Acronyms and Codenames FAQ, R-T
==R==========================================================================
R4M
[Germany] Rakete, 4kg, Minenkopf. 4kr rocket with explosive head.
The R4M was 812mm long, had a cross-section of 55mm, weighed 3.85kg,
had a range of 1500m and a speed of 525m/sec. It was carried by Me 262
fighters at the end of WWII.
--RA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAAF
[Australia] Royal Australian Air Force
RAAWS
Radar Altimeter & Altitude Warning System
Radar
'RAdio Detection And Ranging', detection, location and tracking of
aircraft by reflected radio waves. First patented in 1904 by one
Christian Hulsemeyer, but became of practical use at the time of the
outbreak of WWII. British, Germans and Russians developed their own
systems.
RADIAC
Radiactivity Detection, Indication, and Computation
Radiator
[UK] Anti-aircraft rocket launcher. WWII.
Radieschen
[Germany] Passive radar homer fitted to some BV 246 Hagelkorn
long-range glide bombs.
RADINT
Radar Intelligence
Radop
[Canada] Radar reflective Optical scoring target. Towed target.
RAE
[UK] Royal Aircraft Establishment, later Royal Aerospace
Establishment. Now part of DRA.
RAeS
[UK] Royal Aeronautical Society
RAF
[UK] Royal Air Force
RAFG
[UK] RAF Germany
RAFSEE
[UK] Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment
RAFVR
[UK] RAF Volunteer Reserve. Created in 1936.
RAG
[USA] Replenishment Air Group
RAGEL
[France] Reconaissance, Attaque, Guerre Electronique ---
Reconaissance, attack, electronic warfare. Development of
the Mirage G4 variable geometry reconaissance and attack
aircraft. Abandoned.
RAI
[UK] Reconaissance Attack Interface. Reconaissance aircraft that
immediately call up aircraft to attack found targets.
RAID
[USA] Reconaissance And Intediction Detachment. ARNG helicopter unit
assigned to assist the DEA in law enforcement.
RAKR
[USSR] Atomnaya raketniy kreyser (nuclear rocket cruiser)
RALS
Remote Augmentation Lift System
RAM
Radar Absorbent Material
RAMICS
[USA] Rapid Airborne Mine Clearing System. Basically, this uses a laser-aimed
20mm cannon firing special rounds to detonate mines.
RAM-x
Aircraft first identified at the Soviet airfield of Ramenskoye were
temporarely labeled RAM-x by NATO, were _x_ is a sequence letter.
Ram-H => Tu-144D (and Suchoi T-4?)
Ram-J => Su-25
Ram-K => Su-27
Ram-L => MiG-29
Ram-M => M-17
Ram-P => Tu-160
Ram-R => Buran
Ram-T => Yak-141
Ramrod
[UK] Bomber escort mission. WWII.
RAMS
[USA] Research Aircraft Meteorological System. An instrument package
fitted to the P-3C Orions of the NOAA.
RAMSES
[France] Reseau Amont Maille Strategique et de Survie. A command
system for the French nuclear forces.
Ranch Hand
[USA] Modified C-123 for defoliation missions.
Randy
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.102 attack aircraft
/ fighter.
Ranger
[UK] (WWII) Ground attacks on targets within German-occupied
territory.
Ranger
[UK] (After WWII) Overseas training flight.
Rankin
[Allied] Plan for the occupation of Europe after the defeat of
nazi Germany. Renamed Talisman, then Eclipse.
RANSAC
[USA] Range Surveillance Aircraft. The Beech RC-12F, used to
monitor a firing range for ballistic missiles.
RAP
Radar Absorbent Paint
Rapport
[Belgium] Rapid Alert Programmed Power Management and Radar. An
ECM System.
RARO
[Netherlands] Remote Aerial Refuelling Operator. The Dutch KDC-10
tankers are conversions of commercial aircraft. The operator of
the flying boom has a remote station behind the cockpit.
RAS
Rectified Airspeed
RAT
Ram-Air Turbine
RATAN
Radio And Television Aid to Navigation
RATO
Rocket-Assisted Take Off
RATO
Rocket-Assisted Take Off Gear
RATT
Radioteletype
RAuxAF
[UK] Royal Auxiliary Air Force
RAWIN
[USA] Radar Wind Sounding
RAWINSONDE
[USA] Radar Wind Sounding and Radiosonde
RAWS
Radar Altitude Warning System
RAWS
Radar Attack & Warning System
Razon
[USA] See VB.
Ray
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi Type 1. Did not exist. (Was A6M)
--RB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RBSU
[UK] Radar Bomb Score Unit, for the evaltuation of simulated bombing
runs. 1960s.
--RC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RC
Radio Control
RCAF
[Canada] Royal Canadian Airforce
RCC
[USA,UK] Rescue Coordination Centre
RCM
Radio Countermeasures
RCS
Radar Cross Section.
RCV
Reaction Control Valves, 'puffer jets' using compressed air, used
to control VTOL aircraft in the hover mode.
--RD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
R&D
Research and Development
RDF
[UK] Radio Direction Finding, the original acronym for 'radar'.
RDFS
Radio Direction Finding Station
RDI
[France] Radar Doppler a Impulsions --- Pulse-Doppler radar. Fitted
to the Mirage 2000 from 1986 onwards.
RDM
[France] Radar Doppler a Modulation --- Modulated Doppler radar.
Fitted to first production series of Mirage 2000.
RDT&E
Research, Development, Test & Evaluation
--RE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Real Nite
[USA] Test of night navigation and attack systems on an A-6E Intruder.
Rebecca
[UK/USA] AN/AP-2 Navigation aid. Also a receiver for 'Eureka'.
REC
Radio Electronic Combat -- translation of the Russian terminology for
ECM.
RECSHIP
[USA] Receiving Ship
RECSTA
[USA] Receiving Station
RED
Risk Estimate Distance, 'safe' distance to friendly forces to use
weapons.
Red Baron
[USA] The Red Baron report was an investigation into air combat tactics,
issued in 1972. It advised the introduction of Dissimilar Air Combat
training.
Red Bean
[Belgium] Humanitary intervention in Zaire, 1978.
Red Beard
[UK] Free-fall nuclear weapon. 5 to 20 kiloton, weight 794kg.
Service between 1958 and 1972.
Red Bird
[USA] Deployment of B-26 Invader bombers with infrared bomb-aiming
equipment to Korea.
Red Brick
[UK] Radar system associated with the Bloodhound SAM.
Red Crown
[USA] Radar station aboard a ship in the Tonkin Gulf, during the
Vietnam war.
Red Dean
[UK] Nuclear warhead planned for "Green Cheese", or a active-
homing, all-weather missile under development in the 1950s.
Red Dragon
[USA/Belgium] Operations in Congo in 1964, after severe clashes and
killings in this country. The USA provided transport, Belgium
provided ground forces.
Red Flag
[USA] Exercise held on Nellis AFB.
Red Garter
[UK] Tail warning radar, for the V-bomber force. An unreliable
system that was replaced by 'Orange Putter'.
Red Haze
[USA] AN/UAS-4 infrared surveillance equipment, carried by the
OV-1C.
Red Horse
[USA] Rapid Engineer Deployment, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron
Red Neck
[UK] Side-looking radar. A sleek 40ft long pod.
Red Snow
[UK] Code name for a 'physics package', the actual nuclear weapon
in a series of nuclear bombs --- the bomb casings had their own
codenames. It was intended for 'Blue Steel'.
Red Steer
[UK] Tail warning radar for the Victor bomber.
Red Team
[USA] Team of two gunship helicopters. See 'Pink Team'.
Red Team
[USA] Effort to developed detection techniques capable of
defeating 'Stealth' aircraft.
Reforger
[NATO] REturn of FORces to GERmany -- exercise to transport US troops
to Germany.
Regulus
[USA] Ship-launched long-range cruise missile. Regulus I and II were
otherwise totally different. The Regulus missile was also carried by
the two 'Grayback' class submarines. No longer in service.
REINS
[USA] Radar-Equipped Intertial Navigation System. Navagition and
bombing system for the A-5 Vigilante.
Rejuvenate
[UK] Air defense exercise, 1956.
REMBASS
[USA] Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System
Rentai
[Japan] Regiment
RESCAP
[USA] Rescue Combat Air Patrol
Resolute
[UK] Operations of UK land forces in Bosnia, as part of IFOR.
See also Hamden.
Restore Hope
[USA] United Nations effort for Humanitarian Operations in Somalia.
Rex
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawanishi N1K Kyofu seaplane fighter
--RF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF
Radio Frequency
RFA
[Germany] Riesenflugzeug-Abteilung. Giant aircraft unit, i.e.
long-range bomber unit, equipped with 'R' type aircraft. WWI.
RFC
[UK] Royal Flying Corps. The WWI air corps of the British Army.
RFI
Request for Information
RFNA
Red Fuming Nitric Acid, nitric acid with a stabilizer added. Used as
oxidizer in rocket engines, with the advantage that it can easily be
stored. Common in 'storable liquid' missiles. (In contrast with
missiles that use cryogenic, non-storable liquid fuels.)
RFP
Request For Proposals
RFQ
Request For Quotations
RFT
Request For Tender
RFWDF
[USA] Radio Frequency Warner and Direction Finder
--RG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RG
[USA] Reconaissance Group
RGM
[USA] Ship-launched, guided ground-to-ground Missile.
RGM-6 Regulus I
RGM-66 Standard
RGM-84 Harpoon
RGM-15 Regulus
--RH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RHAW
[USA] Radar Homing And Warning system. Used for strikes at enemy radar
sites, AN/APR-25.
RHC
[France] Regiment d'Helicopteres de Combat -- combat helicopter
regiment.
