Term Definition
BDA Battle Damage Assessment. Post-engagement evaluation of whether a target was likely destroyed. BMC3 Battle Management, Command, Control, and Communications. CPA Closest Point of Approach. The minimum distance between two platforms on their current trajectories. EMCON Emission Control. Doctrine governing which active sensors and emitters are permitted to radiate. ESM Electronic Support Measures. Passive detection of electromagnetic emissions. FOV Field of View. The angular extent of a sensor’s detection cone. IFF Identification Friend or Foe. System for resolving contact affiliation at close range. IR Infrared. Passive sensor detecting thermal emissions. NTDS Naval Tactical Data System. Standard symbology and data format for tactical displays. NOFORN Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals. Distribution restriction. RTB Return to Base. Order for a platform to disengage and recover to the carrier. RWR Radar Warning Receiver. Passive sensor that detects hostile radar emissions. VLS Vertical Launch System. Ship-mounted missile launch capability.
Sensor and electronic equipment use the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (AN/ designators). AN stands for Army-Navy , reflecting the system’s origin as a joint service standard. The three letters after the slash encode Installation, Type, and Purpose:
Position Letter Meaning
Installation A Airborne S Ship D Pilotless carrier (missile) Type A Infrared / Thermal L Countermeasures P Radar Q Sonar Purpose G Fire control Q Special / combined R Receiving (passive) S Search / detecting Y Surveillance
Example: AN/SPY-310 = Ship / Radar / Surveillance.
Prefix Meaning
CV Aircraft Carrier (hull classification) SS Submarine (hull classification) USV Unmanned Surface Vessel MQ Multi-mission Unmanned Aircraft RQ Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft MH Multi-mission Helicopter
Prefix Meaning
M Missile MK Mark number (torpedoes, warheads)