ELPRS Enhanced Position Location Reporting System.
ELS Earth Limb Sensor.
ELSEC Electronics Security.
ELSI Enhanced Longwave Spectrometer Imager.
ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle.
Emanations
Security
(EMSEC)
The protection that results from all measures designed to deny unauthorized
persons information of value that might be derived from intercept and analysis of
compromising emanations.
EMC (1) Electromagnetic Compatibility. (2) Early Midcourse.
EMCON Emission Control
EMD Engineering and Manufacturing Development (previously referred to as FSD).
EMDCT Expanded Memory DCT.
EME Electromagnetic Environment.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
93
Emergency
Capability
(replaces
Contingency
Capability)
BMDS elements or components that are still in development or testing that
provide limited ballistic missile defense capabilities. MDA, working with the
Services, will develop plans, which cover the potential use of prototypes and test
assets for contingency deployment should the SECDEF determine that an
emerging BMD threat requires emergency fielding of a BMDS capability.
EMF Electromagnetic Field.
EMG Electromagnetic Gun.
EMI Electromagnetic Interference.
EMIP See Exoatmospheric Midcourse Interceptor Program.
Emission Control
(EMCON)
The selective and controlled use of electromagnetic, acoustic, or other emitters
to optimize command and control capabilities while minimizing: a) detection by
enemy sensors, and b) mutual interference among friendly systems. EMCON
can also be involved in military deception plans. Also called EMCON.
EML Electromagnetic Launcher. A device used to launch hypervelocity particles.
EMP Electromagnetic Pulse.
EMPSKD Employment Scheduling (USN term).
EMR Electromagnetic Radiation.
EMRLD Excimer Moderate Power Raman-Shifted Laser Device.
EMSEC Emanations Security.
EMSP Enhanced Modular Signal Processor.
EMT Engineering Management Team.
EMV Electromagnetic Vulnerability.
ENA Engineering: Architecture and Analysis.
ENCATT Engineer CATT (US Army term).
Enclave Isolated resource – an SDS asset that has lost connectivity with other SDS
assets with which it normally has connectivity, but is still capable of coordinating
with SDS assets to conduct ballistic missile defense. Various combinations of
connectivity losses are possible; for example, (1) an operations center has lost
connectivity with Higher Authority, yet can still provide sufficient C2 and can still
connect with sufficient weapons and sensors to conduct an engagement and (2)
an operations center has loss of connectivity with another operations center with
which it normally shares data, but can still conduct an engagement.
Endgame FOV The field of view of the interceptor’s sensor during its final maneuvers after target
acquisition to intercept the target. May be less than the acquisition FOV.
End Item The final production product when assembled, or completed, and ready for
issue/deployment.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
94
Endoatmospheric Within the earth’s atmosphere; generally considered to be altitudes below 100
km. An endoatmospheric interceptor reaches its target within the atmosphere.
Endo-
Exoatmospheric
Interceptor (E2 I)
A ground-based interceptor capable of engaging RVs either endoatmospheric or
exoatmospheric. (Successor to High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor
(HEDI).)
ENDOSIM Endoatmospheric Simulation.
Endurance The time an aircraft can continue flying, or a ground vehicle or ship can continue
operating, under specified conditions, e.g. without refueling.
ENG Engineering.
ENGAG’T Engagement.
Engage (1) In air defense, a fire control order used to direct or authorize units and/or
weapon systems to fire on a designated target.
(2) In air intercept, a code meaning, “Attack designated contact.”
Engagement (1) A period of hostilities beginning when the first ballistic missile target
undergoes fire from the first defensive weapon.
(2) A period beginning whenever any hostile object is identified (designated)
as hostile and ending after the last hostile object has been attacked.
(3) In air defense, an attack with guns or air-to-air missiles by an interceptor
aircraft, or the launch of an air defense missile by air defense artillery and
the missile’s subsequent travel to intercept.
Engagement
Authorization
The authorization given to USSPACECOM to use weapon and sensor systems
under previously coordinated and authorized rules, procedures, and conditions.
Engagement
Control
(1) That set of coordination, assessment, decision, and direction functions
normally implemented automatically to execute the selected battle plan,
military strategy and tactics within partitioned battle spaces (i.e., a
spatial/functional subdivision of battle management). Includes the
determination of: what specific objects to intercept in order to implement
the selected military strategy, and which specific interceptors to assign to
each attacker to implement the selected tactics within the rules of
engagement.
(2) In air defense, that degree of control exercised over the operational
functions of an air defense unit that are related to detection,
identification, engagement, and destruction of hostile targets.
Engagement
Planning
A set of rules and parameters to be used in developing weapon-target
assignments and for sensor resource management. (USSPACECOM)
Engagement
Surveillance
The surveillance required to support RV negation in the midcourse tier.
Engagement
Time
The time that a weapon takes while engaging a given target. This includes not
only firing at the target but all other necessary weapon functions involved that
are unique to that particular target.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
95
Engineering and
Manufacturing
Development
(EMD)
The third phase in the acquisition process, following Milestone II. The system
and its supporting items are fully developed, engineered, designed, fabricated,
tested, and evaluated. The intended output is a pre-production system that
closely approximates the final product; the documentation necessary to enter the
production phase, and the test results demonstrating that the production product
will meet stated requirements.
Engineering
Change Proposal
(ECP)
A proposal to the responsible authority recommending that a change to an
original item of equipment be considered, and the design or engineering change
be incorporated into the article to modify, add to, delete, or supersede original
parts.
Engineering
Development
A funding category including those development programs being engineered for
service use but which have not yet been approved for procurement or operation.
Money under budget activity 6.4.
Engineering
Development
Model
Enhanced Target
Delivery System
(ETDS)
An advanced prototype used during the Engineering and Manufacturing
Development phase (EMD) to resolve design deficiencies, demonstrate maturing
performance, and develop proposed production specifications and drawings.
Target delivery system being developed for future GMD testing that will
complement existing systems, provide flexible, modular configurations, and will
be launchable from land, air, or sea modes
ENNK Endoatmospheric Non-Nuclear Kill.
ENSCD Enemy Situation and Correlation Division (JFACC term).
Environmental
Assessment (EA)
A concise public document whose primary purpose is to provide sufficient
analysis of environmental effects of an action to determine whether to prepare
an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact.
Environmental
Impact Statement
(EIS)
A detailed written statement analyzing the environmental effects of a major
Federal action.
Environmental
Security
A specialized form of physical security that prevents technical penetration, e.g.,
penetration by waves of electron beams.
Environments The media, conditions, and/or physical objects in which a BMD asset is immersed
or surrounded. For BMD systems and elements, the comprehensive
environments definition consists of natural, hostile, induced, and storage,
transportation and handling categories.
EO (1) Electro-Optical.
(2) Engagement Operations.
(3) End Office.
(4) Eyes Only.
EOA Early Operational Assessment.
EOB (1) Enemy Order of Battle.
(2) Electronic Order of Battle.
EOC (1) See Element Operations Center.
(2) Emergency Operations Center
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
96
EOCM Electro-Optic Countermeasure.
EOCT Element Operations Center Test Bed.
EOD Explosive Ordnance Detail
EO/IR See Electro-Optics Infrared.
EOM End of Message.
EOP Executive Office of the President
EORSAT ELINT Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite (US).
EOS Earth Orbiting System (NASA term).
EOSH Environmental Operational Safety and Health.
EP (1) Engagement Planning. (2) Evaluation Plan
EP Cycle Engagement Planner Cycle (NMD BMC2 term).
EPA Environmental Protection Agency.
EPD Engineering Product and Development
Ephemeris/
Ephemerides
(1) A table showing the positions of an object in space at regular intervals of
time.
