Glossary of military abbreviations
List of abbreviations, acronyms and initials related to military subjects such as modern armour, artillery, infantry, and weapons, along with their definitions.
A[]
- AA – anti-aircraft
- AA – AEGIS Ashore
- AAA – anti-aircraft artillery "Triple A"
- AAAV – Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle
- AAD – Armoured amphibious dozer
- AADC – Area Air Defense Commander
- AAG – Anti-aircraft gun
- AAK – Appliqué armor kit (US)
- AAN – Army after next
- AAP – Advance Authority to Procure
- AAPC – Advanced Armoured Personnel Carrier (Turkey)
- AARADCOM – Army Armament Research and Development Command
- AAR – After Action Review
- AAV – Amphibious assault vehicle
- AAV – Assault Amphibious Vehicle
- AAW – Anti-Aircraft Warfare
- AAWC – Anti-Aircraft Warfare Coordinator
- AB – Air burst
- ABC – Atomic, biological, chemical (replaced by chemical, biological, radiological (CBR), and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC))
- ABC – Automatic brightness control
- AB(C) – Aviation battalion (combat)
- ABIT – Advanced Built-In Test
- ABM – Air Bursting Munition
- ABM – Anti-Ballistic Missile
- ABMD – AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense
- ABMS –
- ABRO – Army Base Repair Organisation
- ABS –
- ABS – anti-skid braking system
- ABSP – AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Signal Processor
- ABSV –
- A/C – aircraft commander
- AC – alternating current
- ACA –
- ACADA' – Automatic Chemical Agent Detector and Alarm
- ACAVP – (UK)
- ACB – Advanced Capability Build
- ACB/TI – Advanced Capability Baseline/Technical Insertion
- ACC – AEGIS Computer Center
- ACCE –
- ACCV – (US)
- ACD – Automated Common Diagrams
- ACE – Armored Combat Earthmover (US)
- ACEGIO – Advanced Conversion Equipment Group Input Output
- ACH – Advanced Combat Helmet (MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmet)
- ACLOS –
- ACM – Acoustic Countermeasures
- ACOG – Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
- ACOMMS – Acoustic Communications
- ACP – Automatic Colt Pistol
- ACP – Alignment control Panel
- ACPU – Aft Central Processing Unit
- ACR – Advanced Combat Rifle
- ACR – Armored cavalry regiment
- ACRV – Armoured command and reconnaissance vehicle
- ACS – Artillery communications system
- ACS – AEGIS Combat System
- ACS – Air Control Supervisor
- ACSC' – AEGIS Combat Systems Center
- ACTS – AEGIS Combat Training System
- ACU – Army combat uniform
- ACU – Antenna Coupler Unit
- ACV – Aardvark Cleaning Vehicle (US)
- ACV – Armoured combat vehicle
- ACVT – Armored Combat Vehicle Technology Program (US)
- A/D – Analog to Digital
- ADA – air defense artillery
- ADAM – Area Denial Artillery Munition
- ADAMS – Air Defense Advanced Mobile System (US)
- ADAP – Advanced Digital Antenna Production
- 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
- ADF – Australian Defence Force
- ADG' – Acoustic Display Generator
- ADI – Australian Defence Industries
- ADM – Advanced Development Model
- ADM – Acquisition Decision Memorandum [US]
- ADNS – Automated Digital Network System
- ADS – Advanced Display System
- AE – action express
- AECU – Antenna Environmental Control Unit
- AEF – Allied expeditionary force
- AEP – Action Entry Panel
- AER – Alteration Equivalent to Repair
- AESA – Active electronically scanned array
- AEWC – Airborne Early Warning and Control
- AEV – Armoured engineer vehicle
- AF – Air force
- AF – And Following (as "in DDG-113 AF ships will receive the AMDR Radar")
- AFA/ARA – Aerial field artillery/aerial rocket artillery (US, Vietnam war era attack helicopter batteries employing 2.75 in. FFAR)
- AFARV – Armored, Forward Area, Re-arm Vehicle (US)
- AFAS – advanced Field Artillery System
- AFATDS – Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System
- AFC – Australian Flying Corps
- AFCS – automatic fire-control systems
- AFD – automatic feeding device
- AFDL – Advanced Flight Deck Lighting
- AFFF – Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam (smothers fire cutting off oxygen)
- 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)
- AGS – advanced gun system
- AGV – assault gun vehicle
- AGVT – Advanced Ground Vehicle Technology
- Ah – Ampere hour
- AHC – Attack Helicopter Company (USA)
- AHE – Aircraft Handling Equipment
- AI – Action Item
- AIC – Air Intercept Controller (US Navy)
- AICS – Accuracy International Chassis System
- AICW – Advanced Individual Combat Weapon
- AIF – Australian Imperial Force (Australia, WWI)
- AIFS – Advanced Indirect Fire System
- AIFV – Armoured infantry fighting vehicle
- AIPS – Advanced Integrated Propulsion System (US)
- AIS – Automatic Identification System (US NAVY)
- AIT – Alteration Installation Team
- AIT – Advanced Information Technology
- AK – Acknowledgement
- ALAAVS – Advanced Light Armored/Amphibious Vehicle System (US)
- ALC – (US)
- ALICE – All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment
- ALO – AEGIS Light Off
- ALS – Advanced laying system
- ALS – Advanced Lighting System (flight deck)
- ALSV – Armoured logistics support vehicle
- ALT – Armoured launching turret
- ALWT – Advanced Lightweight Torpedo
- AM – Acquisition Manager
- AMC – United States Army Materiel Command
- AMC – Advanced Mortar Carrier (Turkey)
- AMCCOM – Armament Munitions and Chemical Command
- AMDR – Air and Missile Defense Radar
- AMDS – Anti-Missile Discarding Sabot
- AMF – Amphibische Mehrzweck-Fahrzeuge (multipurpose amphibious vehicle)
- AML – Automitrailleuse Légère (light armoured car)
- AMLCD – Active-matrix liquid crystal display
- AMN - Afghanistan Mission Network
- AMOS – Advanced mortar system
- AMPS – Afloat Master Planning System (US NAVY)
- AMR – Anti-materiel rifle
- AMR – Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance
- AMRWS – Advanced multi-role weapon station
- AMS – Armoured mortar system
- AMS-H – Advanced Missile System – Heavy
- AMX – Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux
- ANAD – Anniston Army Depot
- ANZAC – Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
- ANZUS – Australia New Zealand United States Treaty
- AO – Area of operations
- 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 – Army Personnel Centre
- APC – Armoured personnel carrier
- APC – Armour-piercing capped
- APCBC – Armour-piercing capped ballistic cap
- APC-T – Armour-piercing capped – tracer
- APCT-BF – Armour-piercing capped tracer – base fuze
- APCNR – Armour-piercing composite non-rigid
- APCR – Armour-piercing composite rigid
- APCRBC – Armour-piercing composite rigid ballistic cap
- APDS – Armour-piercing discarding sabot
- APDS-T – Armour-piercing discarding sabot – tracer
- APE – Amphibisches Pionier-Erkundungsfahrzeug (amphibious front-line reconnaissance vehicle)
- APEP – Armour-Piercing Enhancement Programme
- APERS – Anti-personnel
- APERS-T – Anti-personnel tracer
- APFIDS – Armour-piercing fragmentation incendiary discarding sabot
- APFSDS-T – Armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot – tracer
- APFSDS(P) – Armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (practice)
- APFSDSDU – Armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot, depleted uranium
- APG – Aberdeen Proving Grounds
