The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database - Conventions, abbreviations and acronyms

The information below explains the conventions, abbreviations and acronyms used in the Arms Transfers Database.

Conventions
. .	Data not available or not applicable

( )	Uncertain data or SIPRI estimate

m	million (1000 000)

b	billion (1000 000 000)

Abbreviations and acronyms

ac	Aircraft
AAA	Anti-aircraft artillery
AAV	Anti-aircraft vehicle
AALS	Amphibious assault landing ship
ACRV	Armoured command and reconnaissance vehicle
AEV	Armoured engineer vehicle
AEW	Airborne early-warning
AEW&C	Airborne early-warning and control
AIFV	Armoured infantry fighting vehicle
AMV	Anti-mine vehicle
APC	Armoured personnel carrier
APC/CP	Armoured personnel carrier/command post
ARM	Anti-radar missile
ARV	Armoured recovery vehicle
ASM	Air-to-surface missile
ASW	Anti-submarine warfare
CIWS	Close-in weapon system
EDA	Excess Defense Articles
ELINT	Electronic intelligence
EW	Electronic warfare
FAC	Fast attack craft
FGA	Fighter/ground attack
FMF	Foreign Military Funding
FRG	Federal Republic of Germany
(G)	Gun-armed
GDR	German Democratic Republic
IFV	Infantry fighting vehicle
incl	Including/includes
(M)	Missile-armed
MCM	Mine countermeasures
Medevac	Medical evaluation
MP	Maritime patrol
MRL	Multiple rocket launcher
OPV	Offshore patrol vessel
SAM	Surface-to-air missile
SAP	Southern Amendment Program
SAR	Search and rescue
ShAM	Ship-to-air missile
ShShM	Ship-to-ship missile
ShSuM	Ship-to-submarine missile
SIGINT	Signals intelligence
SLCM	Submarine-launched cruise missile
SSM	Surface-to-surface missile
SuShM	Submarine-to-ship missile
VIP	Very important person
VLS	Vertical launch system