Glossary

A large-bore cannon round, commonly used in European militaries.

Anti-Aircraft Artillery, cannons and machine guns designed for anti- aircraft use from the ground.

Air Combat Maneuvering, a term encompassing maneuvers primarily within visual range combat, intending to bring an aircraft into a good shooting position in air-to-air combat.

Later generation air-to-air radar-guided missile, considered one of the best missiles in the world. Guided by Active Radar Homing.

A next-generation short-range air-to-air missile, similar to the AIM-9X.

An early generation air-to-air radar-guided missile, poorly received when it was introduced. Improved and upgraded over the years until it became adequate in the 1980s. Guided by Semi-Active Radar Homing.

An infrared heat-seeking short-range air-to-air missile. Earlier versions can only track a tail-on aspect due to seeker limits, while later versions have an all-aspect capability, with the X version being the most advanced to date, with thrust vectoring.

Air Inflatable Retarder, a fin kit similar to the Snakeye, but instead using a ballute to slow down. Cheaper and can be used at greater speeds than the older Snakeye fin kit.

A reference toward the Avtomat Kalashnikova (lit. Kalashnikov's Automatic Device) assault rifle, generally inaccurate. AK, AKS, AKM, AKMS, AK-74 generally refer to this weapon and its derivatives, despite stark differences between them.

Active Radar Homing, a radar guidance method where the missile contains its own radar to guide itself to its target. Generally requires the launching unit to illuminate the target until it can activate its own radar.

A single seat variation of the Harrier T.4 and Harrier GR.3 aircraft, redesigned for more specific CAS purposes for the US military.

A name given to a pilot or crew for radio usage. Based on something infamous or notable, more often embarrassing, that the person in question has done. May also be set by operational circumstances.

Close Air Support, a method of aerial attack where friendly ground forces in close proximity to hostile forces are directly supported by aircraft. Does not invoke aircraft to act as aerial cheerleaders.

Cluster Bomb Unit, a designation for a cluster bomb or droppable canister containing sub-munitions such as bomblets or mines.

Continuously Calculated Impact Point, a method of projecting aiming information for a weapon in real-time onto an aiming device like a HUD.

Continuously Calculated Release Point, a method where a point is designated for weapons release and aiming symbology is projected toward the release point.

Metallic strips of metal used to saturate radar systems and obscure detection by reflecting back signals. Combat aircraft generally carry launchers that deploy “bundles” of chaff.

A call out to immediately look behind for a threat or pursuit.

Generally refers to the M18 anti-personnel mine, a curved mine that has ball bearings backed by explosives.

Generally referring to chaff or flare, but may also refer to decoys or electronic jamming.

United States Department of Defense.

A canvas bag intended for carrying a person's clothing and belongings.

Electronic counter-countermeasures, a mechanism to overcome ECM.

Electronic countermeasures, generally meaning “jamming” or creation of electronic noise to break a hostile sensor lock.

Late Cold War fighter jet, primarily used for air combat. Also comes in an attack variation, used for deep strike missions.

Late Cold War fighter jet, multirole and highly maneuverable.

Late Cold War naval fighter jet, multirole and highly maneuverable. Derived from the same program that led to the F-16.

Cold War era fighter jet, widely used by western militaries.

Brevity code for the MiG-15 fighter. Common Russian/Soviet fighter aircraft. No, it does not mean what you think it means: in the 1950s, it would refer to a bundle of wood.

Brevity code for the Su-24 strike aircraft.

Brevity code for the MiG-21 fighter. One of the most common fighter aircraft across the world.

Brevity code for the Su-27 fighter aircraft. Generally used as a medium-range patrol fighter.

A pyrotechnic device that can be used in a signal capacity or a countermeasure capacity. As a signal, it gives off a bright color or smoke for position and/or status indication. As a countermeasure, it gives off extreme heat in an attempt to deceive IR guided missiles.

Forward-Looking Infrared, an optical system used for imagery.

Brevity code for the MiG-23 fighter.

A method of flight control where the aircraft is controlled by computer inputs instead of directly by the pilot's controls. The pilot “tells” the computer where the aircraft should go and the computer moves the control surfaces as required.

Frequency Modulation, generally referring to short-range radio systems used by ground personnel.

Brevity code for the MiG-17 fighter. A very common Russian/Soviet fighter aircraft.

Brevity code for the Su-25 ground attack aircraft.

Brevity code for the MiG-29 fighter aircraft. Generally used as a short-range point-defense fighter.

G-force-induced Loss of Consciousness, a critical condition where the pilot or crew pass out from excessive G-forces. Highly dangerous.

Slang for G-force.

Code name for the SA-9 SAM system.

Code name for the SA-13 SAM system.

Global Positioning System, a method of navigation by satellite triangulation.

Referring to either the 121.5MHz or 243MHz frequency bands for emergency radio communications. Sometimes used to refer to Guard military units, an auxiliary or reserve component of the USA's militaries.

Brevity code for the Mi-24 attack helicopter.

Brevity code for the Mi-8 and Mi-17 transport helicopters.

Helmet Mounted Display; similar to a HUD, except the display is attached to the pilot's helmet and displays the information in front of their eyes.

Helmet Mounted Sight; similar to a HMD, but only contains weapon sighting symbology.

Heads Up Display, an instrument normally at the top center of an aircraft's dash, used for displaying various flight and targeting symbology.

Identification.

Identify Friend-or-Foe, a system that allows identification of whether or not an aircraft is friendly. Despite the name, the system cannot positively identify foes, only aircraft using the accepted “friend” codes.

