Glossary of Russian and USSR aviation acronyms: Weapons and armament

This is a glossary of acronyms and initials used for aircraft weapons in the Russian Federation and formerly the USSR. The Latin-alphabet names are phonetic representations of the Cyrillic originals, and variations are inevitable.

Aircraft guns
2A42:


 * 30 mm cannon

9A622:
 * 7.62 mm four-barrelled machine-gun

9A623:


 * 30 mm twin-barrelled cannon a.k.a. AO-17 and GSh-30/II

9A624:
 * 12.7 mm four-barrelled machine-gun

9A4071K:


 * 30 mm cannon a.k.a. GSh-30-1 and TKB-687

A:

AM:
 * N.M. Afansa'yev & N.F. Makarov

AO:

APK:
 * Aviatsionnaya Pushka Kurchevsky – aircraft cannon Kurchevsky

B:


 * Berezin. A 12.7mm caliber machine gun used in

BNT:
 * Berezin NT.

BS:


 * [poolemyot] Berezina Sinkhronnyy - Berezin's synchronised machine-gun

DA:


 * [poolemyot] Degtyaryova Aviatsionnyy - Degtyaryov machine-gun for aircraft

DRP:


 * DinámoReaktívnaya Púshka - динамореактивная пушка, ДPП - recoilless rifle/cannon

GP:
 * Gondola Pushechnaya – cannon pod

GSh:
 * Gryazev & Shipoonov

K:
 * 1. Kompleks [Vo'orouzheniya] – weapons system
 * 2. (suffix) Kroopnokalibernyy – large calibre
 * 3. (suffix) Kryl'yevoy – wing mounted

L:
 * (suffix) Lafetnaya – for permanent mounting

M:
 * (suffix) Motornaya – engine mounted

MP:
 * Motornaya Pushka – engine mounted cannon

MPSh:
 * Motornaya Pushka Shpital'novo – Shpital'nyy engine mounted cannon

MV:
 * Mozharovsky-Venevidov turret gun Georgy Mozharovsky & Ivan Venevidov

N:
 * A.E. Nudelman

NR:


 * Aircraft cannon designed by A.E. Nudelman & A.A. Rikhter

NS:


 * Aircraft cannon designed by A.E. Nudelman & Suranov.

OKB-15:

PKT: PTB:
 * Pushka Taubin-Baburin - cannon Taubin-Baburin (both Taubin & Baburin were executed for their guns {MP-3 / MP-6 / PTB-6 / PTB-23 / Taubin 23} failure, apparently)

PV:
 * Poolemyot Vozdooshnyy – machine-gun for aircraft 7.62mm machine gun based on Maxim machine gun by A. Nadashkevich & Feodor Tokarev

S:
 * (suffix) Sinkronayah - synchronised

Sh:
 * Boris Shpital'nyy

ShFK:
 * Shpital'nyy FK

ShKAS:


 * [poolemyot] Shpitahl'novi i Komarnitskovi Aviatsionny, Skorostrel'nyy - Shpital'nyy/Komarnitskii rapid firing machine gun

ShVAK:


 * Shpital'nyy/Vladimirov Aviatsionny Krupnokalibernaya - Shpital'nyy/Komarnitskii large calibre aircraft cannon

SPPU:
 * Samoletnaya Podvesnaya Pushechnaya Ustanovka – aircraft gun pod

TKB:
 * Tool'skoye Konstrooktorskoye Byuro – Tula design bureau see AM-23

UBK:


 * Ooniversal'nyy [poolemyot] Berezina K - M. Berezin 12.7mm machine-gun

UBS:


 * Ooniversalny Berezina [poolemyot] Sinkhronnyy- M. Berezin synchronised 12.7mm machine-gun

UBT:


 * Ooniversalny Berezina [poolemyot] Turel'ny - M. Berezin turret 12.7mm machine-gun

Ultra ShKAS:


 * : Ultra [poolemyot] Shpitahl'novi i Komarnitskovi Aviatsionny, Skorostrel'nyy – Ultra Shpital'nyy/Komarnitskii rapid firing machine gun- 7.62mm machine-gun

UPK:
 * Unifitcirovanny Pushechny Konteiner – universal gun pod

VYa:
 * Volkov-Yartcev

Bombs, turrets, etc
A:
 * torpedo

AG:
 * Aviatsionnykh Granaht - aviation grenades

AgitAB:


