Index Military Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations

A 1annual, 2accelerating contactor or relay, 3aircraft symbol, 4attack, 5acting, 6active, 7advanced, 8assistant, 9[JP 1-02] analog, 10[AR 310-50] Army (in combinations only)

A SPEC system specification

A&DCP analysis and data collection plan

A&E 1architect and engineer, 2architecture and engineering, 3ammunition and explosives, 4analysis and evaluation

A&F Accounting and Finance

A&P [JP 3-07.3] administrative and personnel

A&SEA Air and Space Executive Agent

A&T acquisition and technology

A-4 Skyhawk

A-6 Intruder

A-7 Corsair II

A-10 Thunderbolt II

A-109 OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Circular A-109, Major Systems Acquisition

A-A air to air

A-D analog to digital converter

A-E 1architect-engineer, 2architect engineering, 3architectural and engineering, 4architectural-engineering

A-G air to ground

A-HOUR alert-hour

A-P-A aircraft-propulsion-avionics

a.k.a. also known as

A/A air-to-air

A/B airborne

A/C 1air conditioning, 2absolute ceiling, 3aircraft

A/CA aircraft attrition

A/D 1analog to digital, 2air defense, 3analog to digital converter (see ADC)

A/DACG [JP 1-02] arrival/departure airfield control group

A/DCG [JP 1-02] arrival/departure control group

A/E architecture/engineering

a/f airfield

A/G 1air-to-ground, 2air/ground

A/J anti-jam

A/M [JP 1-02] approach and moor

A/N 1alpha numeric, 2as needed

A/NM [JP 1-02] administrative/network management

A/P accounts payable

A/R 1accept/refuse message, 2accounts receivable

A/UX Apple UNIX

A2 antiarmor

A2 asset record

A2C2 Army airspace command and control

A2C2S 1Army aviation command and control system, 2[TTPIO-ABCS] Army Airborne Command and Control System

A3 affordable acquisition approach

A3P advanced avionics architecture and policy

Aa achieved availability

AA 1arrival angle, 2avenue of approach, 3assembly area, 4Active Army, 5antiaircraft, 6air-to-air, 7access authorization, 8arithmetic average, 9armature accelerator, 10attack assessment, 11auto answer, 12affirmative action committee, 13Alcoholics Anonymous, 14achieved availability, 15Acquisition Activity, 16advance agreement, 17aircraft availability, 18analysis of alternatives

AA&E arms, ammunition, and explosives

AAA 1antiaircraft artillery, 2[Army] assessment of aircraft attrition (USAFE), 3Automated Airlift Analysis System (AMC), 4automatic anti-aircraft, 5Army Audit Agency, 6Authorization Accounting Activity (USN), 7[JP 1-02] assign alternate area

AAAAAA the Association for the Abolition of Abused Abbreviations and Asinine Acronyms

AAAOB anti-aircraft artillery order-of-battle

AAAS 1American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2[JP 3-04.1] amphibious aviation assault ship

AAAV Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle Program

AAB 1Aircraft Accident Board, 2all-to-all broadcast, 3administrative appeal board

AABB [JP 4-02.1] American Association of Blood Banks

AABFS [JP 1-02] amphibious assault bulk fuel system

AABL advanced atmospheric burst locator

AABM air-to-air battle management

AABNCP Advanced Airborne National Command Post (USAF)

AABP Aptitude Assessment Battery Program

AABWS [JP 1-02] amphibious assault bulk water system

AAC 1Army Acquisition Corps, 2acquisition advice code, 3anti-aircraft, 4Alaskan Air Command, 5automatic answering capability, 6Apple Assistance Center, 7all-aspect capability, 8automatic amplitude control, 9automatic approach control, 10activity address code, 11Army acquisition circular, 12[AR 310-50] aerial ambulance company

AACC Army airborne command and control

AACC4 AAC command control communications computers

AACE 1American Association of Cost Engineers, 2aircraft alerting communications EMP (electromagnetic pulse)

AACFT Army aircraft

AACG arrival airfield control group

AACISP AAC Information Systems Plan

AACISS AAC Intelligence Support System

AACM active access control module

AACMO Army Acguisition Corps Management Office

AACOM Army area communications

AACOMS Army Area Communications System [now ATACS]

