Operational Brevity words, BFM terminology, and Military Aviation Acronyms

Glossary terms starting with "S"



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SA
Situation Awareness/Surface Attack.
SAD
Search and Destroy
SAFE
Selected Area For Evasion.
SAG
Surface action group.
SAI
Standby Attitude Indicator
SAM
Surface-to-Air Missile.
Sam (Direction)
Visual acquisition of a SAM or SAM launch. Should include position.
Sandwich
A situation where an aircraft/element finds themselves between opposing aircraft/elements.
Sanitize
Area clear of threats.
SAR
Search and Rescue
Saunter
Fly at best endurance. Loiter.
SCA
Defensive counter air.
Scissors
A maneuver in which a series of hard turn reversals are executed in an attempt to achieve the offensive after an overshoot by an attacker.
SCP
Stores Control Panel
Scramble
Takeoff as quickly as possible.
Scramble Order
Command authorization for tactical flight establishing an immediate departure time.
SEAD
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.
Search Left / Right / High / Low
Search area indicated as briefed and report all contacts.
SEAWARS
Seawater Activated Release System
SEC
Secondary Engine Control
SEL
Select
Semiactive
A system wherein the receiver uses radiations or reflections from the target which has been illuminated by an outside source.
Separate
Leave the fight/engagement due to loss of advantage, change of odds or situation. Similar to bugout, except bugout is usually permanent separation. May or may not reenter.
Separation
Distance between an attacker and defender; can be lateral, longitudinal, or vertical.
Sequential Attack
Swapping of roles of engaged and supportive fighters as one or the other comes into a more favorable position to achieve a kill.
SFC
Specific Fuel Consumption
SFO
Simulated Flameout Landing
Shack
A pilot slang to a good ground target hit.
Shackle
One weave; a single crossing of flight paths; maneuver to adjust/ regain formation parameters.
Shadow
Follow indicated target.
Shift
Directive to illuminate second target with laser designator.
Shiny Side
The top of an aircraft. "Try to land with the shiny side up and the greasy side down".
Shooter
Aircraft designated to employ ordnance.
SHORAD
Short Range Air Defense.
Shotgun
Launch of antiradiation (SHRIKE) missile by Wild Weasel.
Shrike
AGM-45 antiradiation missile.
Sick
Described equipment is degraded.
SIF
Selective Identification Feature
SIF
Selective Identification Feature.
Sight Picture
Term used to describe the position of the pipper at release.
Signal Delta
Landing area is foul (not clear); commence standard holding pattern. (NAVY air operations in control of airborne jets)
Signal Buster
Use maximum speed (burner for those so equipped). (NAVY air operations in control of airborne jets)
Signal Charlie
Landing area is clear; commence approach. (NAVY air operations in control of airborne jets)
Silent
"GO SILENT" directive to initiate briefed EMCON procedures.
Skip It
Veto of fighter commit call; used by radar facility when higher priority target is present, usually followed with further directions.
SL
Sea Level
SLCM
Sea Launched Cruise Missile.
SLEP
Service Life Extension Program
Slice
An informative call for fighter to execute a nose-low heading reversal to reposition as stated . Often used to obtain a change in flight path direction while maximizing radial G and sustaining airspeed or accelerating.
Slice/Sliceback
Maximum performance, nose-low turn.Usually performed at or near maneuver speed (corner velocity) with nose lowered sufficiently to maintain airspeed. This maneuver falls between a horizontal turn and a Split-S.
Slice/Sliceback (Left/Right)
Directive to perform a high-G descending turn in the stated direction; usually 180 deg. turn.
SLOC
Sea lines of Communication.
Slow
Target with ground speed of less than 300 kts.
SMS
Stores Management System
Snap ( )
An immediate vector (bearing and range) to the group described.
Snap Shot
High angle off Attack or passing gun shot. Attacker's turn rate does not equal defender's LOS rate, whether intentional or unintentional.
Snap Vector
A quick vector to the requested position.
SNSR
Sensor
SOC
Sector Operations Center.
Sorted
Criteria have been met which ensure individual flight members have separate contacts; criteria can be met visually, electronically (radar) or both. Final radar lock taken.
Sorting
Using any available information such as radar presentation, GCI information, etc., to determine which bandit to attack.
Sparkle
Target marking by a gunship or FAC using incendiary rounds or infrared pointer.
SPD BRK
Speedbrake
Specific Energy
Total mechanical energy per pound. Can be loosely described as an airplane's total energy resulting from airspeed and altitude.
Specific Excess Power
(PS) A measure of an airplane's ability to gain or lose energy in terms of altitude, airspeed, or combination there of also called energy rate and expressed in feet per second or knots per second.
Spike
RWR indication of AT threat is displayed. Add clock position, and type threat (radar/heat) if able.
Spitter (Direction)
An aircraft that has departed from the engagement.
SPL
Sound Pressure Level
Splash
Missile time of flight is expired or missile destroyed; target or bomb impact.
Split
Request to engage a threat; visual may not be maintained, requires flight lead acknowledgement (air-to-air). Also, directive to begin briefed maneuver/attack.
Split-Plane Maneuvering
Aircraft or elements maneuvering in relation to one another, but in different planes and/or altitudes.
SPO
System Program Office
Spoofing
Informative that voice deception is being employed.
Spot
Informative that laser target designation is being received.
SQ
Squelch or Square
Squawk ( )
Operate IFF as indicated or IFF is operating as indicated.
SSVR
Solid State Video Recorder
STA
Station
Stack
Two or more groups/contacts/formations with a high/low altitude separation in relation to each other.
STAPAC
Stabilization Package
Status
Request for an individual's tactical situation; response is normally "offensive," "defensive," or "neutral" with number of targets. May be suffixed by position and heading.
STBY
Standby
STD
Standard
Stern
Request for, or directive to, intercept using stern geometry.
Stern Only
Intercept will be completed using stern geometry. A conversion to a "CUTOFF" will not be attempted.
Stinger
Formation of two or more aircraft with a single in trail.
STOP
Strategic Orbit Point.
Stranger
Unidentified traffic that is not a participant in the mission.
Strangle ( )
Turn off equipment indicated.
Stratfor
SAC advisors to Tactical Air Forces (formerly SAC ADVON).
Strike
An attack which is intended to inflict damage, seize, or destroy an objective (nuclear operations in NATO).
Strobe
AI radar indications of noise radar jamming.
Sunrise
Informative call that command and control functions are available from GCI/AWACS (opposite of MIDNIGHT).
Supporting
The act of assisting the engaged fighter in killing the bandit while maintaining overall battle situation awareness.
Suppressor
Aircraft designated to employ ordnance against defenses.
SUU
Suspension Utility Unit
SV
Secure Voice
SW
Switch
Swap Paint
Euphemism for a mid-air collision
Switch/Switched
Indicates an attacker is changing from one aircraft to another.
SYM
Symmetrical
SYS
System