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.
dB
Decibel. Logarithmic unit expressing a power or amplitude ratio relative to a reference level. Sensitivity figures for infrared, visual, and acoustic receivers are referenced to a standard target signature.
dBW
Decibels relative to one watt. Absolute power level used for radio-frequency receiver sensitivity (radar, RWR).
EM
Electromagnetic. The above-water sensing domain — radar, RWR, infrared, and visual.
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 once signal strength is sufficient for interrogation.
Last Known Position. The most recent confirmed position of a contact whose track has been lost.
NM
Nautical Mile. Standard unit of distance in naval operations. 1 NM = 1,852 m.
NOFORN
Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals. Distribution restriction.
NTDS
Naval Tactical Data System. Standard symbology and data format for tactical displays.
ROE
Rules of Engagement. Doctrine governing which contact affiliations a platform may engage.
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.
SOFAR
SOund Fixing And Ranging. Deep-ocean sound channel formed by the sound-velocity minimum at mid-depth; the propagation path that produces convergence zones.
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: