| 3-D | three-dimensional |
| ABM | anti-ballistic missile |
| ACRR | Annular Core Research Reactor |
| ADM | atomic demolition munition |
| AEA | Atomic Energy Act |
| AEC | Atomic Energy Commission |
| AEHF | advanced extremely high frequency |
| AFAP | artillery fired atomic projectile |
| AFB | Air Force Base |
| AFTAC | Air Force Technical Applications Center |
| ALCM | air-launched cruise missile |
| Alt | alteration |
| ANWFZ | African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone |
| ANFO | ammonium nitrate and fuel oil |
| AO | action officer |
| AoA | analysis of alternatives |
| APEX | adaptive planning and execution |
| AR | active ready |
| AS | active stockpile |
| ASD(NCB) | Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs |
| ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| ATSD(AE) | Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy |
| B | bomb |
| BA | budget authority |
| BCR | Baseline Cost Report |
| BDA | battle damage assessment |
| BES | Budget Estimate Submission |
| C | Confidential |
| C4I | command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence |
| CAC | Compartmented Advisory Committee |
| CANES | Comprehensive Atmospheric Nuclear Environment Standard |
| CANWFZ | Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone |
| CAS-D | Continuous-At-Sea-Deterrent |
| CBR | congressional budget resolution |
| CBRN | chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear |
| CCD | coded control device |
| CCDR | Combatant Commander |
| CCJO | Capstone Concept for Joint Operations |
| CDMC | Consolidated Depleted Uranium Manufacturing Capability |
| CCMD | Combatant Command |
| CDRUSSTRATCOM | Commander, United States Strategic Command |
| CDS | command disablement system |
| CEP | circular error probable |
| cGy | centigray |
| CHE | conventional high explosive |
| CJCS | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| CJCSI | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction |
| CMRR | Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Building Replacement |
| CNWDI | Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information |
| COMSEC | Communications Security |
| CONOP | concept of operation |
| CONPLAN | concept plan; operation plan in concept format |
| CONUS | continental United States |
| CPF | contractor protective forces |
| CPPNM | Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials |
| CR | continuing resolution |
| CSOG | CBRN Survivability Oversight Group |
| CTBT | Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty |
| CTBTO | Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization |
| CTR | cooperative threat reduction |
| CUI | Controlled Unclassified Information |
| D-test | destructive test |
| DARHT | dual axis radiographic hydrodynamic test |
| DAS | Defense Acquisition System |
| DASA | Defense Atomic Support Agency |
| DASD(NM) | Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters |
| DCA | dual-capable aircraft |
| DE | damage expectancy |
| DGZ | desired ground zero |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DHS/CWMD | DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction |
| DIA | Defense Intelligence Agency |
| DNA | Defense Nuclear Agency |
| DNDO | Domestic Nuclear Detection Office |
| DoD | Department of Defense |
| DoDD | Department of Defense Directive |
| DoDI | Department of Defense Instruction |
| DoDM | Department of Defense Manual |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| DOE O | Department of Energy Order |
| DOJ | Department of Justice |
| DOS | Department of State |
| DOTMLPF-P | doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy |
| DP | Defense Program |
| DPF | Dense Plasma Focus |
| DPG | Defense Planning Guidance |
| DRAAG | Design Review and Acceptance Group |
| DRB | Defense Resources Board |
| DTRA | Defense Threat Reduction Agency |
| DU | depleted uranium |
| DUE | domestic uranium enrichment |
| DUU | deliberate unauthorized use |
| DLI | direct laser impulse |
| EAM | emergency action message |
| EIVR | Exchange of Information by Visit and Report |
| EMP | electromagnetic pulse |
| EMR | electromagnetic radiation |
| ENDS | enhanced nuclear detonation safety |
| EO | Executive Order |
| ERDA | Energy Research and Development Agency |
| FAB-T | Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals |
| FAW | Future Air-Delivered Warhead |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| FBM | fleet ballistic missile |
| FBR | fast burst reactor |
| FBW | Future Ballistic Missile Warhead |
| FCS | Federal Customs Service (of Russia) |
| FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| FFRDC | federally funded research and development center |
| FOIA | Freedom of Information Act |
| FOUO | For Official Use Only |
| FPU | first production unit |
| FRD | Formerly Restricted Data |
| FSU | former Soviet Union |
| FRP | fire-resistant pit |
| FWDR | Final Weapon Development Report |
| FPF | federal protective forces |
| FXR | flash X-ray machine |
| FY | fiscal year |
| FYDP | Future Years Defense Program |
| FYNSP | future-years nuclear security program |
| GA | gun assembly |
| GBSD | ground-based strategic deterrent |
| GEF | Guidance for Employment of the Force |
| GICNT | Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism |
| GLBM | ground-launched ballistic missile |
| GLCM | ground-launched cruise missile |
| Global ASNT | Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal |
| GOC | Global Operations Center |
| GSP | graded security protection |
| GZ | ground zero |
| HE | high explosive |
| HEAF | High Explosives Application Facility |
| HEMP | high-altitude electromagnetic pulse |
| HERMES | high-energy radiation megavolt electron source |
| HEU | highly enriched uranium |
| HLG | High Level Group |
| HOB | height of burst |
| HRP | Human Reliability Program |
| HWR | heavy-water reactor |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| ICBM | intercontinental ballistic missile |
| ICD | Interface Control Document |
| IHE | insensitive high explosive |
| IND | improvised nuclear device |
| INF | intermediate-range nuclear forces |
| IOC | initial operational capability |
| IS | inactive stockpile |
| ITW/AA | Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment |
| J/kg | joules per kilogram |
| JAIEG | Joint Atomic Information Exchange Group |
| JCIDS | Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System |
| JCPOA | Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action |
| JILT | joint integrated laboratory test |
| JIPP | Joint Integrated Project Plan |
| JNWPS | Joint Nuclear Weapons Publications System |
| JOE | joint operating environment |
| JOPES | Joint Operation Planning and Execution System |
| JOWOG | Joint Working Group |
| JP | Joint Publication |
| JRN | Joint Atomic Information Exchange Group Reference Number |
| JROC | Joint Requirements Oversight Council |
| JS | Joint Staff |
| JSR | Joint Surety Report |
| JTA | joint test assembly |
| JTSMG | Joint Theater Surety Management Group |
| KCNSC | Kansas City National Security Campus |
| keV | kiloelectron-volt |
| kg | kilogram |
| kt | kiloton |
| LANL | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| LANSCE | Los Alamos Neutron Science Center |
| LAP4 | Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Project |
| LBTS | large blast thermal simulator |
| LD50 | lethal dose for 50 percent of the population |
| LE | life extension |
| LEP | life extension program |
| LEU | low-enriched uranium |
| LIHE | light-initiated high explosive |
| LINAC | linear accelerator |
| LLC | limited-life component |
| LLCE | limited-life component exchange |
| LLNL | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| LPF | Lithium Processing Facility |
| LRSO | long-range standoff |
| LTBT | Limited Test Ban Treaty |
| LWR | light-water reactor |
| MAR | Major Assembly Release |
| MBS | Modular Bremsstrahlung Source |
| MCCS | multiple-coded control switch |
| MDA | Missile Defense Agency |
| MDA | mutual defense agreement |
| MILCON | military construction |
| MILPERS | military personnel |
| MIL-STD | Military Standard |
| MIR | major impact report |
| MIRV | multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle |
| MK | mark |
| MLC | Military Liaison Committee |
| MMIII | Minuteman III |
| MMPU | Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program Upgrade |
| M&O | management and operating |
| MOA | memorandum of agreement |
| Mod | modification |
| MOU | memorandum of understanding |
| MPC&A | Material Protection, Control, and Accounting |
| MT | megaton |
| mV/m | millivolt to meter |
| NAOC | National Airborne Operations Center |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NC2 | nuclear command and control |
| NC3 | nuclear command, control, and communications |
| NCCS | Nuclear Command and Control System |
| NDAA | National Defense Authorization Act |
| NDS | National Defense Strategy |
| NEWS | nuclear explosive and weapons surety |
| NGE+ | Neutron Generator Enterprise Consolidation |
| NIF | National Ignition Facility |
| NMCC | National Military Command Center |
| NMS | National Military Strategy |
| NNSA | National Nuclear Security Administration |
| NNSS | Nevada National Security Site |
| NORAD | North American Aerospace Defense Command |
| NPG | Nuclear Planning Group |
| NPR | Nuclear Posture Review |
| NPT | Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty) |
| NRF | National Response Framework |
| NSDD | Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence |
| NSE | Nuclear Security Enterprise |
| NSI | national security information |
| NSPD | National Security Presidential Directive |
| NSPM | National Security Presidential Memorandum |
| NSS | National Security Strategy |
| NSTCA | Nuclear Security Threat Capabilities Assessment |
| NSWC | Naval Surface Warfare Center |
| NTD | nuclear threat device |
| NTNF | national technical nuclear forensics |
| NTR | nuclear threat reduction |
| NTRG | Nuclear Trafficking Response Group |
| NTS | Nevada Test Site |
| NU | natural uranium |
| NWC | Nuclear Weapons Council |
| NWCSC | Nuclear Weapons Council Standing Committee |
| NWCSSC | Nuclear Weapons Council Standing and Safety Committee |
| NWCWSC | Nuclear Weapons Council Weapons Safety Committee |
| NWD | nuclear weapon data |
| NWDA | Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorization |
| NWRWG | Nuclear Weapons Requirements Working Group |
| NWSM | Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum |
| NWSP | Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Plan |
| NWSS | nuclear weapon security standard |
| NWSSG | Nuclear Weapon System Safety Group |
| NWTI | nuclear weapons technical inspection |
| OAU | Organization of African Unity |
| OCA | original classification authority |
| ODNI | Office of the Director of National Intelligence |
