About DefDex
Glossary
A field guide to the language of defense: Navy acronyms, acquisition, weapon systems, costs, and the industrial base.
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Plain-English definitions for reading budgets, contracts, and capability reports. Acronyms can have several meanings; the entries below explain their defense context and flag common overlaps.
Showing 291 of 291 terms
| Definition | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3-MMaintenance and Material Management | The Navy framework for managing maintenance and associated material information. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| AAFAdaptive Acquisition Framework | A set of acquisition pathways suited to different kinds of defense programs. | Acquisition and contracting |
| AAGAdvanced Arresting Gear | An aircraft recovery system used on equipped aircraft carriers. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| AAWAnti-air warfare | Operations to counter hostile aircraft and other airborne threats. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| ACATAcquisition category | A program classification used to determine acquisition oversight and decision authority. | Acquisition and contracting |
| AESAActive electronically scanned array | An antenna architecture using active transmit/receive modules to steer radar beams electronically. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| AMAdditive manufacturing | Production that builds parts by adding material, including many forms of 3D printing. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| AMDRAir and Missile Defense Radar | The radar program name associated with the SPY-6 family. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| Amortized development cost | Development spending allocated across a quantity of systems. The amount per system changes when that quantity changes. | Costs and funding |
| AMRAAMAdvanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile | A radar-guided air-to-air missile family also used in some ground-based air-defense systems. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| AoAAnalysis of alternatives | A comparison of potential approaches to meeting a capability need. | Acquisition and contracting |
| AORArea of responsibility | A geographic area assigned to a commander. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| APBAcquisition program baseline | The approved cost, schedule, and performance reference for an acquisition program. APB can mean Advanced Processor Build in submarine-system documents. | Acquisition and contracting |
| APKWSAdvanced Precision Kill Weapon System | A laser-guidance system for compatible rockets. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| APNAircraft Procurement, Navy | The Navy aircraft procurement appropriation. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| APUCAverage procurement unit cost | Procurement funding divided by procurement quantity; it excludes research and development costs. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| ARGAmphibious ready group | A group of amphibious ships supporting embarked Marine forces and associated missions. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| ASCMAnti-ship cruise missile | A cruise missile designed to attack ships. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| ASN (RD&A)Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | The Navy civilian acquisition leadership office. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| ASuWAnti-surface warfare | Operations against hostile surface ships and other surface maritime targets. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| ASWAnti-submarine warfare | Operations to detect, track, deter, or counter submarines. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| AURAll-up round | A complete assembled munition; whether a canister is included depends on the source's accounting. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| AUVAutonomous underwater vehicle | An underwater vehicle that executes missions without continuous direct control. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| Availability | How much of the relevant time a system is ready for use, accounting for maintenance and other downtime. | Industrial capacity |
| BABudget authority | Legal authority to incur obligations that will result in spending federal funds. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| BAABroad agency announcement | A solicitation approach for research proposals in broadly described areas of interest. | Acquisition and contracting |
| BACBudget at completion | The total budget assigned to the defined work in an earned-value baseline. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| BMDBallistic missile defense | Capabilities for detecting, tracking, and countering ballistic missiles. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| BOABasic ordering agreement | A written understanding of terms for future contracts or orders; the agreement itself is not a contract. | Acquisition and contracting |
| BOMBill of materials | A structured list of the parts and materials required to make a product. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| Bottleneck | A constrained step or resource that limits the output of the wider process. | Industrial capacity |
| BPABlanket purchase agreement | An arrangement simplifying repeated purchases of supplies or services. | Acquisition and contracting |
| BY$Base-year dollars | Costs expressed in the purchasing power of a specified reference year. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| C-UASCounter-uncrewed / counter-unmanned aircraft systems | Capabilities for detecting and countering uncrewed aircraft. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| C2Command and control | The exercise of authority and direction over forces and operations. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| C4ISRCommand, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance | A collective term for the systems connecting command, information, and sensing functions. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| CAGECommercial and Government Entity code | An identifier used for organizations doing business with the federal government. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CASREPCasualty report | A report of an equipment condition affecting a unit's ability to perform its mission. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| CDDCapability development document | A requirements document describing the capability a system is expected to provide. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CDRCritical design review | A review assessing whether a detailed design is mature enough for the next development steps. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| CDRLContract data requirements list | The list of data deliverables required under a contract. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CECCooperative Engagement Capability | A networked capability sharing sensor data among equipped units to support coordinated engagements. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| CGGuided-missile cruiser | A hull classification for a guided-missile cruiser. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| CIWSClose-in weapon system | A short-range defensive weapon system intended to engage threats close to the ship. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| CLINContract line item number | An identifier for a distinct item of work, supply, or service in a contract. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CNCComputer numerical control | Computer-directed control of machine tools and related manufacturing equipment. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| CNOChief of Naval Operations | The Navy's senior uniformed service chief. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| CNO availabilityCNO-scheduled maintenance availability | A ship maintenance period scheduled within the Chief of Naval Operations maintenance framework. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| CO / KOContracting officer | An official with delegated authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts. CO can also mean commanding officer in Navy usage. | Acquisition and contracting |
| Concept | Proposed or speculative | Maturity labels |
