A

• AA anti-aircraft
  Anti-aircraft warfare
  NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
  
  
• AAA anti-aircraft artillery
  Anti-aircraft warfare
  NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
  
   "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
  Amphibious Assault Vehicle
  The Assault Amphibious Vehicle —official designation AAV-7A1 is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems .The AAV-7A1 is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps...
  
  
• AB Air Burst
  Air burst
  An air burst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an anti-personnel artillery shell or a nuclear weapon in the air instead of on contact with the ground or target or a delayed armor piercing explosion....
  
  
• 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
  Anti-ballistic missile
  An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
  
  
• ABMS Air Bursting Munition System
• ABRO Army Base Repair Organisation
  Army Base Repair Organisation
  The Army Base Repair Organisation was an executive agency which reported to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. It provided engineering, repair and re-manufacturing services to the British Armed Forces and also to the police and some local councils...
  
  
• ABS Aww-Busting System
• ABS Anti-skid Braking System
  Anti-lock braking system
  An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
  
  
• ABSV Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle
• A/C Aircraft commander
• AC Alternating current
  Alternating current
  In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
  
  
• 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
  The Modular Integrated Communications Helmet , is a combat helmet used by the United States Army. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...
  
   (MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmet
  MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmet
  The Modular Integrated Communications Helmet , is a combat helmet used by the United States Army. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...
  
  )
• ACLOSAutomatic Command to Line of Sight
• ACOG Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
  Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
  Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights are a series of telescopic sights manufactured by Trijicon. The ACOG is designed to be used on the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, but Trijicon has developed ACOG accessories for certain other firearms...
  
  
• ACP Automatic Colt Pistol
• ACR Advanced Combat Rifle
  Advanced Combat Rifle
  The Advanced Combat Rifle was a United States Army program to find a replacement for the M16 assault rifle. The program's total cost is approximately US$300 million...
  
  
• 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
  Active Electronically Scanned Array
  An Active Electronically Scanned Array , also known as active phased array radar is a type of phased array radar whose transmitter and receiver functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules . AESAs aim their "beam" by broadcasting radio energy that interfere...
  
  
• 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
  Australian Imperial Force
  The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
  
   (Australia, WWI
• AIFS Advanced Indirect Fire System
• AIFV
  AIFV
  The AIFV is a tracked light armored vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armored personnel carrier.-History:...
  
   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
  United States Army Materiel Command
  The U.S. Army Materiel Command is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army.The Command's mission includes the research & development of weapons systems as well as maintenance and parts distribution....
  
  
• 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
  AMOS
  AMOS or Advanced Mortar System is a 120 mm automatic twin barrelled, breech loaded mortar turret. AMOS has been fitted to a wide range of armoured vehicles such as the Sisu Pasi, Patria AMV, Combat Vehicle 90 or Combat Boat 90....
  
   Advanced Mortar System
• AMR Anti-materiel rifle
  Anti-materiel rifle
  An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment rather than against other combatants ....
  
  
• 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
  ANZUS
  The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defence matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks...
  
   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
  Armoured personnel carrier
  An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
  
  
• 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
  Assault rifle
  An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
  
  
• 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
  Armed Robotic Vehicle
  The XM1219 Armed Robotic Vehicle was an unmanned ground combat vehicle based on the MULE Platform. The ARV-A-L MULE Vehicle would feature integrated anti-tank and anti-personnel and reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition systems remotely operated by network linked soldiers...
  
  
• 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
  M1117 Armored Security Vehicle
  The M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, or ASV, is an internal security vehicle manufactured by Cadillac Gage of Textron for use by the U.S. Army's Military Police Corps...
  
   (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
  Anti-tank guided missile
  An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
  
  
• ATGW Anti-tank guided weapon
  Anti-tank guided missile
  An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
  
  
• ATK Alliant Techsystems
  Alliant Techsystems
  Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
  
  
• ATLAS Advanced Technology Light Artillery System
• ATLV Artillery Target Location Vehicle
• ATM Anti-tank mine
  Anti-tank mine
  An anti-tank mine, , is a type of land mine designed to damage or destroy vehicles including tanks and armored fighting vehicles....
  