Rheinbote
[Germany] A slender, four-stage, unguided surface-to-surface missile,
built at the end of WWII. Over 200 were fired at Antwerp. Range was
218km; it used solid fuel.
Rheintochter
[Germany] A WWII SAM, a large and ambitious missile. Terminated in
1944.
Rheinubung
[Germany] Originally planned as a operation of the German surface fleet
against allied convoys, with Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen involved. Reduced to the latter two by damage to the former;
ended with the sinking of Bismarck on 26 May 1941.
Rhombu
[UK] Meteorological reconaissance mission over the North Sea.
Rhubarb
[UK] Fighter sweep against ground targets, during WWII.
RHWR
Radar Homing & Warning Receiver
RHWS
Radar Homing & Warning System
--RI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RIC
[UK] Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre.
Ricebowl
[USA] Planning for 'Eagle Claw'.
Rigel
[USA] Program to create a supersonic cruise missile, 1946 -- 1952.
Rikujyu Jietai
[Japan] Japanese ground self defence force, JGSDF.
RIO
[USA] Radar Intercept Officer; the second crewmember in USN two-seat
fighters.
RIOD
[Netherlands] RijksInstituut voor OorlogsDocumentatie. National
institute researching the history of WWII, and recently also
the Dutch involvement in UN operations in Bosnia.
RIM
[USA] Ship-launched SAM.
RIM-2 Terrier
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-8 Talos
RIM-24 Tartar
RIM-46 Sea Mauler
RIM-50 Typhon
RIM-55 Typhon
RIM-66 Standard
RIM-67 Standard ER
Rimau
[Allied] Raid by Britsh commando units on Singapore Harbour. 1944.
RINT
Radiation Itelligence; refers to radiation emitted by equipment, e.g.
the ignition systems of car engines.
Rita
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Nakajima G8N Renzan bomber
Rivet Ace
[USA] B-52G, used to test compatibility with the SRAM missile and
a new ECM package.
Rivet Amber
[USA] Boeing RC-135E, ELINT aircraft
Rivet Ball
[USA] Boeing RC-135S, ELINT aircraft.
Rivet Brass
[USA] Boeing RC-135, TELINT aircraft.
Rivet Card
[USA] Boeing RC-135M, SIGINT aircraft.
Rivet Joint
[USA] Boeing RC-135V and RC-135W, SIGINT aircraft.
Rivet Quick
[USA] Boeing RC-135M, SIGINT aircraft.
Rivet Rider
[USA] Psychological warfare version of the C-130 Hercules. EC-103E
Rivet Top
[USA] The EC-121M, an upgraded version of the EC-121 AEW aircraft.
Rivisera
[Sri Lanka] Operations against the "Tamil Tiger" rebels.
Rivisera I, December 1995; Rivisera II, April 1996.
--RJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--RK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RKA
[USSR] Raketniy kater (rocket cutter)
RKKA
[USSR] Rabotche Krestianskaia Krasnaia Armia --- Red Army of the
Working People.
RKR
[USSR] Raketniy kreyser (rocket cruiser)
--RL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RLA
[USA] Rotary Launcher Assembly
RLAF
Royal Laotian Air Force
RLD
[Netherlands] Rijksluchtvaartdienst. Civil aviation authority.
RLM
[Germany] Reichsluftfartministerium -- imperial air ministry
RLS
[USSR] Radiolokatisonnaya stantsiya - RADAR
--RM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RM
[Sweden] Naming system of Swedish jet engines.
RM 7 Bristol Olympus 22R
RM 10 Rolls-Royce Avon 527B
RM 11 Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8
RM 15 Williams/Rolls-Royce ?
(Information supplied by David R. Townend.)
R&M
Reliability & Maintainability
RMA
[Germany] Reichsmarineamt. German admiralty during WWI.
RMPA
[UK] Replacement Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Requirement for an
aircraft to replace the BAe Nimrod. Should be in service by
2001. The upgraded Nimrod 2000 was chosen.
--RN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RNAF
[Norway] Royal Norwegian Air Force
RNAS
[UK] Royal Naval Air Service
RNAS
[UK] Royal Navy Air Station.
RNAV
Navigation system that makes use of airway beacons.
RNAY
[UK] Royal Navy Aircraft Yard
RNHF
Royal Navy Historical Flight
RNZAF
Royal New Zealand Air Force
--RO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RoA
Radius of Action
Rob
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.64 fighter
Robin
[UK] Possibly codename for overlflights of the USSR by RAF
Canberras in the mid-1950s.
ROBO
[USA] ROcket BOmber. Design study started in 1956 for a rocket-
powered bomber, intended to fly round the earth at 30km
altitude.
ROC
Rate of Climb
ROC
Required Operational Capability
ROC
[USA] Reserve Officer Candidate
ROC
[UK] Royal Observed Corps
ROCC
Regional Operations Control Center
Rockeye
[USA] Family of cluster bombs.
ROE
Rules Of Engagement
RoKAF
[South Korea] Republic of Korea Air Force
RoKN
[South Korea] Republic of Korea Navy
Rolling Thunder
[USA] Bombardment campaign against North Vietnam, began on 2 March
1965 and ended in 1968.
ROMAD
[USA] Radio Operator, Maintainer and Driver. Accompanied FAC
officers in the field.
Rooster
[USA/China] Air Transport of the 25136 men of the Chinese 6th Army
to Shikiang, May 1944.
RO/RO
Roll On / Roll Off (ship)
Rsoebud
[USA] AN/APN-19 IFF equipment
Rosvooruzheniye
[Russia] Weapons export agency
ROTC
[USA] Reserve Officer Training Corps
Rotkapchen
[Germany] WWII experimental guided anti-tank missile. Wireguided.
Rotterdam
[Germany] German copy of H2S. The Germans had captured most of an
H2S set when a Stirling bomber crashed near Rotterdam.
Roundup
[Allied] Proposal for an invasion of West Europe in 1942.
Route Package
[USA] Combat sector in Vietnam.
Rover
[UK] Armed reconaissance flight.
Rover
[USA] Project to study nuclear rocket engines.
Roving Sands
[USA] Exercise.
Royal Flush
[USA] Escort and attack missions for fighters of the 8th AF and 9th AF on
D-day.
ROZ
Restricted Operating Zone
--RP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RP
[UK] Rocket Projectile
RP
Rocket Propelled
RP
[USA] Route Package (see there)
RPG
Rounds Per Gun
RPM
Revolutions Per Minute
RPMB
[USA] Remotely Piloted Mini-Blimp, a small airship for seurveillance
purposes.
RPRA
[USA] Remotely Piloted Research Aircraft: A teleguided aircraft to
test the oblique wing concept.
RPRV
Remotely Piloted Research Vehicle
RPV
Remotely Piloted Vehicle
--RQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RQF
[USA] Rescue Flight
RQG
[USA] Rescue Group
RQS
[USA] Rescue Squadron
RQW
[USA] Rescue Wing
--RR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RRC
[NATO] Rapid Reaction Corps
RRE
[UK] Royal Radar Establishment. (Originally Radar Research
Establishment.) Later renamed RSRE.
RRF
[NATO] Rapid Reaction Force
RRFU
[UK] Radar Research Flying Unit. Associated with the RRE.
RRITA
[USA] Rapid Response Intra-Theater Airlifter
--RS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RS
[USA] Reconaissance Squadron
192nd RS 'High Rollers'
RSAF
[Saudi-Arabia] Royal Saudi Air Force
RSAF
[Singapore] Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSO
Reconaissance System Operator
RSO
[UK] Range Safety Officer, for shooting ranges.
RSRA
[USA] Rotor Systems Research Aircraft. The Sikorsky S-72
experimental helicopters.
RSRE
[UK] Royal Signals and Radar Establishment. Now DRA.
RSS
Relaxed Static Stability
R&SU
[UK] Repair and Salvage Unit; sometimes mobile technical units that
folowwed WWII RAF units.
--RT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RT
[USSR] Reydovoy tral'shchik (roadstead minesweeper)
RTAF
Royal Thai Air Force
RTAFB
Royal Thai Air Force Base
RTB
Return To Base
RTF
Radiotelephone
RTN
[Thailand] Royal Thai Navy
RTPB
[Thailand] Royal Thai Border Police
RTPQA
[Canada] Real Time Performance Quality Assurance. Evaluation of the
effiency of the defence.
RTPS
[USA] Real-time Telemetry Processing System. Installed at the NAWC AD
division at Patuxent River, to monitor flight testing.
RTU
[USA] Replacement Training Unit
--RU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rufe
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Nakajima A6M, floatplane version of
the A6M 'Zeke'.
Rumpelkammer
[Germany] V-1 offensive against London, 1944.
RUR
[USA] Ship-launched, anti-submarine rocket -- the torpedo is dropped
by the missile at the end of flight.
RUR-4 Weapon Alpha
RUR-5 Asroc
RUS
[USSR] Air defence radar set. RUS-1 and RUS-2 were put in service in
May 1941.
Ruth
[USA] Codename for the Italian Fiat BR 20 bomber, some of which
were in Japanese service.
--RV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RV
Re-entry Vehicle
RV
Rendez Vous
RVAH
[USA] USN Reconaissance-Attack squadron, Heavy.
RVAH-12 'Speartips'.
RVR
Runway Visual Range
RVSN
[USSR] Rakentye Voiska Strategityesko Naznatseniya (Strategic Missile
Force)
RVV-AE
[USSR] See AAM-AE.