AACP advanced airborne command post

AACPB Army Acquisition Career Program Board

AACPB-WG Army Acquisition Career Program Board – Working Group

AACS 1Airborne Astrographic Camera System, 2Army Command and Control System, 3[AR 310-50] Airways and Air Communications Service

AACSCEDR Associate and Advisory Committee to the Special Committee on Electronic Data Retrieval

AAD 1[AR 310-50] admission and disposition, 2[AR 310-50] Army air defense

AADC area air defense commander

AADCCS [AR 310-50] Army Air Defense Control and Coordination System

AADCOM [AR 310-50] Army Air Defense Command(er)

AADCP Army air defense command post

AADE Army air defense element

AADGE [NATO] Allied Command Europe Air Defense Ground Environment

AADR Alaskan Air Defense Region

AADS [AR 310-50] antiaircraft defense system

AADV [AR 310-50] acquisition aid vehicle

AAE 1Army acquisition executive, 2Army aviation element, 3American Association of Engineers

AAED advanced airborne expendable decoy

AAEE American Academy of Environmental Engineers

AAES 1American Association of Engineering Societies, 2Automated Aeromedical Evacuation System

AAF 1Army airfield, 2Auxiliary Air Force

AAFA Army aviation flight activity

AAFARS advanced aviation forward area refueling system

AAFB Andrews Air Force Base

AAFCE [NATO] Allied Air Forces Central Europe

AAFES 1Auto Alert Force Exercise Schedule (SAC), 2Army and Air Force Exchange Service

AAFIF automated air facility information file

AAFSF [JP 1-02] amphibious assault fuel supply facility

AAFSS Advanced Aerial Fire Support System [IHAS]

AAFTC Air Force Flight Test Center (Edwards AFB)

AAFU [AR 310-50] augmented assault fire units

AAG 1Aeromedical Airlift Group (AMC), 2area auditor general, 3[AR 310-50] army artillery group (opposing forces)

AAGE [AR 310-50] Army Advisory Group on Energy

AAGR [AR 310-50] air-to-air gunnery range

AAGS 1Army air-ground system, 2aircraft adapter groups

AAH advanced attack helicopter, the AH-64

AAHA awaiting action higher headquarters

AAI 1angle of approach indicator, 2advanced communication technology, 3automated acquisition information

AAIMS Army Automated Information Management System

AAIS 1Atmospheric Attack Indications System, 2Automated Acquisition Information System

AAL 1additional authorization list, 2absolute assembly language, 3Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory [USAF], 4ATM adaption layer, 5asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer

AALAAW advanced air-launched anti-armor weapon

AALPS Automated Aircraft Load Planning System (FORSCOM)

AALS Active Army Locator System

AAM 1air-to-air missile (i.e., Falcon, Sidewinder, Sparrow) [Also used by the USN to label its missiles, before the introduction of the tri-service designation system], 2aircraft availability model, 3application activity model, 4[AR 310-50] Army aircraft maintenance, 5[AR 310-50] Army Achievement Medal

AAMA 1antiaircraft and missile artillery, 2area airspace management authority

AAME 1automated multi media exchange, 2airspace management element (AAC)

AAMG antiaircraft machine gun

AAMMH annual available maintenance man hours

AAMMP Active Army Military Manpower Program

AAMP 1Army Automation Master Plan, 2Army Aviation Modernization Plan

AAMS 1Advanced AFSATCOM Monitoring System, 2Army Acquisition Management System, 3[AR 310-50] Army aircraft maintenance shop

AAN [DoD/DSMC] Army After Next

AANCP Advanced Airborne National Command Post

AAO 1authorized acquisition objective, 2Army acquisition objective, 3antiair output, 4airborne area of operation, 5approved acquisition objective

AAOD [AR 310-50] Army aviation operating detachment

AAOFA Army aviation operating facility

AAP 1Army Apprenticeship Program, 2affirmative action plan, 3allied administrative publication, 4attack assessment plan, 5Attack Assessment Program (JCS/USAFE), 6applications access point [DEC], 7affirmative action program, 8allied administrative procedure, 9Army acquisition process, 10abbreviated acquisition plan, 11advance acquisition planning, 12[AR 310-50] Army ammunition plant, 13[JP 1-02] Allied Administrative Publication; 14[JP 1-02] assign alternate parent