- APGM – Autonomous precision-guided munition
- APHC – Armour-piercing hard core
- APHE – Armour-piercing high-explosive
- API – Armour-piercing incendiary
- APIT – Armour-piercing incendiary tracer
- APM – Anti-personnel mine
- APS – Advanced propulsion system
- APS – Artillery pointing system
- APSA – Armour-piercing secondary effect
- APSE – Armour-piercing secondary effect
- APSE-T – Armour-piercing secondary effect – tracer
- APT – Armour-piercing tracer
- APTE – Abrams Power Train Evolution (US)
- APU – Auxiliary power unit
- APV – Armoured patrol vehicle
- AR –
- AR/AAV – Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (US)
- ARD –
- ARDEC – Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
- ARDNOT –
- ARE –
- ARETS –
- ARFORGEN – Army force generation
- ARMAD –
- ARMSCOR – (South Africa)
- ARMVAL – (US)
- ARP –
- ARP –
- ARRADCOM –
- ARRV –
- ARSV – Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle (US)
- ART –
- ARV – Armoured recovery vehicle or Armed Robotic Vehicle (XM1219)
- ASA
- ASAP – As soon as possible
- ASARC –
- ASCOD –
- ASM – Air-to-Surface Missile
- ASP – Automatic, self-powered
- ASTROS – (Brazil)
- ASV – Armored Security Vehicle (US)
- ASV –
- AT – Anti-tank
- AT –
- ATACS – (US)
- ATAS –
- ATCAS –
- ATD –
- ATD – (US)
- ATD –
- ATDT –
- ATDU – (UK)
- ATFCS –
- ATG – Anti-tank gun
- ATGL –
- ATGM – Anti-tank guided missile
- ATGW – Anti-tank guided weapon
- ATK – Alliant Techsystems
- ATLAS –
- ATLV –
- ATM – Anti-tank mine
- ATR – - EDS –
- ATS –
- ATTC –
- ATTS –
- ATV – All-terrain vehicle
- ATV – (Turkey)
- AUG – Armee Universal Gewehr
- AVGP – Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (Canada)
- AVH –
- AVL –
- AVLB – Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
- AVM –
- AVR –
- AVRE – Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (UK)
- AVT – (US)
- AWE –
- AWOL – Absent without official leave
- APC - Armored Personnel Carrier
B[]
- BAe – British Aerospace
- BAI – Battlefield Air interdiction
- BAR – M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
- BARCAP – Barrier Combat Air Patrol
- BARV – Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle
- BASE –
- BATES –
- BAT –
- BB – Base bleed
- BBSP – Blowback shifted pulse
- BC – Battery commander
- BCC –
- BCP –
- BCT – Brigade combat team (US)
- BCT – Basic combat training
- BCV – Battle command vehicle
- BD – base detonating
- BDA – Browning double action or bomb damage assessment
- BDM –
- BDU – Battle dress uniform
- BE – Base ejection
- BFA – Blank-firing adaptor or blank-firing attachment
- BFV – Bradley Fighting Vehicle
- BCT – 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
- BM-Brigade Major
- 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
- BTRY – Battery
- BTU – Bullet trap universal
- BUA – or built-up area
- BW – Bacteriological warfare
- BX – Bionix AFV
C[]
- C3I – Command, control, communications, and intelligence
- CAB – Combat aviation battalion
- CAB - Combat Action Badge
- 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
- CAP – Covering Agent Program
- 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
- CCIP – Continuously computed impact point
- CCO – Close combat optic
- CCP - Casualty Collection Point
- CCP – Computer control panel
- CCR – Crown copyright reserved
- CCTV – Closed-circuit television
- CCU – Central control unit
- CCV – Close combat vehicle
- CCV – Command and control vehicle (US)
- CCV-L – Close combat vehicle – light
- cd – candela
- CDA – Combat defensive action
- CDM – Coastal defence missile
- CDU – Command display unit
- CDU – Computer display unit
- CE – Chemical energy
- C/E – Crew/enlisted (enlisted aircrew member)
- CECOM – Communications-electronics command
- CEFO – Combat equipment fighting order (webbing contents)
- CENTCOM – Central command
- CENTO – Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
- CEOI – Communications electronics operating instruction
- CEP – Circular error of probability
- CES – Engineer Services Regiment (Sri Lanka)
- 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
- CINC – Commander In-Chief
- 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
- COA – Course Of Action
- 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 - Command Post
- 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
- CR – Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment
- CRISAT – Collaborative research into small arms technology
- CRM – Composite risk management (US)
- CROWS – Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station
- CRR – Carro de Reconhecimento Sobre Rodas (reconnaissance tracking scout car)
- CRT – Cathode ray tube
- CRU – Cable reel unit
- CS – Communications subsystem
- CS – Confined space
- CS (USAF) – Communications squadron
- CSB – Combat Support Boat
- CSF – Combined service forces
- CSI – computer-synthesised image
- CSS – Computer sighting system
- CSSD – Combat service support detachment
- CTA – Case telescoped ammunition
- CTD – Concept technology demonstrator
- CTI – Central tyre inflation
- CTIS – Central tyre inflation system
- CTO – Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
- CTR – Close Target Recce
- CTRA – Carro de Transporte Sobre Rodas Anfibo (amphibious tracking scout car)
- CTT – Challenger training tank
- CUOPS - Current Operations
- CV90 – Combat Vehicle 90
- CVAST – Combat vehicle armament system technology (US)
- CVR(T) – Combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked) (UK)
- CVR(W) – Combat vehicle reconnaissance (wheeled) (UK)
- CVRDE – Combat vehicle research and development establishment (India)
- CVT – Controlled variable time
- CVTTS – Combat vehicle targeting system
- CW – Chemical warfare
- CWR – Continuous wave radar
- CWS – Cupola weapon station
D[]
- DA – double action
- DAHA – dual-axis head assembly
- DAO – double action only
- DARCOM – US Army Matériel Development and Readiness Command
- DAREOD – damaged airfield reconnaissance explosive ordnance disposal
- DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (US)
- DAS – deep air support
- DAS – defensive aid system/suite
- DASP – demountable artillery surveillance pod
- DBMS – dead bodies make sense
- 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
- DEAD – Destruction of Enemy Air Defense
- DECA – digital electronic control assembly
- DEFA – direction des études et fabrications d'armement
- DERA – Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (UK)
- DESO – Defence Export Sales Organisation (UK)
- DFAC – Dining Facility (US)
- DFCS – digital fire-control system
- DFSV – direct fire support vehicle
- DFV – desert fighting vehicle
- DHSS – data handling subsystem
- DIA – Defense Intelligence Agency (US)
- DICON – Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
- DIP – driver instrument panel
- DISA – Defense Information Systems Agency
- DISCOM – division support command
- DIVARTY – division artillery
- DMC – digital magnetic compass
- DMR – dedicated marksman rifle
- DMU – distance measurement unit
- DNRS – day/night range sight
- DoD – Department of Defense (US)
- DOIM (US Army) – Directorate of Information Management
- DOP – Department of Productivity
- DP – demonstration purpose
