Acronyms and Abbreviations
R
R&D Research & Development
R&M Reliability & Maintainability
R/P Receiver/Processor
R&S Reconnaissance and Surveillance; Routing and Switching
R/S (or RS) Remote Sensing
R/T Radio Telephone ( also RT )
R/T BDA Real-Time Battle Damage Assessment ( also RT BDA )
R-CDL Radar Common Data Link
R2PI Rapid Response Process Initiative ( USAF )
RAAP Rapid Application of Air Power
RABFAC Radar Beacon Forward Air Controller
RAC Riverine Assault Craft
RACCOS Retia Advanced Command and Control System ( Czech Republic )
RACK Ranger Assault Carrying Kit ( also known as MOLLE )
RAD Random Agile Deinterleaver; Radiation ( absorbed radiation unit )
RADAN Radar Doppler Automatic Navigation
Radar Radio Detection And Ranging
RADAR Reflective Agents with Distributed Adaptive Reasoning ( DARPA program ca 2007 )
RADBN Radio Battalion ( USMC )
RADC Regional Air-Defense Commander
RADDS RAdar Data Distribution System; Radar Displays and Distribution System
RADE Rapid Access and Disruption Equipment
RADEF Radiological Defense ( circa 1960 )
RADFET Radiation-sensing Field Effect Transistor
RADGUNS RAdar Directed GUN Simulation
RADHAZ Radiation Hazard
RADICAL RCIED Detection Identification and Classification Algorithm
RADINT Radar Intelligence
RADS Rapid Air Defense System
RADSCAT RADar SCATtering
RAFAEL ( Israeli Armament Development Authority )
RAIDDS Rapid Autonomous Integrated DNA Detection System
RAIDER Rapid Attack Information Dissemination Execution Relay
RAIDRS Rapid Attack Identification Detection and Reporting System; Rapid Attack Identification Reporting System; Rapid Identification Detection and Reporting System
RAIDS Rapid Area Integrated Defense System; Rapid Anti-ship missile Integrated Defense System; Radar Airborne Intruder Detection System; Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks; Rapid Antiship cruise missile IDentification System; Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System ( UK RAF - Thanks to John Chamberlain for this contribution )
RAIM Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring
RAIS Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Systems
RAM Radar Absorbing Material ; Rolling Airframe Missile ; Reliability, Availability and Maintainability
RAM/RS Reliability, Availability, Maintainability / Rebuilt-to-Standard ( e.g., for Assault Amphibious Vehicle )
RAMAC Random Access Method of Accounting and Control
RAMBO Ram Burn Observations ( e.g., DoD experiment for studying engine-burn plumes, ca 2005 )
RAMCAD Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability Computer-Aided Design
RAMCON Russia's Association for the Conversion of SLBMs
RAMICS Rapid Airborne Mine-Clearance System
RAMON Radio Monitoring
RAMOS Russian American Observation Satellite
RAMP Return
fire; Anticipate attack, Measure your force, and Protect
only lives with deadly force [ See RULES
OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE) ]
RAMPART Risk Assessment Method - Property Analysis and Ranking Tool
RAMPS Raven Automated Mission Planning Segment
RAM/RS Reliability, Availability, Maintainability / Rebuilt-to-Standard ( e.g., for Assault Amphibious Vehicle )
RAMS Remote Activation Munitions System; Rocket and Missile Systems
RAMSYS Rolling Airframe Missile System
RAMTIP Reliability and Maintainability Technology Insertion Program
RAP Rocket-Assisted Projectile; Reliable Acoustic Path; Recognized Air Picture; Radio Access Point; Required Aircraft Performance; Ram Air Parachute
RAPCAP Radar Picket Combat Air Patrol
RAPIDS Resource and Program Information Development System ( formerly RMIS )
RAPTOR Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado ( R.A.F. )
RAS Radio-Acoustic Sounding; Readiness Assessment System; Rail Adapter System ( e.g., for attaching rifle accessories )
RASCAL Responsive Access, Small Cargo, Affordable Launch; Raster Scanning Airborne LIDAR
RASP Remotely Actuated Sensor Platform
RASPUTIN Rapid Scenario Preparation Unit for Intelligence
RAST Recovery-Assist Secure and Traverse ( shipboard helicopter recovery system )
RASTA Rectified Advanced Silicon Technology Array
RAT Ram Air Turbine; Remote Access Trojan ( e.g., surreptitious recording of keystrokes )
RATO Rocket-Assisted TakeOff
RATS Redundant Array of Tape Streamers; Random Access Time Slots
RATT RAdio TeleType
RATTLR Real-TimeTargeting at Long Range
RATTLRS Revolutionary Approach to Time-critical Long Range Strike ( e.g., supersonic [ Mach 3+ ] weapon system, ca 2006 )
RAPLOC Rapid Acoustic Passive Localization
RAPTOR Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado ( RAF )
RASCAL Responsive Access Small Cargo Affordable Launch ( DARPA program discontinued ca 2004 )
RASP Remote Access Security Program; Remote Access Secure Program
RAST Recovery Assist, Securing and Traversing ( system )
RASTA Rectified Advanced Silicon Technology Array ( e.g., used for EMP protection )
RASU Russian Electronics and Guidance System Agency ( department of the Russian Ministry of Defense Industry )
RAT Rocket Assisted Torpedo; Ram Air Turbine ( e.g., used in EW pods for power )
RAU Remote Access Unit; Radio Access Unit; Rear Antenna Unit ( e.g., part of aircraft EW system )
RAV Review and Validation ( also R&V )
RAVM Range Atmosphere Visibility Monitoring
RAZON Radio control AZimuth ONly ( e.g., glide bomb )
RBA Revolution in Business Affairs; Ranger Body Armor
RBAC Role-Based Access Control
RBCID Radio-Based Combat Identification
RBE Remain-Behind Equipment
RBES Rule-Based Expert System
RBM Response Boat - Medium ( USCG )
RBOC Rapid Bloom Off-board Chaff
RBR Radiation Belt Remediation
RC Required Capabilities; Remote Control; Regional Conflict; Reserve Component ( of USN forces - as compared to Active Component )
RCAG Remote Communications Air/Ground
RCAS Reserve Component Automation System
RCC Resin-Coated Copper, Rescue Coordination Center; Regional Control Center; Reversing Converter Coupling ( for ship maneuvering )
R-CDL Radar Common Data Link
RCERT Regional Computer Emergency Response Team
RCF Rubber-Coated Fabric ( e.g., material for piston ring, rotary shaft, and other type seals )
RCIED Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device; Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device
RCIO Regional Chief Information Office ( U.S. Army )
RCIP Rapid Capability [ technology ] Insertion Process
RCM Reliability-Centered Maintenance; Radio Countermeasures ( circa 1944 )
RCOH Refueling and Comprehensive Overhaul ( e.g., of a nuclear aircraft carrier )
RCS Radar Cross Section ; Reaction Control System; Revenue Cutter Service ( predecessor to the U.S. Coast Guard ); Return Channel via Satellite
RCSO Regional Computer Security Officer
RCT Regimental Combat Team ( e.g., Iraq )
RCVR Receiver
RCVS Robust Certificate Validation Service ( DoD )
RD Radar Detection
RDA Remote Database Access; Recorded Data Access
RDBMS Relational Data Base Management System
RDD Radiological Dispersion Device ( e.g., "dirty bomb" )
RDF Radio Direction Finding; Remote Delivery Facility ( i.e., post-9/11 Pentagon receiving/warehouse facility ); Resource Description Framework ( e.g., for the Web )
RDIS Radar Data Interface System ( a component of the JSS )
RDISS Rapid Deployment Integrated Surveillance System ( U.S. Army )
RDIXS Research-and-Development Information Exchange System
RDND Relay Doppler Noise Decoy
RDP Rim-Drive Propulsor ( e.g., for ships )
RDR Radar; Remote Data Relay
RDRAM Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory
RDSND Radiosonde ( also RSONDE )
RDT&E Research, Development, Test and Evaluation
RE Recurring Engineering; Rate Effect; Re-entry; Research & Engineering; Receive Element; Relay ( component )