AAPI attack assessment predicted impact

AAPL additional programming language

AAPM [AR 310-50] Army Aviation Planning Manual

AAR 1after-action review, 2Army area representative, 3air-to-air refueling, 4aircraft accident report, 5automatic alternate routing, 6[JP 1-02] after-action report

AARA [AR 310-50] access and amendment refusal authority

AARAD attack assessment radar

AARADCOM Army Armament Research and Development Command

AARB advanced aerial refueling boom

AARDAC [AR 310-50] Army air reconnaissance for damage assessment in the continental United States

AARMS Authorized/Assigned Resource Management System (AFLC)

AARP AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol

AARS Ammunition Asset Reporting System

AART airborne avionics research testbeds

AARTS Automated Audio Remote Test System

AAS 1advanced antenna system, 2American Astronautical Society, 3arithmetic assignment statement, 4automated accounting system, 5attack assessment system, 6all-to-all scatter, 7Advanced Automation System (FAA), 8aeromedical airlift squadron, 9advisory and assistance service

AASA 1administrative assistant to the Secretary of the Army, 2advanced airborne surveillance antenna

AASC [AR 310-50] Army area signal center

AASE [AR 310-50] Army aviation support element

AASF Army aviation support facility

AASHTO [AR 310-50] American Association of State Highway Officials

AASLT [FM101-5-1] air assault

AASM advanced air-to-surface missile

AASP 1Army Automation Security Program, 2Army Automation Standardization Program, 3ASCII asynchronous support package

AASR Advanced Airborne Surveillance Radar (RADC)

AASTA [AR 310-50] United States Army Aviation Systems Test Activity

AAT 1Army assault team, 2average access time, 3[JP 1-02] automatic analog test

AATC 1Antiaircraft Training Center, 2automatic air traffic control [system], 3Air Force Reserve Test Center

AATCO [AR 310-50] Army air traffic air coordinating office

AATH automatic approach to hover

AATRI [AR 310-50] Army Air Traffic Regulation and Identification System

AATU automatic antenna tuning unit

AAU [JP 1-02] analog appliqué unit

AAUB Associate Army Uniform Board

AAUSN Assistant Under Secretary of Navy

AAV amphibious assault vehicles (USMC)

AAVD automatic alternate voice/data

AAVN [AR 310-50] Army aviation

AAVS Aerospace Audiovisual Service (MAC)

AAW 1anti-air warfare [USN], 2Army acquisition workforce, 3advanced analysts' workstation, 4aeromedical airlift wing (MAC), 5active aeroelastic wing

AAWC anti-air warfare commander [USN]

AAWS automated attack warning system

AAWSSC [AR 310-50] Army Atomic Weapons Systems Safety Committee

AAWWS Airborne Adverse Weather Weapon System

AB 1adapter booster, 2afterburner, 3air blast, 4anchor bolt, 5[AR 310-50] air base, 6address bus, 7able seaman, 8allocated baseline, 9airborne (forces), 10assault breaker, 11ability to perform

AB/FS air base/force survivability

AB2 ABCS brigade and below

ABA 1Americam Bar Association, 2annual budget authority, 3[AR 310-50] American, British, Australian; 4[AR 310-50] appropriation and budget activity

ABAA appropriation and budget activity account

ABACUS Air Battle Analysis Center Utility System

ABAR 1advanced battery acquisition radar, 2alternate battery acquisition radar

abbr [AR 310-50] abbreviation

abbrev abbreviation

ABC 1airborne corps, 2approach by concept, 3automatic bandwidth control, 4automatic brightness control, 5Atanasoff-Berry Computer (First digital calculating machine that used vacuum tubes), 6America, Britain, and Canada, 7Acquisition Basic Course (Defense Systems Management College), 8activity-based costing

ABCA 1American, British, Canadian, and Australian, 2American, British, Canadian, and Australian Armies, 3[JP 1-02] American, British, Canadian, Australian Armies Standardization Program

ABCA QSTAG American-British-Canadian-Australian Quadripartite Standardization Agreement

ABCANZ America Britain Canada Australia New Zealand

ABCB air blast circuit breaker

ABCC airborne command center

ABCCC airborne battlefield command and control center.