(2) A publication giving the computed places of the celestial bodies for each
day of the year or for other regular intervals.
EPITS Essential Program Information Technology and Systems.
EPL Emitter Parameter Listing (USN term).
EPLRS Enhanced Position Locator Reporting System.
EPO (1) OBSOLETE - ERINT Project Office (US Army term). (2) Element Program
Office.
EPP Electric Power Plant (PATRIOT).
EPROM Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory.
EQEC EurQuantum Electronics Conference (See CLEO).
Equipment
Operationally
Ready
The status of an item of equipment in the possession of an operating unit that
indicates it is capable of fulfilling its intended mission and in a system
configuration that offers a high assurance of an effective, reliable, and safe
performance.
ER (1) Enhanced Radiation (“neutron bomb”). (2) Extended Range.
ERA Explosive Reactive Armor
ERADCOM OBSOLETE. Army Electronics Research and Development Command. (Now
Laboratory Command (LABCOM), Adelphi, MD.)
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
97
ERCS Emergency Rocket Communications System (US).
ERD Element Requirements Document.
ERG Executive Review Group.
ERINT OBSOLETE. Extended Range Interceptor. Now referred to as PAC-3.
ERIS OBSOLETE. Exoatmospheric Reentry Vehicle Interceptor Subsystem.
(Predecessor to Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI).)
ERIS(F) OBSOLETE. ERIS Farm.
ERP Emitted Radiative Power.
ERR (1) Element Requirements Review. (2) Engineering Release Record.
ERS (1) Early Release of Submunitions. (2) Emergency Response System.
ESA Electronically Scanned Array.
ESAD Electronic Safe and Arm Device.
ESAR Extended Subsequent Application Review.
ESC Electronic System Center (AFMC), Hanscom AFB, MA.
ESCN Existing Systems and Center Notebook.
ESD OBSOLETE. Electronic Systems Division. (Now Electronic Systems Center,
Hanscom AFB, MA.)
ESH Environmental, Safety and Health
ESI External Systems Integration.
ESI ICD External Systems Integration Interface Control Document.
ESM (1) Electronic Warfare Support Measures. (2) Electronic Support Measures.
ESMC Eastern Space and Missile Center, Patrick AFB, FL.
ESNet Energy Sciences Network.
ESPRIT European Strategic Program of Research in Information Technology.
ESQD Explosive Safety Quantity Distance.
ESSM Evolved (Enhanced) Sea Sparrow Missile.
ET&C Extended Tracking and Control.
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETC (1) Electro-Thermal Chemical. (2) Estimated Time-to-Completion.
ETD (1) Estimated Time of Departure. (2) Electronic Transfer Device.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
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ETERTS End-to-End Real Time Simulator.
ETESD End-to-End Sensor Demonstration.
ETI Estimated Time of Intercept.
ETIC Estimated Time for Completion.
ETM Engineering Test Model
ETR (1) Extended Test Range (Pacific Test Bed) (2) See Eastern Test Range. (3)
Environmental Test Round. (4) Estimated Time to Repair.
ETS (1) Experimental Test System. (2) Experimental Test Site.
EU European Union
EUCOM European Command. See USEUCOM.
EURATOM European Atomic Energy Agency.
EUREKA European Research and Coordinating Agency.
EUT Early User Test.
EV Experimental Version
EVA Extravehicular Activity.
Evasive MRV A reentry vehicle, which maneuvers for the purpose of evading defensive
weapons.
Event Based
Contracting
Support “event driven acquisition strategy” by linking specific contractual events
to the “exit criteria” for the acquisition phase, or to intermediate development
events established for the acquisition strategy.
Event Driven
Acquisition
Strategy
An acquisition strategy that links program decisions to demonstrated
accomplishments in development, testing, and production.
Event Validation A sensor element internal process that results in a determination by the operator
that the sensor is healthy and the event reported is real.
Event
Verification
The process by which it is decided, from SDS external data, that the event
reported is real.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
99
Evolutionary
Acquisition
(1) An approach in which a core capability is fielded, and the system design has
a modular structure and provisions for future upgrades and changes as
requirements are refined. An evolutionary acquisition strategy is well suited to
high technology and software intensive programs where requirements beyond a
core capability can be generally, but not specifically, be defined.
(2) An acquisition strategy that defines, develops, produces or acquires, and
fields an initial hardware or software increment (or block) of operational capability.
It is based on technologies demonstrated in relevant environments, time-phased
requirements, and demonstrated manufacturing or software deployment
capabilities. These capabilities can be provided in a shorter period of time,
followed by subsequent increments of capability over time that accommodate
improved technology and allowing for full and adaptable systems over time. Each
increment will meet a militarily useful capability specified by the user (i.e., at least
the thresholds set by the user for that increment); however, the first increment
may represent only 60% to 80% of the desired final capability. (MDA Lexicon)
Evolutionary
Requirements
Definition
Mission needs are first expressed in broad operational capability terms, and then
progressively evolved to system specific performance requirements.
EVPA Experimental Version Performance Assessment.
EVPA/TEVS Experimental Version Performance Assessment Test Environment System.
EVS Enhanced Verdin System.
EW (1) Electronic Warfare. (2) Early Warning.
EW/AA Early Warning and Attack Assessment.
EWCC Expanded Weapons Control Computer (PATRIOT).
EWDA Energy and Water Development Appropriations (US).
EWG Event Working Group.
EWN Early Warning Net.
EWO Electronic Warfare Officer.
EWPE Electronic Warfare Pre-Processing Element.
EWR Early Warning Radar.
EWS Early Warning System.
EXCEDE Electron Accelerator Experiment.
Excimer A contraction for “excited dimer”; a type of lasant. A dimer is a molecule
consisting of two atoms. Some dimers (e.g., xenon chloride and krypton fluoride)
are molecules, which cannot exist under ordinary conditions of approximate
thermal equilibrium but must be created in an “excited” (e.g., energized) condition
by special “pumping” processes in a laser.
Excimer Laser
(EXL)
A laser in which emission is stimulated when a gas is shocked with electrical
energy and the excited medium emits light when returning to a ground state.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
100
EXCOM Executive Committee.
Executable
Program
A program is executable if the PM has adequate near-term approved funding.
Executing Agent The individual within the executing element assigned responsibility for managing
MDA funded programs.
Executing
Elements
Agencies or organizations (DoD or non-DoD) that are managing BMD-related
programs.
Executing
Responsibility
Program Manager responsibility.
Exercise A military maneuver or simulated wartime operation involving planning,
preparation, and execution. It is carried out for the purpose of training and
evaluation. It may be a combined, joint, or single-Service exercise, depending
on participating organizations. See also Command Post Exercise.
Exit Criteria Program specific accomplishments that must be satisfactorily demonstrated
before an effort or program can progress further in the current acquisition phase
or transition to the next acquisition phase. Exit criteria may include such factors
as critical test issues, the attainment of projected growth curves and baseline
parameters, and the results of risk reduction efforts deemed critical to the
decision to proceed further. Exit criteria supplement minimum required
accomplishments and are specific to each acquisition phase.
EXL Excimer Laser.
Exoatmospheric Outside the Earth’s atmosphere; generally considered to be altitudes above 100
km.
Exoatmospheric
Reentry Vehicle
Interceptor
Subsystem
(ERIS)
OBSOLETE. Interceptor designed to provide functional test validation of GBI.
Exoatmospheric
Test Bed (XTB)
Flight qualified and range integrated vehicle to support other programs such as
GBI-X.
Exo Decoy A decoy that matches RV signature exoatmospherically. Exo decoys can use
radar and/or optical means to deceive sensors.
Expert Systems Software programs, which use artificial intelligence techniques to capture and
apply the non-algorithmic knowledge and procedures of human experts.