  
• 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
  All-terrain vehicle
  An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
  
  
• ATV Armoured TOW Vehicle (Turkey)
• AUG Armee Universal Gewehr
  Steyr AUG
  The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
  
  
• AVF Armoured Fighting Vehicle
  Armoured fighting vehicle
  An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
  
  
• AVGP Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (Canada)
• AVH Armoured Vehicle Heavy
• AVL Armoured Vehicle Light
• AVLB armoured vehicle-launched bridge
  Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
  An armoured vehicle-launched bridge is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype of combat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deploying tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank...
  
  
• AVM Armoured Vehicle Medium
• AVR armoured vehicle reconnaissance
• AVRE Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers
  Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers
  Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers is the title given to a series of armoured vehicles operated by the Royal Engineers for the purpose of battlefield engineer support. These vehicles have been either purpose-built or post-production modifications of existing tank-based armoured vehicles...
  
   (UK)
• AVT Advanced Vehicle Technologies (US)
• AWE Advanced Warfighting Experiment
• AWOL Absent Without Official Leave
  Desertion
  In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
  
  

B

• BAe British Aerospace
  British Aerospace
  British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
  
  
• 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
  Base bleed
  Base bleed is a system used on some artillery shells to increase their range, typically by about 30%.Most of the drag on an artillery shell comes from the nose of the shell, as it pushes the air out of its way at supersonic speeds. Shaping the shell properly can reduce this greatly. However,...
  
  
• BBSP Blowback shifted pulse
  AN-94
  The AN-94 is an advanced Russian assault rifle. The initials stand for Avtomat Nikonova Model of 1994....
  
  
• BC Battery Commander
• BCC battery control centre
• BCP Battery Command Post
• BCT Brigade combat team
  Brigade combat team
  The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
  
   (US)
• BCT Basic Combat Training
  Recruit training
  Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
  
  
• BCV Battle Command Vehicle
• BD base detonating
• BDA Browning Double Action or Bomb Damage Assessment
  Bomb damage assessment
  Bomb, or battle damage assessment, often referred to as BDA, is the practice of assessing damage inflicted on a target by an air campaign. It is part of the larger discipline of combat assessment...
  
  
• BDM Bunker Demolition Munition
• BDU Battle Dress Uniform
  Battle Dress Uniform
  The Battle Dress Uniform were the fatigues that the armed forces of the United States used as their standard uniform for combat situations from September 1981 to April 2005. Since then, it has been replaced in every branch of the U.S. military. Only the U.S. Navy currently authorizes wear of the...
  
  
• BE base ejection
• BFA Blank-firing adaptor
  Blank-firing adaptor
  A blank-firing adaptor or blank-firing attachment , sometimes called a blank adaptor or blank attachment, is a device used in conjunction with blank ammunition. Blank firing adapters are required for allowing blanks to cycle most automatic firearms.-Design:The design of the blank firing adapter...
  
   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
  Biological warfare
  Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
  
  
• BX Bionix AFV
  Bionix AFV
  The Bionix is a family of tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicles developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics . Intended to augment the Singapore Army's aging M113 armoured personnel carriers, it is the first indigenous armoured vehicle to be developed in Southeast Asia...
  
  

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
  Charge-coupled device
  A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
  
  
• 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
  Cento
  Cento is a city and comune in the province of Ferrara, part of the region Emilia-Romagna . In Italian "cento" means 100.-History:The name Cento is a reference to the centuriation of the Po Valley...
  
   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
  Cathode ray tube
  The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
  
  
• CRU Cable Reel Unit
• CS Communications Subsystem
• CS Confined Space
• CS (USAF) Communications Squadron
• CSB Combat Support Boat
  Combat Support Boat
  The Combat Support Boat is a boat in use with the British Army. It is a powerful, versatile craft whose major role is to support both bridging and amphibious operations. Powered by Water jet propulsion it has a high thrust at shallow draught. It is also be used as a general-purpose working boat and...
  