| CONOPSConcept of operations | A description of how a force or system is intended to operate. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| Contract ceiling | The maximum potential value under a contract’s stated scope. It is not a statement that the full amount has been committed or paid. | Costs and funding |
| CONUSContinental United States | A geographic abbreviation whose exact boundaries should be checked against the governing document. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| CORContracting officer's representative | A designated official who assists with technical monitoring and contract oversight within delegated limits. | Acquisition and contracting |
| Cost per outcome | The resources spent to achieve a defined result. A comparison needs consistent assumptions about the mission and what counts as success. | Evidence and comparisons |
| COTSCommercial off-the-shelf | Commercial products available in the marketplace, subject to the applicable acquisition definition. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| CPAFCost-plus-award-fee | A cost-reimbursement contract with a fee component based on the government's evaluation of performance. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CPFFCost-plus-fixed-fee | A cost-reimbursement contract with a negotiated fee that is fixed subject to contract terms. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CPIFCost-plus-incentive-fee | A cost-reimbursement contract where fee varies with performance against a cost target. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CPSConventional Prompt Strike | A Navy weapon program for a conventionally armed hypersonic strike capability. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| CRContinuing resolution | Temporary appropriations legislation that funds operations under specified conditions. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| CSGCarrier strike group | A naval force organized around an aircraft carrier. CSG can also refer to a commander, submarine group. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| CSOCommercial solutions opening | A competitive solicitation approach used to seek innovative commercial solutions. | Acquisition and contracting |
| CVNNuclear-powered aircraft carrier | A hull classification for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| CVWCarrier air wing | The aviation force assigned to operate from an aircraft carrier. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| DCSDirect commercial sales | Defense exports contracted directly between a supplier and a foreign purchaser, subject to applicable controls. | Acquisition and contracting |
| DDGGuided-missile destroyer | A hull classification for a destroyer equipped with guided missiles. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| DESRONDestroyer squadron | An organization commanding or supporting assigned destroyers and related surface forces. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| Development | Funded engineering, not yet demonstrated | Maturity labels |
| DEWDirected-energy weapon | A weapon using directed electromagnetic energy rather than a conventional projectile. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| DFARSDefense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement | Defense-specific procurement rules and clauses supplementing the FAR. | Acquisition and contracting |
| DIBDefense industrial base | The organizations, facilities, suppliers, and workforce that develop, produce, and sustain defense capabilities. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| DIDData item description | Instructions defining the content and format of a required data deliverable. | Acquisition and contracting |
| DLADefense Logistics Agency | The defense agency providing broad supply and logistics support. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| DMSMSDiminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages | Loss or impending loss of suppliers, materials, or components needed to build or sustain systems. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| Dollar basis | The price-year convention behind a cost figure. Base-year dollars hold a reference year’s purchasing power; then-year dollars reflect the years in which spending occurs. | Costs and funding |
| DONDepartment of the Navy | The department encompassing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. | Navy organizations and fleet operations |
| DPADefense Production Act | Federal authorities used for purposes including industrial capacity and priority support for national defense. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| DPIADocking planned incremental availability | A planned incremental maintenance period that includes dry-docking. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| DSRADocking selected restricted availability | A selected restricted maintenance period that includes dry-docking. | Maintenance, logistics, and readiness |
| DT&EDevelopmental test and evaluation | Testing used during development to understand performance and reduce technical risk. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| EAElectronic attack | Use of electromagnetic energy or related effects to degrade an adversary's capability. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| EACEstimate at completion | The forecast total cost when the defined work is complete. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| EARExport Administration Regulations | U.S. export controls covering many commercial, dual-use, and certain military items. | Industrial base, engineering, and space |
| ECMElectronic countermeasures | Measures intended to interfere with an adversary's use of electronic systems. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| EMALSElectromagnetic Aircraft Launch System | The electromagnetic catapult system used to launch aircraft from equipped carriers. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| EMDEngineering and manufacturing development | Development work to mature a system design and its production processes. | Acquisition and contracting |
| EO/IRElectro-optical / infrared | Optical and infrared sensing technologies used for observation, tracking, and targeting. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| EOQEconomic order quantity | A purchase quantity intended to reduce overall costs; often discussed for components in multiyear procurement. | Acquisition and contracting |
| EPElectronic protection | Measures protecting friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| EPFExpeditionary fast transport | A vessel type intended for rapid transport of personnel and cargo within a theater. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| ESBExpeditionary sea base | A ship type providing an afloat base for selected expeditionary missions. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| ESMElectronic support measures | Systems and activities that intercept emissions to support awareness and threat identification. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| ESSMEvolved SeaSparrow Missile | A naval defensive missile family for countering air threats. ESSM can also mean Emergency Ship Salvage Material in salvage contexts. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| EVMEarned value management | A method comparing planned work, completed work, and actual cost. | Budgets and cost analysis |
| EWElectronic warfare | Military activity involving electromagnetic energy to sense, protect, or attack capabilities. | Weapons, sensors, and missions |
| FARFederal Acquisition Regulation | The main federal procurement regulation; specific contract clauses determine applicable obligations. | Acquisition and contracting |
| FFGGuided-missile frigate | A hull classification for a frigate equipped with guided missiles. | Ships, aircraft, and uncrewed systems |
| FFPFirm-fixed-price | A contract pricing structure in which the price generally does not adjust for the contractor's incurred costs. | Acquisition and contracting |
| Fielded | In operational service at scale | Maturity labels |
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Reference Sources
For formal definitions and document-specific usage, consult these official reference collections. This glossary is an editorial guide, not a substitute for the terms in a contract or governing document.