- DP – dual purpose
- DPA – Defence Procurement Agency (UK)
- DPICM – dual-purpose improved conventional munition (US)
- DPTR – diopter
- DRA – Defence Research Agency (UK)
- DROPS – demountable rack offloading and pick-up system
- DROS – Date of Return Overseas (US)
- 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
- DZ – drop zone
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
- ECB – Engineering and Construction Bulletins
- ECM – Electronic countermeasures
- ECOS – Enhanced Combat Optical Sight
- ECS – Environmental Control Subsystem
- ECV – Enhanced Capacity Vehicle
- EDD – Explosive Detonation Disruption
- EDS – Electric Drive System
- EFAB – Etablissement d'Etudes et de Fabrications d'Armement de Bourges
- EFC – equivalent full charge
- EFCR – equivalent full charge rounds
- EFM – Explosives Factory Maribyrnong
- EFP – Expanded Feasibility Phase
- EFP – Explosively Formed Penetrator
- EFV – Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (New name for AAAV)
- EFVS – Electronic Fighting Vehicle System (US)
- EG – External Gun
- EGLM – Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module
- EI – Engineering and Installation
- EIS – Engineering and Installation Squadron
- EI SIT – Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team
- ELB – Extended Life Barrel
- ELEC – Electrical, Electric
- ELEK - Electronic
- ELEX – Electronics
- ELKE – Elevated Kinetic Energy Weapon (US)
- ELS – Electromagnetic Launcher System
- ELSAP – Elektronische Schiessanlage für Panzer (electronic fire system for tanks)
- EM – electromagnetic
- EMC – Executive Management Committee
- EMD – Engineering and Manufacturing Development
- EMDG – Euromissile Dynamics Group
- EMEW – Electromagnetically-Augmented High Explosive Warhead
- EMG – externally mounted gun
- EMP – electromagnetic pulse
- EMPG – Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade
- ENGESA – Engesa Engenheiros Especializados (Brazil)
- EOC – Essential Operational Capability
- EOD – explosive ordnance disposal
- EOR – Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
- EOTS – Electro-Optical Tracking System
- EOW - End Of Watch
- 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 – Electronic 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
- ETE – Estimated Time of Endurance
- ETM – Electronic Technical Manuals
- ETS – Elevated TOW System
- ETS – Engineer Tank System
- ETS – End of Term of Service (discharge date) (US)
- 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 –
- FAL – Fusil Automatique Légère
- FAPDS – Frangible Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot
- FARP – Forward Area 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
- FBM – Fleet Ballistic Missile
- 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
- FFR – Fitted For Radio
- FFSS – Future Fighting Soldier System
- FFW – Fitted For Wireless
- FG – field gun
- FH – field howitzer
- FIBUA – Fighting In Built-Up Areas
- FID – Foreign Internal Defenses
- FIFV – Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle (US)
- FIRM – Floating Integrated Rail Mount
- FIS – Fuze Interface System
- FISH – Fighting In Someone's House (UK) (Colloquial. Slang term for FIBUA)
- FIST – Future Integrated Soldier Technology (UK), Fire Support Team (US)
- FISTV – Fire Support Team Vehicle (US)
- FITOW – Further Improved TOW (US)
- FLEA – Frangible Low-Energy Ammunition (i.e. a fragmentation grenade or a low-yield IED)
- FLIR – forward-looking infra-red
- FLOT – forward line of own troops
- FLSW – Future Light Support Weapon
- FM – U.S. Army Field Manuals
- FM – Titanium tetrachloride (code designation)
- FMBS – Family of Muzzle Brake/Suppressors
- FMC – Food Machinery Corporation
- FMF – Fleet Marine Force
- FMJ – Full Metal Jacket
- FMJBT – Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
- FMJLF – Full Metal Jacket Lead Free
- FMN - Federated Mission Networking
- FMPDS – Frangible Missile Piercing Discarding Sabot
- FMS – Foreign Military Sales
- FMTV – Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
- FN – Fabrique Nationale (Manufacturer)
- FO – Forward Observer
- FOB – Forward Operating Base
- FOC – Full Operational Capability
- FOD – Foreign Object Damage (i.e., damage not caused by enemy fire. Includes bugs, dirt, etc.) (Aviation)
- FOG – Fibre Optic Gyro
- FOM – Fibre Optic Missile
- FOO – forward observation officer
- FORTIS – Forward Observation and Reconnaissance Thermal Imaging System
- FOTT – Follow On To TOW
- FOV – field of view
- FPA – Focal Plane Array
- FRAG – fragmentation
- FRAGO – FRAGmentary Order. (see OPORD)
- FRES – Future Rapid Effect System
- FROG – free rocket over ground
- FSCL – fire support coordination line
- FSCM – fire support coordination measure
- FSCV – fire support combat vehicle
- FS – fire support element
- FSED – full-scale engineering development (US)
- FSSG – Force Service Support Group
- FST – Future Soviet Tank/Follow-on Soviet Tank
- FSV – fire support vehicle
- FSV – Future Scout Vehicle (US)
- FTA – Frangible Training Ammunition
- FTMA – Future Tank Main Armament
- FTS – Future Tank Study
- FTT – Field Tactical Trainer
- FUBAR – Fouled/###### 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 Combined Weight (not "Gross Combat Weight"). Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) plus Gross Trailer Weight (GTW).
- GD – General Dynamics
- GDLS – General Dynamics Land Systems
- GDU – Gun Display Unit
- GFE – Government Furnished Equipment
- GH – gun-howitzer
- GIGN-Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale ("National Gendarmerie Intervention Group")
- GIAT – Groupement Industriel des Armements Terrestres
- GL – Grenade Launcher
- GLATGM – Gun Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile
- GLC – gun lay computer
- GLDNSM – Grenade Launcher Day-Night Sight Mount
- GLH-H – Ground-Launched Hellfire-Heavy (US)
- GLLD – Ground Laser Locator Designator (US)
- GLS – Gesellschaft für Logistischen Service
- GM, MVO – General Motors, Military Vehicle Operations
- GMC – General Motors Corporation
- GMG – Grenade Machine Gun
- GMLRS – Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
- GMS – Gun Management System
- GND – Ground (electrical)
- GOCO – government-owned, contractor-operated (US)
- GOP – General Out Post
- GP – General Purpose
- GP – guided projectile
- GPMG – General Purpose Machine Gun
- GPO – gun position officer
- GPS – Global Positioning System
- GPS – gunner's primary sight
- GPSS – Gunner's Primary Sight Subsystem
- GR – Gajaba Regiment (Sri Lanka)
- GREM – Grenade Rifle Entry Munition
- GRIT – Group, Range, Indication, Type of fire
- GRU – Glavnoe Razvedyvatel'noe Upravlenie, meaning Main Intelligence Directorate
- GSR – General Staff Requirement (US)
- GSRS – General Support Rocket System
- GSG9- Grenzschutzgruppe 9 der Bundespolizei (Border Protection Group 9 of the Federal Police)
- GSOF – Georgian Special Operations Forces
- GST – General Staff Target
- GST – Gesellschaft fьr System-Technik
- GTCS – Gun Test and Control System
- GTG – Good To Go
- GTI – German Tank Improvement
- GTW – Gross Trailer Weight
- GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight. Curb weight plus max payload weight.
