TDSRG
Introduction
UK Command and Control
TDL Operations Overview
Tactical Data Links
UK Tactical Data Systems
Allied Tactical Data Systems
CIS Operations Overview
CIS and Communications
Message Standards - Appendix A
Reference Publications - Appendix B
Glossary and Acronyms - Appendix C
UK Tactical Data Systems Reference Guide
Appendix C - Glossary and Acronyms

AAAW

Advanced Anti-Armour Weapon (BL755 replacement)

AAC

Army Air Corps

AADS

Amphibious Assault Direction System (USMC)

AAM

Air-to-Air Missile

AAR

Air-to-Air Refuelling

AAW

Anti-Air Warfare

AAWC

AAW Commander

ABCCC

Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Centre

ABG

USAF Air Base Group

ABIT

Airborne Information Transmission

ABL

Airborne Laser

ac

aircraft

ACA

Airspace Control Authority

ACC

Air (Aircraft) Control Centre

ACC

US Air Combat Command

ACCS

Air Command and Control System (NATO)

ACCS

Airborne Command and Control Squadron (US)

ACDS

Advanced Combat Direction System (USN)

ACE

Airborne Command Element.  The ACE is a small team of staff officers, experienced in operations planning and execution, which is given delegated authority from either the JTFC or JFACC to exercise the required level of C2 for specific operations, such as a short-term NEO or SF mission.  The composition of the ACE team is flexible and dependant upon mission requirements, but it is essential that the ACE team is involved in the planning stages of an operation in order that it is aware of the higher commander's intent, and the mission objectives and requirements.

ACE

Aviation Combat Element

Acknowledge

The act of notifying a unit transmitting a message that the message has been received as a valid message.

ACLS

USN Automated Carrier Landing System

ACM

Advanced Cruise Missile

ACO

Allied Command Operations

ACO

Airspace Control Order

ACP

Air Control Post

ACP

Airspace Control Plan

ACPA

Adaptive Controlled Phased Array

ACT

Allied Command Transformation

Active Sync

A procedure used by a MIDS / JTIDS terminal to effect and Maintain fine synchronisation with system time based on the RTT process.

AD

Air Defence

ADA

Air Defence Artillery

ADAD

Air Defence Alerting Device.  Designed to work in conjunction with the HVM missile system, ADAD is a passive IR search and tracking system that is effective against fast and low fixed-wing ac, and the latest generation of attack helicopters.

ADatP

Allied Data Publication

ADC

Air Defence Commander

ADCIS

Air Defence Command, Control and Information System

ADCP

Air Defence Communications Platform

Address

A number identifying an interface, processor or platform, used for the association of information and directives.

ADF

Air Defence Fighter

ADGE

Air Defence Ground Environment (term now encompassed by ASACS)

ADLBS

ASACS Data Link Buffer System

ADP

Automatic Data Processing

ADR+

Bowman Advanced Digital Radio

ADSI

Air Defence Systems Integrator

ADSIA

Allied Data Systems Interoperability Agency

ADT

Air Data Terminal

ADV

Air Defence Variant, Tornado F3

AED

Active Expendable Decoy

AEELS

Automatic ELINT Emitter Locator System (RC-135)

AEGIS

Airborne Early Warning Ground Integration Segment

AEO

Air Electronic Operator

AEW

Airborne Early Warning

AFAC

Airborne Forward Air Controller

AFAPD

Air Force Applications Program Development

AFATDS

US Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System

AFMC

US Air Force Materiel Command

AFNORTH

Allied Forces North Europe

AFRes

US Air Force Reserve

AFSOC

US Air Force Special Operations Command

AFSOUTH

Allied Forces South Europe

AFTN

Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network

AG

USAF Airlift Group

AGM

Air-to-Ground Missile

AGM

Air Surface Attack Missile (US)

AGM-62

Walleye II air-to-ground tactical glide bomb

AGM-65

Maverick air-to-ground multi-role tactical missile

AGM-69

SRAM air-to-ground strategic missile (carries either a nuclear or conventional warhead)

AGM-84A

Harpoon air-launched, inertially-guided sea-skimming anti-ship missile.  Carried by the Nimrod MR2 in its internal bomb bay, the missile is fast and highly resistant to CMs.  It can be launched at a long-range from its intended target, thereby minimising the danger of counter-detection and attack on the launch aircraft.