ABCCTC Advanced Base Combat Communications Training Center

ABCMR [AR 310-50] Army Board for Correction of Military Records

ABCS 1Army Battle Command System, 2Automated Budget Compilation System

ABCS SSM [TTPIO-ABCS] Army Battle Command System Simulation Support Module

ABDAR aircraft battle damage assessment and repair

ABDR 1air battle damage report, 2aircraft battle damage repair

ABDS Accounting Budget and Distribution System (USAF)

ABE [TTPIO-ABCS] assistant brigade engineer

ABEND abnormal end

ABES amended budget estimate submission

ABET Accreditation Board for Engineers and Technology (previously known as Engineers Council for Professional Development (EDPD))

ABF 1Adobe binary screen font, 2annular blast fragmentation, 3[AR 310-50] availability balance file

ABFC Advanced Base Functional Component System (USN)

ABFS [JP 1-02] amphibious bulk fuel system

ABG air base group

ABGD air base ground defense

ABI 1application binary interface, 2automated bidet interface

ABIC 1Army battlefield interface concept, 2automated battlefield interface concept

ABICS Ada based integrated control system

ABIDES Automated Budget Interactive Data Environment System (HQ USAF)

ABIOL advanced base initial outfitting list (Army)

ABIOS advanced BIOS

ABIR all-band intercept receiver

ABIRD aircraft-based infrared detector

ABIS Advanced Battlespace Information System

ABIST automatic built-in self-test (IBM)

ABIT advanced built-in test

ABL 1Atlas basic language, 2Armored Box Launcher, 3airborne lasers, 4[AR 310-50] Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory

ABLE 1activity balance line evaluation, 2adaptive battery life extender

ABM 1antiballistic missile, 2automated batch mixing, 3advanced battery management, 4asynchronous balance mode, 5acquisition and business management, 6area base maintenance

ABMC [AR 310-50] American Battle Monuments Commission

ABMDA [Army] Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency

ABMOC air battle management operation center

ABMS Assault Breach Marking System

abn airborne

ABN airborne

ABNCP Airborne National Command Post

ABNOC Airborne Nuclear Operations Center (SHAPE)

ABNSOTBD Airborne and Special Operation Test Board

ABO 1air base operability, 2airborne order, 3Army Budget Office, 4aviator breathing oxygen, 5[JP 4-02.1] blood typing system

ABOIP amended basis of issue plan

ABOM Ada Bit Oriented Message

abort 1to terminate a mission for any reason other than enemy action. It may occur at any point after the beginning of the mission and prior to its completion, 2to discontinue aircraft takeoff or missile launch

ABPB Aviation Business Process Board

ABPBD air base port biological detection

ABR 1automatic band rate, 2available bit rate

ABRES advanced ballistic reentry systems

ABRS Assault Ballistic Rocket System

ABS 1American Bureau of Shipping, 2air base squadron, 3air base survivability, 4address book synchronization [IBM], 5anti-lock braking system, 6acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, 7automated bid set, 8[AR 310-50] Army Broadcasting Service

ABSLOA approved basic stock list of ammunition

ABSS Automated Business Service Systems

ABT abort

ABTF airborne task force

ABTS ASCII block terminal services

ABV 1absolute value, 2annual buy value

ABVM automated best value model

ABW air base wing

ac alternating current

AC 1Active Component, 2assistant commandant, 3actual cost, 4analyst console, 5advisory committee, 6aerodynamic center, 7analog computer, 8automatic checkout, 9automatic computer, 10automatic control, 11air conditioning, 12aircraft commander, 13allied command, 14area coverage, 15Atlantic Council (NATO), 16attack characterization, 17autocheck, 18access control, 19analyst console, 20armament cooperation, 21Acquisition Corps

AC&W air control and warning [USAF site]

AC-130 Hercules aircraft

AC-130A/H Spectre aircraft

AC/RC Active Component/Reserve Component

AC/S, C4I [JP 2-02] Assistant Chief of Staff, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (USMC)

