US military programs: Acronyms

Stargazer

Stargazer

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As you all know, it is common practice (and notably in the US military) to designate procurement programs by an acronym (a combination of each word's initial letter). Usually they are just that, sometimes they are created to sound like a proper word so people can memorize them (presumably the deciders).

I'm creating this topic to inventory, not only these acronyms, but also the various submissions for each of them, when they are known.

There will be a post for each letter of the alphabet, so that it can be updated regularly. Please do not post in this topic but send a PM for any additions/corrections. Thanks!
 
A

AABNCP (Advanced Airborne National Command Postn a.k.a. "Nightwatch")
  • Boeing 747-200 > E-4A > E-4B
AAFSS (Advanced Aerial Fire Support System)
  • Bell D261
  • Bell D262
  • Boeing Vertol BV-147
  • Canadair CL-84A
  • Convair Model 49
  • Curtiss-Wright Model 90
  • Aerospatiale SA-330
  • Lockheed CL-840 (Model 187) > YAH-56A Cheyenne
AAH (Advanced Attack Helicopter)
  • Bell Model 409
  • Boeing Vertol BV-235
  • Hughes Model 77 > YAH-64A > Mc Donnell Douglas AH-64A Apache
  • Lockheed CL-1700
  • Sikorsky S-71
AARV (Advanced Aerial Reconnaissance Vehicle)
  • Sikorsky S-68
AAS (Armed Aerial Scout) (formerly ASH)
  • Boeing
  • Eurocopter
  • Bell
  • Sikorsky S-97 Raider
AAW (Active Aeroelastic Wing)
  • AFRL/NASA > X-53A
ABC (Advancing Blade Concept)
  • Sikorsky S-69 > XH-59A
ABL (Air Borne Laser)
  • Boeing 747-4G4F > (YFC-36A) = YAL-1A
ACAP (Advanced Composite Airframe Program)
  • Bell D292
  • Sikorsky S-75
ACCA (Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft)
  • Lockheed Martin > X-55A
ACLS (Air Cushion Landing System)
  • De Havilland Canada DHC-5 > XC-8A
ADCA

AFTI (Advanced Fighter Technology Integration)
  • Boeing F-111 MAWS
  • Fairchild
  • General Dynamics F-16AFTI
  • Grumman HiMAT
  • Lockheed
  • McDonnell Douglas F-15SMTD
  • McDonnell Douglas Model/M.B.B. 265
  • Rockwell HiMAT
  • Ling-Temco-Vought
A/F-X (Attack/Fighter, Experimental) (formerly AX)
  • Boeing/Lockheed/General Dynamics AFX-653
  • Grumman F-14 variant
  • McDonnell Douglas/Vought
AHIP (Army Helicopter Improvement Program)
  • Bell 406CS Aeroscout > OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
  • McDonnell Douglas 500
AJACS (Advanced Joint Air Combat System)
  • Boeing
  • Lockheed Martin 'Speed Agile'
  • Northrop Grumman
AMC-X
  • Boeing PETA
  • Lockheed Martin MEDUSA (Multi-Role Delivery & Utility Support Aircraft) > 'Speed Agile'
AMPSS (Advanced Manned Precision Strike System)
  • Boeing
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • North American Rockwell
AMR (Advanced Maneuvering Re-entry)
  • Martin Marietta
AMSA (Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft)
  • Boeing B-2707-200
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • Lockheed
  • North American Rockwell D436 > D458 > D481 > B-1A (Excalibur)
AMST (Advanced Medium STOL Transport)
  • Bell
  • Boeing 953 > YC-14A
  • McDonnell Douglas D-915? > YC-15A
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • Lockheed/North American Rockwell LG-203X
ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter)
  • Bell Model 445 > ARH-70 Arapaho
ARTI

ASH (Armed Scout Helicopter) (see AAS)

ASSET (Aerothermoelastic Structural Systems Environmental Tests)
  • Martin Marietta
AST