  
• 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
  Cento
  Cento is a city and comune in the province of Ferrara, part of the region Emilia-Romagna . In Italian "cento" means 100.-History:The name Cento is a reference to the centuriation of the Po Valley...
  
   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
  Chemical warfare
  Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
  
  
• 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
  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency was a part of the UK Ministry of Defence until July 2, 2001. At the time it was the United Kingdom's largest science and technology organisation...
  
   (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
  Defense Intelligence Agency
  The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
  
   (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
  Defence Procurement Agency
  The Defence Procurement Agency , was an Executive Agency of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence responsible for the acquisition of materiel, equipment and services, for the British armed forces....
  
   (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
  Electronic countermeasures
  An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
  
  
• 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
  Engineering Installation
  Engineering Installation, better known as EI, is a functionary of the United States Air Force thatprovides the engineering and installation of telecommunications into permanent facilities...
  
  
• EIS Engineering and Installation Squadron
  Engineering Installation
  Engineering Installation, better known as EI, is a functionary of the United States Air Force thatprovides the engineering and installation of telecommunications into permanent facilities...
  
  
• EI SIT Engineering and Installation
  Engineering Installation
  Engineering Installation, better known as EI, is a functionary of the United States Air Force thatprovides the engineering and installation of telecommunications into permanent facilities...
  
   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
  Euromissile
  Euromissile was a European consortium set up in the 1970s by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG of Germany and Aérospatiale of France to produce the Euromissile HOT anti-tank missile. All activities have been merged and are now part of MBDA....
  
   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
  M981 FISTV
  The M981 FISTV is a United States Army armored vehicle designed to house an artillery observer team in mechanized units...
  
   (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
  U.S. Army Field Manuals
  U.S. Army Field Manuals are published by the United States Army's Army Publishing Directorate. As of 27 July 2007, some 542 field manuals were in use. They contain detailed information and how-tos for procedures important to soldiers serving in the field. They are usually available to the public at...
  
  
• FM Titanium tetrachloride
  Titanium tetrachloride
  Titanium tetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the formula TiCl4. It is an important intermediate in the production of titanium metal and the pigment titanium dioxide. TiCl4 is an unusual example of a metal halide that is highly volatile...
  
   (code designation)
• FMBS Family of Muzzle Brake/Suppressors
• FMC Food Machinery Corporation
• FMF Fleet Marine Force
• FMJ Full Metal Jacket
  Full Metal Jacket
  Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
  
  
• 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
  Field of view
  The field of view is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment....
  
  
• FPA Focal Plane Array
• FRAG fragmentation
  Fragmentation (weaponry)
  Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
  
  
• FRAGO FRAGmentary Order. (see OPORD)
• FRES Future Rapid Effect System
  Future Rapid Effect System
  The Future Rapid Effect System is the British MOD programme to deliver a fleet of more than 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles for the British Army...
  
  
• FROG free rocket over ground
• FSCL fire support coordination line
• FSCM fire support coordination measure
• FSCV fire support combat vehicle
• FSE fire support element
  Artillery
  Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
  
  
• 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
  FUBAR
  FUBAR is an acronym that commonly means "fucked up beyond all recognition/any repair/all reason".-Etymology and history:The Oxford English Dictionary lists Yank, the Army Weekly magazine as its earliest citation: "The FUBAR Squadron.....
  
   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
  Grenade launcher
  A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
  
  
• GLATGM Gun Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile
• GLC gun lay
  Gun laying
  Gun laying is the process of aiming an artillery piece, such as a gun, howitzer or mortar on land or at sea against surface or air targets. It may be laying for direct fire, where the gun is aimed similarly to a rifle, or indirect fire, where firing data is calculated and applied to the sights...
  
   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
  General purpose machine gun
  A general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...
  