REA Revolution in Educational Affairs
REACH Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals ( Europe )
REACT Rapid Execution And Combat Targeting
REAPER Remote Extended Aircrew Positions Enabling Reachback ( e.g., intelligence collection/distribution system )
REAS Realistic EW Arena Simulator ( France )
REBM Radio-Electronic Battle Management
REC Radioelectronic Combat ( Soviet EW ); Reconnaissance; RECord; Receiver-Exciter-Controller
RECA Residual Capabilities Assessment ( USAF program )
RECAP Reconfigurable Aperture Program ( DARPA ca 2003 )
RECCE Reconnaissance
RECCO Reconnaissance
RECO Remote Control ( e.g., of mines )
RECORM REmote COntrolled Reconnaissance Monitor
RECSAT Reconnaissance Satellite
RECTENNA Rectifying Antenna
REDCAP REal-time Digitally Controlled Analyzer Processor
REES Radar Electromagnetic Environment Simulator
REF Reference; Reflector ( antenna ); Rapid Equipping Force ( U.S. Army )
ReformD Reforming Diesel ( to refuel soldiers - modifying diesel fuel for cooking, etc... )
REFSTA REFerence STAtion
REIK Replacement-Exchange-In-Kind ( e.g., program, ca 2007, for the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile [HARM] )
REMBASS Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System
REMIDS Remote Minefield Detection System
REMUS Remote Environmental Monitoring Units ( i.e., low-cost UUVs ); Remote Environmental Measuring Units
REN Ringer Equivalency Number ( telephone )
REO Radar Electro-Optical
Repast Recursive Porous Agent Simulation Toolkit ( e.g., related to modeling human social behavior and individual decision-making )
REPLI Radar-coupled Emitter/Passive Location and Identification
REPTECH Repair Technology
REPTILE Regulated Electrical Power Technical Integration and Leveraging ( e.g., for the DDX program )
RES Radar-Electronic Support; Radar Environment Simulator
RESA Research and Evaluation System Analysis
RESAC Regional Earth Science Application Center ( NASA )
RESERVE Responsive Replacement Vehicle
R-ESM Radar Electronic Support Measures ( Turkey )
RESM Radar Electronic Support Measures ( also Radar ESM )
RESS Radar Environmental Signal Simulator
REU Remote Emitter Unit
REVCON REVolutionary CONcept ( e.g., NASA project )
REWS Range Electronic Warfare Simulator
REWSON Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Special Operations and Naval Intelligence Systems
REWTS Responsive Electronic Warfare Training System
RF Radio Frequency
RF Refueling
RFC Request For Comment ( Internet protocol )
RFCM Radio Frequency CounterMeasures
RFDC Real-time radio Frequency Data Communications; Radio Frequency Data Communications
RF/DC Radio Frequency Data Collection
RFED Radio Frequency Expendable Decoy
RFEG Radio Frequency Environment Generator
RF/EMPINT Radio Frequency/ Electromagnetic Pulse Intelligence
RFF Request for Forces
RFGDU Radio Frequency Generation and Distribution Unit
RFI Radio Frequency Interference; Representative of a Foreign Interest; Request For Information; Radar-Frequency Interferometer
RF/ID Radio Frequency/Identification
RFID Radio Frequency Identification
RFIS Radar Frequency Interferometer System
RF/J Radio Frequency Jammer ( Turkey )
RFL Restricted Frequency List
RFLAN Radio Frequency Local Area Network
RFLIC Radio-Frequency Lightwave Integrated Circuit
RFP Request For Proposal
RF/PF Regional Forces / Popular Forces ( Vietnam era, circa 1970 - the popular term "Ruff Puff" was discouraged )
RFPI Rapid Force Projection Initiative
RFR Radio Frequency Radiation
RFS Regional Frequency Supply
RFSIM Radio Frequency Simulation
RFSM Radio Frequency Spectrum Management
RFSNR Radio Frequency Signal-to-Noise Ratio; Required RF Signal-to-Noise Ratio
RFSS Radar Frequency Simulator System
RFQ Request For Quotation
RFT Ready For Training; Request For Tenders ( e.g., from Australian Defence Department )