| O&M | operations and maintenance |
| OMB | Office of Management and Budget |
| OPLAN | operation plan |
| OSCC | Open Skies Consultative Commission |
| OSD | Office of the Secretary of Defense |
| OUO | Official Use Only |
| P3 | U.S.-UK-France |
| PA | probability of arrival |
| PAL | permissive action link |
| PBD | program budget decision |
| PBR | president’s budget request |
| PCI | pulsed current injection |
| PCTFE | polychlorotrifluoroethylene |
| PD | probability of damage |
| PDD | Presidential Decision Directive |
| PDM | Program Decision Memoranda |
| PLS | prelaunch survivability |
| PNET | Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty |
| PNI | Presidential Nuclear Initiative |
| PNVC | Presidential and National Voice Conferencing |
| POE | point of entry |
| POG | Project Officers Group |
| POM | Program Objective Memorandum |
| POTUS | President of the United States |
| PPBE | Planning, Programming and Budgeting, and Evaluation (DOE) |
| PPBE | Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (DoD) |
| PPD | Presidential Policy Directive |
| PPE | personal protective equipment |
| PPI | process prove-in |
| PRAP | personnel reliability assurance program |
| PRC | People’s Republic of China |
| PRP | Personnel Reliability Program |
| PRS | plasma radiation source |
| PSP | Personnel Security Program |
| psi | pounds per square inch |
| PTP | probability to penetrate |
| Pu-239 | plutonium-239 |
| Pub. L. | Public Law |
| PX | Pantex Plant |
| RAAC | Rack Assembly and Alignment Complex |
| RD | radius of damage |
| RD | Restricted Data |
| RDD | radiological dispersal device |
| RDT&E | research, development, test, and evaluation |
| RED | radiological exposure device |
| RG-Pu | reactor-grade plutonium |
| ROPA | Report on Platform Assessments |
| ROSA | Report on Stockpile Assessments |
| RPD | Requirements and Planning Document |
| RS | readiness state |
| RTG | radioisotope thermoelectric generator |
| S | Secret |
| SAM | surface-to-air missile |
| SAOC | survivable airborne operations center |
| SALT I | Strategic Arms Limitation Talks |
| SALT II | Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty |
| SCN | shipbuilding and conversion, Navy |
| SCI | Sensitive Compartmented Information |
| SCT | Stockpile Confidence Test |
| SD | statutory determination |
| SECENG | Secretary of Energy |
| SEP | Stockpile Evaluation Plan |
| SFI | significant finding investigation |
| SHAPE | Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe |
| SLBM | submarine-launched ballistic missile |
| SLCM | sea-launched cruise missile |
| SNL | Sandia National Laboratories |
| SNM | special nuclear material |
| SORT | Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty |
| SREMP | source-region electromagnetic pulse |
| SRH | strategic radiation-hardened |
| SRHEC | Strategic Radiation-Hardened Electronics Council |
| SRPPF | Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility |
| SRS | Savannah River Site |
| SSBI | single scope background investigation |
| SSBN | ship, submersible, ballistic, nuclear (ballistic missile submarine) |
| SSM | surface-to-surface missile |
| SSMP | Stockpile Stewardship Management Plan |
| SSNS | Satellite System Nuclear Survivability |
| SSP | Stockpile Stewardship Plan |
| SSP | Strategic Systems Programs |
| START | Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty |
| ST&E | science, technology, and engineering |
| STS | stockpile-to-target sequence |
| TA-55 | LANL plutonium facility technical area |
| TACAMO | take charge and move out |
| TCC | Transformation Coordinating Committee |
| TCG-NAS-2 | Joint DOE/DoD Topical Classification Guide for Nuclear Assembly Systems, March 1997 |
| TFF | Tritium Finishing Facility |
| TFNI | Transclassified Foreign Nuclear Information |
| Th | thorium |
| TNF | technical nuclear forensics |
| TNT | trinitrotoluene |
| TREE | transient radiation effects on electronics |
| TRS | thermal radiation source |
| TS | Top Secret |
| TTBT | Threshold Test Ban Treaty |
| U | Unclassified |
| U-235 | uranium-235 |
| U-238 | uranium-238 |
| UCNI | Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information |
| UHF | Ultra High Frequency |
| UGT | underground nuclear test |
| UPF | Uranium Processing Facility |
| UQS | unique signal |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| USC | United States Code |
| USD(AT&L) | Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics |
| USD(A&S) | Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics |
| USD(P) | Under Secretary of Defense for Policy |
| USD(R&E) | Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering |
| USEUCOM | United States European Command |
| USG | United States Government |
| USSOCOM | United States Special Operations Command |
| USSTRATCOM | United States Strategic Command |
| VCJCS | Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| VHF | very high frequency |
| VLF | very low frequency |
| W | warhead |
| WDCR | Weapon Design and Cost Report |
| WETL | Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory |
| WG-HEU | weapons-grade highly enriched uranium |
| WG-Pu | weapons-grade plutonium |
| WMD | weapons of mass destruction |
| WRD&T | Weapons Research, Development, and Testing |
| WS3 | weapon storage and security system (United States) weapon security and survivability system (NATO) |
| WSR | weapon system reliability |
| WSV | weapon storage vault |