  
• GPO gun position officer
• GPS Global Positioning System
  Global Positioning System
  The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
  
  
• GPS gunner's primary sight
• GPSS Gunner's Primary Sight Subsystem
• GREM Grenade Rifle Entry Munition
• GRU Glavnoe Razvedyvatel'noe Upravlenie
  GRU
  GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
  
  , 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
  Hour
  The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds...
  
  (s)
• H&K Heckler and Koch
  Heckler & Koch
  Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
  
  
• 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
  Howitzer
  A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
  
   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
  Heavy machine gun
  The heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...
  
  
• 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
  High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
  The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
  
  
• HMX Marine Special Mission Helicopter Squadron
• HOE Holographic Optical Element
  Holographic optical element
  H.O.E stands for Holographic optical element and it is a hologram that consists of a diffraction pattern rendered as a surface relief, or a thin film containing an index modulation throughout the thickness of the film...
  
  
• HOT Haute subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé
• How Howitzer
  Howitzer
  A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
  
  
• HP High Power; Hollow Point
• hp Horsepower
  Horsepower
  Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
  
  
• 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
  Incendiary ammunition
  -World War I:One of the first uses of incendiary ammunition occurred in World War I. At the time, phosphorus—the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge—ignited upon firing, leaving a trail of blue smoke. They were also known as 'smoke tracer' for this reason. The effective range of...
  
  
• IAFV infantry armoured fighting vehicle
• IAI Israel Aircraft Industries
  Israel Aircraft Industries
  Israel Aerospace Industries or IAI is Israel's prime aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 16,000 employees as of 2007...
  
  
• 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
  Integrated logistics support
  Integrated logistics support is an integrated approach to the management of logistic disciplines in the military, similar to commercial product support or customer service organisations...
  
  
• 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
  Infrared
  Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
  
  
• IRBM Intermediate-range ballistic missile
  Intermediate-range ballistic missile
  An intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental 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
  Kinetic energy
  The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
  
  
• KEC Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation
• KEM Kinetic Energy Missile (US)
• kg kilogramme(s)
• KIA Killed in Action
  Killed in action
  Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
  
  
• KIFV Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• KPA Korean People's Army
  Korean People's Army
  The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
  
  

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
  Light machine gun
  A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
  
  
• 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
  Long rifle
  The American longrifle , better known as the Kentucky rifle was described best by Captain John G. W. Dillin in the dedication to his seminal 1924 book, The Kentucky 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
  Metre
  The metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...
  
  (s)
• m/s metres per second
• MAB Marine Amphibious Brigade
• MABS Marine Air Base Squadron
• MAC Medium Armored Car (US)
• MAC Military Airlift Command
  Military Airlift Command
  The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
  
  
• 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
  Main battle tank
  A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
  
  
• 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
  MEDEVAC
  Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
  
   Medical Evacuation
• MEF Marine Expeditionary Force
• MENS Mission Element Need Statement (US)
• MEP Modular Explosive Penetrator
• MEPSMilitary Entrance Processing Station
• METO
  Cento
  Cento is a city and comune in the province of Ferrara, part of the region Emilia-Romagna . In Italian "cento" means 100.-History:The name Cento is a reference to the centuriation of the Po Valley...
  
   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
  Machine gun
  A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
  
  
• MGB Medium Girder Bridge
  Medium Girder Bridge
  The Medium Girder Bridge is a lightweight, man portable bridge and can be assembled without help from heavy equipment. In addition, it is also a deck type, two-girder bridging system capable of carrying loads up to and including Main battle tanks .MGB was originally produced by Fairey Engineering...
  
  
• 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
  United States Army Aviation and Missile Command
  The United States Army Aviation and Missile Command is primarily responsible for life cycle management of army missile, helicopter, unmanned ground vehicle and unmanned aerial vehicle weapon systems. The central part of AMCOM's job involves acquisition and sustainment support for aviation and...
  
   (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
  Millimetre
  The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....
  