- GW – Gemunu Watch (Sri Lanka)
- GW – guided weapon
H[]
- h – hour(s)
- H&K – Heckler and Koch
- HAB – Heavy Assault Bridge (US)
- HAB – Heavy Artillery Brigade (UK)
- HAG – Heavy Artillery Gun
- HALO – High Altitude Low Opening, High Activity/Low Observable
- HAMS – Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron – Marine Aircraft Group (USMC)
- HAWK – Homing-All-the-Way-Killer (US)
- HB – heavy barrel
- HBAR – Heavy Barrel Assault Rifle
- HC – Hexachloroethane/zinc
- HC – high-capacity
- HC – Hollow Charge
- HCER – high-capacity extended range
- HCHE – high-capacity high-explosive
- HCT – HOT Compact Turret
- HDS – HOLOgraphic Diffraction Sight
- HE – high-explosive
- HE-APERS – high-explosive anti-personnel
- HE-FRAG – high-explosive fragmentation
- HE-FRAG-FS – high-explosive fragmentation – fin-stabilised
- HE-FS – high-explosive – fin-stabilised
- HE-S – high-explosive spotting
- HE-T – high-explosive tracer
- HE/PR – high-explosive practice
- HEAA – High-Explosive Anti-Armour
- HEAB – High-Explosive Air Burst
- HEAP – High-Explosive Armor-Piercing
- HEAP-T – high-explosive anti-personnel – tracer
- HEAT – high-explosive anti-tank
- HEAT-FS – high-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilised
- HEAT-MP – high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose
- HEAT-MP(P) – high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose (practice)
- HEAT-T – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer
- HEAT-T-HVY – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer – heavy
- HEAT-T-MP – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer – multipurpose
- HEAT-TP-T – high-explosive anti-tank – target practice – tracer
- HED-D – Hybrid Electric Drive – Demonstrator
- HEDP – high-explosive dual-purpose
- HEER – High-Explosive Extended Range (US)
- HEF – High-Explosive Fragmentation
- HEFT – High-Explosive Follow Through
- HEI – high-explosive incendiary
- HEIT – high-explosive incendiary tracer
- HEL – High-Energy Laser (US)
- HEL – Human Engineering Laboratory (US)
- HELP – Howitzer Extended Life Program (US)
- HEMAT – Heavy Expanded Mobility Ammunition Trailer (US)
- HEMP – High-Explosive Multi-Purpose
- HEMTT – Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (US)
- HEP – high-explosive plastic
- HEP-T – high-explosive practice – tracer
- HEPD – high-explosive point detonating
- HERA – high-explosive rocket-assisted
- HESH – high-explosive squash head
- HESH-T – high-explosive squash head – tracer
- HET-PF – high-explosive tracer – percussion fuze
- HETF – High Explosive Time Fuzed
- HETS – Heavy Equipment Transport System
- HFCC – Howitzer Fire-Control Computer (US)
- HFHTB – Human Factors Howitzer TestBed (US)
- HFM – Heavy Force Modernisation (US)
- HIFV – Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- HIMAG – High-Mobility Agility Test Vehicle (US)
- HIMARS – High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (US)
- HIP – Howitzer Improvement Program (US)
- HIRE – Hughes Infrared Equipment
- HITP – High-Ignition Temperature Propellant
- HIU – Heading Indicator Unit
- HMC – Howitzer Motor Carriage
- HMD – Helmet-Mounted Display
- HMG – Heavy Machine Gun
- HMH – Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
- HMLC – High-Mobility Load Carrier
- HML/A – Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron
- HMM – Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
- HMMWV – High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
- HMX – Marine Special Mission Helicopter Squadron
- HOE – Holographic Optical Element
- HOT – Haute subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé
- How – Howitzer
- HP – High Power; Hollow Point
- hp – Horsepower
- HPFP – High-Performance Fragmentation Projectile
- HPS – Helmet Pointing System (or Sight)
- HPT – high-pressure test
- HRU – Heading Reference Unit
- HS – Headquarters Squadron – Marine Wing Support Group (USMC)
- HSS – Hunter Sensor Suite
- HSTV(L) – High-Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) (US)
- HTTB – High-Technology TestBed (US)
- HVAP – high-velocity armour-piercing
- HVAP-T – high-velocity armour-piercing tracer
- HVAPDS – high-velocity armour-piercing discarding sabot
- 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
- IAF - Indian Air Force
- IAFV – infantry armoured fighting vehicle
- IAI – Israel Aircraft Industries
- IAL – Infra-red Aiming Light
- IASD – Instant Ammunition Selection Device
- IBAS – Improved Bradley Acquisition System
- ICBM - Intercontinental ballistic missile
- ICC – information co-ordination centre
- ICM – improved conventional munition
- ICM – BB improved conventional munition base bleed
- ICV – Infantry Combat Vehicle
- IDF – Israel Defense Forces
- IDF – Indirect fire
- IDW – Individual Defence Weapon
- IED – Improvised Explosive Device
- IEPG – Independent European Program Group
- IFCS – Improved/Integrated Fire-Control System
- IFF – Identification Friend or Foe
- IFV – infantry fighting vehicle
- IFVwCM – Infantry Fighting Vehicle with Integrated Countermeasures (US)
- IGLS – Individual Grenade Launcher System
- II – image intensification/intensifier
- IIR – Imaging Infra-Red
- ILL – illuminating
- ILMS – Improved Launcher Mechanical System
- ILS – Integrated Logistic Support
- IM – Insensitive Munition(s)
- IMMLC – Improved Medium Mobility Load Carrier
- IMSC - International Maritime Security Construct
- IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit
- INSAS – Indian Small Arms System
- InSb – Indium-antimonide
- INS -Indian Naval ship
- IOC – initial operational capability
- IOF – Indian Ordnance Factory
- IPB – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
- IPF – Initial Production Facility
- IPO – International Programme Office
- IPPD – Integrated Product Process Development
- IR – Infra-Red
- IRBM – Intermediate-range ballistic missile
- IRU – Inertial Reference Unit
- IS – internal security
- ISD – In Service Date
- ISGU – Integrated Sight and Guidance Unit
- ISR – Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
- ISU – Integrated Sight Unit
- ISV – Internal Security Vehicle
- ITAS – Improved Target Acquisition System
- ITOW – Improved TOW
- ITPIAL – Infra-red Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser
- ITT – Invitation To Tender
- ITV – Improved TOW Vehicle (US)
- IVPDL – Inter-Vehicle Positioning and Data Link (US)
- IW – Individual Weapon
- IWS – Improved Weapon System
J[]
- JBMoU – Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding
- JDAM – Joint Defense Air Munition
- JERRV – Joint Engineer Rapid Response Vehicle
- JGSDF – Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force
- JHP – Jacketed hollow point
- Shiniqwa – Javelin Composite Launch Tube
- JMAC – Joint Medium-calibre Automatic Cannon
- JOIR - Joint Operations Information Range
- JPO – Joint Project Office
- JSC – Joint Steering Committee
- JSCS – Joint Service Combat Shotgun
- JSDFA – Japanese Self-Defence Force Agency
- JSP – Jacketed Soft Point
- JSSAMP – Joint Services Small Arms Master Plan
- JSSAP – Joint Services Small Arms Programme
K[]
- KAAV – Korean Armoured Amphibious Vehicle
- KAC – Knight's Armament Company
- KE – Kinetic energy
- KEC – Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation
- KEM – Kinetic Energy Missile (US)
- kg – kilogramme(s)
- KHA – Killed Hostile Action (US Vietnam War)
- KIA – Killed in Action
- KIFV – Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- KNHA – Killed Non-Hostile Action (US Vietnam War)
- KPA – Korean People's Army
L[]
- LAAG – light anti-aircraft gun
- LAAM – Light Anti-Aircraft Missile
- LAAW – Light Anti-Tank Assault Weapon
- LCAC – Landing Craft Air Cushion
- 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
- LIC – Low Intensity Conflict
- LIMAWS – Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System
- LION – Lightweight Infra-red Observation Night sight
- LIW – Lyttleton Engineering Works