--RW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RW
[USA] Reconaissance Wing
RWE
[UK] Radar Warning Equipment
RWOEU
[UK] Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation Unit
RWR
Radar Warning Receiver
RWR
Rear Warning Radar
--RX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--RY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--RZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
==S==========================================================================
--SA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SA
Surface Attack
SA
Situation Awareness
SAAF
[South Africa] South African Air Force
SAAHS
Stability Augmentation & Altitude Hold System
SABA
Small Agile Battlefield Aircraft
Saber
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-20
Sabre Penetrator
[USA] The ATB, or Advaned Technology Bomber.
SAC
[USA] Strategic Air Command
SACEUR
[NATO] Supreme Allied Commander Europe
SACLANT
[NATO] Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
SACLOS
Semi-Active Command Line Of Sight guidance, or
Semi-Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight
SADARM
[USA] Search And Destroy Armor Munition
Saddler
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-7
SADM
[USA] Special Atomic Demolition Minution. The 'backpack' verion
of the nuclear bomb.
Sadsack
[NATO] Codename for the Chinese Hai Ying 4 cruise missile, also
known as CSSC-7.
SAFE
[USA] Selected Area For Evasion
Safeguard
[USA] ABM defence system for Washington DC and Grand Forks AFB, in
agreement with SALT I. Deactivated one day after it became
operational, on 1 October 1975.
SAG
Surface Action Group
SAGE
[USA] Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
Sageburner
[USA] Attempt to set low-altitud speed records with the McDonnell
F4H-1F Phantom II. 902.760mph at below 25ft!
Sagger
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-3
SAHRS
Standard/Strapdown Attitude & Heading Reference System
Saint II
[USA] Proposal for a lifting-body space vehicle. 1961.
Sakusen
[Japan] Operation.
SAL
[USA] Strategic ALCM launcher. The Rockwell B-1.
SALH
[USA] Semi-Active Laser Homing
Salish
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface cruise missile, SSC-2A
Sally
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi Ki.21 bomber
Salome Committee
[UK] Committee created to deal with the technical and supply aspects
of nuclear weapons deployment.
SALT
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
Salvo
[Israel] Life extension program for the Mirage IIIC.
Sam
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi A7M Reppu fighter
SAM
Surface to Air Missile
SAM
[USA] Special Air Mission
Samlet
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface cruise missile, SSC-2B
SAMOVAR
[Norway] SAM Obstruction in Velocity, Angle and Range. Electronic
jamming pod fitted to Tiger-PAWS aircraft.
SAMSON
Special Avionics Mission Strap-on Now (avionics pod).
Sandal
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-4
Sandbag
[USA] (unofficial) Vietnamese pseudo-trainee, often non-flying
personnel, accompanying US pilots on combat missions, because the
US presence in Vietnam was at the time restricted to a 'training'
mission. 1964.
Sandbox
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-12
Sandy
[USA] Mission for a strike aircraft to escort rescue helicopters over
Vietnam.
SAOEU
[UK] Strike/Attack Operational Evaluation Unit
SAP
Semi-Armour Piercing
Saphir
[France] Flare-launching system used by helicopters of the ALAT.
Sapwood
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-6
SAR
Search And Rescue
SAR
Synthetic Aperture Radar. The aperture of such radar is 'synthetic'
because a series of radar recordings of a side-looking radar is
combined into one image. This increases the 'virtual size' of the
radar antenna to several times its physical size, greatly improving
the resolution of the radar image.
SAR
Semi-Active Radar (homing)
SAR
Synthetic Array Radar.
SARA
[France] Systeme Aerotransportable de Reconaissance Aerienne ---
Air-transportable air-reconaissance system. A lightweight,
transportable ground station, transmitting information to
battlefield commanders in real time.
SARBE
[UK] Search And Rescue Beacon Equipment
Sardine
[NATO] Codename for the Chinese Ying Ji 1 missile, also known as
CSSC-N-4.
SARH
Semi-Active Radar Homing -- missile guidance system. The missile
steers on the reflection of the radar beam transmitted by the aircraft.
SARTU
[UK] Search And Rescue Training Unit
SAS
[USA] Stability Augmentation System; equipment installed in the B-52 to
increase controllability in turbulence.
SAS
[UK] Special Air Service
Sasin
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-8
Satan
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-18
SATCOM
Sattelite Communications
SATIN
[USA] Survivability Augmentation for Transport aIrcraft -- Now! The
acronym SATAN would have been more logical, but has obvious
disadvantages... This is an ECM system for transport aircaft.
Satin
[Allied] Plan for an attack on Sfax on the North African coast.
Abandoned, January 1943.
SATNAV
Sattelite Navigation
SATS
Short Airfield for Tactical Support
SAU
Search and Attack Unit
Saucy
[Allied] Plan for invasion of Northern Burma, a poor man's version of
'Anakim'. 1943.
Savage
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-13
SAVER
[USA] Stowable Aircrew Vehicle Escape Rotoseat. It was a small
'ejectable' helicopter with a 80km range. A demonstror flew, but
the concept was rejected as impractical.
Savil Guvenlik
[Turkey] Coast Guard
Saw Buck
[USA] Deployment of TAC units to Vietnam. 1962.
Sawfly
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-6
Saxhorn
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-7
--SB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBA
[UK] Standard Beam Approach
S-boot
[Germany] Motor torpedo boat
SBS
[UK] Special Boat Service. Naval equivalent of the SAS.
SBT
[UK] Submarine Bubble Target. Release of bubble-generating chemicals
to confuse sonar.
SBX
[USA] Slow Burning eXplosive. Bomb based on the use of 'dust'
explosions, found to be more effective against buildings than
conventional explosives. A WWII development that did not become
operational.
--SC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC
[Germany] Sprengbombe, Cylindrisch. Cylindrical high-explosive bomb.
Suffix used to designate German bombs, preceded by the weight of
the bomb in kg.
SCA
[France] Service Central Aeronautique --- Central Aircraft Service.
SCAD
[USA] Subsonic Cruise Armed Decoy, the first designation of the AGM-86
programme. At this stage, AGM-86 was intended as a decoy launched by
the B-52, of which some would carry nuclear warheads.
Scaleboard
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-12
Scalpel
[NATO] Soviet ICBM, SS-24.
Scamp
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile,
SS-14 'Scapegoat' plus road trailer.
Scapegoat
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-14
Scan Odd
[NATO] The 'Izumrud' radar of the all-wheater MiG-19 and maybe the
MiG-17P.
Scan Fix
[NATO] Early version of the Izumrud radar, fitted to the MiG-17P.
Scan Three
[NATO] Radar of the Yak-25.
Scarab
[NATO] Soviet SRBM, SS-21.
Scarp
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-9
SCAS
Stability & Control Augmentation System
SCAT
[USA] SCout-ATtack version, of LHX.
SCIMITAR
System for Countering Interdiction Missiles & Target Acquisition Radars
Schatzgraeber
[Germany] Weather station on Alexandra Land, in the Arctic.
Scherhorn
[Germany] Operations in support of an alleged isolated group of
German soldiers in Russia, October 1944 -- April 1945. Then it
was found out that it was a Soviet trick!
Schmetterling
[Germany] This was the first SAM in large scale production.
Production was up to 3000 per month in November 1945, but it
was never used operationally. Radio command guidance.
Schulung
[Germany] Codename for the reoccupation of the demilitarized
Rhineland. 1936.
SCM
[USA] Space Cargo Modified. Two C-5As, modified to carry Space
Shuttle payloads.
SCN
[USA] Shipbuilding and Conversion Navy
Scope Light
[USA] Boeing EC-135H and EC-135P, ABNCP aircraft
Scorpion
[NATO] Soviet ship-based surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-24.
SCOV
[USA] Skids Clear Of Vegetation --- helicopter flying just
above vegatation; minimum possible altitude.
Scrag
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-10
Scrooge
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-15
Scrubber
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-1
SCUBA
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
Scud
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-1
Scunner
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-1
--SD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SD
[Germany] Armour-piercing bomb. See SC.
SDA
[France] Systeme de Detection Aeroportee --- Airborne detection
system. The Boeing E-3F Sentry aircraft.
SDC
[USA] Situation Display Console
SDI
[USA] Strategic Defense Initiative. An anti-ICBM defense project.
SDK
[USSR] Sredniy desantniy korabl' (medium landing ship)
SDM
[USA] Site Defense of Minuteman. ABM research programme.
SDR
[USA] System Development Requirement
SDRLO
[USSR] Sistiem Dalnovo Radiolokacyo-mnovo Obanrushenya --- Long-Range
Radar Detection System. The Beriev/Antonov A-50 'Mainstay' AEW aircraft.
--SE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA
South East Asia
SeaBasedAirASWWingsLant
[USA] Sea Based Air Anti Submarine Warfare Wings Atlantic Fleet
Seabee
[USA] CB, Construction Battalion
SEAD
[USA] Suppresion of Enemy Air Defences
Seahorse
[USA] Transport of German aircraft to the USA after WWII.
SEAL
[USA] Sea, Air, Land
Seal
[Australia] A WWII project to generate artificial tidal waves.
It didn't work.
SEAM
[USA] Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode. An upgrade of the guidance
systems for the AIM-9.
Sea Mattress
[Allied] See 'Stickleback'.
Seamore
[USA] Southeast Asia Mohawk Requirement. An upgrade for the OV-1
Mohawk, during the Vietnam war, to improve its sensor systems.
Sea Skimmer
[USA] Renamed Sea Skipper.
Sea Skipper
[USA] Modification programma to convert the supersonic Beechcraft
AQM-37 target drone for simulated anti-shipping attacks.
Sea Spray
[UK] Radar fitted in the Westland Lynx.
SEBS
[USA] Submarine Emergency Buoyancy System
Secede III
[USA] Release of a barium cloud in near space by a rocket.
SECNAV
[USA] Secretary of the Navy
Seeburg
[Germany] Glass plotting table, used by nightfighter ground control
centers during WWII.