Expired
Appropriation
An appropriation that is no longer available for new obligation but is still available
for disbursement to liquidate existing obligations. Under current legislation no
disbursement may be recorded or paid after a five-year expiration period.
Maintains all original accounting identity, e.g. FY, appropriation, PE, etc.
EXPLAN Exercise Plan.
Explicit
Coordination
A battle management technique which communicates results, decisions or
command from one battle manager to another, usually from a higher command
to a lower command.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 E
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Extended
Planning Annex
A document providing program guidance for an additional 10 years beyond the
POM.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
103
F (1) Fluoride. (2) Fahrenheit.
F/O (1) Fiber Optic. (2) Follow-On.
FA (1) Field Artillery. (2) Feasibility Assessment.
FA/RD Functional Analysis/Requirements Definition.
FAA Federal Aviation Administration.
FAAD Forward Area Air Defense (US Army).
FAAD C2I Forward Area Air Defense Command, Control and Intelligence.
FAADS Forward Area Air Defense System (JCS term).
FAAWC Fleet/Force Anti-Air Warfare Commander.
FAB Fly Along Probe.
Fac Facility (MILCON term).
FACP Forward Area Control Post (JFACC term).
FACSPMF Federal Agency Computer Security Program Manager’s Forum.
FAD (1) Force Activity Designator. (2) Feasible Test Date.
FADEC Full-Authority Electronic Controls.
FAFB Falcon AFB, CO.
FAFBR Falcon AFB Regulation
Fairing Structure to protect the payload during ascent phase.
FAIT Fabrication Assembly, Inspection/Integration, and Test.
FALCON Fission-Activated Light Concept.
FAM Functional Area Management.
FAMIS Financial Accounting Management Information System.
FAMP Facilities Acquisition Management Plan.
FAMSIM Family of Simulations (USA term).
FAR See Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Far Field The region far from an antenna compared to the dimensions of the antenna and
the wavelength of the radiation.
FAS (1) Fly Away Sensor (TCMP).
(2) Federation of American Scientists.
FAST Facility Allocation Study Team.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
104
Fast-Burn
Booster (FBB)
A ballistic missile that burns out much more quickly than current versions,
possibly before exiting the atmosphere entirely. Such rapid burnout complicates
a boost-phase defense.
FAT (1) First Article Testing. (2) Factory Acceptance Test.
Fault Tolerance The ability of a processor to maintain mission effectiveness after some
subsystems failed.
Fax Facsimile.
FBB Fast-Burn Booster.
FBIS Foreign Broadcast Information Service (US).
FBM Fleet Ballistic Missile.
FBMS Fleet Ballistic Missile System (USN term).
FBP Forward Based Probe.
FBR Forward-Based Radar (US Army term).
FBS Forward-Based System.
FBXR Forward-Based X-band Radar.
FC (1) Fire Control .
(2) Fund Code.
FCA Functional Configuration Audit.
FCC Federal Communications Commission.
FCCM Facilities Capital Cost of Money.
FCN Fully Connected Network.
FCO Field Change Order.
FCRC OBSOLETE. Federal Contract Research Center.
FCS Fire Control Section.
FCT Foreign comparative testing.
FD First Deployment.
FDA Food and Drug Administration.
FDC Fire Direction Center.
FDG Foreign Disclosure Guide.
FDM Function Description Manual.
FDO Fee Determining Official.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
105
FDP Flight Demonstration Program.
FDR Final/Formal Design Review.
FDRU Final Design Review Update (MDA PAC term).
FDS (1) Flight Demonstration System. (2) Fault Detection System.
FDSV Flight Demonstration Space Vehicle.
FDT&E See Force Development Test and Experimentation (US Army).
FDX Full Duplex (Telecomm/Computer term).
FEA Functional Economic Analysis.
Feasibility Study A study of the applicability or desirability of any management or procedural
system from the standpoint of advantages versus disadvantages in any given
case.
FEBA Forward Edge of the Battle Area.
FECA Front-End Cost Analysis
FED Federal.
FEDAC Federal Computer Acquisition Center.
Federal
Acquisition
Regulation
The primary regulation for use by federal executive agencies for acquisition of
supplies and services with appropriated funds. It directs the defense program
manager in many ways, including contract award procedures, acquisition
planning, warranties, and establishing guidelines for competition. The Military
Departments and DoD issue supplements to the FAR. The DoD supplement is
called DFARS (Defense FAR Supplement).
FEDSIM Federal System Integration and Management.
FEL Free Electron Laser.
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fenced Funding An identified aggregation of resources reviewed, approved, and managed as a
distinct entity. The proposed program must be implemented within specified
resources. Examples of fences areas are: Intelligence and Security, Support to
Other Nations.
FER Financial Execution Review.
FES Facility Engineering Surveillance Plan.
FET Field Effect Transistor.
FEU Flight Evaluation Unit.
FEWS Follow-on Early Warning System.
FF Fire Finder Radar (US Army.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
106
FFBD Functional Flow Block Diagram.
FFCD Full, Final and Complete Disclosure (Treaty negotiation term).
FFD Fraction Failure Detected.
FFH Fast Frequency Hopping.
FFP Firm Fixed Price.
FFRDC Federally Funded Research and Development Center.
FGC Functional Group Code (Navy ILS term).
FGEP Fixed Ground Entry Point.
FH Flight Hours.
FI Fault Isolation.
FI&A Fault Isolation and Analysis.
FIDO Fighter Duty Officer (JFACC term).
Field of View
(FOV)
The angular measure of the volume of space within which the system can
respond to the presence of a target.
Fighting Mirror
(FMIR)
Part of the GBL System. The low orbit mirror, which receives laser energy and
reflects it to the target.
Figure of Merit
(FOM)
The numerical value assigned to a measure of effectiveness, parameters, or
other figure, as a result of an analysis, synthesis, or estimating technique.
FIP Federal Information Processing.
FIPS Federal Information Processing Standard.
Fire Control The control of all operations in connection with the application of fire on a target.
Fire Control
System
A group of interrelated fire control equipment and/or instruments designed for
use with a weapon or group of weapons.
Fire Support
Coordinating
Measure
A measure employed by land or amphibious commanders to facilitate the rapid
engagement of targets and simultaneously safeguard friendly forces.
Fire Support
Coordinating Line
(FSCL)
A line established by the appropriate ground commander to ensure the
coordination of fire not under the commander’s control but may affect current
tactical operations. The fire support coordination line is used to coordinate fires
of air, ground, or sea weapons systems using any type of ammunition against
surface targets. The fire support coordination line should follow well-defined
terrain features. The establishment of the FSCL must be coordinated with the
appropriate tactical air commander and other supporting elements of the FSCL
without prior coordination with the ground force commander provided the attack
will not product adverse effects on or to the rear of the line. Attacks against
surface targets behind this line must be coordinated with the appropriate ground
force commander.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
107
Firing Doctrine The ratio and manner of assigning numbers of interceptors against given
attackers. One-on-one, salvo, shoot-look-shoot, shoot-fail-shoot, etc. are
examples of different firing doctrine. The priority of targets being defended and
the number of interceptors available relative to the number of attackers drive
doctrine.
Firing Rate The number of missiles fired per site per minute.
FIRMR Federal Information Resources Management Regulation.
FIRST Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams.
First Article First article includes pre-production models, initial production samples, test
samples, first lots, pilot models, and pilot lots. Approval involves testing and
evaluating the first article for conformance with specified contract requirements
before or in the initial stage of production under a contract.
First Strike The first offensive action of a war (generally associated with nuclear operations).
First Unit
Equipped Date
The scheduled date an end item and its support elements are issued to the
initial operational capability unit and training in the new equipment training plan
has been accomplished.
