Glossary
A
AAE
Army Acquisition Executive, an organizational unit of the Army resulting from the 1989 Army Management Review.
ADC
Analog-to-digital converter.
ASA(RDA)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition).
ASIC
Application-specific integrated circuit.
ATC/ATR
Automatic target cueing and recognition.
ATTD
Advanced Technology Transition Demonstration, a development approach used by the Army to test the application of new technology.
B
BAST
Board on Army Science and Technology (of the National Research Council).
C
C3I/RISTA
Systems or applications typically included under command, control, communication, and intelligence (C3I) or under reconnaissance, (intelligence), surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA or RSTA)
CBRS
The Army's Concept-Based Requirements System.
CEP
Circular error probability.
CIM
Computer-integrated manufacturing.
COFT
Conduct-of-fire trainer.
CRAF
Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
CTBW
Chemical, toxin, or biological warfare.
D
DARPA
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
DBMS
Data base management system.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
DOD
U.S. Department of Defense.
DRAM
Direct random access memory.
DSP
Digital signal processing (microprocessor).
E
ECM/ESM
Electronic countermeasures and support measures.
EHF
Extremely high frequency (radio waves).
EM
Electromagnetic.
ETC
Electrothermal chemical (a gun propulsion technology).
F
FEL
Free-electron laser.
H
HALE
High-altitude, long-endurance (aircraft).
HDE
High-power directed-energy (devices or weapons).
HF/DF
Hydrogen fluoride/deuterium fluoride (a chemical laser).
HMX
Current-generation Army explosive (cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine).
HPM
High-power microwave.
HUMINT
Human intelligence.
I
ICAI
Individual computer-aided instruction.
IFF
Identification of friend or foe.
IFFN
Identification of friend, foe, or neutral.
IHPTET
Integrated High-Performance Turbine Engine Technology (an engine research program).
IPS
Integrated Propulsion System (program).
IRST
Infrared search and track (system).
J
JSTARS
Joint Systems Target Acquisition Radar System.
L
LIDAR
Light detection and ranging.
LO
Low observable (also referred to as "stealth"); can refer to technology, designs, etc., that give the capability of being difficult for an enemy to detect or systems that possess this capability.
LPI
low probability of intercept.
M
MILSATCOM
Military Satellite Communications (a proposed satellite communications architecture).
MLRS
Multiple-launch rocket system.
MMIC
Monolithic microwave integrated circuit.
MOPS
Million (computing) operations per second.
O
OSD
Office of the Secretary of Defense.
P
PM/RS
Powder metallurgy for rapidly solidified (alloys).
POMCUS
Prepositioning of materiel configured to unit sets.
PSYOPS
Psychological warfare operations.
R
R&D
Research and development.
RISTA
Reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition; the Army also uses RSTA (see C3I/RISTA).
RDX
Current-generation Army propellant (cyclotrimethylene trinitramine).
S
SDI
Strategic Defense Initiative.
SDIO
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization.
SIGINT
Signal intelligence.
SIMNET
Simulation Network.
SQUID
Superconducting quantum interference device.
SRAM
Static random access memory.
STAR
Strategic Technologies for the Army.
T
TBM
Theater ballistic missile.
TFA
Technology Forecast Assessment.
TMDP
Technology Management and Development Planning (subcommittee of the STAR study).
TRADOC
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
U
UAV
Unmanned air vehicle.
UGV
Unmanned ground vehicle.
V
VLSIC
Very large-scale integrated circuit.
VTOL
Vertical takeoff and landing
W
WST
Wafer-scale technology.