- LKP – Loader Keyboard Panel
- LLAD – low-level air defence
- LLLTV – low light level television
- LLM – Launcher Loader Module
- LMAW – Light Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
- LMG – Light Machine Gun
- LNS – Land Navigation System
- LNS – Laying and Navigation System
- L/O – Liaison Officer
- LOAL – Lock-On After Launch
- LOBL – Lock-On Before Launch
- LOC – Line Of Communication
- LOS – Line Of Sight
- LOSAT – Line Of Sight Anti-Tank
- LP – Liquid Propellant
- LP – Listening Post
- LPC – Launch Pod Container
- LPC – Launcher Pod Carrier
- LPG – Liquid Propellant Gun
- LPO – Leading Petty Officer
- LPT – Low-Profile Turret
- LPTS – Lightweight Protected Turret System
- LR – Long Rifle
- LR – Long-Range
- LRAR – Long Range Artillery Rocket
- LRASS – Long-Range Advanced Scout System
- LRAT – long-range anti-tank
- LRBB – long-range base bleed
- LRD – Long Range Deflagrator
- LRF – laser rangefinder
- LRF – Low Recoil Force
- LRHB – long-range hollow base
- LRIP – Low-Rate Initial Production
- LRM – Laser Rangefinder Module
- LRN – Lead Round Nose
- LRN – Low Recoil NORICUM
- LRRP – Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
- LRSA – Long Range Sniper Ammunition
- LRSU – Long Range Surveillance Unit
- LRU – Launcher Replenishment Unit
- LRU – Line Replacement Unit
- LRU – Line-Replaceable Unit
- LSAT- Lightweight Small Arms Technologies
- LSB – Landing Support Battalion
- LSS – Lightweight Shotgun System
- LSVW – Light Support Vehicle, Wheeled (Canada)
- 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
- LRW – Light Repair Works (Indian Army)
M[]
- m – metre(s)
- m/s – metres per second
- MAB – Marine Amphibious Brigade
- MABS – Marine Air Base Squadron
- MAC – Medium Armored Car (US)
- MAC – Military Airlift Command
- MACS – Modular Artillery Charge System
- MACS – Marine Air Control Squadron
- MADLS – Mobile Air Defence Launching System
- MAF – Marine Amphibious Force
- MAG – Marine Aircraft Group
- MAGTEC – Marine Air/Ground Training & Education Command
- MAGTF – Marine Air/Ground Task Force
- MAHEM – Magnetohydrodynamic Explosive Munition
- MALOS – Miniature Laser Optical Sight
- MALS – Marine Air Logistics Squadron
- MAMBA – Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar
- MANPADS – Man Portable Air Defense System
- 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
- MCISRE – Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Enterprise
- 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)
- MDB – Multi Domain Battle
- MDMP – Military Decision Making Process
- MDU – Map Display Unit
- MEB – Marine Expeditionary Brigade
- MEDEVAC – Medical Evacuation
- MEF – Marine Expeditionary Force
- MENS – Mission Element Need Statement (US)
- MEP – Modular Explosive Penetrator
- MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Station
- METO – Middle East Treaty Organisation; CENTO or Baghdad Pact
- METL – Mission Essential Task List
- METT-TC – Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available—Time available, Civilians
- METT-TSL – Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and fire support available - Time available, Space, Logistics
- MEU(SOC) – Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)
- MEV – medical evacuation vehicle (US)
- MEWS – Mobile Electronic Warfare System
- MEWSS – Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System
- MF – multifunction
- MFC – Mortar Fire Control(ler)
- MFCS – Multi-Fire Control System/Mortar Fore Control System
- MFCV – Missile Fire-Control Vehicle
- MFF – munition filling factory
- MG – machine gun
- MGB – Medium Girder Bridge
- MGL – Multiple Grenade Launcher
- MGS – Mobile Gun System
- MGTS – MultiGun Turret System
- MGU – Mid-course Guidance Unit
- MI – Military Intelligence
- MIA – Missing In Action
- MICOM – Missile Command (US)
- MICV – mechanised infantry combat vehicle
- MILAN – Missile d'Infantrie Léger Antichar (light infantry anti-tank missile)
- MILES – Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (US)
- MILSPEC – Military Specification
- MILSTAN – MILitary STANdard
- MILSTAR – MILitary Strategic and Tactical Relay (US)
- MIPS – Medium Integrated Propulsion System (US)
- MIR - Mechanized Infantry Regiment (Sri Lanka)
- MIRV - Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle
- MLA – Manufacturing Licence Agreement
- MLC – Military Load Class
- MLC – Modular Load Carrier
- MLF – Marine Logistics Force
- MLR – Marine Logistics Regiment
- MLI – Mid-Life Improvement
- MLO – Muzzle Loaded Ordnance
- MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket System (US)
- mm – millimetre(s)
- MMBF – mean miles between failures
- MMG – Medium Machine Gun
- MMS – mast-mounted sight
- MMS – Modular Mounting System
- MNVD – Monocular Night Vision Device
- MoA – Memorandum of Agreement
- MOA – Minute Of Angle
- MoD – Ministry of defence
- MODA – Ministry of Defence and Aviation
- MOLF – Modular Laser Fire Control (Germany)
- MOLLE – MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
- MOPP – Mission Oriented Protective Posture (US)
- MOS – Military Occupational Specialty (US)
- MoU – Memorandum of Understanding
- MOUT – Military Operations in Urban Terrain (urban warfare) (US)
- MP – Machine Pistol
- MP - Military police
- MPBAV – MultiPurpose Base Armoured Vehicle
- MPC – MultiPurpose Carrier (Netherlands)
- MPDS – Missile Piercing Discarding Sabot
- 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)
- MSL – Missile
- MSR – Missile Simulation Round
- MSR – Main Supply Route
- MSTAR – Man-portable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar
- MSV – Modular Support Vehicle
- MT – mechanical time
- MTB – Mobility TestBed
- MTBF – Mean Time Between Failure
- MTI – moving target indication
- MTL – Materials Technology Laboratory (US)
- MTR – Mobile Test Rig (US)
- MTSQ – mechanical time and super-quick
- MTSQ – Mechanical Time Semi-Quick
- MTU – Motoren- und Turbinen-Union
- MTVL – mobile tactical vehicle light
- MUGS – Multipurpose Universal Gunner Sight
- MULE – Modular Universal Laser Equipment (US)
- MUSS – Multifunctional Selfprotection System
- MV – muzzle velocity
- MVEE – Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (UK)
- MVRS – Muzzle Velocity Radar System
- MWCS – Marine Wing Communications Squadron
- MWHS – Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron
- MWS – Manned Weapon Station (US)
- MWS – Modular Weapon System
- MWSG – Marine Wing Support Group
- MWSS – Marine Wing Support Squadron
N[]
- NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- NAVSEA – Naval Sea Systems Command
- NBC – Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
- NBMR – NATO Basic Military Requirement
- NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service (US)
- NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer (US, E-4 – E-9)
- NCOIC – Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
- NDI – Non-Developmental Item
- NDU – Navigation Display Unit
- NFOV – Narrow Field Of View
- NG – New/Next Generation
- Ni/Cd – Nickel Cadmium
- NLAW – Next Light (weight) Anti-armour Weapon
- NLOS-C – Non-Line Of Sight-Cannon
- NLOS-M – Non-Line Of Sight-Mortar
- NOD(s) – Night Optical Device(s)
- NOTAM – Notice to Airmen
- NRF – NATO Response Force
- NS – Network Services
- NTC – National Training Center (USA)
- NUGP – nominal unit ground pressure
- NV – Night Vision
- NVD – Night Vision Device
- NVE – Night Vision Equipment
- NVESD – Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate
- NVG – Night Vision Goggle
- NVS – Night Vision System
- NZDF – New Zealand Defence Force
- NZEF – New Zealand Expeditionary Force (in WWI & WWII)
- NZSAS - New Zealand Special Air Service
O[]
- OBR – Optical Beam-Riding
- OCC – Obus à Charge Creusé (shaped-charge shell)
- OCOKA – Observation and fields of fire, Cover and concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, and Avenues of Approach.