FIS Facility Installation Standard.
Fiscal Guidance The annual guidance issued by the SECDEF in the Defense Guidance which
provides the fiscal constraints that must be observed by the DoD Components in
the formulation of force structures and the FYDP, and by the OSD in reviewing
proposed programs.
FISSP Federal Information System Support Program.
FIWC Fleet Information Warfare Center (USN term).
FIX Site Firing-in-Extension (Target Launch site in White Sands Missile Range Northern
Extension).
Fixed Costs Costs that do not vary with the volume of business, such as property taxes,
insurance, depreciation, security, and minimum water and utility fees.
Fixed Ground
Entry Point
(FGEP)
The subset of GEPs, which are not transportable. GEPs provide the
communications interfaces between the SDS space orbital/sub-orbital elements
and the C2E.
Fixed Ground
Station
All hardware, software, and facilities located at a fixed ground site necessary to
receive, process, support, and analyze mission status and data, and disseminate
operational messages.
FLAGE OBSOLETE. Flexible Lightweight Agile Guided Experiment. (Predecessor
program to Extended Range Interceptor (ERINT).)
FLC Federal Laboratory Consortium.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
108
Fleet Satellite
Communications
System
(FLTSATCOM)
Operating at ultra high frequency (UHF), FLTSATCOM allows relatively low-cost
terminals with simple antennas for use on highly mobile platforms. It has a
relatively small capacity because of its much lower operating frequency. It
provides a satellite communication system for high-priority communication
requirements for the Navy and Air Force that encompasses almost the entire
world. It supports other DoD needs as well. It consists of satellites in geosynchronous equatorial orbit, each with 23 communication channels in the UHF
and SHF bands. The Navy has exclusive use of 10 channels for communication
with its land, sea, and air forces. The Air Force uses 12 others as part of its
AFSATCOM system for command and control of nuclear capable forces. The
system has one 500 KHz channel allotted to the national command authorities.
Flexible
Response
The capability of military forces for effective reaction to any enemy threat or
attack with actions appropriate and adaptable to the circumstances existing.
FLHER Funds and Labor Hours Expenditure Report.
Flight
Demonstration
System (FDS)
Part of the SBIRS Low Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) program
phase. The FDS will consist of two satellites and a ground system being built by
TRW/Hughes. The FDS satellites are to be launched in FY99 for a two-year test
program to demonstrate operations and performance of a SBIRS Low concept,
collect target and phenomenology data to support the objective system design,
and validate cost estimating models.
Flight Path The line connecting the successive positions occupied, or to be occupied, by an
aircraft, missile, or space vehicle as it moves through air or space. (It is more
commonly referred to as trajectory for space vehicles, especially ICBMs.)
Flight Readiness
Firing
A missile system test of short duration conducted with the propulsion system
operating while the missile is secured to the launcher. Such a test is performed
to determine the readiness of the missile system and launch facilities prior to
flight test.
Flight Test Test of an aircraft, rocket, missile, or other vehicle by actual flight or launching.
Flight tests are planned to achieve specific test objectives and gain operational
information.
Flight Test
Vehicle (FTV)
Prototype of airborne or spaceborne hardware used to validate a technology
concept.
FLIR Forward Looking Infrared Radar.
FLOT Forward Line of Own Troops.
FLT Flight.
FLTSATCOM Fleet Satellite Communications System.
Fluence (or
Integrated Flux)
The product (or integral) of particle (neutron or photon) flux and time, expressed
in units of particles per square centimeter. The absorbed dose of radiation (in
rads) is related to the fluence. (It should be specified whether this is incident or
absorbed fluence).
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
109
Flyaway Cost The total cost related to the production of a usable end item of military hardware.
Flyaway cost includes the cost of procuring the basic unit (airframe, hull, chassis,
etc.), a percentage of basic unit cost for changes allowance, propulsion
equipment, electronics, armament, and other installed government-furnished
equipment, and nonrecurring production costs. Flyaway cost equates to
Rollaway and Sailaway cost.
FM (1) Flare Multiunit.
(2) Frequency Modulation.
(3) Functional Manger.
(4) Force Module(s).
(5) Field Manual.
FMA Foreign Military Acquisition.
FMB Financial Management Board.
FMC Flexible Manufacturing Cell.
FMEA Failure Modes Effects Analysis (ILS term).
FMECA Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis (ILS term).
FMIR Fighting Mirror.
FMP Foreign Materiel Program.
FMS (1) Flight Mission Simulator (PATRIOT), Huntsville AL.
(2) Foreign Military Sales.
FMTV Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (USA term).
FNC Federal Network Council
FO Force Operations (PATRIOT).
FO Link Fiber Optic Link.
FOA Future Offensive Aircraft (UK RAF term).
FOB Forward Operations Base.
FOBS Fractional-Orbital Bombardment System.
FOC Full Operational Capability.
Focal Plane The plane, perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, in which images of points
in the object field of the lens are focused.
Focal Plane
Array (FPA)
An FPA is a matrix of photon sensitive detectors which, when combined with low
noise preamplifiers, provides image data for the signal frequencies of interest.
FOFA Follow-On Force Attack.
FOG Fiber-Optic Gyroscope.
FOIA Freedom of Information Act (US).
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
110
FOL Forward Operating Location.
FOLAN Fiber Optic Local Area Network.
Folded Optics Any optical system containing reflecting components for the purpose of reducing
the physical length of the system or for the purpose of changing the path of the
optical axis.
Follow-On
Operational Test
and Evaluation
(FOT&E)
That test and evaluation that is necessary during and after the production period
to refine the estimates made during operational test and evaluation, to evaluate
changes, and to reevaluate the system to ensure that it continues to meet
operational needs and retains its effectiveness in a new environment or against
a new threat.
FOM Figure of Merit.
FON Fiber Optic Network.
Footprint (1) An estimated area of possible reentry or the solid angle of a detector or
linear area of a detector at a certain location.
(2) Geographic area in which a focused satellite downlink can be received.
FOR Field of Regard.
Force Closure The point in time when a supported commander determines that sufficient
personnel and equipment are in the assigned area of operations to carry out
assigned tasks.
Force Development Test and
Experimentation
Tests employing representative users to examine definition of materiel
requirements or support/assess development of doctrine, training, organization,
and logistics for system acquisition. (U.S. Army).
Force Direction The operational management of the forces.
Force Integration
Staff Officer
Army individual assigned to ODCSOPS to serve as HQDA user representative for
a specific system. Provides continuous coordination necessary for integration of
a new system into the Army force structure.
Force
Management
The assessment of the effectiveness of the defense forces throughout an
engagement and adjustment of tactics and the system configuration as
necessary to effectively allocate resources to satisfy mission objectives.
Force Reliability The percentage of the missile force that will successfully detonate within 3.5
CEPs of the target.
FORDTIS Foreign Disclosure Technical Information System.
Foreign
Government
Information
Information that is (1) provided to the United States by a foreign government or
governments, an internal organization of governments, or any element thereof
with the expectation, expressed or implied, that the information, the source of
the information, or both, are to be held in confidence; (2) produced by the United
States pursuant to or as a result of a joint arrangement with a foreign
government or governments or international organization of governments
requiring that the information, the arrangement, or both, are to be held in
confidence.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
111
Foreign Military
Sales (FMS)
That portion of U.S. security assistance authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, as amended, and the Arms Export Control Act, as amended. The
recipient provides reimbursement for defense articles and services transferred
from the U.S. Includes case sales from stocks (inventories, services, training) by
the DoD defense services.
Foreign Security
Policy Model
A mathematically precise statement of a security policy. To be adequately
precise, such a model must represent the initial state of a system, the way in
which the system progresses from one state to another, and a definition of a
“secure” state of the system.
