Glossary

Plain-language meanings of the acronyms used on this site: LVC, Link 16, GCI, RTO, OFP, MLU, IADS, SEAD, DIS/HLA and more.

Anti-aircraft artillery.

Air Land Sea Space Application Center: the US multi-service centre whose brevity and radio phraseology our constructive forces use.

Airborne Warning and Control System / Air Battle Manager.

Beyond visual range / within visual range air combat.

Command and control.

Command and Control – Simulation interoperability standard.

Computer Generated Forces: simulated aircraft, ground units and threats.

Commercial off-the-shelf.

Control and Reporting Centre.

Distributed Interactive Simulation / High Level Architecture: standards for connecting simulators.

Electro-optical / infrared sensors.

Emergency procedure.

Electronic warfare / electronic attack.

Exercise Control.

Fire-control radar.

An F-35 training simulator (not a full mission simulator) that the Air Combat Arena connects into the shared LVC picture.

Full Mission Simulator: our F-16 cockpit simulator.

Field of view.

Ground-Controlled Interception: controllers directing fighters from the ground.

Hands-on throttle and stick.

Integrated Air Defence System.

Initial Operational Capability.

Instructor Operator Station.

Intellectual property rights.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

J-series

The Link 16 message families (for example J3.2 air tracks).

Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation.

Joint Mission Planning System.

Joint Terminal Attack Controller.

Link 16

The NATO tactical data link used by fighters, controllers and ground units.

Live, Virtual, Constructive: real aircraft, simulators and computer-generated forces training together.

Multifunctional Information Distribution System: the Link 16 terminal.

Mid-Life Update: the F-16 upgrade standard flown by European operators.

Night-vision goggles.

Operational Flight Program: the aircraft's mission software.

Operational Test and Evaluation.

Personal Computer Debriefing System: a US debriefing system; we produce PCDS-compatible output for a customer's recorder.

Precise Participant Location and Identification: the Link 16 position report.

Radar cross-section.

Range Training Officer: judges weapon shots and kills during the exercise.

Radar warning receiver / electronic support measures.

Surface-to-air missile.

Suppression / destruction of enemy air defences. Wild Weasel is the SEAD mission name.

Test and Training Enabling Architecture.

Tactics, techniques and procedures.

White Cell

The exercise control cell that runs the scenario and judges outcomes.

The acronyms and terms used on this site, in plain words.