifle-launched Anti-Armour Munition
• RAAMS Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (US)
• PABD Pay Entry Base Date
• RAC Royal Armoured Corps
• RADIRS Rapid Deployment Multiple Rocket System (US)
• RAAF Royal Australian Air Force
• RAE Royal Aircraft Establishment, Royal Aircraft Establishment (Farnborough)
• RAE Royal Australian Engineers, Australian Combat Engineers
• RAF Royal Air Force
• RAM-D reliability, availability, maintainability and durability
• RAN Royal Australian Navy
• RAO Rear Area Operations
• RAP rocket-assisted projectile
• RAPI Reactive Armour Protection
• RARDE Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (UK)
• RATAC Radar de Tir pour L'Artillerie de Campagne (radar for field artillery fire)
• RATELO Radio Telephone Operator
• RAW Rifleman's Assault Weapon
• RBL Range and Bearing Launch
• RC/MAS Reserve Component/Modified Armament System
• RCAAS Remote-Controlled Anti-Armor System (US)
• RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force
• RCC ROLAND Coordination Center (US)
• RCDU Remote-Controlled Defence Unit
• RCL Recoilless rifle
• RCN Royal Canadian Navy
• RCS Radar Cross Section
• RCT Regimental Combat Team
• RCT Royal Corps of Transport
• RCV Robotic Command Vehicle
• RDF Rapid Deployment Forces
• RDF/LT Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank (US)
• RDJTF Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (US)
• RDT&E Research Development Test and Evaluation
• REME Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• RF Rimfire
• RFA Royal Field Artillery
• RFAS Russian Federation and Associated States
• RFC Royal Flying Corps
• RFI request for information
• RFP request for proposals
• RFPI Rapid Force Projection Initiative
• RFQ Request For Quotations
• RGGS Rifle Grenade General Service
• RHA rolled homogeneous armour
• RHA Royal Horse Artillery
• RIN the former Royal Indian Navy
• RIS Rail Interface System
• RISE Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
• RLC Royal Logistic Corps
• RLEM Rifle-Launched Entry Munition
• RLG Ring Laser Gyro
• RLT Regimental Landing Team
• RMG ranging machine gun
• RN Royal Navy
• RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
• RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy
• RO Royal Ordnance
• ROBAT Robotic Counter-Obstacle Vehicle (US)
• RoC Republic of China
• ROC required operational characteristics
• ROE Rules Of Engagement
• ROF Royal Ordnance Factory (UK)
• ROF rate of fire
• RoK Republic of Korea
• RoKIT Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank
• ROR range only radar
• ROTA Royal Ordnance Training Ammunition
• RP Red phosphorus
• RP rocket-propelled
• RPC Rocket Pod Container
• RPG Rocket-propelled grenade
• RPG Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot
• RPV Remotely piloted vehicle
• RR Recoilless rifle
• RRPR Reduced Range Practice Rocket
• RRTR Reduced Range Training Round
• RSAF Royal Small Arms Factory (UK) (now closed)
• RSS Rosette Scanning Seeker
• RTE Rifle Team Equipment
• RTT Roues Transporteur de Troupes
• RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary
• RWS Remote weapon system (or station)