RGB Red-Green-Blue ( color display )
RGD Range Gate Deception
RGES Running Gear Entanglement System
RGPO Range Gate Pull Off
RGR Rapid Ground Refueling
RGS Range Gate Stealing ( jamming )
RGWO Range Gate Walk Off
RHA Rolled Homogeneous Armor ( WWII-era's most-advanced armor )
RHAW Radar Homing and Warning ; Radar Homing All the Way
RHAWS Radar Homing And Warning System
RHC Ruggedized Hand-held Computer
RHCP Right-Hand Circular Polarization
RHDD Radiation Hardened Disk Drive
RHIB Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat
RIA Runway Independent Aircraft
RIB Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat; Radio Interference Buoy; Rigid Inflatable Boat
RICO Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ( Act)
RIDSN Radar Imaging and Deep Space Network
RII Request for Intelligence Information
RIIXS Remote Interrogation Information Exchange Subsystem
RIJAN Regional Information and Joint Awareness Newtork ( NY Port Authority crisis system )
RIM ROTHR Interface Module; Rocket Intercept Missile; Remote Interface Module
RIMPAC Rim of the Pacific
RIMS Replacement Influence MineSweeping ( U.K. ); Resource Interruption Monitoring System; Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Station ( e.g., for EGNOS )
RINT Unintentional Radiation Intelligence
RIO Radar Intercept Officer
RIOT Remote Independently Operable Transceiver
RIPE Robust Integrated Power Electronics
RIPRNET Radio over Internet Protocol Routed Network
RIPS Record and Image Processing System
RIPSO Revised Interconnection Protocol Security Option
RISC Reduced Instruction Set Chip; Reduced Instruction Set Computer
RISS Real-time Infrared Scene Simulator; Real-time Infrared/electro-optic Scene Simulator; Regional ( anti-terrorist ) Information Sharing Systems
RISTA Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition
RIT Rapid Improvement Team ( e.g., system acquisition )
RITN Real-Time Information Transfer and Networking
RIVR Remote Interactive Voice Response
RJ Rivet Joint ( surveillance a/c )
RKF Rapid Knowledge Formation
RL Radioluminescent; Radioluminescent Light
RLAN Radio Local Area Network
RLG Ring-Laser Gyroscope
RLGN Ring-Laser Gyro Navigation
RLOS Radar Line of Sight
RLV Reusable Launch Vehicle
R&M Reliability & Maintainability
RMA Revolution in Military Affairs ( PRC term, also employed by U.S. Military )
RMAC Regional Maritime Awareness Capability
RME Relay Mirror Experiment
RMIP RF MEMS Improvement Program ( DARPA )
RMIS See RAPIDS
RML Radar Microwave Link
RMMV Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle ( ca 1007; formerly RMV )
RMOP Remote Minehunting Operational Prototype
RMP Radar Modernization Program; Reprogrammable Microprocessor
rms root mean square
RMS Records Management System; Remote Minehunting System; Remote Minehunting Sonar; Rapid Multilingual Support
RMSI Regional Maritime Security Initiative
RMV Remote Minehunting Vehicle
RMWS Remote Miniature Weather Station; Ramp-Mounted Weapon System ( 0.50-caliber machine gun for helicopters )
RNAC Reinforced North Atlantic Council
RNEP Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
RNO Regional Nuclear Options ( e.g., SIOP - See also LAO, MAO, SAO )
RNSSIXS Royal Navy Submarine Support Information Exchange Subsystem
RNT Rapid Network ( design ) Tool
ROAST Rapid On-Orbit Anomaly Surveillance and Tracking ( DARPA program ca 2003 to provide a space-based capability to detect and track on-orbit objects )
ROBAT Robot Obstacle-breaching Assault Tank
ROBE Roll-On-Beyond-line-of-sight Enhancement ( communications system )
ROC Required Operational Capability ; Ruggedized Optical Connector; Radio Order Circuit
ROCAT Rocket Catapult
ROCM Recoverable Off-Board Countermeasures
ROEM Renseignement d'Origine ElectroMagnétique ( French electromagnetic reconnaissance program ca 2007 )
