This chapter is part of the Field Guide series. For related material that is already published, see the linked chapters below.
The 75-term A-Z Glossary
Acronyms, expansions, and plain-English definitions for the transition and manufacturing terminology that appears throughout the Helicon Field Guide. Use the letter jumps to skim; each term links to related terms and appears in the Field Guide search index.
A
- AAFAdaptive Acquisition Framework
- The DoD framework containing multiple acquisition pathways tailored to different kinds of capability and urgency.
- ATOAuthority to Operate
- Formal authorization for an information system to operate after cybersecurity risk is assessed and accepted.
C
- C-UASCounter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Capabilities and activities used to detect, track, identify, defeat, or mitigate unmanned aircraft threats.
- C-UxSCounter-Unmanned Systems
- The broader mission of countering unmanned systems across air, ground, surface, and subsurface domains.
- C2Command and Control
- The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces.
- C4ISRCommand, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
- The integrated functions and systems used to understand the environment, communicate, decide, and direct operations.
- CDDCapability Development Document
- A requirements document describing the operational performance needed from a proposed capability.
- CDRCritical Design Review
- A formal review assessing whether a detailed design is mature enough to proceed toward fabrication, demonstration, and test.
- COTSCommercial Off-the-Shelf
- A product sold commercially in substantial quantities and offered to the government without major modification.
- CSOCommercial Solutions Opening
- A competitive solicitation method used to acquire innovative commercial solutions, often with Other Transaction authority.
- CUIControlled Unclassified Information
- Unclassified information requiring safeguarding or dissemination controls under law, regulation, or government-wide policy.
D
- DAUDefense Acquisition University
- The DoD institution providing acquisition education, tools, and reference material.
- DFDirection Finding
- Techniques used to determine the direction from which a radio-frequency signal arrives.
- DIUDefense Innovation Unit
- A DoD organization focused on accelerating adoption of commercially derived technology for national security.
- DoDDepartment of Defense
- The U.S. federal department responsible for national defense and the military departments.
- DP2Direct to Phase II
- An SBIR pathway allowing eligible agencies to begin at Phase II when Phase I feasibility has already been demonstrated with non-SBIR funds.
E
- EARExport Administration Regulations
- U.S. Commerce Department controls governing exports, reexports, and transfers of dual-use and less-sensitive military items.
- ECCNExport Control Classification Number
- An alphanumeric classification used under the EAR to identify export-control requirements for an item.
- ELINTElectronic Intelligence
- Intelligence derived primarily from non-communications electromagnetic emissions such as radar signals.
- EMCONEmissions Control
- Management of electromagnetic emissions to reduce detection, interference, or targeting risk.
- EWElectronic Warfare
- Military action involving use of electromagnetic energy to sense, protect, attack, or control use of the spectrum.
F
- FCIFederal Contract Information
- Nonpublic information provided by or generated for the government under a contract, excluding public information and some CUI.
- FMSForeign Military Sales
- A U.S. government program for selling defense articles, services, and training to foreign governments and international organizations.
- FOCFull Operational Capability
- The point at which a capability has achieved the planned level of operational availability and support.
- FPVFirst-Person View
- A control method in which an operator pilots a vehicle using a live onboard video feed.
G
- GFEGovernment-Furnished Equipment
- Property provided by the government to a contractor for performance of a contract.
- GFIGovernment-Furnished Information
- Information provided by the government to support contractor performance.
H
- HMIHuman-Machine Interface
- The controls, displays, and interaction methods through which people operate or supervise a system.
I
- IHLInternational Humanitarian Law
- The body of law governing conduct during armed conflict and protecting persons who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities.
- IOCInitial Operational Capability
- The point at which a system can provide a useful, though not yet complete, operational capability.
- IPIntellectual Property
- Legally protected creations and associated rights, including patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and technical data rights.
- ISRIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
- Activities and systems used to collect, process, exploit, and disseminate information about an operational environment.
- ITARInternational Traffic in Arms Regulations
- U.S. State Department controls governing defense articles, technical data, and defense services on the U.S. Munitions List.
J
- JADC2Joint All-Domain Command and Control
- The DoD concept for connecting sensors, data, decision-makers, and effects across services and domains.
- JCIDSJoint Capabilities Integration and Development System
- The formal DoD process used to identify, assess, and prioritize joint military capability requirements.
K
- KPPKey Performance Parameter
- A critical performance attribute considered essential to meeting a system’s operational goals.
L
- LOACLaw of Armed Conflict
- Another common term for international humanitarian law governing armed conflict.
- LRIPLow-Rate Initial Production
- Limited early production used to provide initial systems, establish production capability, and support operational test.
M
- MCAMajor Capability Acquisition
- The AAF pathway generally used for major, complex systems requiring structured milestone decisions.
- MOSAModular Open Systems Approach
- A technical and business strategy using modular designs and widely supported interfaces to enable competition and upgrades.
- MRLManufacturing Readiness Level
- A scale describing the maturity of manufacturing processes, supply chains, quality systems, and production capability.
