Choosers of the Slain

GLOSSARY

AEGIS A mating of a sophisticated cybernetic battle-management system with a series of advanced planar-array radars, giving a surface warship a sea- and air-control capacity out to a 250-mile radius.

The augmented SPY-2A variant deployed aboard the Cunningham-class DDG combines increased range and fire-control capacity with improved definition and simplicity of operation.

AEW (AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING) The doctrine of mounting a high-powered search radar aboard an aircraft to enhance its coverage area. The Boeing AWACS is the premier example of this technology.

In Choosers of the Slain, the Argentine Air Force utilizes the Israeli Elta Phalcon phased-array radar mounted aboard a 737–400 airframe, while the Cunningham's Sea Comanche helicopters can mount a podded version of the British-built Clear Water III radar.

ASW (ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE) The delicate and deadly art of submarine hunting.

ATLANTIQUE ANG A twin-turboprop maritime-patrol aircraft produced by Dessault-Breguet of France. Equipped with a wide variety of sophisticated weapons and sensorsystems, it is capable of flying both ASW and surface strike missions.

BLACK HOLE SYSTEM A combination of anti-infrared technologies used to reduce the heat signature of a military vehicle.

Aboard the Cunningham-class destroyer, blowers mix cooler outside air with the ship's engine-exhaust gases before they are vented outboard, reducing the thermal plume from the turbines. Likewise, seawater is circulated through cooling jackets surrounding the ship's funnels to prevent "hot spotting," which could provide a target for home-on-heat guided munitions.

BAS British Antarctic Survey.

COLD FIRE LAUNCHING SYSTEM A vertical-launch technology that utilizes a charge of inert gas to project a missile out of its launch cell for a midair ignition. Utilized aboard the Cunningham-class DDG to protect the RAM decking from exhaust-flame damage.

ECM (ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES) Jamming and decoy systems used to confuse and degrade search sensors and weapon-guidance systems.

ELINT (ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE) The collection of battlefield intelligence (target location, system type, nationality, force strength, etc.) via the analysis of emissions produced by radars and other electronic systems.

EMCON (EMISSION CONTROL) An operational state in which a naval vessel or aircraft maintains complete radio and radar silence, rendering them undetectable to signal intelligence systems.

ESSM (ENHANCED SEA SPARROW MISSILE) Uprated follow-on to the current NATO Sea Sparrow system. A medium-range, surface-to-air system using radar guidance, it can be fired either from its own dedicated launcher or from a quad-pack fitted into a cell of a Mark 41 or 42 VLS array.

EXOCET Produced by France, it is one of the first and most successful of the antiship missile designs. It is radar guided, and powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor; air-, surface-, and submarine-launched variants have been produced. The AM-44 model mentioned in the novel is a projected version with an extended range and a multimode seeker head.

FENESTRON Literally, "fan in tail," an advanced helicopter technology that replaces the conventional tail rotor with a ducted fan inset into the tail fin, reducing noise, vibration, and radar cross-section.

LORAIN Next-generation naval surface-to-air missile. A long-range, hypersonic, area defense weapon, utilizing multi-mode guidance and an exotically fueled ramjet propulsion system.

OTO MELARA SUPER RAPID A 76mm, water-cooled auto-cannon produced by the Oto Melara corporation of Italy. A dual-mode weapons system with an exceptionally high rate of fire, it is capable of engaging both air and surface targets with a wide variety of munitions types. A popular and efficient design, it serves as the primary gun armament of the Cunningham-class destroyer.

RAFALE A fifth-generation fighter-bomber produced by Dassault of France. A single-seat, single-engine, supersonic aircraft with delta wings and a forward canard. It is night and all-weather strike capable.

RAM (RADAR-ABSORBENT MATERIAL) A family of composite materials used in the creation of stealth weapons systems. They work by "soaking up" incoming radar waves, converting them into thermal energy within their structure rather then reflecting them off.

RAM (ROLLING AIRFRAME MISSILE) A missile crossbreed of the Sidewinder airframe and the Stinger guidance system. A light maritime surface-to-air defense system, it is utilized aboard the Cunningham-class destroyer as an adjunct to the ship's Phalanx antimissile cannon.

RAVEN'S ROOST Shipboard nickname for the intelligence systems bay. Because of their stealth capacity, the Cunningham-class destroyers have been given an enhanced capability to perform "Raven" missions — i.e., to act as a Sigint (Signal Intelligence) — and Elint (Electronic Intelligence)-gathering platform.

RBOC (RAPID BLOOMING OVERHEAD CHAFF) PROJECTOR A shipboard antimissile defense system. Originally intended to protect vessels against radar-guided missiles by screening them with clouds of metal foil.

In recent years, however, additional projectiles have been developed for the system, including flare and multispectral smoke rounds that can provide protection against infrared and laser-guided munitions.

SAH-66 SEA COMANCHE LAMPS (LIGHT AIRBORN MULTIPURPOSE SYSTEM) The original RAH-66 Comanche was intended as an Army scout/gunship helicopter utilizing low-radar-visibility technology. The SAH-66 Sea Comanche is a naval variant produced to complement the stealth capacity of the Cunningham-class guided-missile destroyer. Intended for ASW and surface search/recon operations, the Sea Comanche mounts a powerful APG-65 radar in its nose. It can also be equipped with a number of different pod-mounted sensor systems, including dunking sonars, Magnetic Abnormality Detectors, and the Shearwater AEW system.

In addition, the SAH-66 can be armed with a broad spectrum of torpedoes, missiles, depth charges, and gun pods.

SCM (STEALTH CRUISE MISSILE) The follow-on to the Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missile. A sophisticated, long-range strike weapon incorporating low radar visibility in its design. A multimode weapon, it can be configured for either antishipping or land attack.

SEA SLAM A ground-attack variant of the Harpoon anti-shipping missile. Utilizing an infrared, electro-optical targeting system developed for the Maverick air-to-surface missile, it is a sea-launched weapon, primarily intended for precision strikes against land targets.

SIGINT (SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE) The collection of battlefield intelligence via the interception and decryption of enemy radio and land-line communications.

STANDARD HARM (HOMING ANTIRADIATION MISSILE) A derivative of the Standard surface-to-air missile. The Standard HARM is designed to seek out and destroy enemy land- and sea-based radio and radar systems by homing in on their EM emissions. The missile is equipped with a memory system that allows it to prosecute the kill even if the target transmitter is shut down.

TORNADO A twin-engine, swing wing fighter-bomber produced by the European Panavia consortium. An extremely sophisticated, two-place aircraft with full day/night and all-weather capability, a number of specialized variants have been produced, including interceptor, intruder, recon/Wild Weasel, and maritime strike.

USARP United States Antarctic Research Program.