  (s)
• MMBF mean miles between failures
• MMG Medium Machine Gun
  Medium machine gun
  A medium machine gun or MMG, in modern terms, usually refers to a belt-fed automatic firearm firing a full-power rifle cartridge.-History:...
  
  
• MMS mast-mounted sight
• MMS Modular Mounting System
• MNVD Monocular Night Vision Device
  AN/PVS-14
  The AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device is in widespread use by US Armed Forces as well as NATO allies around the world. It uses a third generation image intensifier tube, and is manufactured by Litton Industries as well as the ITT Corporation...
  
  
• 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
  MOPP
  MOPP is a military term used to describe protective gear to be used in a toxic environment, i.e., during a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear strike:* Protective mask — Commonly referred to as a gas mask or pro mask...
  
   Mission Oriented Protective Posture (US)
• MOS
  United States military occupation code
  A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
  
   Military Occupational Specialty (US)
• MoU Memorandum of Understanding
• MOUT Military Operations in Urban Terrain (urban warfare
  Urban warfare
  Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
  
  ) (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
  Moving target indication
  Moving target indication is a mode of operation of a radar to discriminate a target against clutter. In contrast to another mode, stationary target indication, it takes an advantage of the fact that the target moves with respect to stationary clutter. The most common approach takes advantage of...
  
  
• 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
  Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment
  The Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment was a British defence research unit on Chobham Lane, Chertsey in Surrey. It was responsible for many innovations in armoured vehicle design, including ceramic Chobham armour.-History:...
  
   (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
  Weapons of mass destruction
  A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
  
  
• 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
  NATO Response Force
  The NATO Response Force is a "coherent, high-readiness, joint, multinational force package" of up to 25,000 troops that is "technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable and sustainable"...
  
  
• NS Network Services
• NTC National Training Center (USA)
• NUGP nominal unit ground pressure
• NV Night Vision
• NVD Night Vision Device
  Night vision goggles
  A night vision device is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. They are most often used by the military and law enforcement agencies, but are available to civilian users...
  
  
• 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
  Shaped charge
  A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Various types are used to cut and form metal, to initiate nuclear weapons, to penetrate armor, and in the oil and gas industry...
  
  )
• 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
  Collimator sight
  A collimator sight is a type of optical sight that allows the user looking into it to see an illuminated aiming point aligned with the device the sight is attached to regardless of eye position...
  
  )
• 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
  Observation post
  An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
  
  
• OP Operators Panel
• OPCON OPerational CONtrol
• OPDW Objective Personal Defense Weapon
• OPORD OPerations Order
  OPORD
  An Operations Order, often abbreviated as OPORD, is an executable plan that directs a unit to conduct a military operation. An Operations Order will describe the situation facing the unit, the mission of the unit, and what activities the unit will conduct to achieve the mission goals...
  
  
• 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
  MoD Procurement Executive
  The MoD Procurement Executive was the acquisition organisation of the Ministry of Defence.The Procurement Executive was established on 2 August 1971 as a single procurement agency for all three services with Derek Rayner as the first Chief of Defence Procurement...
  
   (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
  PIAT
  The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...
  
   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
  Royal Artillery
  The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
  
  
• RAAM Rifle-launched Anti-Armour Munition
• RAAMS Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (US)
• PABD Pay Entry Base Date
• RAC Royal Armoured Corps
  Royal Armoured Corps
  The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
  
  
• RADIRS Rapid Deployment Multiple Rocket System (US)
• RAAF Royal Australian Air Force
  Royal Australian Air Force
  The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
  
  
• RAE Royal Aircraft Establishment
  Royal Aircraft Establishment
  The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
  
  , Royal Aircraft Establishment (Farnborough)
• RAE Royal Australian Engineers
  Royal Australian Engineers
  The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
  
  , Australian Combat Engineers
• RAF Royal Air Force
  Royal Air Force
  The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
  
  
• RAM-D reliability, availability, maintainability and durability
• RAN Royal Australian Navy
  Royal Australian Navy
  The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
  
