LEX — Leading Edge Extension. Narrow part of FA-18 wing leading to the nose of the aircraft.
LGB — Laser Guided Bomb — laser guidance kit placed on a general purpose bomb body. Also known as GBU (Guided Bomb Unit).
LSO — Landing Signal Officer, also known as “Paddles.”
Marshal — designated holding airspace prior to landing; also name of landing sequence controller.
Maverick — popular name for AGM-65 infra-red or laser guided air-to-ground missile
Military — Military Rated Thrust, the maximum engine power without selecting afterburner.
Mother — radio reference for the aircraft carrier
MOVLAS — Manually Operated Visual Landing Aid System — LSO depiction of pilot position on glideslope — typically used for pitching deck operations
NAVCENT — Central Command (CENTCOM) Naval component commander… three-star flag officer
NFO — Naval Flight Officer
Ninety-Nine — radio broadcast call used to gain attention; i.e. “listen up”
Nugget — first cruise pilot
NVGs — Night Vision Goggles
OPSO — Operations Officer
Plug — take fuel from tanker
Prowler — popular name for EA-6B Electronic Warfare Attack aircraft
RAS — Refueling at Sea, also known as Underway Replenishment, or UNREP
RWR — Radar Warning Receiver. Cockpit display of threat radars.
Rocket One — another term for Skipper in a tailhook squadron. Rocket Two is the XO, and so forth down to Rocket Last, the most junior pilot. A variation is the using the squadron callsign, such as Raven One.
ROE — Rules of Engagement
RPG — Rocket Propelled Grenade
SAM — Surface-to-air missile
SAR — Search and Rescue (CSAR is Combat Search and Rescue)
Seahawk — popular name for MH-60 series multi-mission helicopter
Sidewinder — popular name for AIM-9 infrared heat seeking air-to-air missile
SINS — Shipboard Inertial Navigation System
Strike — tactical airspace controller/coordinator in vicinity of ship
SUCAP — Surface Combat Air Patrol
Super Hornet — popular name for upgraded FA-18E/F single seat or two-place Strike Fighter with increased range and payload; also known as “Rhino”
Texaco — nickname for a tanker aircraft, typically S-3B
TLAM — Tomahawk Land Attack Missile; long range cruise missile launched from surface ships and submarines
TOPGUN — Navy Fighter Weapons School, Fallon, NV
Trap — arrested landing
VAQ — Fixed Wing Electronic Attack squadron
VAW — Fixed Wing Early Warning squadron
VFA — Fixed Wing Fighter Attack squadron
Viking — popular name for S-3B Sea Surveillance aircraft, also known as the