Form, Fit, and
Function Data
Technical data pertaining to items, components or processes for the purpose of
identifying source, size, configuration, mating and attachment characteristics,
functional characteristics and performance requirements.
Formal
Qualification
Review
A systems level configuration audit conducted after system testing is completed
to ensure that performance requirements have been met.
Formerly
Restricted Data
Information removed from the RESTRICTED DATA category upon joint
determination by DoE (or antecedent agencies) and DoD that such information
relates primarily to the military utilization of atomic weapons and that such
information can be adequately safeguarded as classified defense information.
FORSCOM U.S. Army Forces Command, Ft. McPherson, GA.
FORTRAN Formula Translation Language.
Forward Edge of
the Battle Area
(FEBA)
The foremost limits of a series of areas in which ground combat units are
deployed, excluding the areas in which the covering or screening forces are
operating, designated to coordinate fire support, the positioning of forces, or the
maneuver of units.
Forward Funding Carry-over of RDT&E funding into second year of appropriations availability.
Requires permission from high authority.
FOS Family of Systems (TMD).
FOSS Fiber-Optic Sensor System.
FOT Follow-On Technologies.
FOT&E Follow-On Test & Evaluation.
FOTC Force Over-the-horizon Track Coordinator (USN term).
FOUO For Official Use Only.
Fourth
Generation
Language
A programming environment that produces both screen and report utilities for
use by lower-level programming environments.
FOV Field of View.
FOV Radar Field of View Radar
FP Focal Plane.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
112
FPA Focal Plane Array.
FPC Facilities Protection Committee.
FPI Fixed Price Incentive.
FPS Fixed Radar.
FPTOC Force Projection Tactical Operations Center (USA term).
FQR Formal Qualification Review.
FQT Formal Qualification Testing.
FR (1) Federal Register. (2) France.
FRACAS Forward Reaction Altitude Control System.
FRACS Forward Reaction Altitude Control System.
Fragmentation
Warhead
A warhead, which releases small solid objects to damage or destroy its targets.
FRAS Free Rocket Anti-Submarine.
FRC Fire Control Radar
FRD Facilities Requirements Document.
Free Electron
Laser (FEL)
A type of laser, which generates radiation by the interaction of an electron beam
with a static magnetic or electric field. Loosely speaking, free-electron laser
technology resembles and evolved from that used by particle accelerators (“atom
smashers”). Lasers, which are not free electron lasers, are bound electron
lasers.
Free Rocket A rocket not subject to guidance or control in flight.
Frequency
Management
The act of allocating frequencies, or bandwidths to a telecommunications
system, necessary to minimize the potential interference between
transmitting/receiving devices. Governing agencies and international agreement
controls authorized use of a particular frequency, frequencies, or bands.
FRG Federal Republic of Germany.
FRN Force Requirement Number.
FROD Functionally Related Observable Differences.
FROG Free Rocket Over Ground.
FRN Force Requirement Number.
FRP Full-Rate Production.
FRS Federal Reserve System.
FS&E Facility Siting and Environment (MILCON term).
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
113
FS3 Future Strategic Strategy Study.
FSAF Future Surface-to-Air Family.
FSC (1) Fire Solution Computer. (2) Fire Support Coordination.
FSCATT Fire Support CATT (US Army term).
FSCL Fire Support Coordination Line.
FSD OBSOLETE. Full Scale Development Phase. See EMD.
FSE Fire Support Element.
FSM Firmware Support Manual.
FSP Facility Security Plan.
FSS Fixed Satellite Service.
FSST Forward Space Support in-Theater.
FST Flight System Testbed.
FSU Former Soviet Union.
FSU Republics Former Soviet Union Republics.
FT Flight Test.
Ft Foot
FTC Federal Trade Commission.
FTD OBSOLETE. Foreign Technology Division (USAF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
See NAIC.
FTI Fixed Target Indicator
FTLS Formal Top-Level Specification.
FTP File Transfer Protocol (ADP/Internet term).
FTR Flight Test Round.
FTS (1) Flight Test Summary (2) Federal Telephone Service
FTS 2000 Federal Telecommunications System 2000.
FTV (1) Functional Technology Validation. (2) Flight Test Vehicle.
FTX Field Training Exercise.
FU Fire Unit (PATRIOT).
FUE First Unit Equipped.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
114
Full Mission
Capable
Material condition of an aircraft or training device indicting that it can perform all
of its missions. Also called FMC.
Full Operational
Capability (FOC)
The full attainment of the capability to employ effectively a weapon, item of
equipment, or system of approved specific characteristics, which is manned and
operated by a trained, equipped, and supported military unit or force.
Full Rate
Production
Production of economic quantities following stabilization of the system design
and prove-out of the production process.
Fully Configured
End Item
The final combination of end products, component parts, and/or materials, which
is fully ready for its intended operational use. Normally all production units are
fully configured. Research and development units may be considered fully
configured if they are or are planned to become operationally equivalent to the
production units.
Fully Connected
Network (FCN)
A network in which each node is directly connected with every other node.
Functional
Analysis
An approach to the solution of a problem, in which the problem is broken down
into its component function, such as intelligence, firepower, or mobility. Each
relevant function is then further analyzed and broken down into smaller
functional components until a level of molecularity suitable for solution of the
problem is attained.
Functional
Baseline
(1) Established after the system requirements analysis/design activity has
completed the definition of the system functions and associated data,
interface characteristics, functional characteristics for key configuration
items, and tests required to demonstrate achievement of each specified
characteristic. This Government normally controls the baseline.
(2) In configuration management, the initial approved technical
documentation for a configuration item.
(3) Documentation describing a system’s functional characteristics and the
verification required to demonstrate the achievement of requirements.
Functional
Configuration
Audit (FCA)
The formal examination of functional characteristics test data for configuration
item, prior to acceptance, to verify that the item has achieved the performance
specified in its functional or allocated configuration identification.
Functional
Economic
Analysis (FEA)
A structured proposal that serves as the principal part of a decision package for
enterprise leadership. It includes an analysis of functional process needs or
problems; proposed solutions, assumptions, and constraints; alternatives; lifecycle costs; benefits and/or cost analysis; and investment risk analysis. It is
consistent with, and amplifies, existing DoD economic analysis policy in DoD
Instruction 7041.3.
Functional Kill The destruction of a target by disabling vital components in a way not
immediately detectable, but which nevertheless prevents the target from
functioning properly. An example is the destruction of electronics in a guidance
system by a neutral particle beam. Also referred to as “soft kill.”
Functional
Support
Systematized methodologies and procedures, or a common set of standards,
applied to materiel acquisition programs.
Functional
Technology
Validation (FTV)
Program with the intent of proving or disproving a technology is useful for a given
application.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 F
115
Functional
Testing
The portion of testing in which the advertised features of a system are tested for
correct operation.
Funding Profile Program funding, usually displayed in columnar spreadsheet format by years,
starting with previous year through current year and out-years.
Future Years
Defense Program
(FYDP)
The official DoD document that summarizes forces and resources associated with
programs approved by the Secretary of Defense. Its three parts are the
organizations affected, appropriations accounts and the 11 major force programs
(strategic forces, airlift, R&D, etc.). Under the biennial PPBS cycle, the FYDP is
updated in even years in April (POM); October (budget); and then in January
(President’s budget) of odd years. The primary data element in the FYDP is the
Program Element (P.E.). Formerly known as the Five Years Defense Program.
FWCA Fixed Wing Combat Aircraft.
Fwd Forward.
FXBR Forward-based X-Band Radar.
FY Fiscal Year.
FYDP Future Years Defense Program.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
116
G Giga (one thousand million).
g Gram.
G&A General and Administrative costs.
G&C Guidance and Control.