- MTAMiddle Tier of Acquisition
- An AAF pathway for rapid prototyping or rapid fielding within defined time constraints.
N
- NDAANational Defense Authorization Act
- Annual federal legislation authorizing defense programs, policies, and organizational changes.
- NRENon-Recurring Engineering
- One-time engineering costs needed to design, qualify, tool, or prepare a product for production.
O
- OTAOther Transaction Agreement
- A legally binding instrument other than a standard procurement contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, used under specific statutory authority.
P
- PDRPreliminary Design Review
- A formal review assessing whether a preliminary design is complete and ready to proceed to detailed design.
- PEOProgram Executive Office
- An organization responsible for managing a portfolio of acquisition programs and delivering capabilities.
- Phase ISBIR/STTR Phase I
- The feasibility phase, used to establish technical merit and reduce early risk.
- Phase IISBIR/STTR Phase II
- The development and demonstration phase that continues successful Phase I work.
- Phase IIISBIR/STTR Phase III
- Non-SBIR-funded work that derives from, extends, or completes prior SBIR/STTR work and carries important commercialization and data-rights implications.
- PNTPositioning, Navigation and Timing
- Services and information that allow users and systems to determine location, movement, orientation, and precise time.
- PORProgram of Record
- A funded acquisition program formally documented in the defense budget and program structure.
- PRRProduction Readiness Review
- A formal assessment of whether a design and production system are ready to begin production.
Q
- QMSQuality Management System
- The policies, processes, responsibilities, and records used to ensure consistent product quality.
R
- RDT&EResearch, Development, Test and Evaluation
- A defense appropriation category funding technology development, prototyping, testing, and evaluation.
- RFRadio Frequency
- Electromagnetic frequencies commonly used for communications, radar, sensing, and electronic warfare.
- RFIRequest for Information
- A market-research notice used to gather information and understand available capabilities; it is not normally a solicitation for award.
- RFPRequest for Proposals
- A formal solicitation requesting offers for a government contract.
- RMFRisk Management Framework
- The federal process for categorizing systems, selecting and implementing security controls, assessing risk, and authorizing operation.
- ROERules of Engagement
- Directives defining the circumstances and limitations under which forces may initiate or continue combat engagement.
S
- SBIRSmall Business Innovation Research
- A federal program funding R&D by eligible U.S. small businesses through phased awards.
- SIGINTSignals Intelligence
- Intelligence derived from intercepted signals, including communications and electronic emissions.
- SOCOMU.S. Special Operations Command
- The unified combatant command responsible for U.S. special operations forces.
- SOFSpecial Operations Forces
- Military forces organized, trained, and equipped to conduct special operations.
- SOWStatement of Work
- A contract document describing tasks, deliverables, standards, and responsibilities.
- STTRSmall Business Technology Transfer
- A federal R&D program similar to SBIR that requires formal collaboration between a small business and a nonprofit research institution.
T
- T&ETest and Evaluation
- Structured activities used to measure system performance, suitability, survivability, and effectiveness.
- TDPTechnical Data Package
- A controlled set of drawings, specifications, models, bills of material, processes, and other information needed to produce or support an item.
- TRLTechnology Readiness Level
- A scale describing evidence of technology maturity from basic principles through proven operation.
U
- UASUnmanned Aircraft System
- An unmanned aircraft together with its control station, communications, payloads, and supporting elements.
- UCAUrgent Capability Acquisition
- An AAF pathway for capabilities needed to respond quickly to urgent operational needs.
- USMLUnited States Munitions List
- The list of defense articles and services controlled under the ITAR.
- UxSUnmanned Systems
- A collective term for unmanned vehicles and systems across air, ground, maritime-surface, and subsurface domains.
V
- V&VVerification and Validation
- Verification asks whether a system was built correctly; validation asks whether the right system was built for the intended use.
- Valley of DeathDefense Innovation Valley of Death
- The set of organizational, budgetary, contractual, technical, and production gaps between successful R&D and sustained operational adoption.
Defense Acquisition University
Acquipedia
Summary
Acquisition, program-management, contracting, readiness, and engineering terminology.
NATO Standardization Office
NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions
Summary
Alliance terminology; verify the current edition before publication.
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office
AI.mil
Summary
Terminology and concepts related to responsible military AI and adoption.
International Committee of the Red Cross
IHL Databases
Summary
Authoritative law-of-armed-conflict terminology and source material.
U.S. Department of State
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
Summary
Primary resource for ITAR and U.S. defense-trade controls.
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
Summary
Primary resource for EAR and dual-use export controls.
Cited sources
Every source below has been verified live. Independently verify before operational use.
- Defense Acquisition University — AcquipediaOpen original (opens in a new tab)
- NATO Standardization Office — NATO Glossary of Terms and DefinitionsOpen original (opens in a new tab)
- Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office — AI.milOpen original (opens in a new tab)
- International Committee of the Red Cross — IHL DatabasesOpen original (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of State — Directorate of Defense Trade ControlsOpen original (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of Commerce — Bureau of Industry and SecurityOpen original (opens in a new tab)