S

• s second(s)
• S&W Smith & Wesson
• SABCA Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques
• SABR Selectable Assault Battle Rifle
• SABS Stabilizing Automatic Bomb Sight
• SAC Small Arms Collimator
• SACLOS Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight
• SADA Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly
• SADARM Sense And Destroy Armor (US)
• SADF South African Defence Force
• SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
• SAF Small Arms Fire
• SAFCS Small Arms Fire Control System
• SAFIRE Surface-to-Air Fire
• SAL semi-active laser
• SAM surface-to-air missile
• SAMM Société d'Applications des Machines Motrices
• SANDF South African National Defence Force
• SANG Saudi Arabian National Guard
• SAP Semi-Armour-Piercing
• SAPHEI Semi-Armour-Piercing High Explosive Incendiary
• SAPI semi-armour-piercing incendiary
• SAS-EAS Sealed Authenticator System - Emergency Action Procedures (Nuclear Weapons Release Control)
• SASR Special Application Sniper Rifle
• SAT Small Arms Trainer
• SATCP Systиme Anti-aérien à Trиs Courte Portée (very short-range anti-aircraft system)
• SAVA Standard Army Vectronics Architecture
• SAW Squad Automatic Weapon
• SAWS Squad Automatic Weapon System
• SB Short Barrel
• SCORE Stratified Charge Omnivorous Rotary Engine
• SD self-destruct(ion)
• SEAL Sea/Air/Land
• SEALOCK Search, Locate, and Communicate or Kill
• SEATO Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation
• SEME School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
• SEN shell extended range NORICUM
• SEP Soldier Enhancement Programme
• SFCS Simplified Fire-Control System
• SFIM Société de Fabrication d'Instrument de Mesure
• SFIRR solid fuel integral rocket/ramjet
• SFM Sensor Fuzed Munitions
• SFMG Sustained Fire Machine Gun
• SFSW Special Forces Support Weapon
• SFW Special Forces Weapon
• SGTS Second-Generation Tank Sight
• SH/PRAC squash head practice
• SHORAD Short-Range Air Defence System
• shp shaft horsepower
• SIC Second in Command
• SICPS Standard Integrated Command Post Systems
• SINCGARS Single Channel Ground/Air Radio System
• SIP System Improvement Plan/Programme
• SIPS Small Integrated Propulsion System
• SJFN Semi-Jacketed Flat Nose
• SJHP Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point
• SKOT Sredni Kolowy Opancerzny Transporter (armoured personnel carrier)
• SLAP saboted light armor penetrator
• SLAW Shoulder-Launched Assault Weapon
• SLEP Service Life Extension Program (US)
• SLR Self-Loading Rifle
• SLR Super Low Recoil
• SLWAGL Super Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher
• SM smoke
• SMAW Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
• SMG sub-machine gun
• SMK Smoke
• Smoke BE smoke base ejection
• Smoke WP smoke white phosphorus
• SMP Surface Mine Plough
• SNAFU Situation Normal, All Fouled Up
• SNCO Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (USMC, E-6 - E-9)
• SNCOIC Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (USMC)
• SOCOM Special Operations Command
• SOF Special Operations Force(s)
• SOG Speed Over Ground
• SOP Standing/Standard Operational Procedure(s)
• SP Shore Patrol
• SP self-propelled
• SP Soft Point
• SPAAG self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
• SPAAM self-propelled anti-aircraft missile
• SPAG self-propelled assault gun
• SPARK solid propellant advanced ramjet kinetic energy missile
• SPAS Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun
• SPATG self-propelled anti-tank gun
• SPAW self-propelled artillery weapon
• SPG self-propelled gun
• SPH self-propelled howitzer
• SPL self-propelled launcher
• SPLL Self-propelled Loader Launcher
• SPM self-propelled mortar
• SPP Special Purpose Pistol
• SPR Special Purpose Rifle
• SPS Standard Positioning Service
• SPSM Sensorgezundete Panzerabwehr SubMunition
• SPW Special Purpose Weapon
• SR Short Rifle
• SR Staff Requirement
• SRAW Short Range Assault Weapon
• SRC Space Research Corporation
• SRG shell replenishment gear
• SRI Short Range Insert
• SRTS Short Range Thermal Sight
• SRU Shop Replaceable Unit
• SRU Slip Ring Unit
• SRV Surrogate Research Vehicle (US)
• SSA Special Spaced Armour
• SSG Single Shot Gun
• SSK Single Shot Kill
• SSW Squad Support Weapon
• ST Staff Target
• STA shell transfer arm
• STAB Steered Agile Beams
• STAFF Small Target Activated Fire-and-Forget (US)
• STANAG STANdardisation Agreement
• STARTLE Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar for Tank Location and Engagement (US)
• STE/ICE Simplified Test Equipment/Internal Combustion Engine (US)
• STOVL Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
• STUP spinning tubular projectile
• SUB SUBstitute
• SUC Square Ultra Compact
• SUIT Sight Unit Infantry Trilux
• SUSAT Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux
• SWARM Stabilised Weapon and Reconnaissance Mount
• SWAT Special Weapons And Tactics
• SWC Semi WadCutter
• SWS Sniper Weapon System