AGM-84E

SLAM, based on the Harpoon and with precision guidance for attacking ground targets

AGM-86

ALCM (carries either nuclear or conventional warhead)

AGM-88A

HARM advance air-to-ground anti-radar weapon

AGM-114

Hellfire helicopter-launched fire and forget missile for use against tanks

AGM-119B

Penguin helicopter-launched anti-ship missile

AGM-122

Sidearm short-range helicopter-launched ARM based on AIM-9 Sidewinder

AGM-123

Skipper II laser-guided rocket-propelled Mk 83 bomb made of OTS products

AGM-129

ACM for strategic attack (nuclear warhead)

AGM-130

Mk 84 precision-guided bomb with ‘strap-on’ rocket motor

AGM-137

TSSAM land-attack missile with stealth characteristics that can be launched either from ac or ground launchers

AGM-142

Have Nap / Pop Eye air-launched stand-off land-attack missile

AI

Air Intercept

AIC

Air Intercept Control

AIM

Air Intercept Missile

AIM-7

Sparrow MRAAM

AIM-9

Sidewinder SRAAM.  The Sidewinder is an IR AAM that can operate independently of the ac's radar.  Carried under the wings of the Tornado F3 (4), the Sidewinder can also be fitted to other ac, such as the Jaguar GR1A, Harrier GR7, Nimrod MR2 and Hawk T1A (2).  The missile has a dog-fighting capability and the active optical proximity fusing system provides an optimum warhead detonation in high-speed manoeuvring combat.

AIM-54

Phoenix LRAAM

AIM-92

Stinger SRAAM for helicopters

AIM-120

AMRAAM

AIM-132

ASRAAM

Aim (Military) 

A single unambiguous military purpose that must be established before a plan can be developed at any level of command for a military operation.

AIP

P-3C Orion ASW Improvement Programme

Air Surveillance 

The systematic area observation of air space by electronic, visual or other means, primarily for the purpose of identifying and determining the movements of aircraft and missiles, friendly and enemy, in the air space under observation.

AJ

Anti-Jam

ALARM

Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile for attacking ground-based AD and SAM radars, thereby providing support to attack ac while penetrating hostile AD.  A Tornado GR4 can carry up to seven ALARMs, giving it an onboard suppression capability against heavily defended targets.  A unique feature is the optional capability to loiter over a target area while continuing to search for targets.

ALCM

Air Launched Cruise Missile

ALES

Autonomous Link Eleven System

Alliance

The result of formal agreements (i.e. treaties) between two or more nations for broad, long term objectives which further the common interests of the members.

ALS

USAF Airlift Sqn

AM

Amplitude Modulation

AMC

US Air Mobility Command

AMDS

Advanced Mine Detector Sonar

AMRAAM

Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile

AN/

Joint service prefix for US electronic systems (e.g. AN/SPG-60)

Anchor Station

An anchor station is a static station in the UK, with direct access into DCSA services that provides facilities for terminating a DCISL link (see separate entry), whether by satellite, landline or HF radio circuits.

ANES

Alternate Network Entry Time Slots

ANG

US Air National Guard

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

AO

Areas of Operations.  An AO is a geographical area defined by a JTFC within his JOA in which a commander designated by him (usually a CC) is delegated authority to conduct operations.

AOC

Air Operations Centre

AOCC

Air Operations Coordination Centre

AOCC(L)

AOCC (Land)

AOCC(M)

AOCC (Maritime)

AOCP

Airborne Operational Computer Program (E-3 Sentry)

AOD

Air Operations Directive

AOI

Area of Operational Interest.  The area of concern to a commander relative to the objectives of current or planned operations, including his areas of influence, operations and / or responsibility, and areas adjacent thereto.

AOP

Area of Probability.  An area in which there is a 95 percent probability that a particular contact is located, or an area in which the presence of one or more contacts is suspected.

AOR

Area of Responsibility.  A geographic area assigned to each NATO strategic command and to each regional command of Strategic Command Europe.  In naval usage, a predefined area of enemy terrain for which supporting ships are responsible for covering by fire on known targets or targets of opportunity and by observation.