AC2MP Army Command and Control Master Plan

ACA 1adjacent channel attenuation, 2American Communication(s) Association, 3American Crystallographic Association, 4agile combat aircraft, 5airlift clearance authority, 6airspace control authority, 7airspace coordination area, 8associate contractor agreement, 9asynchronous communications adapter, 10application control architecture, 11agile combat aircraft, 12airlift clearance authority, 13air clearance authority

ACAA [JP 1-02] automatic chemical agent alarm

ACAB air cavalry attack brigade

ACAC automated direct analog computer

ACAF advanced counter-air fighter

ACAG Army Competition Advocate General

ACALA Armament and Chemical Acquisition and Logistic Activity

ACALS Army CALS

ACAMIS Army CA Management Information System

ACAP 1Army cost analysis paper, 2automatic circuit analysis program, 3Advanced Composite Airframe Program [a helicopter design study], 4application configuration access protocol, 5The Army Career and Alumni Program

ACAPS [JP 1-02] area communications electronics capabilities

ACARS ARINC [Aeronautical Radio Incorporated] Communications Addressing Reporting System

ACAs air clearance authorities

ACAS 1aircraft collision avoidance system, 2advanced counter-air system, 3Army Crisis Action System, 4airborne collision-avoidance system, 5airlift cycle analysis spreadsheet

ACASS A/E Contract Administration Support System

ACAT acquisition category

ACAT I Acquisition Category I (Major Defense Acquisition Program)

ACAT IA Acquisition Category I (Major Automated Information System)

ACAT IAC Acquisition Category I (Automation Component)

ACAT IAD Acquisition Category I (Automation Defense)

ACAT IC Acquisition Category I Component

ACAT ID Acquisition Category I Defense

ACAT II Acquisition Category II

ACAT IIA Acquisition Category II Automation

ACAT III Acquisition Category III

ACAT IIIA Acquisition Category III Automation

ACAT IV Acquisition Category IV (AR 70-1)

ACB 1air circuit breaker, 2amphibious construction battalion, 3advanced concepts base, 4allocated configuration baseline

ACBACCIS Allied Command Baltic Approaches Command Control and Information System (NATO)

ACBMDA Automated C3CM Battle Management Decision Aid (RADC)

ACBP advanced concepts base program

ACBT air combat training

ACC 1Army correspondence course, 2air control center, 3area control center, 4artillery control console, 5accumulator, 6aft cargo carrier, 7access control center, 8[USAF] Air Combat Command (created 1 June 1992 by merging TAC and SAC), 9air component commander, 10airlift coordination center, 11airspace control center, 12accumulator, 13Army command center, 14Army Communications Command, 15area control computer, 16Army component commanders, 17architecture control committee, 18accelerated case closure, 19approval cause code, 20architecture coordination council, 21[JP 1-02] area coordination center

ACC/MASS Airlift Coordination Center/Military Airlift Support Squadron ( AMC)

ACCAP autocoder to COBOL conversion and program [IBM]

ACCAT advanced command and control architectural testbed

ACCB 1Army Configuration Control Board, 2[AR 310-50] air cavalry combat brigade

ACCEL automated circuit card etching layout

ACCES 1automated Command and Control Evaluation System (WWMCCS®), 2Army Civilian Career Evaluation System, 3Advanced Cryptologic Carry On Exploitation System

ACCESS 1aircraft communications electronic signaling system, 2automatic computer controlled electronic signaling system, 3automated Catalog of Computer Equipment and Software System, 4Automated Command and Control Evaluation Systems, 5[AR 310-50] Army Commissary Computer Entry Store System

ACCHAN Allied Command Channel (NATO)

ACCIS 1Army Command and Control Information System, 2Automated Command and Control Information System (NATO)

ACCLAIMS Army COMSEC Commodity, Logistical, and Accounting Information Management System

ACCMB [AR 310-50] Aircraft Crewman Badge

ACCMP Army Command Control Master Plan

ACCMPS automated C2 message Processing System (NATO)

ACCNET 1Army Command and Control Network, 2Federal Acquisition Computer Network (OMB)

ACCOR [AR 310-50] Army COMSEC central office of record

ACCP the Army Correspondence Course Program

ACCS 1Army Command and Control System, 2[NATO] Air Command and Control System, 3airborne command and control squadron, 4allied command and control system, 5advanced communications control system, 6Air Combat Camera Service

