copied. The missile’s guidance package, or seeker, homes in on a heat source, usually a jet exhaust, but later versions can even detect the hot skin of a fast-moving aircraft. It has a relatively short range, about ten miles, less for earlier versions.
AIM-54 Phoenix — The longest-range air-to-air missile ever built, the Phoenix is carried only by the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat. Combined with the Tomcat’s weapons system, the Phoenix can attack targets over 60 nautical miles away. It is a big missile, and not very maneuverable, but it flies at over five times the speed of sound.
AIM-120 AMRAAM — The replacement for the Sparrow, the long-overdue advanced medium-range air-to-air missile will allow a plane to maneuver freely after launch, since the missile has its own active radar-seeker in the nose. The missile can also receive updates on its target’s position from the launching plane. The French Mica, also in development, is similar. The AMRAAM’s range is slightly better than the Sparrow’s, about 30 miles.
Airmobile — The term “airmobile” refers to a U.S. Army unit’s ability to be moved quickly from one place to another by air, either by cargo plane or by helicopter. It does not refer to its mobility on the battlefield. See Light infantry.
AK-74/AKR — A replacement for the famous AK-47, the newer AK-74 is the standard Russian Army weapon and has been widely exported. It uses a smaller 5.45mm round and a 30-round magazine. The AK-74 weighs eight pounds without a magazine. The AKR is a smaller, carbine version of the AK-74 with a folding stock and a short barrel.
AKM — A modernized, refined version of the AK-47 assault rifle, it uses the same 7.62mm round and has the same performance. It weighs nine and a half pounds and has a 30-round magazine.
AMX-10P — A boxy tracked vehicle with a steeply sloped front plate, this French APC can carry eight infantrymen and a crew of three. The vehicle’s power-operated turret mounts a 20mm autocannon and a 7.62mm machine gun, but like other armored personnel carriers, the AMX-10P is only lightly armored.
AMX-10RC — A six-wheeled French armored car, the AMX-10RC carries a 105mm gun equipped with a sophisticated fire control computer and ranging system. Although only lightly armored, it packs a powerful punch and is a useful scout vehicle.
An-26 — Called Curl by NATO, this light twin-engine turboprop is similar in size and role to the F-27 Fokker transports seen at many American airports. It cruises at 270 mph and can carry a load of six tons or 40 passengers.
ANL/ANS — The successor to the famous French Exocet, the ANS (surface-launched) and ANL (air-launched) will be longer-range (100+ miles), stealthy, and supersonic. These will present a difficult target for even the most sophisticated air defense weapons. They are due to enter service in the late 1990s.
APC — armored personal carrier.
ARM — antiradiation missile. This class of air-launched missiles homes in on the signal given off by a radiating radar. They can be set to attack a particular type of radar set. Once they reach the signal’s source, they explode and destroy the radar. The American HARM and French ARMAT are both ARMs.
ASMP — A French nuclear-armed missile, it is launched from a plane in flight and flies at three times the speed of sound. It carries a 150-kiloton warhead.
AT-4 — A Swedish-designed, shoulder-fired antitank rocket purchased for the U.S. Army, it weighs just over 13 pounds, and the rocket has a range of 300 meters.
ATGM — antitank guided missile.
AWACS — Airborne Warning and Control System. The acronym is often used as a nickname for the E-3 Sentry.
B-1B Lancer — Originally designed as a strategic nuclear bomber, the Lancer operates at low altitudes and high speed. The plane is now being adapted to a conventional role and can carry dozens of high- explosive bombs. It may also be able to carry a large number of laser-guided or optically guided bombs.
B-52 Stratofortress — Originally designed as a high-altitude, subsonic bomber, the B-52’s long lifetime has seen it in many roles. It is equally capable of dropping both nuclear and conventional bombs.
Battalion — Consisting of three to five companies, a battalion generally contains between 800 and 1,200 men — with 50 or so tanks or APCs if the unit is armored or mechanized. Battalions are usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel, who will have a major as his executive officer. Several battalions make up a brigade.
Battery — a group of four to eight artillery pieces. They will usually all fire at the same target. Several batteries make up an artillery battalion.
BfV —
BRDM — A small, lightly armored, four-wheeled Russian reconnaissance car, it can carry a heavy machine gun or antitank missiles. It has been widely exported.
Brigade — Made up of three to four battalions, and smaller, specialized units, a brigade is commanded by a colonel or a brigadier general. Several brigades make up a division.
BTR-80 — A Russian-designed, eight-wheeled troop carrier, it has light armor and only a heavy machine gun for armament. It can carry 14 troops.
CAP — combat air patrol. Fighters, armed and aloft, patrolling against sudden enemy air attack.
CIA — The Central Intelligence Agency is tasked to provide information on threats to the United States outside her own borders. For this purpose, the CIA has personell assigned to foreign embassies around the world. The individual in charge is the “chief of station.” CIA officers may operate openly, or they may have cover identities, e.g., “assistant trade attache.”
CIC — combat information center. A space on a warship where information from all the ship’s sensors (radar, sonar, etc.) is collected, displayed, analyzed, and acted on. The ship’s captain will “fight his ship” from here, not from the bridge.
Company — A group of three to four platoons, totaling 100 to 200 men, a company is commanded by a captain. Tank companies contain ten to fifteen armored vehicles. Several companies make up a battalion.
Corps — A group of two to four divisions, a corps is commanded by a lieutenant general. A corps will usually contain roughly 40,000 soldiers and more than 1,000 tanks and APCs.
CP — command post.
DCI — director of Central Intelligence. The head of the CIA, besides running his own organization, is tasked with collecting and presenting information from all the U.S. intelligence agencies to the President. These include the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and probably some outfits nobody’s ever heard of.
DGSE —
Division — In Western armies, divisions are made up of several brigades. In armies modeled on the Soviet pattern, divisions consist of several regiments. In both cases, divisions are commanded by major generals.
Durandal — A French-made weapon, the Durandal is a rocket-boosted, armor-piercing bomb dropped from a low-flying aircraft. It is designed to “crater” runways so that they cannot be used by airplanes.
E-2C Hawkeye — The Hawkeye is a twin-turboprop airplane launched from aircraft carriers. It is unarmed, but it carries the APS-145 radar in a huge saucer on its back. Carrying a crew of radar operators and fighter controllers, the E-2C can spot air and surface contacts up to 250 miles away.
E-3 Sentry — An ultrasophisticated radar aircraft, the E-3 AWACS is built into a converted Boeing 707 airframe. Like the E-2C Hawkeye, the E-3 mounts a huge radar in a saucer on top. Its radar can spot