AOR

Auxiliary Oilier Replenishment

APC

Armoured Personnel Carrier

APLNR

Automatic Position Location, Navigation and Reporting Apportionment.  Apportionment is the determination and assignment of total expected effort by percentage and / or priority that should be devoted to the various air operations and / or geographic areas for a given period of time.  The apportionment decision for all forces at the theatre-level is the responsibility of the JTFC.

APR

AN/ Airborne Radar Receiving (Passive Detection) equipment

APR-39

Omni-directional RWR fitted to helicopters and fixed wing ac

AQS

AN/ Airborne Sonar Search equipment

AQS-13

Active dipping sonar used by SH-60F/R ASW helicopter

AQS-22

Airborne Low Frequency Sonar used by SH-60F/R ASW helicopter

ARBS

Angle Rate Bombing System

ARG

USAF Air Refuelling Group

ARG

USMC Amphibious Ready (Readiness) Group

ARM

Anti-Radiation Missile

ARS

ACC, RPC and SFC.  The ARS expands on the role of the CRC to encompass all air operations; in particular, it supports tactical picture compilation and weapons employment tasks at the execution level.

ARS

USAF Air Refuelling Sqn

AS

USAF Airlift Group

AS90

Replacing the Abbot and M109, AS90 is equipped with a 155mm gun which fires the NATO L15 unassisted projectile out to a range of 25kms.  Fitted with an autonomous navigation and gun laying system, AS90 can work independently of external sighting references.  It has a burst fire capability of three rounds in 10 seconds.

ASAC

Airborne Surveillance and Area Control

ASaCS

Air Surveillance and Control System

ASAS

US Army All-Source Analysis System

ASCL

Advanced Sonobuoy Communication Link

ASE

AEGIS Site Emulator

ASC

Airspace Control

ASCM

Air-to-Surface Cruise Missile

ASM

Air-to-Surface Missile

ASM

Airspace Management

ASMA

Air Staff Management Aid

ASMP

Aerospatiale Nuclear Tipped Missile

ASO

Air Support Organisation / Operations.  The ASO provides a C2 and coordinating function between the AOCC(L/M) and the TACCS for the direct air support of surface forces.  The ASO consists of the Air Liaison Officers at Divisional (DALO) and Brigade (BALO) levels.

ASOC

Air Support Operations Centre

ASRAAM

Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile.  Highly manoeuvrable air combat missile capable of engaging modern agile aircraft.  It has an advanced high-sensitivity IR seeker which can lock on to target before or after launch, giving the pilot a fire-and-forget capability.  It is also highly resistant to ECM.  ASRAAM will be carried by the Harrier GR7 and Eurofighter.

ASROC

Anti-Submarine Rocket

Association

The automatic or manual establishment of a relationship between two or more tracks when the information on them is deemed to pertain to the same contact.

ASTEC

Advanced Submarine Tactical ESM Combat System

Aster

Fast (Mach 4) and agile (62 g) missile constituent of the PAAMS, comprising the longer-range (80-km) Aster-30 and shorter-range Aster-15 missiles.  The Aster missile is optimised for operations in regions around the shore and carries an inertial computer and data link, an active J-band Doppler radar seeker and 15 kg warhead.

ASTOR

Airborne Stand-Off Radar.  UK mini-JSTARS platform.

ASUW

Anti-Surface Warfare

ASUWC

ASUW Commander

ASUWO

ASUW Officer

ASW

Anti-Submarine Warfare

ASWC

ASW Commander

Asynchronous

Relating to two or more processes whose timing is independent of one another.

AT

Air Transport

ATA

Airborne Early Warning Target Area

ATacCS

Army Tactical Computer System

ATARS

Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATC

US Air Training Command

ATD

Advanced Technology Demonstration

ATDL-1

Army Tactical Data Link – 1

ATDS

Airborne Tactical Data System

ATF

Amphibious Task Force

ATHS

Automatic Target Handoff System

ATKHB

US Army Attack Helicopter Battalion

ATM

Air Task Message

ATM

Asynchronous Transfer Mode

ATO

Air Tasking Order

Attenuation

Signal loss

AUTOCAT

Automatic Communications Relay

AW

Amphibious Warfare

AW

USAF Airlift Wing

AWACS

Airborne Warning and Control System

AWCIES

Air Command and Control System-Wide Exchange Standard

AWE

Advanced Warfighting Experiment

BALO

Brigade Air Liaison Officer

Bandwidth

A range of radio frequency occupied by a carrier wave that transports data.  The amount of data which a particular physical connection can carry, usually given in kilo or mega bits per second (bps).