ROF Required Operational Function
RoHS Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances. ( European Union )
ROIC Read-Out Integrated Circuit
ROIP Radio-Over-Internet Protocol
ROK Republic of Korea (South Korea)
ROLF ( Swedish acronym for "Mobile, Joint Command and Control Function" )
ROM Read-only Memory
RONS Remote Ordnance Neutralization System
ROP Robotic Obscuration Platform; Radar-Directed Projectile
ROPE Remotely Operated Platform - Electronic
ROR Range-Only Radar
RORI Reel-Out, Reel-In ( e.g., aircraft decoy deployment method )
RO/RO Roll-On/Roll-Off
RORSAT Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite
ROS Reduced Operating Status; Relocatable Optical System
ROSE Remote Optical Sensing of the Environment
ROTHR Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar ( View the ROTHR logo )
ROTV Remotely Operated Towed Vehicle
ROVER Remote Out-of-Vehicle Emergency Radio ( e.g., for police ); Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiving ( e.g., combat air space management system ); Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver
ROVIR Remote Observation Vehicle Infrared ( UAV )
ROVIS Royal Ordnance Vehicle Intercommunication System ( U.K. )
ROW Right of Way ( e.g., telephone lines, TV cable, etc. ); Rest Of World ( e.g., as in "Rest of World threats" )
ROW ECM "Rest Of the World" Electronic CounterMeasures
ROWS Remotely Operated Weapon System
R/P Receiver/Processor
RPA Radio Propagation Analysis
RPC Remote Procedure Call ( Internet )
RPD Recognition-Primed Decision
RPDA Rugged Personal Digital Assistant ( e.g., tactical dismounted computer/tactical terminal )
RPG Receiver Processor Group; Riverine Patrol Group; Rocket-Propelled Grenade; Radar Precision Guided ( weapon )
RPM Real-time Page Management ( Internet term ); Revolutions Per Minute; Real-Property Maintenance
RPRE Rapid Parking Ramp Extension
RPS Relative Positioning System; Robust Passive Sonar
RR Railroad; Retroreflection
RRA Risk-Reduction Activity
RRDI Range-Resolved Doppler [ LADAR ] Imaging ( system )
RRDS Rapid Rigging/Derigging Airdrop System
RRE Risk-Reduction Effort ( e.g., system development phase )
RREP Radio Reconnaissance Enhancement Program; Radio Reconnaissance Equipment Program
RRF Ready Reserve Force ( naval )
RRG Reversing Reduction Gear ( for ship maneuvering )
RRIS Reduced Resolution Image Set
RRM Radio Resource Management
RRT Radar Receiver Transmitter; Radio Reconnaissance Team
R&S Reconnaissance & Surveillance; Routing and Switching
RS Remote Sensing ( also R/S ) ; Receive Segment; Remote Sentry ( e.g., sensor system ); Rebuilt-to-Standard ( e.g., as in RAM/RS )
RSAM Reconfigurable Surface-to-Air Missile
RSC Readiness Support Center
RSCAAL Remote Sensing Chemical Agent Alarm
RSF Remote Sensing Facility; Russian Space Force
RSFQ Rapid Single Flux Quantum ( superconductor )
RSI Radiation Status Indicator
RSIP Radar System Improvement Program
RSJPO Robotic Systems Joint Project Office
RSM Rotational Signal Modulation; Rectangular Spectrum Modulation; Route Switch Module; Reconfigurable ( microwave ) Switching Matrix
RSMD Radar Sensor for Maintaining the Distance
RSN Responsive Spot Noise ( jamming )
RSO Radar Set-On
RSONDE Radiosonde ( also RDSND )
RSR Rapid Solidification Rate ( e.g., in processing of metals which would otherwise separate because they are non-equilibrium mixtures. RSR can result in multi-metal systems of superior characteristics for use in aircraft such as the engines of the F-15, F-22, ... )
RSS Rapid Spectral Search; Reduced Space Symbology ( relating to bar codes ); Radar Signal Simulator; Reconnaissance and Surveillance System; a computer-related abbreviation with multiple meanings: Rich Site Summary; Really Simple Syndication; RDF [Resource Description Framework] Site Summary.