Seek Bat
[USA] Project to develop an IR guided version of the Standard
missile. 1972.
Seek Iglo
[USA] The FPS-39 radar system, a ground-based radar now replacing
older systems in the 'DEW line'.
Seek Skyhook
[USA] Observation balloon, fitted with radar equipment.
Seek Smoke
[USA] Retrofitting of the F-4D Phantom II with kits to reduce the
smoke of their engines.
Seek Talk
[USA] Secure voice communications system.
Seelowe
[Germany] Abandoned WWII German plan for the invasion of the UK.
Postponed on 17 September 1940.
Seetakt
[Germany] Radar system for ships, introduced in 1938. Operated
at a wavelength of 80cm.
Sego
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-11
SELF
Submarine Extremely Low Frequency, see also ELF.
SEM
[USA] Standard Electronics Module
SEMA
[USA] Special Electronic Mission Aircraft. In this role several
aircraft were sued, such as the EH-60 'Quick Fix II'.
SEM-E
[USA] Standard Electronics Module, E-size
SEMA-X
[USA] Special Electronic Mission Aircraft. This was a twin-turbofan
VSTOL aircraft, designed by Grumman. SEMA-X had a small wing and
rotating 9065lb TF34-GE-100 engines at the mid-fuselage position. It
was cancelled.
Senior Book
[USA] Program for operations of Taiwanese U-2s over China.
Senior Bowl
[USA] The D-21 high-speed drone, carried by the M-12, a special
version of the A-12, itself the CIA precursor of the SR-71.
Senior Citizen
[USA] The alledged program name of the alledged 'Aurora' high-speed
reconaissance aircraft. Also reported as a tactical airlift
programme...
Senior Crown
[USA] The SR-71 reconaissance aircraft.
Senior Hunter
[USA] C-130 support aircraft for the EC-130E Volant Solo.
Senior Ice
[USA] Development programme for the B-2 bomber.
Senior Lance
[USA] U-2R with SAR in Goodyear inflatable dome.
Senior Open
[USA] U-2R with rotating LOROP camera system in nose.
Senior Prom
[USA] Program for a stealthy cruise missile. Cancelled.
Senior Ruby
[USA] Sensor package carried by the U-2R; a radar emission monitoring
system.
Senior Sky
[USA] The F-22 stealthy fighter.
Senior Span
[USA] Datalink-equipment carried by U-2Rs to relay data to sattelites.
A large radome on top of the aft fuselage.
Senior Spear
[USA] Sensor package carried by the U-2R, a radio signal monitoring
system.
Senior Stretch
[USA] Renamed Senior Span.
Senior Trend
[USA] The F-117 development programme.
Senior Year
[USA] Operations with the Lockheed U-2R.
Sentai
[Japan] Wing.
Sentinel
[USA] ABM defence system for cities. Abandoned in favour of Safeguard.
Sentry Wolverine
[NATO] Exercise, on Selfridge AFB, Michigan, USA.
SEP
Specific Excess Power
Sepal
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface cruise missile, SSC-1B
Serb
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-5
Serrate
[UK] Receiver for the signals of the German Lichtenstein
nightfighter radar, which was carried by British nightfighters.
SERVAL
[France] Systeme d'Ecoute Radar et de Visualisation de l'ALerte.
Radar monitoring and warning visualisation system. This is a
RWR.
SERVFOR
[USA] Service Force
SES
[France] Section Experimental et de Servitude.
SES
Surface Effect Ship
SETAD
[USA] SEcure Transmission of Acoustic Data
Seven Up
[USA] Modification of the J79-GE-7 engine of the F-104C. 1963.
SEW
Space and Electronic Warfare
Sextant
[Allied] Conference in Cairo, December 1943.
--SF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SFC
Specific Fuel Consumption. Fuel consumption per unit of thrust or
power and per time unit.
--SH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaddock
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-3
SHADOW
[USA] Sikorsky Helicopter Advanced Demonstrator of Operator Workload.
A S-76 was modified with a single cockpit in front of the normal
one.
SHAEF
[Allied] Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces
SHAPE
[NATO] Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe
Sharp Guard
[NATO] Naval operations in the Adriatic, enforcing the UN
embargo against the countries of Former Yugoslavia. Renamed
Decisive Enhancement after the Dayton Peace agreement.
Sharp Shooter
[USA] Installation of the 20mm Vulcan cannon in the internal weapons
bay of the F-106A Delta Dart.
Sheet Bend
[NATO] Radar associated with SSC-2B Samlet cruise missiles.
Shershen
[NATO] Soviet torpedo boat class.
Sherut Avir
[Israel] Air Service. Name of the Israeli Air Force until 1948.
SHF
Super High Frequency
SHF
[UK] Support Helicopter Force
Shilka
[NATO] ZSU-23-4 self-propelled AA gun platform
Shimpu
[Japan] Unit of suicide aircraft, operating from the Philippines from
20 October 1944. 'Shimpu' is an alternative interpretation of the
characters for 'Kamikaze'.
Shingle
[Allied] Invasion at Anzio; Italy. 2 January 1944.
Shinyo
[Japan] Small, fast boat, intended for suicide (ramming) attacks by
night against US ships. About 6000 were built, but none used.
SHIPALT
[USA] Ship Alteration
Shiver
[Allied] Jammer used during WWII against the German Wurzburg radars.
ShKAS
[USSR] Shpitalny-Komaritsky Aviatsionny Skorostrelny --- 'Rapid-Firing
Aircraft Gun' designed by B. G. Shpitalny and I. A. Komaritsky.
7.62mm, 1800rpm, 10kg
Sho
[Japan] 'Victory'. A set of Japanese war plans designed to counter
US advances in the Pacific. Sho I, the defense of the Phillipines,
was executed. 1944.
Shoehorn
[USA] The ALQ-51 ECM system for drones.
SHOL
Ship Helicopter Operation and Limitation.
SHORAD
Short Range Air Defence
Short Granite
[UK] Nuclear bomb, experimental only, 1957. Megaton class.
Short Horn
[NATO] Navigation and bombing radar. Fitted to Tu-95 'Bear-H'.
Short Horn
[NATO] Search radar of the Ka-25 'Hormone-A'
Shotai
[Japan] Company. Small section of carrier-based aircraft, 3 or
4 aircraft.
Shu Fly
[USA] Deployment of USMC helicopters to Vietnam, 1962.
ShVAK
[USSR] Shpitalny-Vladimirov Aviatsionnaya Krupno-Kalibernaya ---
'Large Calibre Aircraft Gun' designed by B. G. Shpitalny and S. V.
Vladimirov. 20mm, 800m/sec, 800rpm, 42kg.
Shyster
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-3
--SI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SI
Specific Impulse (For rockets: thrust per unit of fuel per second.)
Sibling
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-2
SICCAP
[Portugal] Sistema Integrado de Comando e Controlo Aereo de
Portugal. Integrated air command and control system. A NATO-
financed upgrade of radar centers and communications links.
Sickle
[NATO] Soviet ICBM, SS-25.
SID
Standard Instrument Departure
Side Net
[NATO] Height finding radar, used in combination with the for SA-5
and the 'Tall King' radar.
SIGINT
Signal Intelligence
Silakh Al-Jawwiya As'Sudaniya
[Sudan] Sudanese Air Force
Silk Purse
[USA] Boeing EC-135H, ABNCP aircraft
Silver Bullet
[USA] The B-61 nuclear bomb.
Simba
[Belgium] Flight of four CF-100 fighters from Belgium to its
colony Congo (now Zaire). 1959.
Sinner
[NATO] Soviet ICBM, SS-16.
SINS
[USA] Ship's Inertial Navigation System
SIOP
[USA] Single Integrated Operational Plan. The 'war plan' in case
of a major (nuclear) war.
SIP
Systems Improvement Programme
SIR
[USA] Systems Integrated Receiver, receiver equipment in the
tail pod of the EA-6B Prowler.
Siren
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-7
SITREP
Situation Report
SIV
[USA] Special Interest Vehicle
SIVAM
[Brazil] Sistema de Vigilancia da Amazonia --- Amazon surveillance
system. Development of the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia into an AEW
aircraft (EMB-120EW) and a remote sensing (EMB-120SR) aircraft.
It is also intended to use the AL-X for this role.
--SJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--SK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skean
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-5
SKG
[Germany] Snellkampfgeschwader, a fast fighter-bomber unit.
Ski Jump
[USA] Research operations in the Arctic regions. 1949.
Skipper II
[USA] Rocket-assisted version of the Paveway LGB, used by the USN.
Skip Spin
[NATO] Radar set of the Yak-28P 'Firebar', Su-11 'Fishpot' and
Su-15 'Flagon'.
SKOCU
[UK] Sea King Operational Conversion Unit
Skoshi Tiger
[USA] Program to test the F-5A Tiger under combat condition in
Vietnam.
SKR
[USSR] Storozhevoy korabl' (patrol ship)
SKTU
[UK] Sea King Training Unit
Skunk Works
[USA] Nickname for Lockheed's Advanced Development Project Office
in Burbank, California. Alledgedly this nickname originated because
they at first used to work in a tent near a smelly workshop, or as
reference to a comic strip. Now the name is copyrighted by Lockheed.
Skybolt
[USA] Development of an air-launched ballistic missile. Cancelled
in 1962. AGM-87A.
Skyburner
[USA] Speed record flight by a McDonnel YF4H-1 Phantom II, 22 December
1961. 1606.347mph.
Skydrop II
[USA] Exercise in Fort Bragg, NC, in 1953. Evaluated tactical air
transport.
Skye
[Allied] Also known as 'Fortitude North'. Desinformation plan, with
as goal to keep part of the German forces in Scandinavia. On D-day
(6 June 1944) there were 372000 German soldiers in Norway.