BATCO

British Army Tactical Code

Battlespace

All aspects of air, surface, subsurface, land, space and the EMS that encompass the area of operations.

BCD

Battlefield Coordination Detachment

BCE

Battlefield Coordination Element

BCMS

Bowman Communications Management System

BCP

Battery Command Post

BDA

Battle Damage Assessment

Bde

Brigade.  Subordinate to a Div, a Bde is a collection of different Regiments and supporting units that have been grouped together for a specific purpose.  A fighting Bde will traditionally contain infantry, armour and artillery Regiments, together with many supporting elements (such as signals and engineers).  The composition of each Bde will differ depending on its responsibility, but could often contain 5,000 soldiers.

BG

Battle Group.  A tactical grouping, usually with armoured and infantry elements, under the command of the HQ of an armoured regiment or infantry battalion.

BGM

Multiple Surface Attack Missile (US)

BGM-71

TOW anti-tank missile that can be launched from helicopters and various ground mountings.

BGM-109

Tomahawk ship- and submarine-launched long-range cruise missile, with TASM and TLAM variants (the GLCM variant was discarded under the INF Treaty).

BIS

Broadcast Intelligence System

BISA

Battlefield Information System Applications

Bit

A binary digit.  In the binary system of numbering, each digit can have only one of two values (0 or 1).

BKVMS

Bowman Key Variable Management System

BL755

600lb CBU with 147 small bomblets (0.15m long).  Carried by offensive support and attack aircraft, BL755 provides a high kill probability against a range of hard and soft targets.

BLD-1

Submarine mast mounted radio direction finder

BLIS

Bowman Logistics Information System

BLOS

Beyond Line-Of-Sight

BLQ

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Countermeasures Multiple or Special Purpose equipment.

BLQ-Series

Submarine systems that perform a variety of countermeasures against hostile sonars.

BLR

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Countermeasures Receiving (Passive Detection) equipment.

BLR-Series

Submarine mast mounted RWR that provides warning of hostile radar emissions from ac, surface ships or surfaced submarines.

BLU

Bomb Live Unit

BM

Cormorant Bearer Module

BMDL

Broadcast Moving target indicator Data Link

BMDO

Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation

BMDT

Bowman Management Data Terminal

BMM

Battle Management Module

BMS

Battle Management System

BMW

USAF Bombardment Wing

Bn

Battalion

BOM

Bit Orientated Message.  Messages that use an ordering of bits to express the context information.  Positionally located bit control fields are used to frame information and supervise its interchange.

BPDMS

Basic Point Defence Missile System

bps

bits per second

BPS

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Radar Search equipment

BPS-15

Submarine search and navigation radar

BPS-16

Advanced multi-frequency submarine search and navigation radar

BQG

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Sonar Fire Control equipment

BQQ

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Sonar Multiple or Special Purpose equipment

BQR

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Sonar Receiving (Passive Detection) equipment

BQS

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Sonar Search equipment

Brain-to –Brain

The incorporation of human factors issues into information system design such that data is converted into information and then into knowledge.  It recognises that the availability of information in a system, or its display at a terminal, does not ensure that it will be read by the operator or commander who is required to act on it, or that they will derive the understanding that the sender intended.

BRD

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Radio Direction Finder or Reconnaissance equipment

BRD-7

Submarine mast mounted radio DF system

BRH

Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter

Brimstone

Anti-armour missile that will replace BL755.  A development of the well proven Hellfire system, Brimstone is autonomous, with a stand-off capability that will minimise the risk to the attacking ac.

Broadband

The use of a modulated carrier signal to carry information over a circuit.  Several different channels can be carried at the same time and each gets only a share of the total bandwidth.  Often used to carry voice, data and video over the same connection.