ATB (Advanced Tactical Bomber)
  • Lockheed 'Senior Peg' > Lockheed/Rockwell
  • Northrop N-14 'Senior Ice' > Northrop/Boeing/LTV B-2A Spirit
ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter)
  • Lockheed/Boeing > YF-22A Rapier > F-22A Raptor
  • Northrop/McDonnell Douglas > YF-23A Black Widow
ATRH (Advanced Tandem Rotor Helicopter)
  • Boeing
ATT (Advanced Theater Transport)
  • McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) D3132-187 "Super Frog"
  • Lockheed Martin
AVS (Advanced Vertical Strike-Fighter)
  • Boeing-EWR 360
  • Fairchild-Republic
  • EWR/Fairchild-Republic > A-400
AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)
  • Boeing 707-320B > EC-137D = E-3A Sentry
  • Boeing 747
  • Douglas DC-8-62/-63
  • Lockheed L-300
A-X (Attack Experimental)
  • Boeing Vertol
  • Cessna
  • Fairchild-Hiller FH-129 > Fairchild-Republic YA-10A Thunderbolt II
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • Grumman
  • Lockheed L-1400
  • McDonnell
  • Northrop "Turbo-Pusher"-like type
  • Northrop > YA-9A
  • Ling-Temco-Vought V-502
AX (Attack Experimental) (replaced by A/F-X)
  • General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas/Northrop
  • Grumman/Lockheed/Boeing
  • Rockwell/Lockheed
 
B

BAMS (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance)
  • Northrop Grumman Global Hawk
 
C

CALF (Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter)
  • Boeing "X-32A"
  • Lockheed "X-32B"
  • McDonnell Douglas "X-32C"
CAP (Composite Aircraft Program)
  • Bell D266 > Model 266
CARA (Combat Aircrew Rescue Aircraft) (led to TRRA)
  • Bell D300 > Model 300
CAS/BAI (Close Air Support/Battlefield Air Interdiction)
  • General Dynamics A-16
  • Ling-Temco-Vought YA-7F
CAV (Common Aero Vehicle = X-41)
  • no contractor selected
CESTOL (Cruise-Efficient STOL)
  • Boeing "AB-32"
  • Cal Poly/Georgia Tech
  • NASA
CRW (Canard Rotor Wing)
  • Bell
  • Boeing Helicopter > X-50A Dragonfly
  • McDonnell Douglas
CSA (Common Support Aircraft)
  • Lockheed
  • Northrop Grumman Greyhound 21
CSAR-X (Combat Search and Rescue, Experimental)
  • Boeing Helicopter HH-47
  • Groen/DARPA Heliplane
  • Lockheed/EH Industries US101 Merlin
CSIRS (Covert Survivable In-weather Recon Strike)
  • Lockheed
CVLA (Common Vertical Lift Aircraft)

C-X (Cargo Experimental)
  • Boeing
  • Lockheed
  • McDonnell Douglas > C-17A Globemaster III
CVLSP (Common Vertical Lift Support Platform)

CX-HLS (Cargo Experimental, Heavy Logistic Support)
  • Boeing
  • Burnelli
  • Douglas D-890, -895, -900, -906 > D-916 > D-920
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • Lockheed LGA-144 > L-500 > C-5A Galaxy
  • Martin Marietta
 
D

DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter)
  • Gyrodyne QH-50A
DDV (Discretionary Descent Vehicle)
  • Bensen Gyroglider > X-25A
 
E

ERSA (Extended Range Strike Aircraft)

E-X (Early warning, Experimental)
  • Boeing
 
F

FAAV (Future Attack Air Vehicle)
  • Bell/Boeing "Mighty Mouse"
  • Grumman G-755
F/A-XX (Fighter/Attack, Experimental)
  • Boeing
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Northrop Grumman
FSA (Future Strike Aircraft)
  • Boeing
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Northrop Grumman
FATE (Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements)
  • USAFRL, no contractor selected > X-39
FVX

F-X (Fighter, Experimental)
  • Boeing
  • Fairchild-Hiller
  • General Dynamics (Convair)
  • Grumman G-399, etc.
  • Lockheed CL-979 > CL-1000
  • McDonnell Douglas Model 199B > F-15 Eagle
  • North American Rockwell NR-335
  • Vought V-483
F-XX (Fighter, Experimental) (replaced by LWF)
  • Boeing/Dassault Mirage F1 (J79)
  • Boeing
  • General Dynamics FX-404
  • Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer > X-27A
  • Northrop P-530-3 Cobra > Northrop P-530-4 > Northrop P-610
  • Vought Super V-1000
  • Vought V-1100
 