Sky Monitor
[NATO] Surveillance of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. From 1992
onwards.
Sky Shield II
[USA] Exercise in 1961. Involved thousands of military aircraft, and
the grounding of all commercial traffic for 12 hours!
--SL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
S/L
Sea Level
SLAB
[USA] Subsonic Low Altitude Bomber. A requirement for a new long-range
bomber, 1961.
SLAM
[USA] Stand-off Land-Attack missile. A derivative of the Harpoon
missile.
SLAM
Supersonic Low-Altitude Missile
SLAM
[UK] Submarine Launched Airflight Missile. A SAM system for
submarines.
SLAM
[USA] Selectable Lightweight Attack Munition. Developed by Project
Manager Mines, Countermine and Demolitions, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.
SLAMMR
Side-Looking Airborne (Modulated) Multi-Mission Radar, fitted to a
maritime surveillance version of the Boeing 737.
Slapstick
[Allied] Invasion at Taranto, 9 September 1943.
SLAR
Side-Looking Airborne Radar
SLBM
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
SLCM
Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile
SLDF
[Sierra Leone] Sierre Leone Defence Force
Sledgehammer
[Allied] Proposal for an invasion of West Europe in 1942.
SLEP
[USA] Service Life Extension Program -- modernisation program
for carriers.
Slim
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Watanabe E9W seaplane
SLIM
[USA] Simplified Logistics and Improved Maintenance, an upgrade
for the F-106.
Slim Net
[NATO] Missile-associated radar.
SLMM
[USA] Submarine Launched Mobile Mine
SLOC
Sea Lines Of Communication
Slot Black
[NATO] Radar set of the MiG-29.
SLR
Side Looking Radar
SLR
Side Looking Reconaissance Radar
SLT
[USA] Sonobuoy Launch Tube
SLVSV
[France] Section de Liaison et de Vol Sans Visibilite -- liaison and
IFR training part of a French Air Force squadron.
--SM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SM
[USA] USN: Minelayer
SM
[USA] Ground-to-ground missile.
SM-62 Snark
SM-65 Atlas
SM-68 Titan
SM-73 Goose
SM-75 Thor
SM-78 Jupiter
SM-80 Minuteman
SMALC
[USA] SacraMento Air Logistics Center, Clellan AFB, California.
Smallboy
[UK] See 'Blue Danube'.
SMCM
[USA] Surface Mine CounterMeasures. Mine sweeping and mine sweeping by
ships, in contrast with AMCM.
SMFD
[USA] Secondary Multi-Function Display
SMO
[USA] Senior METOC Officer, attached to an 'Unified Command Staff'.
SMTD
[USA] STOL/Manoeuvring Technology Demonstrator, an F-15 with canards
and two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles.
SMOTEC
[USA] Special Missions Operations and Evaluation Center.
SMTI
Selective Moving Target Indicator
SMTS
[USA] Space and Missile Training Squadron
SMW
[USA] Strategic Missile Wing
--SN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNAP
[USA] Shipboard Nontactical Automated Data Processing
SNAPII
[USA] Shipboard Nontactical Automated Data Processing -- II
Snapper
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-1
Snappy
[USA] Fitting of a unspecified sensor system to E-3 Sentry AEW
aircraft during the Gulf War, 1991.
Snark
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-4
SNARS
[USSR] Samonavoyashchiysa Aviatsionnyi Reaktivnyi Snariad. SNARS-250
was the first Soviet guided air-to-air missile.
SNB
[France] Systeme de Navigation et de Bombardement. Navigation and
bombardment system.
Sneewitchen
[Germany] Development of Friendensengel. Few built.
SNLE
[France] Sous-marin Nucleaire Lanceur d'Engines. Nuclear
ballistic submarine.
Snooper
[USA] Low-altitude night attacks, by radar-equipped B-24 bombers
in the Pacific.
Snow Falcon
[UK] Exercise: deployment of Harriers to Bardufoss, Norway, in 1988.
Snow Trip
[UK] Exercise to test the efficiency of radar systems in winter
conditions. 1956, Canada.
Snowflake
[UK] Illuminating rocket used by convoy escorts during WWII.
--SO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOA
[USA] Special Operations Aviation
SOAR
[USA] Special Operations Aviation Regiment
SOBT
[USA] Submarine On-Board Training
SOC
[UK] Struck Off Charge
SOC
Section Operations Center
SOCC
Section Operations Control Center
SOE
[UK] Special Operations Executive
SOF
[USA] Special Operations Forces
SOFA
Status Of Forces Agreement
SOFAR
Sounding, Fixing, And Ranging
SOG
[USA] Special Operations Group
SOI
[USSR] Stratigicheskaya oboronitel'naya initsiativa - SDI
SOM
Stand-Off Missile
SONAR
Sound Navigation and Ranging. Technique to detect objects under water
(submarines) using sound pulses.
Sonia
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi Ki.51 attack aircraft.
Songster
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-8
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SOP
[USA] Senior Officer Present
SOPA
[USA] Senior Officer Present Affloat
SOR
[USA] Specific Operational Requirement.
SOR-49-2 Requirement for the RF-105 derivative of the Thunderchief.
SOR-182 Requirement for the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
SOR
Struck Off Records
SORD
[USA] Submerged Ordnance Recovery Device
SOS
[USA] Special Operations Squadron
21st SOS 'Dust Devils'
SOS
[Allied] Services of Supply
SOS
Standard distress signal, ...---... in Morse code.
SOS
Stabilised Optical Sight
SOSUS
[USA] SOund SUrveillance System. Large network of acoustic
detectors, used to track submarines.
SOTAS
[USA] Stand-Off Target Acquisition System. An EH-60B helicopter,
with a Motorola search radar under the fuselage. Remained experimental.
Source
[UK] Attack of X-class midget submarines on the German battleship
Tirpitz, September 1943.
Southern Breeze
[Belgium] Logistic support flights for the ships of the Belgian Navy
in the Gulf, 1990.
Southern Watch
[USA] Operations from Saudi-Arabia, in the aftermath of the 1990
Gulf War. Monitored air and ground activity in Iraq, south of
the 32nd parallel.
South Wind
[USA] Exercise in the large-scale long-range air transport of Army
units, 1960.
SOW
[USA] Special Operations Wing
SOW
Stand-Off Weapon
--SP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP
[USA] Shore Patrol
SPAAG
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
SPACECOM
[USA] Space Command
SPADATS
[USA] Space Detection And Tracking System
Spandrel
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-5
Spanker
[NATO] Soviet ICBM, SS-17
Spanner
[Germany] IR detectors. Spanner I used an IR searchlight,
Spanner II used passive detection only. Only Spanner I was
useful.
SPARK
[USA] Solid Propellant, Advanced Ramjet, Kinetic energy -- a small
anti-tank missile with a solid, non-explosive penetrator warhead and a
solid-fuelled ramjet engine, and a projected speed of Mach 6.
Spartan
[Allied] Exercise of the Tactical air forces in the UK, March 1943.
SPARTAN
[UK] Terrain-reference navigation system, developed by GEC-Marconi.
Cancelled.
Spectre
[Canada] Contingency plan for the worldwide deployment of Canadian
aircraft.
Spetnaz
[USSR] Special Forces.
SPG
[USA] Space Group
Spider
[NATO] Soviet SRBM, SS-23
Spigot
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-4
SPILS
Spin Prevention & Incidence Limiting System, or Stall Protection
& Incidence Limiting System.
Spin Scan
[NATO] The R1L radar fitted to some MiG-21 versions.
Spiral
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-6
SPO
[USA] System Programme Office
Spoon Rest
[NATO] Soviet Early-warning radar
Spotter
[UK] Delivery of Spitfires to Malta, 7 March 1942.
Spouse
[Allied] See 'Flabby'.
Spruce
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Tachikawa Ki.9 trainer
SPS
Secondary Power System
SPTU
[UK] Staff Pilot Training Unit
SPTW
[USA] Support Wing
SPU
Special Project Unit
SPW
[USA] Space Wing
--SQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Square Pair
[NATO] Target-tracking radar for SA-5.
Squid
[Allied] Anti-submarine weapon for surface ships. Squid launched three
depth bombs in a pattern.
--SR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SR
[USA] Strategic Reconaissance
SR(A)
[UK] Staff Requirement (Air)
SRA
Surveillance Radar Approach
SRAAM
Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile
SRAM
[USA] Short-Range Attack Missile, AGM-69, a nuclear-headed missile
carried by the B-52 and FB-111.
SRBM
Short Range Ballistic Missile
SRD
[UK] Salvage and Repair Depot
SRF
[UK] Strategic Reconaissance Force
SRL
[France] Section Reacteur Leger -- light jet section.
SRS
[USA] Strategic Reconaissance Squadron
SRTS
[USA] Strategic Reconaissance Training Squadron
4029th SRTS 'The Dragon Tamers'
SRW
[USA] Strategic Reconaissance Wing
SRZ
Special Rules Zone
--SS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SS
[USA] USN: Submarine
SSA
[USA] USN: Cargo Submarine
SSA
[UK] Supplementary Storage Area.
SSB
[USA] USN: Ballistic Missile Submarine
SSB
Single Side-Band
SSBN
[USA] USN: Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
SSC
[USA] Supply Systems Command
SSC
[USA] Surface to Surface missile, Coastal.
SSD
[France] Section de Soutien de Dugny -- Dugny maintenance unit
SSD
[USA] Space Systems Division.
SSE
[Sweden] Fly-By-Wire
SSG
[USA] USN: Guided Missile Submarine
SSGN
[USA] Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Submarine
SSK
[USA] USN: Hunter-Killer Submarine
SSKN
[USA] USN: Hunter-Killer Submarine, nuclear powered
SSKP
Single-Shot Kill Probability
SSM
Surface-to-surface missile.