Broadcast

The dissemination of data to all stations on a network

BSY

AN/ Underwater (Submarine) Special Multifunction equipment

BSY-1

SUBACS Combat System advanced sonar and fire control system for submarines

BSY-2

SUBACS Combat System advanced sonar and fire control system for attack submarines

BUDS

Bowman User Data Service

BUU

Basic User Unit

BVR

Beyond Visual Range

BVRAAM

Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

C&M

Care and Maintenance.  Systems on C&M are not usually available for routine training, but can be run up for live operations and may sometimes be available on a pre-planned basis for major exercises.

C2 or C2

Command and Control (pronounced ‘c-squared’).  The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned forces in the accomplishment of his mission.  Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces and operations in the accomplishment of the mission.

C2 IU

C2 IU.  Any JU, PU or RU, except a non-C2 JU

C2 JU

C2 MIDS / JTIDS Unit

C2P

C2 Processor, USN surface unit host TDL processor

C2W

Command and Control Warfare

C3

Command, Control and Communications

C4I

Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence.

CA

Contention Access.  A transmit access mode in which a given time slot block is assigned to more than one JU.  Each JU will transmit at a specified rate in the time slot block by selecting time slots for transmission pseudo-randomly.

CAA

(UK) Civil Aviation Authority

CAC2S

USMC Common Aviation C2 System

CAD

Close Air Defence

CADSTAR

Computer Aided Data Storage and Retrieval

CAG

Carrier Air Group (USN)

Campaign

A sequence of planned, resourced and executed military operations designed to achieve a strategic objective within a given time and manoeuvre area, usually involving the synchronisation of maritime, land and air forces.  Campaigns may be sequential or cumulative.  Campaign planning is the responsibility of the operational commander.

CANTCO

Cannot Comply.  Originator of this response cannot comply with order.  This is a manually generated response by an operator who has received the order and has determined that the order cannot / will not be carried out.

CANTPRO

Cannot Process.  Originator of this response cannot process the order.  This is an automatic computer generated response and the operator need not be aware that any order has been received or that the CANTPRO response has been generated.  Implies order could be considered if passed by other means; e.g. voice.

CAOC

Combined Air Operations Centre

CAP

Combat Air Patrol

CART

CSG Analyst Tool

CAS

Chief of the Air Staff

CAS

Close Air Support

CASEVAC

Casualty Evacuation

CASOM

Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Cruise Missiles

Category

The environment in which the associated track is operating; i.e. air, surface, subsurface, land, or space (has same meaning as Environment).

CATF

Commander Amphibious Task Force

CBR

Chemical, Biological and Radiological

CBU

Cluster Bomb Unit

CBU-52

790 lb fragmentation CBU

CBU-58

810 lb fragmentation / incendiary CBU

CBU-71

As CBU-58, but bomblets explode at random times

CBU-87

960 lb combined effects CBU

CBU-89

700 lb anti-personnel / anti-armour CBU

CBU-97

920 lb anti-armour CBU

CC

Component Commander (see also JFCC)

CCB

Configuration Control Board

CCIS

Command Control and Information System

CCITT

Consultative Committee of the International Telephone and Telegraph which sets telecommunications standards.

CCSK

Cyclic Code Shift Keying

CCT

Current Commitment Team.  CCTs in the MOD monitor potential crises with other government departments, allies and organisations, such as NATO, WEU and UN.  They issue initial strategic planning guidance to the appropriate CPTs in the PJHQ as each situation requires.

CCU

Certificate of Clearance for Use

CDH

CTIC DS-101 Hybrid cryptographic chip that is compatible with KGV-8 and is used by MIDS LVT and FDL.

CDL

Common Data Link

CDS

Chief of the Defence Staff

CE

Command Element

CE

Cormorant Core Element

CEC

Cooperative Engagement Capability

CEM

Combined Effects Munitions

CESG

Communications Electronic Security Group

CG

Guided Missile Cruiser

CGN

Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear-Powered)

CGS

Chief of the General Staff

CGS

Common Ground Station (JSTARS / SCDL)

CHBDL

Common High Bandwidth Data Link

CHC

MID / JTIDS Current Hop Count

CHOtS

Corporate Head Office Technology System

CINC

Commander-in-Chief