Glossary

-"What's the difference between an ASRAAM and an AMRAAM?" 

-"The AMRAAM is a HOBS BVR A2A missile that takes advantage of the JSF's HMD, while the MBDA ASRAAM is the preferred WVR IR guided A2A missile of the RAF."

-"Huh?" 

Sooner or later, any talk about fighter aircraft is going to delve into a bunch of acronyms, abbreviations, and other alphanumeric salad. Some of these are rather straightforward, others not so much.  This page will act as a quick reference for some of those terms.

I plan to add to this over time, so feel free to check back.

A2A

A2A-  Air-to-air.  An engagement between two opposed aircraft.  Possibly synonymous with "dogfight", but dogfight typically refers to short range combat.

AESA radar

AESA-  Active Electronically Scanned Radar.  Instead of the traditional "dish", AESA radars use hundreds of T/R (transmit/receive) modules.  Each of these modules acts as its own tiny radar.  By altering output of each module, the radar can be "steered".  AESA radars have less moving parts, and their emissions are harder to detect than traditional radars.

AEW&C

AEW&C-  Airborne Early Warning and Control.  These aircraft act as flying radar installations, detecting enemy aircraft and directing friendly forces.

AMRAAM

AMRAAM-  AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.  The successor to the AIM-7 Sparrow, the AMRAAM is a radar guided air-to-air missile.  Unlike the older Sparrows, the AMRAAM has its own radar, making it a "fire-and-forget" weapon.

ASRAAM

ASRAAM-  AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile.  The ASRAAM is a short range "heat seeking" air-to-air missile, similar to the AIM-9 Sidewinder.  The the ASRAAM is in use with the RAF, RAAF, and others.  Despite a similar name, the ASRAAM has very little in common with AMRAAM.

BVR-  Beyond visual range.  BVR combat relies on radar and IFF (identify, friend-or-foe) to detect and track hostiles.  The increasing focus on BVR combat has emphasized the importance of "look first, shoot first" capability.

CATOBAR operations

CATOBAR-  Catapult assisted take-off, but arrested recovery.  Seen on larger aircraft carriers, CATOBAR operations use steam or electromagnetic "catapults" to launch aircraft.  This allows for much higher take off weights compared to other methods.  Landing is done through through the traditional "hook and wire" method.

CTOL-  Conventional Take-Off and Landing.  Using a traditional runway for take-off and landing.    Most fighter aircraft fit into this category.

EOTS

EOTS-  Electro-optical targeting system.  Seen on the F-35, the EOTS acts as as both a laser targeting pod and IRST.

HMD

HMD-  Helmet mounted display.  A HMD projects flight and targeting data directly onto the pilot's visor.  This enables the pilot to keep their eyes on the target, rather than straight ahead.

HOBS diagram

HOBS-  High off-boresight.  HOBS missiles are capable of engaging targets to the side, or even behind.  This is usually done either by data-link, using targeting information from another resource, or by helmet mounted display.

HUD

HUD-  Head up display.  A hud projects flight and targeting data onto a glass plane in front of the pilot.

IFF-  Identification, friend or foe.  Despite the name, IFF systems can only truly identify friendly units.  They transmit a radio signal that "interrogates" an unknown aircraft.  Friendly aircraft respond, enemy aircraft do not.

IRIS-T missile

IRIS-T-  Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled.  The IRIS-T is a short range heat-seeking missile.  Similar to the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the IRIS-T has HOBS capability and is capable of intercepting incoming A2A missiles. 

Typhoon IRST

IRST-  Infrared search and track.  These systems can detect and track other aircraft base on their heat signature.  Most IRST systems can be identified by the small ball at the base of the cockpit.  This allows them to mimic the pilot's field of view and project targeting data onto a HMD.  

JDAM-  Joint Direct Attack Munition.  The JDAM uses a kit to convert conventional "dumb" bombs into GPS and inertial guided "smart" bombs.  JDAMs are available in sizes from 500lb up to 2000lb "bunker busters".  

LOAL-  Lock-On After Launch.  Missiles that do not require a target lock before firing.  Can be used in conjunction with data-links and helmet mounted displays.

PESA-  Passive Electronic Scanned Array.  PESA radars are more primitive versions of the AESA radar.  PESA radars use a single radio source, rather than many.  

RAF-  Royal Air Force.  The main air force of the United Kingdom.  Currently flying the Panavia Tornado and the Eurofighter Typhoon.  Soon to fly the F-35B

RAAF-  Royal Australian Air Force.  Australia's air force.  Currently flying both the F-18 Hornet and the F/A-18 Super Hornet.  Soon to fly the EA-18 Growler and F-35A as well.  

RCAF-  Royal Canadian Air Force.    Not to be confused with the Royal Canadian Air Farce.

STOBAR-  Short take-off but assisted recovery.  These aircraft take off from carrier decks without assistance.  Steam powered catapults are typically only found on larger aircraft carriers, so smaller carriers typically need to operate either STOBAR or STOVL capable aircraft.  

STOL-  Short take-off and landing.  An aircraft that is capable of operating from a short runway.  Typically this means 1,500ft (about 300m).

F-35B 

STOVL-  Short take-off, vertical landing.  STOVL aircraft are capable of taking off from a very short runway, then landing vertically.  While STOVL aircraft like the Harrier and F-35B are capable of taking off vertically (VTOL), this severely limits the amount of ordinance and fuel they can carry.

Thrust vectoring engine nozzle.

TV-  Thrust Vectoring.  Thrust vectoring give the ability to "point" the thrust of the engine in a particular direction.  In aircraft like the F-35B and Harrier, this allows for the ability to direct thrust down to enable STOVL operation.  In other aircraft, it allows for added maneuverability.  Aircraft that can direct the thrust up or down, like the F-22, are said to have "2-D thrust vectoring".  Others, which can point the thrust in any direction, like the Su-35, have "3-D thrust vectoring"

CV-22 Osprey, capable of VTOL.

VTOL-  Vertical take off and landing.  Almost synonymous with STOVL.  Taking off vertically often limits fuel and ordinance however.  

WVR-  Within visual range.  Used to describe the more traditional "dogfight" aerial engagement.  WVR combat relies more on aircraft maneuverability.  It also favors short range missiles like the AIM-9 Sidewinder and good old fashioned guns.  HOBS missile capability and HMDs make a big difference here, enabling the pilot to forgo the usual tactics of having to get their sights on the rear aspect (the hottest part) of an enemy aircraft.