- OCSW – Objective Crew-Served Weapon
- OCU – Operational Centre Unit
- ODE – Ordnance Development and Engineering (Singapore)
- OEG – Occluded Eye Gunsight (a type of Collimator sight)
- OEO – optical and electro-optical
- OFSA – Objective Family of Small Arms
- OFSA – One Size Fits All
- OFW – Objective Force Warrior
- OHWS – Offensive Hand Weapon System
- OIC – Officer In Charge
- OICW – Objective Individual Combat Weapon
- OOTW – Operations Other Than War
- OP – Observation post
- OP – Operators Panel
- OPCON – OPerational CONtrol
- OPDW – Objective Personal Defense Weapon
- OPORD – OPerations Order
- OPSEC – OPerational SECurity
- OPV – Observation Post Vehicle
- OSW – Objective Sniper Weapon
- OSC – Operation Strategy Command
- 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
- P-38 — P-38 can opener (US)
- P3I – Pre-Planned Product Improvements
- PAR – pulse acquisition radar
- PAT – power-assisted traverse
- PAWPERSO – Protection, Ammunition, Weapon, Personal Equipment, Radio, Specialist Equipment, Orders
- PC – Personal Computer
- PCB – printed circuit board
- PCC – Police Compact Carbine
- PCI – Pre-combat inspection
- PD – Point Defense
- PD – point detonating
- PD – Point of Departure
- PDNA – Positioning Determining/Navigation Unit
- PDRR – Program Definition and Risk Reduction
- PDW – Personal Defence Weapon
- PE – MoD Procurement Executive (UK)
- PE – Peace Enforcement (US DoD)
- PEC – Printed Electronic Circuits
- PFD – proximity fuze disconnector
- PFHE – prefragmented high-explosive
- PLF – protective line of fire
- PFPX – prefragmented proximity fuzed
- PGMM – Precision Guided Mortar Munition
- PH – Probability of Hit
- Pi – Probability of incapacitation
- PIAT – Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank
- PIBD – Point Initiating Base Detonated
- PID – Positive Identification
- PIE – pyrotechnically initiated explosive
- PIP – Product Improvement Programme
- PL – Phase Line
- PLA – People's Liberation Army
- PLARS – Position Location And Reporting System (US)
- PLC – Programmable Logic Control
- PLO – Palestinian Liberation Army
- PLOS – Predicted Line Of Sight
- PLS – Palletised Load System (US)
- PM – porte mortier (mortar carrier)
- PM – Product Manager
- PMCS – Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services
- PMEE – U.S. Air Force abbreviation for Prime Mission Electronic Equipment
- PMO – Program Management Office (US)
- PMO – Provost Marshall's Office
- PMOD – Platform Modifications
- PMS – Pedestal-Mounted Stinger
- PNU – Position Navigation Unit
- POA&M – Plan Of Action & Milestones
- POF – Pakistan Ordnance Factory
- POS – Postes Optiques de Surveillance
- POW – Prisoner(s) of War
- PPG – PT Parade Games (Bangladesh Cadet Colleges)
- PPI – plan position indicator
- PPS – Precise Positioning Service
- PPV – Protected Patrol Vehicle
- PRAC – practice
- PRAC-T – practice tracer
- PRESAR – Preparation, React to enemy fire, Establish enemy position, Suppress the enemy, Assault, Reorg
- PRI – projector reticle image
- PRP – Personnel Reliability Program (screening and monitoring of individuals with access to "special" weapons)
- PSBC – Platoon Sergeant's Battle Course
- 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
- PWR – Power
Q[]
- QCB – Quick Change Barrel
- QE – Quadrant Elevation
- QRF – Quick Reaction Force
R[]
- RA – Royal Artillery
- RAA – Royal Australian Artillery
- RAAM – Rifle-launched Anti-Armour Munition
- RAAMS – Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (US)
- PABD – Pay Entry Base Date
- RAC – Royal Armoured Corps
- RADIRS – Rapid Deployment Multiple Rocket System (US)
- RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force
- RAE – Royal Aircraft Establishment, Royal Aircraft Establishment (Farnborough)
- RAE – Royal Australian Engineers, Australian Combat Engineers
- RAF – Royal Air Force
- RAM-D – reliability, availability, maintainability and durability
- RAN – Royal Australian Navy
- RAO – Rear Area Operations
- RAP – Regimental Aid Post [1]
- RAP – rocket-assisted projectile
- RAPI – Reactive Armour Protection
- RARDE – Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (UK)
- RATAC – Radar de Tir pour L'Artillerie de Campagne (radar for field artillery fire)
- RATELO – Radio Telephone Operator
- RAW – Rifleman's Assault Weapon
- RBL – Range and Bearing Launch
- RBOC – Rapid Bloom Offboard Chaff
- RC/MAS – Reserve Component/Modified Armament System
- RCAAS – Remote-Controlled Anti-Armor System (US)
- RCAF – Royal Canadian Air Force
- RCC – ROLAND Coordination Center (US)
- RCDU – Remote-Controlled Defence Unit
- RCL – Recoilless rifle
- RCN – Royal Canadian Navy
- RCS – Radar Cross Section
- RCT – Regimental Combat Team
- RCT – Royal Corps of Transport
- RCV – Robotic Command Vehicle
- RDF – Rapid Deployment Forces
- RDF/LT – Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank (US)
- RDJTF – Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (US)
- RDT&E – Research Development Test and Evaluation
- REME – Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- REMF – Rear Echelon Mother F*cker
- RF – Rimfire
- RFA – Royal Field Artillery or Royal Fleet Auxiliary
- RFAS – Russian Federation and Associated States
- RFC – Royal Flying Corps
- RFI – request for information
- RFP – request for proposals
- RFPI – Rapid Force Projection Initiative
- RFQ – Request For Quotations
- RGGS – Rifle Grenade General Service
- RHA – rolled homogeneous armour
- RHA – Royal Horse Artillery
- RIN – the former Royal Indian Navy
- RIS – Rail Interface System
- RISE – Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
- RLC – Royal Logistic Corps
- RLEM – Rifle-Launched Entry Munition
- RLG – Ring Laser Gyro
- RLT – Regimental Landing Team
- RMG – ranging machine gun
- RN – Royal Navy
- RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force
- RNZN – Royal New Zealand Navy
- RO – Royal Ordnance
- ROBAT – Robotic Counter-Obstacle Vehicle (US)
- RoC – Republic of China
- ROC – required operational characteristics
- ROE – Rules Of Engagement
- ROF – Royal Ordnance Factory (UK)
- ROF – Rate of fire
- RoK – Republic of Korea
- RoKMC – Republic of Korea Marine Corps
- RoKIT –
- ROR – range only radar
- ROTA – Royal Ordnance Training Ammunition
- RP – Red phosphorus
- RP – rocket-propelled
- RP - Regimental police
- RPC – Rocket Pod Container
- RPG – Rocket-propelled grenade
- RPG – Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot
- RPV – Remotely piloted vehicle
- RR – Recoilless rifle
- RRPR –
- RRT – Radio Recon Team
- RRTR –
- RSAF – Royal Small Arms Factory (UK) (now closed)
- RSN – (US & NATO)
- RSS –
- RTE –
- RTO –
- RTT –
- RUC – Royal Ulster Constabulary
- RWS – Remote weapon system (or station)
S[]
- s – second(s)
- S&W – Smith & Wesson
- SA – Situation Awareness
- SABCA – Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques
- SABR – Selectable Assault Battle Rifle
- SABS – Stabilizing Automatic Bomb Sight
- SAC – Small Arms Collimator
- SACLOS – Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight
- SADA – Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly
- SADARM – Sense And Destroy Armor (US)
- SADF – South African Defence Force
- SAE – Society of Automotive Engineers
- SAF – Small Arms Fire
- SAFCS – Small Arms Fire Control System
- SAFIRE – Surface-to-Air Fire
- SAL – semi-active laser
- SAL – search and locate
- SAM – surface-to-air missile
- SAMM – Société d'Applications des Machines Motrices
- SANDF – South African National Defence Force
- SANG – Saudi Arabian National Guard
- SAP – Semi-Armour-Piercing
- SAPHEI – Semi-Armour-Piercing High Explosive Incendiary
- SAPI – semi-armour-piercing incendiary
- SAR – Search and Rescue
- SAS – Special Air Service
- SASR – Special Air Service Regiment
- SAS-EAS – Sealed Authenticator System – Emergency Action Procedures (Nuclear Weapons Release Control)
- SASR – Special Application Sniper Rifle
- SAT – Small Arms Trainer
- SATCP – Systиme Anti-aérien à Trиs Courte Portée (very short-range anti-aircraft system)
- SAVA – Standard Army Vectronics Architecture
- SAW – Squad Automatic Weapon
- SAWS – Squad Automatic Weapon System
- SB – Short Barrel
- SCORE – Stratified Charge Omnivorous Rotary Engine
- SCC,-Sea Cadet corps
- SD – self-destruct(ion)
- SEAD – Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
- SEAL – Sea/Air/Land
- SEALOCK –
- SEATO – Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation
- SEME – School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
- SEN – shell extended range NORICUM
- SEP – Soldier Enhancement Programme
- SF – Special Forces (US/UK)
- SFCS – Simplified Fire-Control System
- SFIM – Société de Fabrication d'Instrument de Mesure
- SFIRR – solid fuel integral rocket/ramjet
- SFM – Sensor Fuzed Munitions
- SFMG – Sustained Fire Machine Gun
- SFSW – Special Forces Support Weapon
- SFW – Special Forces Weapon
- SGTS – Second-Generation Tank Sight
- SH/PRAC – squash head practice
- SHORAD – Short-Range Air Defence System
- shp – shaft horsepower
- SIC – Second in Command
- SICPS – Standard Integrated Command Post Systems
- SINCGARS – Single Channel Ground/Air Radio System
- SIP – System Improvement Plan/Programme
- SIPS – Small Integrated Propulsion System
- SITREP – Situation Report
- SJFN – Semi-Jacketed Flat Nose
- SJHP – Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point
- SKOT – Sredni Kolowy Opancerzny Transporter (armoured personnel carrier)
- SLA - Sri Lanka Army
- SLAC - Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
- SLAF - Sri Lanka Air Force
- SLAGSE - Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps
- SLAOC - Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps
- SLAPC - Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps
- SLASC - Sri Lanka Army Service Corps
- SLAWC - Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps
- SLCG - Sri Lanka Coast Guard
- SLCMP - Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police
- SLE - Sri Lanka Engineers
- SLEME - Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- SLLI - Sri Lanka Light Infantry
- SLMC - Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
- SLNG - Sri Lanka National Guard
- SLN - Sri Lanka Navy
- SLRC - Sri Lanka Rifle Corps
- SLSR - Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
- SLAP – saboted light armor penetrator
- SLAW – Shoulder-Launched Assault Weapon
- SLEP – Service Life Extension Program (US)
- SLR – Self-Loading Rifle
- SLR – Super Low Recoil
- SLWAGL – Super Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher
- SM – smoke
- SMAW – Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
- SMG – sub-machine gun
- SMK – Smoke
- Smoke – BE smoke base ejection
- Smoke – WP smoke white phosphorus
- SMP – Surface Mine Plough
- SMU – Special Mission Unit
- 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 Forces
- SOG – Speed Over Ground
- SOP – Standing/Standard Operational Procedure(s)
- SOS – Struck Off Strength
- SP – Shore Patrol
- SP – self-propelled
- SP – Soft Point
- SPAAG – self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
- SPAAM – self-propelled anti-aircraft missile
- SPAG – self-propelled assault gun
- SPARK – solid propellant advanced ramjet kinetic energy missile
- SPAS – Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun
- SPATG – self-propelled anti-tank gun
- SPAW – self-propelled artillery weapon
- SPG – self-propelled gun
- SPH – self-propelled howitzer
- SPL – self-propelled launcher
- SPLL – Self-propelled Loader Launcher
- SPLY – Supply
- SPM – self-propelled mortar
- SPP – Special Purpose Pistol
- SPR – Special Purpose Rifle
- SPS – Standard Positioning Service
- SPSM – Sensorgezundete Panzerabwehr SubMunition
- SPW – Special Purpose Weapon
- SR – Short Rifle
- SR – Staff Requirement
- SR – Special Reconnaissance
- SRR – Special Reconnaissance Regiment
- 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
- SSR – Sniper Support Rifle
- SSR – Special Support and Reconnaissance Company (DNK)
- SSW – Squad Support Weapon
- ST6 -
- ST – Staff Target
- STA – shell transfer arm
- STAB – Steered Agile Beams
- STAFF – Small Target Activated Fire-and-Forget (US)
- STANAG – STANdardisation Agreement
- STARTLE – Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar for Tank Location and Engagement (US)
- STE/ICE – Simplified Test Equipment/Internal Combustion Engine (US)
- STF - Special Task Force
- STOVL – Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
- STUP – spinning tubular projectile
- SUB –
- 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
- TAAR – Tactical Air to Air Refueling
- TACBE –
- TACMS – Army Tactical Missile System (US)
- TACOM – Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (US)
- TACP - Tactical Air Control Party
- TAD – Temporary Additional Duty (Naval Services term)Temporary Duty
- TADDS – Target Alert Display Data Set (US)
- TADS – Target Acquisition and Designation System (US)
- TAM – Tanque Argentino Mediano
- TAS – Target Acquisition Subsystem
- TAS – tracking adjunct system
- TAS – Turret Attitude Sensor
- TBAT – TOW/Bushmaster Armored Turret (US)
- TC – Tank Commander, also Truck Commander (US Army)
- TCO – Tactical Combat Operations
- TCTO – Time-Compliance Technical Order
- TCU – tactical control unit
- TD – Tank Destroyer
- TDCS – Tank Driver Command System
- TDD – Target Detection Device
- TDR – Target Data Receiver
- TDY – Temporary Duty
- TE – Tangent Elevation
- TEL – Transporter-Erector-Launcher
- TELAR – Transporter-Erector-Launcher And Radar
- TES – Tactical Environment Simulation
- TES – target engagement system
- TGMTS – Tank Gunnery Missile Tracking System
- TGP – Terminally Guided Projectile
- TGP – Targeting pod
- TGS – Tank Gun Sight
- TGSM – terminally guided submunition
- TGTS – tank gunnery training simulator
- TI – thermal imaging/imager
- TIC – Troops In Contact
- TICM – thermal imaging common modules
- TIIPS – Thermal Imaging and Integrated Position System
- TIM – Thermal Imaging Module
- TIPU – Thermal Image Processing Units
- TIRE – Tank Infra-Red Elbow
- TIS – thermal imaging system
- TLC – Transport Launching Container
- TLD – Top Level Demonstrations
- TLE – Treaty Limited Equipment
- TLP – Troop Leading Procedures (US)
- TLR – Tank Laser Rangefinder
- TLS – Tank Laser Sight
- TM&LS – Textron Marine & Land Systems
- TMBC – Turret Management Ballistic Computer
- TMP – Tactical Machine Pistol
- TMS – Turret Modernisation System
- TMUAS – Turreted Mortar Under Armor System (US)
- TNI - Tentara Nasional Indonesia
- TNT – Trinitrotoluene
- TO – Technical Order
- TOE – table of organisation and equipment
- TOGS – Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (UK)
- TOP – Total Obscuring Power
- TOPAS – Transporter Obrneny Pasovy
- TOTE – Tracker, Optical Thermally Enhanced
- TOW – Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command link guided (US)
- TP – Target Practice
- TP-FL – target practice flash