RST Robotic Systems Technology
RSTA Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition
RSTER Radar Surveillance Technology Experimental Radar ( 1999 )
RST-V Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle ( employs a hybrid-electric drive )
RSV Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle ( Army )
RSVC Reconnaissance Satellite Vulnerability Computer
RSVP Resource-reSerVation Protocol ( network protocol ); Reduced Ships-crew by Virtual Presence
R/T Radio Telephone (also RT)
R/T BDA Real-Time Battle Damage Assessment ( also RT BDA )
RT Remote Terminal; Radio Telephone (R/T); Real Time; Radio Transmitter
RT BDA Real-Time Battle Damage Assessment ( also R/T BDA )
RTAIS Real-Time Artificial Intelligence System
RTC Real-Time Clock
RTCM Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services
RTD Real-Time Disk
RTDS Real Time Digital Simulator
RTEP Real Time Encoding Processing ( e.g., program )
RTF Radar Test Facility
RTI Range Time Intensity; Real Time Inspection ( system )
RTIC Real-Time Intelligence to the Cockpit; Real-Time Information in the Cockpit
RTIP Radar Technology Insertion Program; Real-Time Interactive Processor
RTK Real Time Kinematic ( data signals "on the fly" )
RTL Register Transfer Level ( computer code )
RTLOS Remote Track Launch On Search
RTLS Real-Time Location System
RTM Radar Terrain Mapping
RTNR Real-Time Network Routing
RTO Radio Telephone Operator
RTOC Real-Time information Out of the Cockpit
RTOF Retrievable Tethered Optical Fiber ( e.g., communications buoy )
RTOS Real-Time Operating System
RTP Real-time Transport Protocol
RTR Remote Transmitter/Receiver; Real-Time Retargeting; Real-Time Raster ( ELINT pulse analysis )
RTS Request to Send ( communications protocol signal ); Range Threat System; Radar Target Simulator; Rapid Targeting System
RTSC Read The Source Code
RTSDL Real Time Surveillance Data Link
RTSMP Real-Time Symmetric Multiprocessing
RTSW Real Time Solar Wind
RTT Radio TeleType; Reconfigurable Tactical Trainer
RTTS Royal ( Air Force ) Tactical Trunk System
RTU Real-Time UNIX; Radio Telephone Unit
RTV Rapid Terrain Visualization
RTW Road To War
RUMIC Remote Undersea Mine Countermeasure ( system )
RUS Robotics and Unmanned Sensors
RUWS Remote Unmanned Work System
RV Re-entry Vehicle
R&V Review and Validation
RVL Rolling Vertical Landing ( VSTOL )
RVTO Rolling Vertical Take Off ( VSTOL )
RW Radioactive Waste
RWATS Rotary-Wing Aircraft Test Squadron
RWBN Regional Wireless Broadcast Network ( e.g., public safety network )
RWE Radar Warning Equipment ( U.K. )
RWS Remote Weapon System
RWST Rotary Wing Structures Technology
RWV Rotary Wing Vehicle
RWY Runway
March 22, 2008 09:56 AM -0500