T

• T Tracer
• TACBE Tacbe
• TACMS Army Tactical Missile System (US)
• TACOM Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (US)
• TAD Temporary Additional Duty (Naval Services term)Temporary Duty
• TADDS Target Alert Display Data Set (US)
• TADS Target Acquisition and Designation System (US)
• TAM Tanque Argentino Mediano
• TAS Target Acquisition Subsystem
• TAS tracking adjunct system
• TAS Turret Attitude Sensor
• TBAT TOW/Bushmaster Armored Turret (US)
• TC Tank Commander
• TCO Tactical Combat Operations
• TCTO Time-Compliance Technical Order
• TCU tactical control unit
• TD Tank Destroyer
• TDCS Tank Driver Command System
• TDD Target Detection Device
• TDR Target Data Receiver
• TDY Temporary Duty
• TE Tangent Elevation
• TEL Transporter-Erector-Launcher
• TELAR Transporter-Erector-Launcher And Radar
• TES Tactical Environment Simulation
• TES target engagement system
• TGMTS Tank Gunnery Missile Tracking System
• TGP Terminally Guided Projectile
• TGP Targeting pod
• TGS Tank Gun Sight
• TGSM terminally guided submunition
• TGTS tank gunnery training simulator
• TI thermal imaging/imager
• TIC Troops In Contact
• TICM thermal imaging common modules
• TIIPS Thermal Imaging and Integrated Position System
• TIM Thermal Imaging Module
• TIPU Thermal Image Processing Units
• TIRE Tank Infra-Red Elbow
• TIS thermal imaging system
• TLC Transport Launching Container
• TLD Top Level Demonstrations
• TLE Treaty Limited Equipment
• TLP Troop Leading Procedures (US)
• TLR Tank Laser Rangefinder
• TLS Tank Laser Sight
• TM&LS Textron Marine & Land Systems
• TMBC Turret Management Ballistic Computer
• TMP Tactical Machine Pistol
• TMS Turret Modernisation System
• TMUAS Turreted Mortar Under Armor System (US)
• TNT Trinitrotoluene
• TO Technical Order
• TOE table of organisation and equipment
• TOGS Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (UK)
• TOP Total Obscuring Power
• TOPAS Transporter Obrneny Pasovy
• TOTE Tracker, Optical Thermally Enhanced
• TOW Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command link guided (US)
• TP Target Practice
• TP-FL target practice flash
• TP-S or TPS Target Practice-Spotting/Signature
• TP-SM target practice - smoke
• TP-SP target practice - spotting
• TP-T target practice - tracer
• TPCM Target Practice Colour-Marking
• TPDS Target Practice Discarding Sabot
• TPFSDS-T target practice fin-stabilised discarding sabot - tracer
• TPTF Target Practice Time Fuzed
• TR Triple Rail
• TRACER Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (UK)
• TRACKSTAR Tracked Search and Target Acquisition Radar System (US)
• TRADOC Training and Doctrine Command (US)
• TSFCS Tank Simplified Fire-Control System
• TSQ time and super-quick
• TSR Tavor Sporting Rifle
• TT transport de troupes (troop transporter)
• TTB Tank TestBed (US)
• TTD Transformation Technology Demonstrator
• TTG Time To Go
• TTS Tank Thermal Sight
• TU Terminal Unit
• TU Traversing Unit
• TUA TOW Under Armor (US)
• TUR Tiefflieger-Ьberwachungs-Radar (low-level surveillance radar)
• TV Television
• TWD Thermal Warning Device
• TWMP Track Width Mine Plough
• TWS Thermal Weapon Sight
• TYDP Ten Year Defence Programme (Australia)

U

• UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• UBLE Universal Bridge Launching Equipment
• UCVP Universal Combat Vehicle Platform
• UDR Ulster Defence Regiment
• UET Universal Engineer Tractor (US)
• UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicle
• ULC Unit Load Container
• UMA Universal Mounting Adapter
• UMP Universal Machine Pistol
• USA United States of America/United States Army
• USAADS U.S. Army Air Defense School
• USAARMS U.S. Army Armor School
• USAAVNS U.S. Army Aviation School
• USAAF United States Army Air Forces
• USAF United States Air Force
• USCG United States Coast Guard
• USMC United States Marine Corps
• USN United States Navy
• USP Universal Self-loading Pistol
• UTL Universal Tactical Light
• UTM Universal Transverse Mercator
• UTS Universal Turret System
• UV Ultraviolet
• UW Urban Warfare