G&O Goals and Objectives.
G/A Ground-to-Air
G/G Ground-to-Ground.
GaAs Gallium Arsenide.
Galosh The Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile system built to defend Moscow from missile
attack.
Gamma-Ray Electromagnetic radiation resulting from nuclear transitions. Although incorrect,
high-energy radiation, particularly “bremsstrahlung,” is sometimes referred to as
gamma radiation.
Gamma-Ray
Laser
A laser which generates a beam of gamma rays; also called a “graser.” A
gamma-ray laser, if developed, would be a type of x-ray laser; although it would
employ nuclear reactions, it need not (but might) employ nuclear fission or fusion
reactions or explosions.
GAMS GPS (Global Positioning System)-Aided Munitions.
GaNMPA Gallium Nitride Microwave Power Amplifiers. (A demonstration program to develop
GaN based transistors and integrated circuits for power amplifiers in systems
such as Ground Based Radar. Goal is to reduce total weight and size by a
factor of 10).
GAO General Accounting Office.
GARDIAN General Area Defense Integrated Anti-missile Laser System.
GAT Government Acceptance Testing.
GAT CALL Guidance, Apportionment, and Targeting Call (JFACC term).
GATE Graphic Analysis Tool Environment.
Gateway An element that contained a node on the SDS backbone network as well as on
some other network(s) and would have performed protocol and format
conversions necessary to accept messages from one network and retransmit
them on the other.
GATS GPS (Global Positioning System)-Aided Targeting System.
GB (1) Ground-Based. (2) Gigabyte.
GBD Global Burst Detector.
GBDL Ground-Based Data Link.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
117
GBEV Ground Based Experimental Version.
GBFEL Ground-Based Free Electron Laser.
GBHE Ground-Based Hypervelocity Gun Experiment.
GBHRG Ground-Based Hypervelocity Rail Gun.
GBI OBSOLETE. See Ground-Based Interceptor.
GBI-P Ground-Based Interceptor – Prototype.
GBI-X Ground-Based Interceptor Experiment.
GBKV Ground-Based Kinetic Kill Vehicle.
GBL Ground-Based Laser.
GBLD Ground-Based Launcher Demonstration.
GBLRS Ground-Based Laser Repeater Station.
GBM Global Battle Managers.
GBMD Global Ballistic Missile Defense.
GBMI Ground-Based Midcourse Interceptor.
GBOS Ground-Based Optical System.
GBPST Ground-Based Passive Signal Tracking.
GBR See Ground-Based Radar.
GBR-M Ground-Based Radar-Midcourse.
GBR-O Ground-Based Radar-Objective.
GBR-P Ground-Based Radar-Prototype.
GBRT Ground-Based Radar Terminal.
GBR-X The experimental version of the GBR.
GBRF Ground-Based Radio Frequency.
GBRI Ground-Based Rocket Interceptor.
GBRT Ground-Based Radar Terminal.
GBS Ground-Based Sensor.
GCA (1) Guidance, Control, and Avionics. (2) Guidance, Control, and Airframe.
GCC Ground Component Commander (JFACC term).
GCCS Global Command and Control System.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
118
GCI Ground Control Intercept.
GCN Ground Communications Network.
GCS Ground Control Station.
GD General Dynamics.
GDL Gas Dynamic Laser.
GEDI Ground-Based Electromagnetically-Launched Defensive Impactors.
GEM Guidance Enhancement Missile (PATRIOT).
General Manager
Program
Management
Directive (GPMD)
OBSOLETE. The primary document used by the GM to direct the Service BMD
PEO on the specific actions necessary to fulfill BMD program requirements.
General
Specifications
A general specification covers requirements common to two or more types,
classes, grades, or styles of products, services or materials; this avoids the
repetition of common requirements in detail specifications. It also permits
changes to common requirements to be readily affected. General specifications
may also be used to cover common requirements for weapons systems and
subsystems.
Generic Rest of
World Target
(GROW)
Strategic target being developed for GMD program.
GEO Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit.
GEODSS Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System.
Geo-stationary
Orbit (GSO)
An orbit 35,784 km above the equator. A satellite placed in such an orbit
revolves around the earth once per day, maintaining the same position relative
to the surface of the earth. It appears to be stationary, and is useful as a
communications relay or as a surveillance post.
GEP OBSOLETE. Ground Entry Point. IFICS.
GES Ground Engineering System.
GFE Government Furnished Equipment. See Government Furnished Property.
GFI Government Furnished Information.
GFM Government Furnished Material.
GFM/P Government Furnished Material and Property. See Government Furnished
Property.
GFP Government Furnished Property.
GFS Government Furnished Software. See Government Furnished Property.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
119
Ghosting This condition occurs when two or more targets reside close to the same plane
also containing two sensors viewing the targets so they are within experimental
determination of having the same hinge angle F. Thus, ghosting depends on
LOS error and positions.
GHz Giga Hertz (1 x 10(9) Hz).
GIDEP Government/Industry Data Exchange Program.
GIF Generic Interface.
GII Global Information Infrastructure.
GIP Ground Impact Point.
GIS Geographic Information System.
GITIS Government Integrated Technical Information System.
GLCM Ground-Launched Cruise Missile.
GLP Ground Launched Probe. See Brilliant Eyes Probe.
Global
Environment
The ISTC Global Environment is responsible for the creation, propagation, and
maintenance of test scenario common knowledge, how subsets of this
information will be determined, and how common knowledge will be disseminated
to the various element representations (nodes). The Global Environment
performs functions which are common to the scenario such as timing, health,
status, state vectors of objects, and effects models.
Global
Positioning
System (GPS)
The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System is a space-based radio navigation
network providing precise positioning and navigation needs of all the military
services. In the fully operational configuration, there will be 18 satellites in six
orbital planes with an orbit period of 12 hours at 10,900 nautical miles altitude.
Each satellite transmits three L-band, pseudo-random noise-coded signals, one
S-band, and one ultra high frequency for spacecraft-to-spacecraft data relay.
Global Protection
Against Limited
Strikes (GPALS)
OBSOLETE. GPALS was an architecture denoting an anti-missile system
designed to provide protection against limited ballistic missile strikes, be they
deliberate, accidental or unauthorized—whatever their source. GPALS was
composed of three interrelated segments: (1) theater ballistic missile defenses,
and associated space-based sensors, to protect U.S. forces deployed abroad,
and our friends and allies; (2) ground-based defenses, with space sensors, to
protect the entire United States against long-range ballistic missiles; and (3)
interceptors based in space – Brilliant Pebbles – capable of providing
continuous, global coverage by intercepting enemy ballistic missiles with ranges
greater than several hundred miles.
Global Protection
Against Limited
Strikes (GPALS)
Program
OBSOLETE. The GPALS Program consisted of six Major Defense Acquisition
Programs: GPALS System/BMC 3
, National Missile Defense (NMD), Global Missile
Defense (GMD), Upper Tier Theater Missile Defense (UTTMD), Corps SAM, and
PATRIOT. Army PEO GPALS was re-designated PEO Missile Defenses in 1992.
GLOBIXS Global Information Exchange System.
GLONASS Global Navigational Satellite System.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
120
GLOW Gross Lift-Off Weight.
GLP Ground Launched Probe. See Brilliant Eyes Probe.
GLS Ground-Launched Sensor.
GM (1) Guided missile. (2) General Manager.
GMACC Ground Mobile Alternate Command Center.
GMAOC Ground Mobile Alternate Operations Center.
GMCC Ground Mobile Command Center.
GMCP Ground Mobile Command Post.
GMD (1) Ground-based Midcourse Defense (formally National Missile Defense) (2)
Global Missile Defense (OBSOLETE).
GMT Greenwich Mean Time.