Inertial Navigation System, a method of navigation using inertia.

Infrared, generally referring to missile guidance.

Infrared Search and Track, a system that uses IR for target location and tracking.

A laser used for weapon guidance.

Refers to a flight leader, those in charge of a 2 ship or 4 ship flight. May also refer to pulling lead, a term for leading a target for a ballistic weapon.

Laser Guided Bomb, a bomb guided by a laser designator.

A crew member on a cargo aircraft in charge of the aircraft's cargo.

Man Portable Air Defense System, indicating all forms of lightweight missiles and launchers intended to be used by one man to defend airspace. SA-7 “Grail,” SA-18 “Igla,” FIM-43 “Redeye,” and FIM-92 “Stinger” are all encompassed by this term.

Multi-Function Display, a small display used for depicting various information in the aircraft, from flight, engine, to targeting and weapons data.

See Hind.

See Hip.

Military Intelligence, section 6, an old term that refers to the current United Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Service. Used for foreign intelligence by the UK government.

See Fagot.

See Fresco.

See Fishbed.

See Flogger.

Mark 80 series bombs, a common warhead with interchangeable fuse and fin kits. Mk81 is the lightest, with a 250lb all-up weight; Mk82 at 500lb; Mk83 at 1000lb; and Mk84 at 2000lb. Various kits exist to turn these bombs into precision weapons, high-drag weapons, air-burst weapons, etc.

United Kingdom Ministry of Defense.

Brevity code for ground radar tracking.

Brevity code for radar detected in search mode.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Non-disclosure Agreement.

Night-Vision Goggles, a device that amplifies light for night operations.

Precision Guided Munition, a term encompassing a number of weapons that are highly accurate, usually having some form of advanced guidance system. This includes unpowered and powered weapons.

Typically the button on the back of a flight stick used for ordnance release. Refers to the older era designation of “pickle barrel,” a term used for bombing accuracy. To pickle means release ordnance, most commonly bombs.

A small bead on a sight that indicates where the impact point will be.

A Soviet Union reverse engineered version of the early AIM- 9 missiles, almost completely interchangeable.

Reaction Control System, a mechanic used to direct thrust in certain directions for control. May also refer to Radar Cross Section, a metric used for determining the potential for a radar to detect the specified object.

An indication of how many weapons will be released at certain distances or intervals in a single attack run.

Revolutions Per Minute.

Vocal indication of committing an immediate ground attack run.

Radar Warning Receiver, a device that receives radar signals and classifies them according to a known frequency database.

Range While Search, a radar mechanism that provides ranging of targets while searching for others.

Code for the S-300 missile system, also known as “ Grumble.” Long-range theatre defense SAM system.

Code for the 9K37 “Buk” missile system, also known as “ Gadfly.” Medium-range SAM system, a successor to the SA-6.

Code for the 2k12 “Kub” missile system, also known as “ Gainful.” Medium-range SAM system.

Surface-to-Air Missile, a missile launched from the ground to hit air targets.

Semi-Active Radar Homing, a radar guidance method where the launching unit illuminates the target with radar signals and the missile homes in on the reflected energy.

Indication that secondary explosions have occurred after ordnance impact or target hit.

Short-range air defense, generally referring to air defenses that can hit no higher than 10,000ft.

Situation Report, used to request a status of an entity.

A class of Soviet/Russian missile cruiser built in the 1970s-1980s.

Brevity code for the N019 and N001 radars used on the MiG-29 “Fulcrum” and Su-27 “Flanker” aircraft.

A particular fin kit for Mk80 series bombs, used for high-drag capability. The rear of the bomb is triggered to open into a four petal arrangement after being dropped to significantly slow it down, allowing for low altitude drops and thus allow the dropping aircraft to escape the blast radius.

Brevity code for radar tracking signal.

See Fencer.

See Frogfoot.

Harrier T.4, a two seat Cold War era V/ STOL capable aircraft, intended for training pilots on the Harrier GR.3 aircraft.

Targeting pod, an accessory normally taking up an external hardpoint on an aircraft to provide imagery or data for target acquisition and designation.

Slang for the sound given by most IR guided missile systems. Early missile systems were not linked to any visual cue indications, so a sound was substituted to indicate a lock and strength of lock.

Track While Search, a radar tracking mechanism that builds “tracks” of contacts for missile guidance. Developed in the 1960s for the Apollo space program, the mechanism is one of the early ways of allowing radar systems to track multiple targets and guide missiles to those targets.

Ultra High Frequency, a radio band used for communications between 300MHz and 3GHz.

United Nations.

Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing, a capability applied to certain kinds of aircraft, generally fixed wing. The designation indicates the aircraft is capable of short take off or vertical take off in some conditions, while also being able to land vertically or short.

Very High Frequency, a radio band used for communications between 30MHz and 300MHz.

Very Important Person.

A point in space used in navigation as part of a route.

A term to indicate that the user's weapons have been armed and are ready for use. Also used to order to prepare weapons for use.

Executive Officer, generally a second in command in a military organization.

A series of 14.5mm caliber Soviet/Russian anti-aircraft guns.

In Soviet/Russian terms, encompasses a number of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns; in western terms, generally refers to the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” self-propelled anti-aircraft system.

A self-propelled AAA system with two 57mm cannons.

Referring to a series of Soviet/Russian fixed or towed anti-aircraft guns, but primarily the ZU-23 23mm anti-aircraft gun.