- TP-S – or TPS Target Practice-Spotting/Signature
- TP-SM – target practice – smoke
- TP-SP – target practice – spotting
- TP-T – target practice – tracer
- TPCM – Target Practice Colour-Marking
- TPDS – Target Practice Discarding Sabot
- TPFSDS-T – target practice fin-stabilised discarding sabot – tracer
- TPTF – Target Practice Time Fuzed
- TR – Triple Rail
- TRACER – Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (UK)
- TRACKSTAR – Tracked Search and Target Acquisition Radar System (US)
- TRADOC – Training and Doctrine Command (US)
- TSFCS – Tank Simplified Fire-Control System
- TSQ – time and super-quick
- TSR – Tavor Sporting Rifle
- TT – transport de troupes (troop transporter)
- TTB – Tank TestBed (US)
- TTD – Transformation Technology Demonstrator
- TTG – Time To Go
- TTS – Tank Thermal Sight
- TU – Terminal Unit
- TU – Traversing Unit
- TUA – TOW Under Armor (US)
- TUR – Tiefflieger-Ьberwachungs-Radar (low-level surveillance radar)
- TV – Television
- TWD – Thermal Warning Device
- TWMP – Track Width Mine Plough
- TWS – Thermal Weapon Sight
- TYDP – Ten Year Defence Programme (Australia)
U[]
- UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
- UBLE – Universal Bridge Launching Equipment
- UCVP – Universal Combat Vehicle Platform
- UDR – Ulster Defence Regiment
- UET – Universal Engineer Tractor (US)
- UGV – Unmanned Ground Vehicle
- ULC – Unit Load Container
- UMA – Universal Mounting Adapter
- UMP – Universal Machine Pistol
- USA – United States of America/United States Army
- USAADS – U.S. Army Air Defense School
- USAARMS – U.S. Army Armor School
- USAAVNS – U.S. Army Aviation School
- USAAF – United States Army Air Forces
- USAF – United States Air Force
- USCG – United States Coast Guard
- USMC – United States Marine Corps
- USN – United States Navy
- USP – Universal Self-loading Pistol
- UTL – Universal Tactical Light
- UTM – Universal Transverse Mercator
- UTS – Universal Turret System
- UV – Ultraviolet
- UW – Urban warfare
V[]
- V – Volt(s)
- VAB – Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (front armoured car)
- VAB – Vickers Armoured Bridgelayer
- VADS – Vulcan Air Defense System (US)
- VAE – Vehiculo Armado Exploracion
- VAK – Vehicle Adaptor Kit
- VAPE – Vehiculo Apoyo y Exploracion
- VARRV – Vickers Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
- VARV – Vickers Armoured Recovery Vehicle
- VBC – Véhicule Blindé de Combat (armoured combat vehicle)
- VBCI – Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie
- VBL – Véhicule Blindé Léger (light armoured vehicle)
- VBM – Véhicules Blindés Modulaires
- VC – Vehicle Commander
- VCA – Véhicule Chenillé d'Accompagnement (tracked support vehicle)
- VCC – Veicolo Corazzato de Combattimento
- VCG – Véhicule de Combat du Genie (armoured engineer vehicle)
- VCI – Véhicule de Combat d'Infanterie; Vehiculo combate infanteria (infantry combat vehicle)
- VCP – Vehicle Check Point
- VCR – variable compression ratio
- VCR – Véhicule de Combat à Roues (wheeled combat vehicle)
- VCR/AT – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Atelier Technique (salvage)
- VCR/IS – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Intervention Sanitaire (stretchers)
- VCR/PC – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Poste de Commandement (HQ)
- VCR/TH – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Tourelle HOT (turret with four HOT ATGW)
- VCR/TT – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Transport de Troupes (troop carrier)
- VCTIS – Vehicle Command and Tactical Information System
- VCTM – Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Mortero (armoured mortar carrier)
- VCTP – Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Personal (armoured personnel carrier)
- VDA – Véhicule de Défense Anti-aérienne (anti-aircraft defence vehicle)
- VDAA – Véhicule d'Auto-Défense Anti-aérienne
- VDC – Voltage Direct Current
- VDM – viscous damped mount
- VDSL – Vickers Defence Systems Ltd
- VDU – visual display unit
- VEC – Vehiculo de Exploraciòn de Caballerie
- VEDES – Vehicle Exhaust Dust Ejection System (US)
- VERDI – Vehicle Electronics Research Defence Initiative (UK)
- VHIS – visual hit indicator system
- VIB – Véhicule d'Intervention du Base
- VIDS – Vehicle Integrated Defence System
- VINACS – Vehicle Integrated Navigation and Command System
- VIRSS – Visual and InfraRed Smoke Screening System
- VITS – Video Image Tracking Systems
- VLAP – Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile
- VLC – Véhicule Léger de Combat (light armoured car)
- VLI – Visible Light Illuminator
- VLSMS – Vehicle-Launched Scatterable Mine System
- VMA – Marine Light Attack Squadron
- VMA(AW) – Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron
- VMBT – Vickers Main Battle Tank
- VMF – Marine Fighter Squadron
- VMFA – Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
- VMFA(AW) – Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron
- VMGR – Marine Aerial Refueler/Transport Squadron
- VMFP – Marine Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron
- VMM – Marine Tilt-rotor (MV-22B) Squadron
- VMU – Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron
- VMR – Marine Transport Squadron
- VMAQ – Marine Electronic Warfare Attack Squadron
- VMS – Vehicle Motion Sensor
- VNAS – Vehicle Navigation Air System
- VRL – Véhicule Reconnaissance Léger (light reconnaissance vehicle)
- VSEL – Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
- VT – variable time (fuse)
- VTOL – Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft
- VTP – véhicule transport de personnel (personnel carrier)
- VTT – véhicule transport de troupe (troop transporter)
- VVSS – vertical volute spring suspension
- VXB – Véhicule Blindé à Vocations Multiples (multipurpose armoured car)
W[]
- WAAC – Women's Auxiliary Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
- WAC – Women's Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
- WAF – Women (in the) Air Force and individual members of; obsolete
- WAM – Wide Area Mines (US)
- WAMI – Wide Area Motion Imagery (US)
- WAPC – Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier (Canada)
- WASAD – Wide Angle Surveillance and Automatic Detection Device
- WAV – Wide Angle Viewing
- WAVES – Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (USN); obsolete
- WES – Wing Engineer Squadron (USMC)
- WFOV – Wide Field Of View
- WFSV – Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (Canada)
- WHA – Wounded Hostile Action (US Vietnam War)
- 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)
- WNHA – Wounded Non-Hostile Action (US Vietnam War)
- WP – white phosphorus
- WP-T – white phosphorus – tracer
- WSM – Winchester Short Magnum
- WTS – Wing Transportation Squadron (USMC)
X[]
- XO – Executive Officer
Y[]
- YMRS – Yugoslav multiple rocket system
Z[]
- ZULU – Zulu time (timezone equivalent to UTC)
See also[]
- List of established military terms
- List of military tactics
- Glossary of firearms terminology
References[]
- Armor and Artillery Glossary
- Infantry Weapons Glossary
- FM 17-97 Cavalry Troop (October 1995)
- FM 5-19 (formerly FM 100–14) Composite Risk Management (21 Aug 2006)
- Military abbreviations and Dictionaries
- Military acronyms and military abbreviations
- ^ Australian War Memorial. "Glossary". p. R. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
Categories:
- Military lists
- Glossaries of the military
- Lists of government and military acronyms