  
• 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
  Rifleman's Assault Weapon
  The Rifleman's Assault Weapon is a close-support rocket-propelled grenade developed around 1977 and put into limited service by the United States Marine Corps in the 1990s. It was developed in response to a military requirement for a multi-purpose close support 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
  Royal Canadian Air Force
  The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
  
  
• RCC ROLAND Coordination Center (US)
• RCDU Remote-Controlled Defence Unit
• RCL Recoilless rifle
  Recoilless rifle
  A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
  
  
• RCN Royal Canadian Navy
  Royal Canadian Navy
  The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
  
  
• RCS Radar Cross Section
• RCT Regimental Combat Team
• RCT Royal Corps of Transport
  Royal Corps of Transport
  The Royal Corps of Transport was a British Army Corps formed in 1965 from the transport elements of the Royal Army Service Corps and the movement control element of the Royal Engineers . The depot was Buller Barracks in Aldershot...
  
  
• 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
  Royal Field Artillery
  The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
  
  
• RFAS Russian Federation and Associated States
• RFC Royal Flying Corps
  Royal Flying Corps
  The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
  
  
• RFI request for information
• RFP request for proposals
• RFPI Rapid Force Projection Initiative
• RFQ Request For Quotations
• RGGS Rifle Grenade General Service
  Rifle Grenade General Service
  The Rifle Grenade General Service was a rifle grenade in service with the British Army since 1996.The grenade is of the bullet-trap type and is launched from the muzzle of the L85A2 rifle using standard ball ammunition...
  
  
• RHA rolled homogeneous armour
  Rolled homogeneous armour
  Rolled homogeneous armour is a type of steel which is used to armour vehicles.-Composition:Armoured steel must be hard yet impervious to shock in order to resist high velocity metal projectiles. Steel with these characteristics is produced by processing cast steel billets of appropriate size and...
  
  
• RHA Royal Horse Artillery
  Royal Horse Artillery
  The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
  
  
• RIN the former Royal Indian Navy
  Royal Indian Navy
  The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
  
  
• 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
  Royal Navy
  The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
  
  
• RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
• RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy
• RO Royal Ordnance
  Royal Ordnance
  Royal Ordnance plc was formed on 2 January 1985 as a public corporation, owning the majority of what until then were the remaining United Kingdom government-owned Royal Ordnance Factories which manufactured explosives, ammunition, small arms including the Lee-Enfield rifle, guns and military...
  
  
• ROBAT Robotic Counter-Obstacle Vehicle (US)
• RoC Republic of China
• ROC required operational characteristics
• ROE Rules Of Engagement
• ROF Royal Ordnance Factory
  Royal Ordnance Factory
  Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
  
   (UK)
• ROF rate of fire
  Rate of fire
  Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. It is usually measured in rounds per minute , or per second .-Overview:...
  
  
• RoK Republic of Korea
• RoKIT Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank
• ROR range only radar
• ROTA Royal Ordnance Training Ammunition
• RP Red phosphorus
  Allotropes of phosphorus
  Elemental phosphorus can exist in several allotropes; the most common of which are white and red solids. Solid violet and black allotropes are also known. Gaseous phosphorus exists as diphosphorus and atomic phosphorus.-White phosphorus:...
  
  
• RP rocket-propelled
• RPC Rocket Pod Container
• RPG Rocket-propelled grenade
• RPG Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot
  RPG-2
  The RPG-2 was the first rocket-propelled grenade launcher designed in the Soviet Union.-Development:The RPG-2 , was a man-portable, shoulder-launched rocket-propelled grenade anti-armor weapon...
  
  
• RPV Remotely piloted vehicle
• RR Recoilless rifle
  Recoilless rifle
  A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
  
  
• RRPR Reduced Range Practice Rocket
• RRTR Reduced Range Training Round
• RSAF Royal Small Arms Factory
  Royal Small Arms Factory
  The Royal Small Arms Factory was a UK government-owned rifle factory in the London Borough of Enfield in an area generally known as the Lea Valley. The factory produced British military rifles, muskets and swords from 1816...
  