GMTT&C Ground Mobile Tracking, Telemetry, and Control.
GN&C Guidance, Navigation, and Control.
GNC&P Guidance, Navigation, Control and Propulsion.
GND Ground.
GOCO Government Owned, Contractor Operated.
GOES Geo-stationary Operational Environmental Satellite.
GOI Government of Israel.
GOJ Government of Japan.
GOSG General Officer Steering Group.
GOSIP Government Open Systems Interconnect Profile (CALS term).
GOSP Government Open System Protocol (CALS term).
GOTS Government Off-the-Shelf.
Gov’t Government.
Government
Furnished
Property
Property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and
subsequently made available to the contractor. (See FAR 45.101.)
Government
Verification
Management
Plan (GVMP)
A management document that provides the overall framework for BMDS
verification. It includes processes for implementation, organizational
relationships, and stakeholder responsibilities. It covers the full scope of BMDS
verification and identifies how all BMDS verification activities will come together to
confirm BMDS capability.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
121
GP Group.
GPALS Global Protection Against Limited Strikes.
GPC Global Protection Center.
GPMD General Manager Program Management Directive.
GPO Government Printing Office (US).
GPP General Purpose Processor.
GPS (1) Global Positioning System. (2), Global Protection System.
GPSIU GPS Interface Unit.
GPU Guidance Processor Unit (US Army term).
Graceful
Degradation
A condition in which a system continues to operate, providing service in a
degraded mode rather than failing completely or catastrophically.
GRASER Gamma-Ray Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. (See Gamma-
Ray Laser.)
GRC General Research Corporation.
Green Code Interface Software.
Ground-Based
Defense
The ground-based sensor and weapon systems of BMD.
Ground-Based
Interceptor (GBI)
A kinetic energy exoatmospheric interceptor with long flyout range to provide,
where possible, a multiple engagement capability for defense of the U.S. with a
relatively small number of missile launch locations. It is designed to engage
post-boost vehicles and/or RVs in the midcourse phase of flight.
(USSPACECOM) (Successor to Exoatmospheric Reentry Vehicle Interceptor
Subsystem (ERIS).) See EKV.
Ground-Based
Interceptor
Experiment
(GBI-X)
Designed to infuse advanced technology and promote competitive environment
for GBI.
Ground-Based
Radar (GBR)
A task-able, modular, multi-function, phased-array radar that provides
surveillance, tracking and engagement planning data in post-boost, midcourse,
and terminal flight phases within its capabilities. It also provides target
discrimination, in-flight target updates (IFTUs), and target object maps (TOMs) to
interceptor vehicles. See THAAD. (USSPACECOM)
Ground-Based
Radar Terminal
(GBRT)
The sensor for the NMD system. An X-band, ground-based, phased array radar
capable of detecting, tracking, and providing discrimination information to a
ground-based interceptor.
Ground-based
Surveillance and
Tracking System
(GSTS)
A fast-response rocket-launched sensor, which can support the SDS midcourse
sensor suite by employing multiple Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) wavebands
and a visible waveband sensor to provide tracking and discrimination of
potentially lethal targets.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
122
Ground Entry
Point (GEP)
OBSOLETE. GEPs provide the communications interfaces between the SDS
space orbital/sub-orbital elements and the C2 E. See IFICS.
Ground Mobile
Regional
Operations
Center
(GMROC)
Transportable ground segment of the Regional Operations Center.
Ground Zero The point on the surface of the earth at, or vertically below or above, the center
of a planned or actual nuclear detonation.
GS Garrison Support (US Army term).
GSA General Services Administration (US).
GSDC Ground Station Demonstration Lab.
GSE (1) Ground Support Equipment. (2) Government Support Equipment.
GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.
GSII Government Services Information Infrastructure.
GSM Ground Station Module.
GSO Geo-stationary Orbit.
GSR Ground Station Radar.
GSTS OBSOLETE. A fast-response, rocket-launched, Long Wavelength Infrared
(LWIR) and visible waveband sensor, which would have enhanced the
information available from the SDS’ midcourse sensor suite by providing tracking
and discrimination data on potentially lethal targets.
GSTS (F) GSTS Farm.
GTA Ground Test Accelerator.
GTACS Ground Theater Air Control System.
GTE GTE Corporation.
GTF Guided Test Flights.
GTM Global Track Manager.
GTN General Technical Note.
GTR Gulf Test Range, Eglin AFB, FL.
GTSF Guidance Test and Simulation Facility (PATRIOT), Huntsville, AL.
GTV Guided Test Vehicle.
GUI Graphic User Interface.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 G
123
Guidance (1) Direction, altitude control, and navigation (where appropriate) of sensors
or interceptor vehicles.
(2) The entire process by which target intelligence information received by a
guided missile is used to effect proper flight control to cause timely
direction changes for effective target interception.
Guidance
Enhanced
Missile (GEM)
A companion program to PATRIOT PAC-2, which includes enhancements to the
radar to increase intercept range and performance.
Guidance
System (Missile)
A system, which evaluates flight information, correlates it with target data,
determines the desired flight path of the missile, and communicates the
necessary commands to the missile flight control system.
Guided Missile An unmanned vehicle moving above the surface of the earth, whose trajectory or
flight path is capable of being altered by an external or internal mechanism.
GVSC Generic VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Spaceborne Computer.
GWAPS Gulf War Air Power Survey, 1994 .
Gwd Giga watt-days.
GWEN Ground Wave Emergency Network.
GZ Ground Zero.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 H
124
H Hour.
H&S Health and Status.
H/W Hardware.
HA Higher Authority.
HABE High Altitude Balloon Experiment.
HAC House Appropriations Committee (US).
HADS High Altitude Defense System.
HALE High Altitude Long-Endurance.
HALE UAV High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
Half-Value
Thickness (HVT)
The thickness of a given material, which will absorb half the gamma radiation
incident upon it. This thickness is inversely proportional to its density and also
depends on the energy of the gamma rays.
HALO II High Altitude Observatory II
HAMS Hardness Assurance, Maintenance and Surveillance.
Handoff This occurs when information on positions, velocities and tracks are given by one
sensor or system to another and the first sensor or system continues to track the
objects.
Handover This occurs when information is passed on to another sensor or system in which
the first does not continue to track.
HAOI High Altitude Optical Imaging.
HAOIS High Altitude Optical Imaging System.
HAP High Altitude Probe.
Hard Kill (HK) Destruction of a target in such a way as to produce unambiguous visible
evidence of its neutralization.
Hardening Design and manufacturing process and other measures, which may be employed
to render military assets less vulnerable.
HARDMAN Hardware/Military Manpower Integration (Navy ILS term).
Hardness A property of a target; measured by the power needed per unit area to destroy
the target. A hard target is more difficult to kill than a soft target.
Hardware-in-the-
Loop (HWIL)
Tests in which BM/C3 computer and communication test systems will be in
communication with some of the hardware test facilities developed for other BMD
technology programs.
Hardware
Security
Computer equipment features or devices used in an ADP system to preclude
unauthorized access to data or system resources.
HARM High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 H
125
HASC House Armed Services Committee (US).
HASP Hardened Ada Signal Processor.
HATELM High-speed Anti-TEL Missile.
HATMD High-Altitude Theater Missile Defense. (U.S. Army)
HAVE STARE Name assigned a proven sensor capability.
HAWK Homing All-the-Way Killer.
HBCU/MI Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions.
HBHO Hard-body Hand-over .
HCO High Consequence Option (Safety Engineering term).
HCT Mercury Cadmium Telluride.
HDA Hybrid Detector Assembly.
HDBK Handbook.
HDR High Data Rate.
HDX Half Duplex (TelComm/Computer term).