SSN
[USA] USN: Nuclear-powered (attack) Submarine
SSO
[USA] USN: Oiler Submarine
SSP
[USA] USN: Vehicle Transport Submarine
SSR
[USA] USN: Radar Picket Submarine
SSR
Secondary Surveillance Radar
SSR
[NATO] SACEUR's Strategic Reserve
SSRN
[USA] USN: Radar Picket Submarine, nuclear powered
SST
SuperSonic Transport
SSTOL
Super-Short Take-Off & Landing, or: Supersonic STOL.
--ST-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stabo
[Germany] Startbahnbombe, Anti-runway bomb.
STAC
[UK] Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee. Created in 1956.
STANAVFORLANT
[NATO] Standing Naval Force, North Atlantic
Stand By
[USA] Plan to hasten the first flight of the (cancelled) Boeing X-20
Dyna-Soar I. 1960.
STAPL
[USA] Ship Tethered Aerial Platform, a small shipboard RPV of autogiro
design.
STAR
[USA] Supersonic TAilless Research. Planned development of the
ACTIVE project. First step will by to reduce the tail surface of
the ACTIVE F-15 by 50%.
STARC
[USA] State Area Command
Stargazer
[USA] Balloon flight at high (25000m) altitude for astronomical
observations. 1962.
Starkey
[Allied] Exercise of the Tactical air forces in the UK,
September 1943.
STARM
[USA] Standard ARM
STARS
Surface-to-Air Recovery System
STARS
Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
START
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks / Treaty
Starvation
[USA] Mining campaign against Japan. 24876 mines were laid in
Japanese waters.
STAVKA
[USSR] Supreme Command Staff.
STC
[UK] Strike Command
STC
[USA] Supplemental Type Certificate
Steel Tiger
[USA] (Interdiction missions over) The Southern part of Laos,
during the Vietnam war.
Steinbock
[Germany] IR-homing version of Rotkapchen.
Stella
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kokusai Ki.76 liaison aircraft
Sten Gun
[UK] Sheppard-Torpin Enfield Gun. A simple 9mm submachine gun with
a range of about 80m.
Stickleback
[Allied] Shore bombardment weapon. A landing craft carried 1080
5in rocket launchers, ripple-fired against shore targets.
Stiletto
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-19
Stofl
[Germany] Stabsoffizier der Flieger --- Air force staff officer.
STOL
Short Take Off and Landing
Stonefish
[UK] Series of sea mines.
Storm
[Croatia] Operation to recapture the Krajina region from the
Serbs, during the war in former Yugoslavia. 1995.
Storm Shadow
[UK] Stealthy cruise missile, a development of the Matra Apache.
Chosen for the British CASOM requirerement.
Stormy FAC
[USA] Fast-jet FAC. F-4Ds were used.
STOVL
Short Take Off, Vertical Landing
Straight Flush
[NATO] Radar for SA-6.
Strangle
[Allied] Bomber attacks on German lines of communication in
Italy. Ended in May 1944.
Strangle
[UN] Attack on lines of communication in Korea.
Strassburg
[Germany] Radio reciever fitted to Fritz-X and Hs 293.
Streak Eagle
[USA] Program to set all eight time-to-eight records with a modified
F-15 Eagle, in 1974. The final record was a time of 3 min 27.8 sec
from standstill to 30000m.
Streamline
[USA] Proposal to skip over early stages in the development of
the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar. 1961.
Strela
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-N-1 (also Scrubber)
Strength Through Joy
[UK] Hydraulically controlled version of 'Pig Through'. Too
troublesome to be useful. The name was a Nazi slogan, obviously
used satirically.
STRIDA
[France] Systeme de Traitement et de Representation des
Informations de Defense Aerienne. The communications network
of the French air defences, linked with NADGE.
Stud
[USA] Escort and attack missions for fighters of the 8th AF and 9th AF on
D-day.
STV
[USA] Steerable Low-Light TV System -- fitted in the turrets under the
nose of the B-52.
STWA
[USA] Short Trailing Wire Antenna. For the E-6 Mercury TACAMO aircraft;
this antenna has a length of 1520m. See also LTWA.
Style
[UK] Delivery of Spitfires to Malta, 3 June 1942.
Styx
[NATO] Soviet surface-to-surface missile, SS-7, SS-N-2
--SU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBCAP
Submarine Combat Air Patrol
SUBROC
[USA] Submarine launched, anti-submarine missile.
Super Octopus
[UK] 10 kiloton nuclear warhead, planned for the British version of
the cancelled GAM-87 Skybolt.
Sunfish
[UK] Side-mounted avionics steerable ball for Lynx helicopters,
containing a IR imaging system.
Sun Ray
[UK] Detachment to Shallufa, in the Suez canal zone.
Sunray
[UK] Commanding Officer
Sun Run
[USA] Transcontinental flight by some RF-101C's, one of which made it
in 3h 7m 43s and another set a roundtrip time of 6h 46m 36s.
Sunspot
[UK] Bomber exercises over ranges in Libya.
Suntan
[USA] This secret research programma lead to the design by Lockheed of a
large, hydrogen-fuelled, high-speed aircraft. It was abandoned during
contruction of the mock-up.
Superareo
[Italy] Air Staff
SURE
[USA] Sensor Update and Refurbishment Effort, for the RF-4B Phantom II.
Surpic
[UK] Surface Picture
Surprise Package
[USA] The AC-130A, a version of the C-130 armed with two 20mm
Vulcan guns and a 40mm Bofors. One built, later AC-130As were
of 'Pave Pronto' configuration.
SUS
[USA] Sound Underwater Signal
Susie
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Aichi D1A dive bomber
Sutton
[UK] Landing on the Falkland, near Port San Carlos. 21 May 1982.
SUU
[USA] Suspended Underwing Unit. A subminutions dispenser or gun pod.
SUU-7 Subminution dispenser
SUU-10 Subminution dispener
SUU-11 Pod with the GAU-2 Minigun
SUU-13 Subminution dispenser
SUU-14 Subminution dispenser
SUU-16 Pod with the M61 Vulcan gun.
SUU-23 Pod with the M61 Vulcan gun.
SUU-28 Subminution dispenser
SUU-30 Subminution dispenser
SUU-31 Subminution dispenser
SUU-36 Subminution dispenser
SUU-38 Subminution dispenser
SUU-50 Subminution dispenser
SUU-51 Subminution dispenser
SUU-54 Subminution dispenser
SUU-58 Subminution dispenser
SUW
Surface to Underwater Missile
SUWACS
[USA] Soviet Airborne Warning & Control System
--SV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SVS
[France] Section de Vol Sportif
--SW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SW
[USA] Strategic Wing
SWAARM
[UK] Smart Weapon Anti-ARMour. SWAARM 2000 is a submunitions dispenser
developed by Hunting.
SWAPO
South West Africa People's Organization
Swatter
[NATO] Soviet anti-tank missile, AT-2
SWERVE
[USA] Sandia Winged Energetic Re-entry Vehicle Experiment. A
classified Mach 14 test vehicle.
Swift Rod
[NATO] ILS system carried by many USSR aircraft.
SWIP
[USA] Systems and Weapon Improvement Programme, for the A-6 Intruder.
SWIP
[USA] Super Weight Improvement Program, a desperate attempt to reduce
the weight of the F-111B to make it acceptable for carrier landings ---
the F-111B weighed 78000lb, while the limit for the USN had been
55000lb!
Swivel Chair
[USA] Deployment of C-119s of the USAF to French Indochina, flown
by American pilots of Civil Air Transport.
SWL
[USA] Strategic Weapons Launcher
SWNCC
[USA] State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee.
Sword
[Allied] One of the landing beaches used for 'Overlord'.
SWPA
[Allied] South West Pacific Area
--SX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--SY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYERS
[USA] Senior Year Electro-optical Relay System. 'Senior Year' is the
U-2R; SYERS is a CCD-camera, of which the image can be data-linked
to a ground station.
Symbol
[Allied] Conference in Casablanca, January 1943.
--SZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
==T==========================================================================
T
[USSR] Tyazhely --- heavy.
--TA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TA
Target Acquisition
TA
Terrain-Avoidance
Tabby
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Showa / Nakajima L2D transport
TAC
[USA] Tactical Air Command
TACAMO
[USA] TAke Charge And Move Out -- aircraft that relay communications
with the USN's submarines.
TACAMO II EC-130G with paletted VLF radio array
TACAMO III EC-130Q
TACAMO IV Improved EC-130 with more powerful radio equipment
TACAN
Tactical Aid to Navigation, or Tactical Air Navigation
Tacaud
[France] Deployment of ground personnel from EC 7 to Africa, in 1978. The
aircraft of EC 7 (Sepecat Jaguars) did not go, because they are equipped
with secret equipment to deliver nuclear weapons.
TACC
[USA] Tanker Airlift Control Center, at Scott AFB.
TACCO
[USA] Tactical Coordinator. Crewmember in some USN aircraft.
TACEVAL
[NATO] Tactical Evaluation
TACGRU
[USA] Tactical Air Control Group
Tacit Blue
[USA] Single-seat technology demonstrator for Stealth Aircraft.
Tacit Rainbow
[USA] Northrop AGM-136A, a loitering, anti-radiation cruise missile.
TACNAVMOD
[USA] TACtical and NAVigation MODernization
TACOS
[USA] Tanker Aircraft, Countermeasures Or Strike
TACP
[USA] Tactical Air Control Party
TACRON
[USA] Tactical Air Control Squadron
TACS
[USA] Tactical Air Control System
TACSIT
[USA] Tactical Situation, of a USN battlegroup:
TACSIT 1 Exact location of battlegroup known to enemy
TACSIT 2 General location of battlegroup known to enemy
TACSIT 3 Location of battlegroup unknown to enemy
TacSupWing
[USA] Tactical Support Wing
TACT
[USA] Transonic Aircraft Technology, programme that involved
the modification of a F-111 to research supercritical wings.