ACCSA Allied Communications and Computer Security Agency

ACCT 1account code (SARAH), 2account

ACCTSTR [AR 310-50] accountable strength

ACD 1automatic call distributor, 2automated call distribution, 3airlift communications division, 4assistant command director, 5administrative commitment document, 6administrative control desk

ACDA Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

ACDB 1Army Corporate Database, 2automated cost data base

ACDI asynchronous communications device interface

ACDO [JP 1-02] assistant command duty officer

ACDS 1Advanced Combat Direction System, 2Advanced Countermeasures Dispenser System

ACE 1[ASAS] Analysis and Control Element, 2American Council on Education, 3assistant chief of engineers, 4armored combat earth mover, 5airborne command element, 6acceptance checkout equipment, 7advanced control experiment, 8animated computer education, 9automatic checkout equipment, 10[NATO] Allied Command Europe, 11automatic computer evaluation, 12automatic computer engine,13Army Corps of Engineers, 14[JP 1-02] aviation combat element (MAGTF), 15advanced computing environment [SCO], 16automatic calibration and equalization, 17accelerated capital enrichment, 18adverse channel enhancements [Microcom], 19aircraft configuration equipment, 20alternate command element, 21automated cost estimator, 22[DoD/DSMC] Acquisition Center of Excellence, 23[FM101-5-1] air combat element (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), 24[TTPIO-ABCS] assistant corps engineer, 25[AR 310-50] assessment of combat effectiveness

ACEB Army Clothing and Equipment Board

ACEE aircraft energy efficiency

ACEF Ada compiler evaluation facility

ACEIT Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tool

ACEMIS Automated Communications-Electronics Management Information System

ACEORBAT ACE order of battle (NATO)

ACEP Advisory Committee on Export Policy

ACEREP Allied Command Europe Reporting System (NATO)

ACES 1Army Continuing Education System, 2ADP command and control evaluation system, 3Automated Command and Control Evaluation System (DSSO), 4automated cost evaluation system, 5Advanced Carry-on ELINT/ESM Suite, 6airborne collection electronic signals, 7Army Center of Excellence – Subsistence, 8Acquisition Center Executive System

ACESTRIKE Allied Command Europe Strike Command (NATO)

ACET 1Advisory Committee for Electronics and Telecommunications, 2air cushion transport, 3[AR 310-50] automatic cancellation of extended targets

ACETEF Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility

ACETS Army Corresponding Education and Training System

ACEVAL air combat evaluation (NATO)

ACEWS 1automated computer-assisted electronic warfare system, 2automatic communications electronic warfare system

ACF 1advanced communications function, 2alternate communications facility, 3area computing facilities, 4alternate command facility, 5Asynchronous Communications Facility (Honeywell), 6access control field, 7acquisition career field, 8air combat fighter, 9acceptance check flight, 10[JP 1-02] air contingency force, 11[AR 310-50] area confinement facility, 12[AR 310-50] Army Club Fund

ACFD applied computational fluid dynamic

ACFG automatic continuous function generation

ACFP advanced computer flight plan

ACFPS Advanced Computer Flight Planning System (AFGWC)

ACFT aircraft

ACG [AR 310-50] area coordination group

ACGP [AR 310-50] Army career group

ACH 1attempts per circuit hour, 2automated clearing house

ACI 1air combat intelligence, 2automatic card identification, 3air combat intercept, 4alarm control interface (tech control), 5allocated configuration identification, 6automated carrier interface (MTMC), 7advanced chip interconnection, 8analytic condition inspection, 9[JP 1-02] assign call inhibit

ACIA 1asynchronous communications interface adapter, 2[AR 310-50] Aviation Career Incentive Act of 1974

ACIAS automated calibration interval analysis system

ACIB Air Characteristics Improvement Board (Navy)

ACIC 1ADCOM Current Intelligence Center, 2[JP 2-02] Army CI Center

ACID automatic classification and interpretation of data

ACIIB [AR 310-50] American Civilian Internee Information Bureau

ACIIB(Br) [AR 310-50] Branch American Civilian Internee Information Bureau

ACIMS [AR 310-50] Aircraft Component Interactive Maintenance System

ACINT acoustic intelligence

ACIP 1air characteristic improvement panels, 2