V

• V Volt(s)
• VAB Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (front armoured car)
• VAB Vickers Armoured Bridgelayer
• VADS Vulcan Air Defense System (US)
• VAE Vehiculo Armado Exploracion
• VAK Vehicle Adaptor Kit
• VAPE Vehiculo Apoyo y Exploracion
• VARRV Vickers Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
• VARV Vickers Armoured Recovery Vehicle
• VBC Véhicule Blindé de Combat (armoured combat vehicle)
• VBCI Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie
• VBL Véhicule Blindé Léger (light armoured vehicle)
• VBM Véhicules Blindés Modulaires
• VC Vehicle Commander
• VCA Véhicule Chenillé d'Accompagnement (tracked support vehicle)
• VCC Veicolo Corazzato de Combattimento
• VCG Véhicule de Combat du Genie (armoured engineer vehicle)
• VCI Véhicule de Combat d'Infanterie; Vehiculo combate infanteria (infantry combat vehicle)
• VCP Vehicle Check Point
• VCR variable compression ratio
• VCR Véhicule de Combat à Roues (wheeled combat vehicle)
• VCR/AT Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Atelier Technique (salvage)
• VCR/IS Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Intervention Sanitaire (stretchers)
• VCR/PC Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Poste de Commandement (HQ)
• VCR/TH Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Tourelle HOT (turret with four HOT ATGW)
• VCR/TT Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Transport de Troupes (troop carrier)
• VCTIS Vehicle Command and Tactical Information System
• VCTM Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Mortero (armoured mortar carrier)
• VCTP Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Personal (armoured personnel carrier)
• VDA Véhicule de Défense Anti-aérienne (anti-aircraft defence vehicle)
• VDAA Véhicule d'Auto-Défense Anti-aérienne
• VDC Voltage Direct Current
• VDM viscous damped mount
• VDSL Vickers Defence Systems Ltd
• VDU visual display unit
• VEC Vehiculo de Exploraciòn de Caballerie
• VEDES Vehicle Exhaust Dust Ejection System (US)
• VERDI Vehicle Electronics Research Defence Initiative (UK)
• VHIS visual hit indicator system
• VIB Véhicule d'Intervention du Base
• VIDS Vehicle Integrated Defence System
• VINACS Vehicle Integrated Navigation and Command System
• VIRSS Visual and InfraRed Smoke Screening System
• VITS Video Image Tracking Systems
• VLAP Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile
• VLC Véhicule Léger de Combat (light armoured car)
• VLI Visible Light Illuminator
• VLSMS Vehicle-Launched Scatterable Mine System
• VMA Marine Light Attack Squadron
• VMA(AW) Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron
• VMBT Vickers Main Battle Tank
• VMF Marine Fighter Squadron
• VMFA Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
• VMFA(AW) Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron
• VMGR Marine Aerial Refueler/Transport Squadron
• VMFP Marine Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron
• VMR Marine Transport Squadron
• VMAQ Marine Electonic Warfare Attack Squadron
• VMS Vehicle Motion Sensor
• VNAS Vehicle Navigation Air System
• VRL Véhicule Reconnaissance Léger (light reconnaissance vehicle)
• VSEL Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
• VT variable time (fuse)
• VTOL Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft
• VTP véhicule transport de personnel (personnel carrier)
• VTT véhicule transport de troupe (troop transporter)
• VVSS vertical volute spring suspension
• VXB Véhicule Blindé à Vocations Multiples (multipurpose armoured car)

W

• WAAC Women's Auxiliary Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
• WAC Women's Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
• WAF Women (in the) Air Force and individual members of; obsolete
• WAM Wide Area Mines (US)
• WAMI Wide Area Motion Imagery (US)
• WAPC Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier (Canada)
• WASAD Wide Angle Surveillance and Automatic Detection Device
• WAV Wide Angle Viewing
• WAVES Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (USN); obsolete
• WES Wing Engineer Squadron (USMC)
• WFOV Wide Field Of View
• WFSV Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (Canada)
• WHA Weapons Head Assembly
• WHSA Weapons Head Support Assembly
• WLR Weapon Locating Radar
• WM Woman/Women Marine(s)
• WMD Weapon(s) of Mass Destruction
• WMRV Wheeled Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle (Canada)
• WP white phosphorus
• WP-T white phosphorus - tracer
• WSM Winchester Short Magnum
• WTS Wing Transportation Squadron (USMC)

X

• XO Executive Officer

Y

• YMRS Yugoslav multiple rocket system

Z

• ZULU GMT/UTC

See also

• List of established military terms
• List of military tactics
• Glossary of firearms terminology

References

• Armor and Artillery Glossary
• Infantry Weapons Glossary
• FM 17-97 Cavalry Troop (October 1995)
• FM 5-19 (formerly FM 100-14) Composite Risk Management (21 Aug 2006)
• Military abbreviations and Dictionaries
• Military acronyms and military abbreviations