TACW
[USA] Tactical Air Command Wing
TADIL
[USA] TActical Digital Information Link
TADS
[USA] Target Acquisition And Designation System
TADS
[Germany] Target Adaptive Dispenser System
TAF
Tactical Air Force
TAG-x
Aircraft identified at the Soviet airfield of Taganrog were temporarly
labeled TAG-x were _x_ is a sequence letter.
Tag-D => Beriev A-40
Taifun
[Germany] Taifun was a cheap, high-velocity, unguided anti-aircraft
rocket, in mass production in January 1945.
TAKR
[USSR] Takticheskoye avianosniy kreyser (tactical aircraft-carrying
cruiser)
TALCM
[USA] Tomahawk Air-Launched Cruise Missile. The competition for ALCM.
TALD
Tactical Airborne Laser Designator
TALD
[USA] Tactical Air-Launched Decoy
Talisman
[Allied] Plan for the occupation of Europe after the defeat of
nazi Germany. Renamed Eclipse.
Tallboy
[UK] Streamlined 12000lb bomb, developed in Britain during WWII.
Tallboy fell at supersonic speed and buried itself deep in the ground
before exploding. It was designed for near-misses, destroying its
target by an earthquake effect.
Tall King
[NATO] Soviet ground-based radar.
Tally Ho
[USA] Strikes in North Vietnam.
TALON
Theater Application: Launch On Notice
Talon Vise
[USA] Renamed 'Frequent Wind'. See there.
TAM
Tactical Air Meet
TAME
[Ecuador] Transportes Aereos Militares Ecuatoriana. Air transport
company, ran by the Ecuadorian Air Force.
Tamoure
[France] Nuclear test of the AN 11 bomb, 19 July 1966. An air-drop
near Mururoa.
TANK
[USA] USN: Tanker
Tannenbaum
[Germany] Plan for the invasion of Switzerland, during WWII.
TANS
Tactical Air Navigation System
TAO
[USA] Tactical Action Officer
Taran
[USSR] 'Ramming'. Air-to-air ramming was used in combat in 1941, when
most Soviet aircraft were obsolete and could not combat the German
aircraft with normal tactics. It was also used before and after WWII.
TARCAP
[USA] Target Combat Air Patrol
TARG
Telescoped Ammunition Revolver Gun
TARH
Terminal Active Radar Guidance
TARPS
[USA] Tactical Air Reconaissance Pod System
TART
[UK] Tactical Aircraft Refuelling Trailer
Tarzon
[USA] See VB.
TAS
[USA] Tactical Airlift Squadron
TAS
Target Acquisition System
TAS
True Air Speed
TASES
[USA] Tactical Airborne Signal Exploitation System. The EA-3B
Skywarrior SigInt aircraft.
TASG
[USA] Tactical Air Support Group
TASM
[USA] Tomahawk Antishipping Missile
TASM
[UK] Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile
Tasman Flight
[UK] Tour of Australia and New Zealand by RAF bombers. 1956.
TASMO
[Spain] Tactical Air Support, Maritime Operations
TASS
[USA] Tactical Air Support Squadron
TAV
Trans-Atmospheric Vehicle
TAW
[USA] Tactical Airlift Wing
Taxable
[Allied] Operation of aircraft simulating a convoy near Cap d'Antifer,
as a diversion for the invasion in Normandy. 6 June 1944. The Lancasters
of 617 squadron flew circles with a circumference of 22.39km, to
simulate a convoy with a speed of 6 knots. See also 'Glimmer'.
--TB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TBAP
[USSR] Tyazhyolobombardirovotschnii Aviatsonii Polk --- Heavy
Bomber Regiment.
TBD
To Be Decided
TBF
[UK] Tactical Bomber Force
TBM
Tactical Ballistic Missile
TBO
Time Between Overhauls
--TC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
t/c
Thickness / Chord ratio
TC
[NATO] Transit Corridor
TCC
Traffic Control Center
TCAS
Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System
TCS
[USA] Troop Carrier Squadron
TCS
[USA] Television Camera System, long-distance TV cameras to aid in
the visual identification of aircraft.
TCW
[UK] Tactical Communications Wing
TCW
[USA] Troop Carrier Wing
TC-X
[Japan] Requirement for a training aircraft for the crews of
transports. The Beechcraft T-400 was selected.
--TD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TDCA
[USA] Tactical Deployment & Control Aircraft
TDH
[Turkey] Turk Donama Havacilik --- Turkish Naval Aviation.
TDP
Technology Development Programme
TDRS
[USA] Tracking & Data Relay Sattelite
TDY
[USA] Temporary Duty
--TE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teal Cameo
[USA] High-altitude RPV as TR-1 replacement.
Teal Ruby
[USA] Programme to develop a sattelite to detect aicraft from space
by IR measurements.
Team Spirit
[USA] Exercise, deployment to Korea.
TECHEVAL
Technical Evaluation
TEDS
[USA] Tactical Expendable Drone System.
Tee Emm
[UK] Training Memorandum. WWII magazine for British aircrew, with
a mix of humor and information.
TEG
[USA] Test and Evaluation Group
TELINT
Telemetry Intelligence
Tentara Udara Diraya Malaysia
[Malaysia] Royal Malaysian Air Force
TER
Triple Ejection Rack
TERCOM
Terrain Countour Matching --- Navigation by comparison of the terrain
with a stored map.
Terec
[USA] Tactical Electronic REConnaissance sensor with real-time
datalink capability. Litton AN/ALQ-125 Terec.
TERF
Terrain (following) flight
TERPROM
[UK] Terrain Profile Matching
TES
[USA] Test and Evaluation Squadron
Tess
[USA] Codename for the Douglas DC-2 transport, in Japanese service.
TET
Turbine-Entry Temperature
TEWS
[USA] Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
TEZ
Total Exclusion Zone
Texaco
[USA] Operations of KB-29 tanker aircraft during the Korean War.
--TF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF
[USA] Task Force
TFG
[USA] Tactical Fighter Group
TF
Terrain Following
T/FDS
[USA] Time and Frequency Standards Distribution System
TFR
Terrain Following Radar
TFS
[USA] Tactical Fighter Squadron
136th TFS 'Rocky's Raiders'
308th TFS 'Emerald Knights'
336th TFS 'Rocketeers'
415th TFS 'Nightstalkers'
416th TFS 'Ghost Riders'
417th TFS 'Bandits'
481th TFS 'Crusaders'
TFTS
[USA] Tactical Fighter Training Squadron
TFU
[UK] Telecommunications Flying Unit. Research flight of the TRE.
TFW
[USA] Tactical Fighter Wing
4th TFW 'Fourth But First'
8th TFW 'Wolf Pack'
33th TFW 'Gulf Eagles'
37th TFW 'Defender of the Crossroads'
TF/TA
Terrain Folowwing / Terrain Avoidance radar
TFTS
[USA] Tactical Fighter Training Squadron
TFTW
[USA] Tactical Fighter Training Wing
TFG
[USA] Tactical Fighter Group
TFW
[USA] Tactical Fighter Wing
TFX
[USA] Tactical Fighter Experimental. Became the F-111.
--TG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TG
[USA] Test Group
TGSM
Terminally Guided Sub Minution
TGT
Turbine Gas Temperature
--TH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THAAD
[USA] Theater High-Altitude Air Defense. The goal is to intercept
ballistic missiles in space.
Thalia
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.56 transport aircraft.
THAP
[USA] Tactical High Altitude Penetrator. Alledged Nortrop technology
demonstrator for the (also alledged) stealth reconnaissance aicraft
TR-3. 1981.
Thelma
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Tachikawa LO transport aircraft.
Theresa
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kokusai Ki.59 liaison aircraft.
THG
[Netherlands] Tactische Helikopter Groep. Tactical Helicopter
Group.
THK
[Turkey] Turk Hava Kuvvetleri -- Turkish Air Force
Thora
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Nakajima Ki.34 transport aircraft.
Thum
[UK] Meteorological mission, to do measurents at various
heights.
Thunderbolt
[USA] Joint operation of the USN, USCG, US customs and DEA against
drug transporting aircraft, in 1981. Seized 45 aircraft in 77 days.
Thunderbolt
[UK] RAF post-WWII analysis of bombing operations.
Thunderclap
[Allied] Bombardment campaign against German cities, early in 1945.
Halted after the attack on Dresden.
Thunderhead
[NATO] Exercise to test defence in the North-East Mediterranean.
1956.
Thunderstick II
[USA] Modification of the F-105D with a new nav/attack system in a
dorsal spine.
Thursday
[Allied] Second operation of the LRP 'Chindits' behind Japanese
lines in Burma, March 1944.
--TI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TI
Trials Installation
TI
Thermal Imager
TIALD
[UK] Thermal Imaging and Laser Designation.
TIARA
[UK] Tornado Integrated Avionics Research Aircraft.
TIAS
[USA] Target Identification and Acquisition System, fitted to some
A-6B Intruders for 'Iron Hand' Wild Weasel missions. Texas Instruments
AN/APS-118.
TIC
[USA] Troops In Contact
TICM
[USA] Thermal Imaging Common Module
TID
[UK] Trials and Installation Division.
Tien Chien
[Taiwan] Sky Sword. Missile development part of "An Hsiang",
the development of the Ching Kuo fighter.
Tien Lei
[Taiwan] Sky Thunder. Avionics development part of "An Hsiang",
the development of the Ching Kuo fighter.