   (UK) (now closed)
• RSS Rosette Scanning Seeker
• RTE Rifle Team Equipment
• RTT Roues Transporteur de Troupes
• RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish 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
  The Stabilized Automatic Bomb Sight was a tachometric bombsight introduced into operational service by the Royal Air Force in 1943 during World War II. Hand-made throughout its lifetime, the SABS was produced in very small numbers and used only in specialist roles...
  
   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
  Surface-to-air missile
  A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
  
  
• SAMM Société d'Applications des Machines Motrices
• SANDF South African National Defence Force
  South African National Defence Force
  The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
  
  
• SANG Saudi Arabian National Guard
  Saudi Arabian National Guard
  The Saudi Arabian National Guard is a separate military force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force...
  
  
• 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
  Squad automatic weapon
  A squad automatic weapon is a weapon used to give infantry squads or sections a portable source of automatic firepower. Weapons used in this role are selective-fire rifles, usually fitted with a bipod and heavier barrel to perform as Light machine guns...
  
  
• SAWS Squad Automatic Weapon System
• SB Short Barrel
• SCORE Stratified Charge Omnivorous Rotary Engine
• SD self-destruct
  Self-destruct
  A self-destruct is a mechanism which causes a device to destroy itself under a predefined set of circumstances.Self-destruct mechanisms are also found on devices and systems where malfunction could endanger large numbers of people...
  
  (ion)
• SEAL Sea/Air/Land
• SEALOCK Search, Locate, and Communicate or Kill
  Sealock
  Sealock may refer to:* Sealock * SEALOCK, an acronym for Search, Locate, and Communicate or Kill* Seal-Lock * Sealock Security Systems, Inc....
  
  
• 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
  Rocket
  A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
  
  /ramjet
  Ramjet
  A ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of airbreathing jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor. Ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed and thus cannot move an aircraft from a standstill...
  
  
• 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
  SINCGARS
  SINCGARS is a Combat Net Radio currently used by U.S. and allied military forces. The radios, which handle voice and data communications, are designed to be reliable, secure and easily maintained...
  
   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 sabot
  Sabot
  A sabot is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter, or which must be held in a precise position. The term is also applied to a battery stub case, a device used similarly to make a small electrical battery usable in a...
  
  ed 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
  Assault gun
  An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
  
  
• SPARK solid propellant advanced ramjet
  Ramjet
  A ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of airbreathing jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor. Ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed and thus cannot move an aircraft from a standstill...
  
   kinetic energy missile
• SPAS Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun
• SPATG self-propelled anti-tank gun
• SPAW self-propelled artillery
  Artillery
  Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
  
   weapon
• SPG self-propelled gun
• SPH self-propelled howitzer
  Howitzer
  A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
  
  
• SPL self-propelled launcher
• SPLL Self-propelled Loader Launcher
• SPM self-propelled mortar
  Mortar (weapon)
  A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
  
  
• 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
  STANAG
  STANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which sets up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within their own...
  
  
• STARTLE Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar for Tank Location and Engagement (US)
• STE/ICE Simplified Test Equipment/Internal Combustion Engine (US)
• STOVL
  STOVL
  STOVL is an acronym for short take off and vertical landing.This is the ability of some aircraft to take off from a short runway or take off vertically if it does not have a very heavy payload and land vertically...
  
   Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
• STUP spinning tubular projectile
• SUB SUBstitute
  Substitute
  Substitute may refer to:In economics:*Substitute good: two goods are substitutes in demand if, when the market price of the first good rises, the price of the second good also rises, and vice-versa....
  
  
• 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
  TACBE
  The tactical beacon or TACBE as it is often known has been used by British and American armed forces for many years. Its primary role is to contact planes or helicopters which may be overhead or nearby....
  
  
• TACMS Army Tactical Missile System (US)
• TACOM Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
  U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
  The United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command , formerly known as Tank-automotive and Armaments Command , headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, is part of the United States Army Materiel Command . It generates, provides, and sustains mobility, lethality, and...
  