HE (1) High Explosive. (2) High Energy.
Health and Status
(H&S)
Health and Status pertains to a unit’s ability to assess the conditions of its
subsystem functions. The term H&S is used for units in remote locations, such
as satellites, where ground controls must interface with BITE to determine
operational status of the satellite and its equipment.
Heavy Replicas
(HREPS)
Decoys, which by virtue of shape, size, and mass, closely approximate an RV’s
signature. HREPS have significant off- load penalty.
HEDI OBSOLETE. See High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor.
HEDR High Endoatmospheric Defense Radar.
HEDS High Endoatmospheric Defense System.
HEI High Endoatmospheric Interceptor.
HEL High Energy Laser.
HELKS High Energy Laser Kill System.
HELLO High Energy Laser Light Opportunity.
HELSTF High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility.
HELWS High Energy Laser Weapon System.
HEMP High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse.
MDA GLOSSARY, VER. 4.0 H
126
HEMTT Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (US Army prime mover).
Hen House Soviet area defense radar used as a component of the Moscow ABM system
that provides VHF coverage of space to monitor orbiting satellites and early
warning of ICBMs launched from the U.S.
HEO See High Earth Orbit.
HERA (1) An improved surrogate TBM test target.
(2) Two-stage, ground launched solid propellant theater target vehicle. (MDA
Lexicon)
HERO Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (SM-2 Bk IVA).
HESP High Efficiency Solar Panel.
HEU Highly Enriched Uranium.
HF (1) High Frequency. (2) Hydrogen fluoride.
HF/DF (1) High Frequency/Direction Finding.
(2) Hydrogen Fluoride/Deuterium Fluoride. (Chemicals used in IR chemical
lasers).
HFCNR High Frequency Combat Net Radio.
HFE Human Factors Engineering.
HgCdTe Mercury Cadmium Telluride.
HHB Headquarters and Headquarters Battery.
HIBEX High-Acceleration Boost Experiment.
HIBREL High Brightness Relay.
HIC Human-in-Control.
HICOM High Command (Navy term).
HICTB Human-in-Control Test Bed.
HIDACZ High Density Aerospace Control Zone.
HIDAR High Data Rate.
High Earth Orbit
(HEO)
An orbit about the earth at an altitude greater than 3,000 nautical miles (about
5,600 kilometers).
High
Endoatmosphere
That portion of the earth’s atmosphere, generally above 40 km altitude.
High
Endoatmospheric
Defense
Interceptor (HEDI)
OBSOLETE. Interceptor concept designed to engage RVs within the (upper or
high endo) atmosphere. (Predecessor to Endo-Exoatmospheric Interceptor
(E2I).)
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High Density
Aerospace
Control Zone
(HIDACZ)
Airspace designated in an airspace control plan or airspace control order, in
which there is a concentrated employment of various weapons and users. A
HIDACZ has defined dimensions, that usually coincide with geographical
features or navigational aides. Access to a HIDACZ is normally controlled by the
maneuver commander. The maneuver commander can also direct a more
restrictive weapons status within the HIDACZ.
Higher Authority
Interface
Policy, strategy, doctrine, readiness conditions, and rules of engagement from
higher authorities for use by the defense system in conducting system
operations including specific orders specifying actions such as testing, defense
enabling, pre-delegation of authority, etc. Also the reporting of situation
assessment and system readiness to higher authority.
High Order
Language (HOL)
A programming language that requires little knowledge of the computer on which
a program will run, can be translated into several different machine languages,
allows symbolic naming of operations and addresses, provides features
designed to facilitate expression of data structures and program logic, and
usually results in several machine instructions for each program statement.
HIL Human In-the-Loop.
HIMAD High to Medium Altitude Air Defense.
HIMEZ High Altitude Missile Engagement Zone.
HIP Hot Isostatic Processing.
HIRAM High Resolution Infrared Auroral Measurements.
HISEM High Speed Environmental Multi-burst Model.
HIT (1) Heterojuncture Internal Photomissive. (2) Homing Interceptor Technology.
HK Hard Kill.
HKV Hit to Kill Vehicle.
HLD Hardware Description Language.
HLLV Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle.
HMC&M Hazardous Material Control and Management.
HMI Human Machine Interface.
HMMWV High Mobility Mutli-purpose Whealed Vehicle (USA term) (pronounced Hum Vee).
HMPC Hazardous Maintenance Procedure Code.
HMSC Hughes Missile System Corporation.
HOB Height of Burst.
HOE OBSOLETE. Homing Overlay Experiment. (Predecessor program to
Exoatmospheric Reentry Vehicle Interceptor Subsystem (ERIS).)
HOL High Order Language.
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Homing All-the-
Way Killer
(HAWK)
(1) Upgrades to the HAWK interceptor and radar system to provide the
Marine Corps with a mobile point theater ballistic missile defense
capability.
(2) A mobile air defense artillery, surface-to-air missile system that provides
non-nuclear, low to medium altitude air defense coverage for ground
forces. Designated as MIM-23.
Homing Device A device, mounted on a missile, to aid its guidance to a target. The homing
device uses sensors to detect the position of, or to help predict the future
position of a target, and then directs the missile to intercept it. The homing
device usually provides frequent target position updates during the flight of the
missile.
Homing
Guidance
A system by which a missile steers itself towards a target by means of a selfcontained mechanism which is activated by some distinguishing characteristics of
the target, such as an infrared signature.
HOMS Homing Overlay Mission Simulation.
HOST Hardened Optical Sensor Testbed.
Host Installation A designated DoD facility that provides non peculiar SDS support of SDS
elements.
Hostile
Environment
Those environments that result from a BMD system engagement of an enemy
threat or collateral conditions resulting from deliberate hostilities. Hostile
environment categories currently applicable to National Missile Defense are
Nuclear, Battle Debris, and Electronic Warfare.
Hostile Track The classification assigned to a track that, based upon established criteria, is
determined to be an enemy threat.
Host Interface The interface between a communications processor and a host computer.
Host Nation
Support
Civil and/or military assistance rendered by a nation to foreign forces within its
territory during peacetime, crisis or emergencies, or war based on agreements
concluded between nations.
hp Horsepower.
HPA High Power Amplifier.
HPC High Performance Computing.
HPCC High Performance Computing and Communications.
HPG Homopolar Generator.
HPI High Power Illuminator (Hawk).
HPIR High Power Illuminator Radar.
HPL High Power Laser.
HPM High Power Microwave.
HQ Headquarters.
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HQMC Headquarters, Marine Corps.
HRDS High Resolution Display System.
HREPS Heavy Replicas.
HRR High Range Resolution.
HRSA HICTB Requirements, Support and Analysis.
HSDB High Speed Data Bus (TelComm/Computer term).
HSFB High Speed Fleet Broadcast (Navy term).
HSI Human Systems Integration.
HSV Huntsville, Alabama.
HTICIA High Technology Crime Investigation Association.
HTI Horizontal Technology Initiative.
HTK Hit-to-Kill.
HTMIAC High Temperature Materials Information Analysis Center.
HTML Hypertext Markup Language.
HTPB Hydroxy-Terminated Poly Butadiene.
HTS (1) High Temperature Super-conducting. (2) Hawaii Tracking Station.
HTSA Host Tenant Support Agreement.
HTSS Hardened- sub-miniature Telemetry and Sensor System.
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
HUD Heads Up Display.
Human Factors A body of scientific facts about human characteristics. The term covers all
biomedical and psychosocial considerations; it includes, but is not limited to,
principles and applications in the areas of human engineering, personnel
selection, training, life support, job performance aids, and human performance
evaluation.
Human Factors
Engineering
The design of man-made devices, systems, and environments to enhance their
use by people. Also called human engineering, human factors, and ergonomics.