Tie Rod
[NATO] Soviet elektro-optical sensor.
TIFS/ASTTA
[USA] Total In-Flight Simulator / Avionics System Test and Training
Aircraft.
Tiger Claw
[USA] Detachment of RC-135 tanker aircraft to Korat, Thailand,
during the Vietnam war.
Tiger Cub
[USA] Detachment of RC-135 tanker aircraft to Don Muang, Thailand,
during the Vietnam war.
Tiger FAC
[USA] Fast-jet FAC. F-E4s were used.
Tiger Force
[UK] Force created by the UK in 1945 for deployment to the Far East.
This was made unecessary by the end of WWII.
Tiger Hound
[USA] (Interdiction missions over) Northern Laos, during the
Vietnam war.
Tiger-PAWS
[Norway] See PAWS.
TILS
Tactical Instrument Landing System
Tina
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi L3Y, transport version of
the G3M bomber.
TINS
Thermal Imaging Navigation Set
Tinsel
[UK] Jamming of German radio communications. The Tinsel equipment
used a simple transmitter, and a microphone placed in an engine
nacelle.
TIP
[USA] TACAMO Improvement Phase
TIR
Target Illuminating Radar
TIR
Thermal Imaging Radar
TIR
Tracking & Illumination Radar
Tirpitz
[UK] Steep diving half-loop, initiated by a roll-over at the top.
TIRRS
[UK] Tornado Infra-Red Reconaissance System. Fitted to the Tornado GR.1A,
this system uses electronic IR cameras.
TIS
[USSR] Tyazhely Istrebitel Soprovozdeniya --- Heavy escort fighter.
TISL
[USA] Target Indicator System Laser; the 'Pave Penny' equipment.
TIT
[USA] Theatre Indoctrinatrion Training -- familiarization flights
during the first combat operations.
Titanic
[Allied] Dropping of dummy paratroopers as a diversion during
D-day, 6 June 1944.
--TJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--TK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TKA
[USSR] Torpedniy kater (torpedo cutter)
TKK
[Turkey] Turk Kara Kuvvetleri --- Turkish Army
--TL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TL
[NATO] Transit Level
TLAM
[USA] Tomahawk Land Attack Missile
TLE
Treaty-Limited Equipment. Equipment that is restricted by the CFE
treaty.
TLeLv
[USSR] Tiedustelulentolaivue
TLP
[NATO] Tactical Leadership Program.
--TM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TM
[USA] missiles.
TM-61 Matador
TM-76 Mace
TMA
Terminal Control Area
TMD
[USA] Theather Missile Defense. The reduce followup to SDI and
GPALS.
TMN
True Mach Number
TMR
[UK] Thrust Measuring Rig, a crude VTOL craft, powered by two
Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines, whose efflux was directed downwards.
Better known as 'Flying Bedstead'.
--TN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TNI-AL
Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angakatan Laut. Indonesian Navy.
TNI-AL
Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angakatan Udara. Indonesian Air
Force.
--TO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO
[USA] Table of Organisation
T/O
Take Off
Toby
[USA] Codename for the Lockheed 14 in Japanese service.
TOD
Top Of Descent
TODA
Take-Off Distance Available
TODR
Take-Off Distance Required
TO&E
Table of Organization and Equipment
TOF
Time Of Flight
TOGW
Take-Off Gross Weight
Tojo
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Nakajima Ki.44 Shoki fighter.
Tom Tom
Project to have a B-29 'carry' a fighter escort, with the weight
supported by their own wings but the propulsive force generated
by the bomber. Two F-84s were attached to its wingtips.
Tonga
[Allied] Airborne operations on D-day, to secure the left flank of
the British landing sector.
Tonsil
[Allied] Barrage rockets used against V-1s.
Tony
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.61 Hien fighter.
Too Right
[UK] Proving flight to the Far East of Valiant bombers.
Top Flight
[USA] Altitude record flight by a McDonnell YF4H-1, 6 December 1959.
98560ft.
Top Gun
[USA] The Navy Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar, California.
Training center in Air Combat Manoeuvering. (Unoffical name?)
Top Off
[USA] Training in weapons delivery.
Top Sail
[NATO] Surveillance radar associated with SA-N-3 Goblet.
Topsy
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.57 transport.
TORA
Take-Off Run Available
Torch
[Allied] Invasion of North Africa, 8 November 1942.
TORR
Take-Off Run Required
TOT
Time Over Target
Totalize
[Allied] Attack against Falaise by the Canadian Army, 7 August 1944.
Halted on 9 August at 16km from Falaise.
Toxic Sweep
[USA] USN operations to locate barrels with toxic chemical off the
New Jersey coast. 1992.
TOW
Take-Off Weight
TOW
[USA] Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided -- an anti-tank
missile, probably the most numerous guided missile ever. BGM-71.
--TP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TPP
[USA] Total Package Procurement. A fixed-price contract for the
entire design and production of an aircraft type.
TPS
Test Pilots' School
--TQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--TR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TR
Tactical Reconaissance
TRA
[USA] Tonopah Range Airfield
TRAC-A
[USA] Total Radiation Aperture Control-Antenna. Part of a 1983 upgrade
to the E-2 Hawkeye, that introduced the AN/APS-138 radar.
Trail Dust
[USA] Escort missions for C-123 'Ranch Hand' defoliation aircraft.
Train
[UK] Delivery of Spitfires to Malta, 24 October 1942.
TRAM
[USA] Target Recognition and Attack Multisensor, a sensor package
carried by the A-6 Intruder.
TRAN
[USA] USN: Transport Ship
Transphire
[UK] TRN / Synthetic Image Enhancement
TRDI
[Japan] Technical Research and Development Institute
TRE
[UK] Telecommunications Research Establishment.
TREDS
[USA] TR-1 Exploitation Development System, a data processing
installation at Hahn AB for data acquired by the TR-1.
T/RIA
[USA] Telemetry / Range Instrumented Aircraft
Trident
[Allied] Conference in Washington, 18 May 1943.
TRIGAT
Third Generation Anti-Tank Missile
TRIM
[USA] Trails, Roads, Interdiction Multisensor
Trixie
[USA] Codename for the German Junkers Ju 52/3m transport aircraft.
Not in Japanese service.
TRN
Terrain-Reference Navigation
Trojan Horse
[USA] Detachment of U-2 reconaissance aircraft to Vietnam.
Tropic Moon III
[USA] The B-57G interdiction aircraft, equipped with infrared
and low light level sensors.
TRS
[USA] Tactical Reconaissance Squadron
TRS
[UK] TOW roof sight, a roof-mounted sight for antitank
helicopters, developed by British Aerospace.
TRUCKIN'
[USA] Fuel transports by air from the UK to France, in late 1944.
B-24s. Some other materials were also transported, a total of
9880 tons in 2248 missions.
Trudy
[USA] Codename for the German Focke Wulf Fw 200 long-range patrol
aircraft. Not in Japanese service.
TRW
[USA] Tactical Reconaissance Wing
Try Add
[NATO] Ground radar associated with the ABM-1 'Galosh'
--TS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TS
[USA] Test Squadron
4450th TS 'Nightstalkers'
TsAGI
[USSR] Tsentralny Aerogidrodinamichesky Institut --- Central Aero-
and Hydrodynamic Institute.
TSD
[USA] Tactical Situation Display
TSFC
Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption
TsIAM
[USSR] Tsentralny Institut Aviatsionnove Motorostroeniya -- Central
Aeroengine Institute.
TsKB
[USSR] Tsentralnoye Konstruktorskoye byoro --- Central Design Burea.
TSO
Technical Standing Order
TSOR
Tentative Specific Operational Requirement
TSSAM
[USA] Tri-Service Stand-off Attack Missile. Will have a warhead that
dispenses guided subminutions. The US Army already abandoned it, Navy
and USAF continue to support it.
--TT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TTAE
Total Time, Airframe & Engine
TTBTS
[USA] Tanker/Transport/Bomber Training System
TTC
[USA] Technical Training Center
TTF
Tanker Task Force
TTH
[Europe] Tactical Transport Helicopter. Projected version of the
NH90.
TTR
Target Tracking Radar
TTTE
[NATO] Tornado Tri-national Training Establishment. Set up at
RAF Cottesmore, UK, in 1981.
T&TW
[USA] Test & Training Wing
TTW
[USA] Tactical Training Wing
TTW
[USA] Technical Training Wing
--TU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUDM
[Malaysia] Tentara Udara Diraya Malaysia -- Royal Malaysian Air Force
Tungsten
[UK] Attack of carrier aircraft on the German battleship 'Tirpitz',
at Kaatfjord; 3 April 1944.
Turk Donama Havaciligi
[Turkey] Turkish Navy.
Turkey Buzzard
[Allied] Towed flight of Airspeed Horsa gliders from the UK to
North Africa, for use in the invasion of Sicily. 3 June 1942.
Turk Hava Kuvvetleri
[Turkey] Turkish Air Force
Turqoise
[UN/France] French intervention in Ruanda, June 1994.
--TV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TVC
Trust Vector control
TVD
[USSR] Teatr Voennykh Deistvii - Theater of Operations
--TW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/W
Thrust / Weight ratio
TW
[USA] Training Wing or Test Wing
TW/AA
Threat-Warning and Attack Assesment
TWI
Threat Warning Indicator
Twin Scan
[NATO] Radar of the Su-21 'Flagon-E'
TWR
Threat Warning Receiver
TWR
aerodrome control ToWeR
TWS
Track-while-scan
TWT
Travelling Wave Tube, wave generator used in Pulse-Doppler radars.
TWU
[UK] Tactical Weapons Unit
--TX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--TY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--TZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ created and maintained by Emmanuel Gustin
Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission is prohibited.