 * Aghitatsionnaya AviaBomba - psychological warfare/propaganda in the form of 'leaflet bombs'

AK:
 * - chemical bomblet for cluster bomb

AMD:
 * - anti shipping mine

APM:
 * - anti shipping mine

ARS:


 * Aviatsionny Raketny Snaryad – aircraft unguided rocket

ARS:


 * Aviatsionny Reaktivnii Snaryad – high velocity aircraft rocket

ARGS:
 * Aktivnaya Rahdiolokatsionnaya Golvka Samonavedeniya – active radar seeker head

ASO:
 * - chaff and flare dispenser

AT:
 * Aviatsionnaya Torpeda - anti submarine torpedoes

AVA:
 * (suffix) - torpedo

BetAB:
 * - retarded/rocket-assisted runway cratering bomb

BLUB:
 * Blisternaya Oostanovka Berezina – Berezin's blister mount

BrAB:
 * Broneboynaya AviaBomba – armour-piercing bomb

DAG:
 * Derzhatel' Aviatsionnykh Granaht – container aviation grenade

DAB:
 * Dymovaya AviaBomba - smoke bomb

DB:
 * Distantsionno [oopravlyayemaya] Bahshnya – remote-controlled turret

DK:
 * - turret

DOSAB:
 * Dnev-naya Orienteerno-Signahl'naya AviaBomba - day marker/signal flare bombs

DV-AB:
 * - smoke bomb

FAB:
 * Fugahsnaya AviaBomba - high explosive bomb

FotAB:
 * Fotograficheskaya AviaBomba – photo flash bomb

FZAB:
 * Foogahsno-Zazhigahtel'naya Aviabomba - high explosive/incendiary bomb

HCN:
 * - chemical weapon

IAB:
 * Imitatsionnaya Aviabomba - high explosive/incendiary bomb

IGDM:
 * - anti shipping mine

K:
 * 1. (suffix) Kassetnaya bomba – cluster bomb
 * 2. Kompleks [Vo'orouzheniya] – weapons system
 * 3. Kormovaya [strekovaya oostanovka] – tail barbette Il-28 a.k.a. Il-K-6

KAB:
 * 1. Korrekteeruyemaya AviaBomba – guided depth charge
 * 2. Korrekteeruyemaya AviaBomba - guided bomb

KD:
 * - cassette bomb dispenser

KDB:
 * Kormovaya Distantsionno [Oopravlyayemaya] Bahshnya – dorsal remote-controlled turret

KG:
 * - turret

Kh:
 * - air-to-surface missile

KhAB:
 * - chemical weapon phosgene also ChAB

KMGU:
 * KonteinerMalykhGruzov Universalny – small weapons carrier pod CBLS

KU:
 * Kormovaya Oostanovka – rear [defensive armament] installation a.k.a. Il-KU3 Il-22

KRAB:
 * KorrekteeRuyemaya AviaBomba - guided bomb 1948 IR guided bomb

KSR:
 * - anti-shipping missile

L:
 * (suffix) Lazernoe navedeniye – Laser guidance

LU:
 * Lyookovaya Oostanovka – hatch [defensive armament] installation

MAN:
 * (suffix) [torpeda] Modernizeerovannaya Aviatsionnaya Nizhkovysotnaya – modernised aircraft torpedo for low-altitude attacks

MV:
 * - turret for Il-2 – Mozharovskiy and Venevidov

N:
 * - nuclear weapon

NDB:
 * Nizhnyaya verkhnyaya Distantsionno oopravlyaaemaya Bahshnya – ventral remote controlled turret

NOSAB:
 * Nochnaya Orieynteerno-Signahl'naya AviaBomba - night marker/signal flare bombs

NOV-AB:
 * - non-persistent agent dispenser

NT:
 * (suffix) Nizkoye Torpedometahniye – low altitude torpedo attack

NU:
 * - cannon mount for Il-102

OD:
 * (suffix) Omno-Detoneeruyushchaya – volume detonation bomb [fuel/air bomb]

ODAB:
 * Omno-Detoneeruyushchaya AviaBomba – volume detonation bomb [fuel/air bomb]