   (US)
• TAD Temporary Additional Duty (Naval Services term)Temporary Duty
  TDY
  A temporary duty assignment , also known as "temporary additional duty" , "temporary duty travel" or "temporary duty" , refers to a United States Government employee travel assignment at a location other than the employee's permanent duty station. They are usually of relatively short duration,...
  
  
• 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
  Tank destroyer
  A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
  
  
• TDCS Tank Driver Command System
• TDD Target Detection Device
• TDR Target Data Receiver
• TDY Temporary Duty
  TDY
  A temporary duty assignment , also known as "temporary additional duty" , "temporary duty travel" or "temporary duty" , refers to a United States Government employee travel assignment at a location other than the employee's permanent duty station. They are usually of relatively short duration,...
  
  
• 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
  Television
  Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
  
  
• TWD Thermal Warning Device
• TWMP Track Width Mine Plough
• TWS Thermal Weapon Sight
• TYDP Ten Year Defence Programme (Australia)

U

• UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
  Unmanned aerial vehicle
  An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
  
  
• UBLE Universal Bridge Launching Equipment
• UCVP Universal Combat Vehicle Platform
• UDR Ulster Defence Regiment
  Ulster Defence Regiment
  The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
  
  
• UET Universal Engineer Tractor (US)
• UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicle
  Unmanned ground vehicle
  An unmanned ground vehicle is a military robot used to augment the soldiers capability. This type of robot is generally capable of operating outdoors and over a wide variety of terrain, functioning in place of humans....
  
  
• ULC Unit Load Container
• UMA Universal Mounting Adapter
• UMP Universal Machine Pistol
• USA United States of America/United States Army
  United States Army
  The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
  
  
• 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
  United States Army Air Forces
  The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
  
  
• USAF United States Air Force
  United States Air Force
  The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
  
  
• USCG United States Coast Guard
  United States Coast Guard
  The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
  
  
• USMC United States Marine Corps
  United States Marine Corps
  The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
  
  
• USN United States Navy
  United States Navy
  The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
  
  
• USP Universal Self-loading Pistol
• UTL Universal Tactical Light
• UTM Universal Transverse Mercator
• UTS Universal Turret System
• UV Ultraviolet
  Ultraviolet
  Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
  
  
• UW Urban Warfare
  Urban warfare
  Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
  
  

V

• V Volt
  Volt
  The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
  
  (s)
• VAB Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
  Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
  The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.- Design :The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the...
  
   (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
  Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie
  The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed to replace the AMX-10P. They joined active service in 2008, with 630 vehicles ordered up to 2010...
  
  
• 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
  Euromissile HOT
  The HOT is a second-generation long-range anti-tank missile system developed originally as an effort to meet a joint German-French Army requirement, by the then German firm Bolkow and the French firm Nord, to replace the older SS.11 wire guided...
  
   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
  Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
  In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC and another from British Aerospace . VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the "Options for Change" defence review after the...
  
  
• VT variable time (fuse)
• VTOL
  VTOL
  A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
  
   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
  Tracer ammunition
  Tracer ammunition are bullets that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the phosphorus tail burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...
  
  
• WSM Winchester Short Magnum
  Winchester Short Magnum
  Winchester Short Magnum, or WSM, refers to a family of rebated rim bottlenecked centerfire short magnum cartridges developed in the early 2000s by the U.S. Repeating Arms Company, the maker of Winchester rifles and one of the oldest firearms manufacturers in the United States...
  
  
• WTS Wing Transportation Squadron (USMC)

See also

• List of established military terms
• List of military tactics
• Glossary of firearms terminology
  Glossary of firearms terminology
  -A:*accurize, accurizing: The process of altering a stock firearm to improve its accuracy.*action: The physical mechanism that manipulates cartridges and/or seals the breech. The term is also used to describe the method in which cartridges are loaded, locked, and extracted from the mechanism....