American Holocaust-term used to describe the Russian bomber attacks against the United States
BG-Brigadier General
Boats-abbreviation for a naval enlisted man who trains, supervises, and directs ship’s maintenance duties
CAG-Carrier Air Group, referring to the commander of an aircraft carrier’s air wings
CID-Cybernetic Infantry Device, an American infantry combat system utilizing a manned robot to afford superhuman protection, strength, speed, and attack capabilities equivalent to an infantry platoon
CINC-Commander in Chief; former designation of the commander of a major U.S. military command (now reserved for the president of the United States)
CJCS-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior uniformed adviser to the president of the United States
CNO-Chief of Naval Operations, the senior uniformed officer of the U.S. Navy
CTF-150-Combined Task Force-150, a multinational antipiracy maritime security force
DCI-Director of Central Intelligence, the senior administrator and coordinator of all of America ’s intelligence services
dielectric-a hard or rigid structure that allows electromagnetic energy to pass through in both directions
Duty Officer-a computerized interactionable service linking several computer services
Electronic Elastomeric Activity Suit-a mechanical compression garment worn by astronauts that uses computer-controlled electronically compressible material to maintain near-sea-level pressure on the human body while in a vacuum
EMU-Extravehicular Maneuvering Unit, a device that attaches to an astronaut’s space suit that allows precise movement in space
EPIRB-Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, a device that transmits identification and location information via satellite to rescuers
FBI-Federal Bureau of Investigation, American federal domestic law enforcement and investigation agency
ForceNet-American naval computer global data-exchange system
FSB-Federal Security Bureau, new name for the Russian KGB foreign and domestic intelligence and security force
GRU-Glavnoye Razvedyvatel’ noye Upravleniye, Russian military intelligence agency
GUARD-international emergency radio channel
HMU-Handheld Maneuvering Unit, a device used by astronauts to maneuver in space
Hohmann transfer orbit-an orbit used by spacecraft to move from one orbit to another
home plate-common term for home base or aircraft carrier
Hydra-smaller version of a COIL laser used for self-defense
hypoxia-physical difficulties associated with a lack of oxygen (loss of sight, uncoordination, unconsciousness)
ISI-Interservices Intelligence, Pakistani intelligence agency
KGB-Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, Soviet domestic and foreign security and intelligence agency, now FSB
Maddie-Multifunctional Advanced Data Delivery and Information Exchange, the civilian version of the “Duty Officer”
MFD-Multi-Function Display, an advanced computer control and display system
NCIS-Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ chief law enforcement investigation service
NOSS-Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a system of satellites that detects and tracks vessels by homing in on radio transmissions
NSO-National Security Organization, the Republic of Yemen ’s domestic and foreign intelligence and security force
PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an American animal-rights organization
PLA-People’s Liberation Army, the unified land, sea, and air forces of the People’s Republic of China
PNSA-President’s National Security Adviser, senior civilian military and domestic security adviser to the president of the United States
PRC-People’s Republic of China (mainland China)
Ro-Ro-Roll-On, Roll-Off, a cargo ship where vehicles or equipment can be loaded on one end and driven off on the other end
SAC-Strategic Air Command, former major American military command that controlled all nuclear-capable attack and global reconnaissance and command-and-control forces
SCA-Suez Canal Authority, civil organization responsible for regulating, maintaining, and patrolling the Suez Canal
SECDEF-common acronym of the secretary of defense, the senior civilian administrator of all branches of the U.S. military
SECNAV-common acronym of the secretary of the navy, senior civilian administrator of the U.S. Navy
SECSTATE-common acronym of the U.S. secretary of state
SIGINT-Signals Intelligence, collecting, identifying, and analyzing electromagnetic emissions
Space-Based Infrared System-satellite-based system that detects and tracks missiles and aircraft
SPACECOM-common acronym for the U.S. Space Command, the major American military command responsible for space activities
STRATCOM-U.S. Strategic Command, the major American military command responsible for strategic missile defense, information warfare, command and control, and surveillance
TMO-Traffic Management Officer, the officer responsible for monitoring movements of ships or aircraft through a particular area or region
VFR-Visual Flight Rules, the rules governing aircraft operations in good weather
WMD-Weapons of Mass Destruction, referring to biological, nuclear, or chemical weapons designed to kill large numbers of people over very large areas with few numbers of weapons
REAL-WORLD NEWS EXCERPTS
U.S. PLANS FOR FUTURE WARS IN SPACE (www.Space.com, February 22, 2004): The U.S. Air Force has filed a futuristic flight plan, one that spells out need for an armada of space weaponry and technology for the near term and in years to come. Called the Transformation Flight Plan, the 176-page document offers a sweeping look at how best to expand America ’s military space tool kit.
…The CAV (Common Aero Vehicle) is an unpowered, maneuverable, hypersonic glide vehicle deployed in the 2010-2015 time period. The CAV could be delivered by a range of delivery vehicles from an expendable or reusable small launch vehicle to a fully reusable Space Operations Vehicle. It can guide and dispense conventional weapons, sensors, or other payloads worldwide from and through space within one hour of tasking. It would be able to strike a spectrum of targets, including mobile targets, mobile time-sensitive targets, strategic relocatable targets, or fixed hard and deeply buried targets. The CAV’s speed and maneuverability would combine to make defenses against it extremely difficult…
SINO-RUSSIAN MILITARY MANEUVERS: A THREAT TO U.S. INTERESTS IN EURASIA (Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., and John J. Tkacik Jr., www.Heritage.org, September 30, 2005): Peace Mission 2005, the unprecedented Sino-Russian joint military exercises held on August 18-25, should raise concerns in Washington. The war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 2001, and the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two giant powers…
The Russian daily Nezavismaya Gazeta was more blunt about the purpose of the war games: This is above all an assault on the unipolar world that has so suited Washington since the end of the Cold War. Chinese commentators were similarly frank. Jin Canrong, professor of international relations at the People’s University of China, stated that the main target is the United States. Both sides want to improve their bargaining position in terms of security, politics, and economics. As Pravda.ru announced, “The reconciliation between China and Russia has been driven in part by mutual unease at U.S. power…”
RUSSIA NEGOTIATES SALE OF 50 SU-33 FIGHTERS TO CHINA (Sinodefence.com, October 27, 2006): Russia and China are finalizing negotiations for the delivery of up to fifty Su-33 carrier-based jet fighters, at a cost of US$2.5 billion.
China is expected to initially get two Su-33 jets to be used for evaluation and operational trials on the ex-Soviet carrier Varyag China acquired from the Ukraine in 1999. The carrier is currently stationed at China ’s Dalian Shipyard, being refitted since 2002. Once commissioned to service, the carrier will be able to operate the twelve aircraft of Su-33, which are included as the first-option part of the current program.