OFAB:
 * Oskolochno Fugasnaya AviaBomba – fragmentation high explosive bomb

OFZAB:
 * Oskolochno Fugasnaya-Zazhigahtel'naya AviaBomba – fragmentation/high explosive/incendiary bomb

OMAB:
 * Oryenteerno-Markernaya AviaBomba – maritime marker bombs

ORO:
 * Odinochnoye Reaktivnoye Oroodiye – single rocket gun ORO-82 - tube launcher for TRS-82

P:
 * Prakticheskaya [aviabomba] - practice bomb

PLAB:
 * Protivolodochaya AviaBomba - depth charge/anti-submarine bombs

PROSAB:
 * 1. - parachute flare
 * 2. Protivosamolyotnaya AviaBomba - anti-aircraft bomb

PS:
 * Pritsel'naya Stahntsiya – sighting station

PTAB:
 * Protivitahnkovaya AviaBomba - armour piercing bomblets

PTK:
 * - hollow-charge bomblet for cluster bomb

PUL:
 * - synchroniser

R:
 * 1. Raketa – air-to-air missile [rocket]
 * 2. (suffix) Rahdiolokatsionnaya [Golovka Samonavedniya] – radar seeker head

RAT:
 * Raketnaya Aviatsionnaya Torpeda - rocket propelled torpedo

RBK:
 * Razovaya Bombovaya Kasseta - cluster bomb dispenser

RDS:
 * - nuclear weapon

RGB:
 * Rahdio-Ghidroakoosticheskiy Booy - sonobuoy

RGB-N:
 * Rahdio-Ghidroakoosticheskiy Booy N - sonobuoy

RPK:
 * - fragmentation bomblet for cluster bomb

RRAB:
 * - incendiary bomblet for cluster bomb

RS:
 * 1. Reaktivny Snaryad - rocket projectiles
 * 2. - Radar homing

S:
 * Snaryad - rocket

SAB:
 * Svetyashchaya AviaBomba – flare bomb

ShOAB:
 * Sharikovaya Oskolochnaya AviaBomba - pellet bomb/bomblet

SOV-AB:
 * - persistent agent dispenser

SPV:
 * Sistema Pushechnovo Vo'oroozheniya – defensive armament system

T:
 * (suffix) Teplovaya [golovka samonavedeniya] – Infra-Red seeker head

TsOSAB:
 * Tsvetnaya Orieynteerno-Signahl'naya AviaBomba - coloured marker/signal flare bombs

TAS:
 * - torpedo

TAV:
 * - torpedo

TK:
 * (suffix) Televizionno-Komahndnoye navedeniye – TV guidance

TN:
 * - nuclear weapon

Toxic-B:
 * - chemical weapon

TOZ:
 * - torpedo

TR:
 * (suffix) Televizionno-Korreyatsionnoye Samonavedeniye – TV correlated guidance

TRS:
 * ToorboReaktivnyy Snaryad – [turbo-jet projectile] rocket projectiles

TsOSAB:
 * Tsvetnaya oriyenteerno-Signahl'naya AviaBomba – coloured marker/signal flare bombs

TUM:
 * - dorsal powered turret

UB:
 * 1.Oonifitseerovannyy Blok – universal [standardised] pod
 * 2. - rocket pod
 * 3. Oopravlyayermaya Bomba – guided bomb

UBSh:
 * - experimental defensive installation- Il-2

UkhAP:
 * - chemical warfare liquid dispensers

UTK:
 * - turret for Il-4 I. Shebanov

VAP:
 * Vylivnoy Aviatsionny Pribor - chemical weapon dispenser

VDB:
 * Verkhnyaya Distantsionno [Oopravlyayemaya] Bahshnya – dorsal remote-controlled turret

VT:
 * (suffix) Vysotnoye Torpedometahniye – high altitude torpedo attack

VU:
 * Verkhnyaya [Strelkovaya] Oostanovka – dorsal turret Il-10/Il-20

VUB:
 * Verkhnyaya [Strelkovaya] Oostanovka Bombardirovshchika – remote controlled dorsal turret for bombers

ZAB:
 * Zazhigahtel'naya Aviabomba - incendiary bomb

ZAP:
 * Zazhigahtel'naya AP - incendiary bomb dispenser

ZB:
 * Zazhigahtel'nyy Bahk - incendiary [napalm] tanks