G

GEBO (GEneralized BOmber)
  • Convair Model 4 > B-58 Hustler
  • Douglas Model 1186A [MX-2091]
  • Douglas Model 1209?
  • Martin [MX-2092]
GEBO II (GEneralized BOmber II)
  • Convair
GPX (Global Patrol, Experimental, a.k.a. 'Senior Pine')
  • Boeing OSSA
 
H

HALE-D (high Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator)
  • Lockheed Martin
HELMS (Helicopter Multifunction System)
  • Bell Model 629
HGV (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle, maybe a.k.a. 'Have Space')
  • Lockheed AXE
HLH (Heavy Lift Helicopter)
  • Boeing Vertol BV-297?
  • Boeing Vertol BV-301 > XCH-62A
  • Boeing Vertol BV-347
  • Ling-Temco-Vought
HPH (High Performance Helicopter)
  • Bell Model 533
HSH (High Speed Helicopter)
  • Ling-Temco-Vought
HSX (Helicopter, Sea, Experimental)

HTH (Heavy Transport Helicopter)
  • Eurocopter
  • Sikorsky
HX (Helicopter, Experimental)

HXM (Helicopter, Experimental, Marines)
  • Bell D315A/B > D323 > D327
 
I

IAAFSS (Interim Advanced Aerial Fire Support System)
  • Kaman K-20 > UH-2A Tomahawk
IFA (International Fighter Aircraft)
  • McDonnell Douglas F-4F
  • Northrop > F-5E/F Tiger II
  • Vought
 
J

JAST (Joint Affordable Strike Technology) (became JSF)
  • Boeing
  • Lockheed
  • McDonnell Douglas
  • Northrop
JCA (Joint Cargo Aircraft)
  • Lockheed Martin/Alenia C-27J
  • CASA C-295
JHL (Joint Heavy Lift)
  • Bell "V-44" QTR
  • Boeing
  • Sikorsky X2C
  • Sikorsky X2HSL
JPATS (Joint Primary Air Training System)
  • Aerospatiale Omega
  • Bede BD-10J
  • Beech/Pilatus PD-373 PC-9 Mk. II > Beech (later Raytheon) Model 3000 T-6A Texan II
  • Cessna Model 526 CitationJet Trainer
  • FFA AS-202 Bravo
  • Grumman/Agusta S.211A
  • Hamilton T2 Texan
  • IAR 99 Soim
  • Lockheed/Aermacchi MB.339A T-Bird II
  • Northrop/Embraer EMB-312H Super Tucano
  • Promavia JetSqualus
  • Rockwell/DASA Ranger 2000
  • Saab 2060
  • Teledyne Ryan Model 422
  • Teledyne Ryan T-46A spin-off
  • Valmet L-90 Redigo
  • Vought/FMA Pampa 2000
JRA (Joint Replacement Aircraft)

JSF (Joint Strike Fighter)
  • Boeing > X-32A/B/C
  • Lockheed Martin > X-35A/B/C > F-35A/B/C
Joint-STARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System)
  • Grumman E-8A > Northrop Grumman E-8C
JVHL (Joint Heavy Vertical Lift)
  • Boeing PETA
JVX (Joint-service VTOL Experimental)
  • Bell/Boeing (Bell Model 901-X) > YV-22A Osprey> MV-22B Osprey
 
K

KC-X (Tanker, Experimental)
  • US Aerospace/Antonov An-112 KC
  • US Aerospace/Antonov An-122 KC
  • US Aerospace/Antonov An-124 KC
  • Boeing KC-767
  • Boeing KC-777
  • Boeing NewGen Tanker > KC-46A
  • Northrop Grumman/EADS KC-30 (A330MMRT) > KC-45A (later cancelled)
 
L

LA/ASF (Light Attack/Air Superiority Fighter)
  • McDonnell Model 199
LAMP (Low Altitude Manned Penetrator)

LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System)
  • Bell > Bell Model 608 LASH (maybe)
  • Kaman K-888
LAMPS II (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System II)
  • Bell Model 212
  • Boeing Vertol/Bölkow Bo-105
  • Kaman HH-2D
  • Sikorsky/Westland WG.13 SeaLynx
LAMPS III (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System III)
  • Bell D318
  • Boeing Vertol BV-237
  • Hughes Model 1000?
  • Kaman K-820 SeaLite
  • Sikorsky S-70B > SH-60B Seahawk
LARA (Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft)
  • Beechcraft PD-183
  • Douglas D-855
  • General Dynamics (Convair) Model 48 Charger
  • Goodyear GA-39
  • Grumman G-134R
  • Helio Model 1320
  • Lockheed CL-760
  • Martin
  • North American NA-300 > YOV-10A > OV-10A Bronco
LASH (Light Anti-Submarine Helicopter)
  • Bell Model 608
LHX (Light Helicopter Experimental)
  • Bell D329 BAT
  • Bell SCAT
  • Bell/McDonnell Douglas
  • Boeing Vertol
  • Boeing/Sikorsky > YRAH-66A Comanche
  • Hughes (later McDonnell) NOTAR
  • Sikorsky ABC
LIT (Light Intratheater Transport)
  • Boeing Vertol
  • Lockheed
LLRV (Lunar Landing Research Vehicle)
  • Bell Aerosystems 7161
LLTV (Lunar Landing Training Vehicle)
  • Bell Aerosystems 7260
LRAACA (Long Range Air ASW-Capable Aircraft)
  • Boeing 757-200
  • Gulfstream Aerospace G-III
  • Lockheed > P-7A (cancelled)
  • McDonnell Douglas "P-9A"
LRHLAC (Long Range Heavy Lift AirCraft)

LRS (Long Range Strike)

LTH (Light Tactical Helicopter) (replaced by AAS)
  • Sikorsky S-97
LOH (Light Observation Helicopter)
  • Bell D250 > Bell 206 = YHO-4 = YOH-4A
  • Hiller 1100 > Fairchild-Hiller FH-1100 = YHO-5 = YOH-5A
  • Hughes 369 > Hughes 369A = YHO-6 = YOH-6A > OH-6A Cayuse
LWF (Light Weight Fighter)
  • Boeing 908-618,-909
  • General Dynamics (Forth Worth) Models 785, 786
  • General Dynamics (Forth Worth) Model 401F > YF-16A > F-16A Fighting Falcon
  • General Dynamics (San Diego) Model 18
  • Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer
  • Northrop P-600
  • Northrop P-610 > YF-17A Cobra
  • Vought V-1100
 
M

MANTA (Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft)
  • Lockheed Martin > X-44A
MATV (Multi-Axis Thrust-Vectoring)
MC2A
MMCH
MMVX
MPSNA (Multiple-Purpose Subsonic Naval Aircraft)
MQ-X
MRF
MRTT
MSIP
MUH

MUTT (Multi-Use Technology Testbed)
  • Lockheed Martin > X-56A
 
N

N+3

NASP (National Aero Space Plane = X-30)
  • DuPont
  • McDonnell Douglas
  • Rockwell International
NATF/A
NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post)
NGB
NGR
NGT
NLA
NSA (New Strategic Aircraft)
NTH
N-UCAS
 
P

PILOT (Piloted Low-speed Tests)
  • Martin Marietta > SV-5P
PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry)
  • Martin Marietta > SV-5D
 
S

SAVER (Stowable Aircrew Vehicle Escape Rotorseat)
  • Kaman
SCAT
SCAT
SCS
SLAB (Subsonic Low Altitude Bomber)
SLOMAR

SMV (Space Maneuvering Vehicle)
  • Boeing > X-40A
SOA
SOFTA
SOTAS
SRAM
SSTO
STAC

START (Spacecraft Technology and Advanced Re-entry Tests)
  • Martin Marietta
STAT
SUESTOL
SUPT-H
 
T

TAV
TFARA
TFX
TRRA
TSA
TTTS (Tanker Transport Training System)
TTR
TX
Type A
Type B
Type C
 
U

UCAR
UCAV
UCAV-D
UCAV-N
ULOR
ULV
UMFO MPATS
UTTAS
UTV
 
V

VA(L)
VAX
VFA
VFAX
VFX
VF-XX
VHLH
VISTA (Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft)
VLAR
VSTT
VSX
VTUAV
VTX
VTX-TS
VXX
 
X

X-CRV (Experimental Crew Return Vehicle)
  • Scaled Composites Model 276 > X-38A
 

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