MILITARY ENCYCLOPEDIA

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: a ballistic missile with a range over 5,500 km.

Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): a land- or submarine-based rocket capable of delivering a nuclear or conventional warhead over ranges exceeding 5,500 km.

IFF Systems: Identification Friend or Foe systems are military electronic systems that use radio signals to identify friendly aircraft or vehicles.

An armored vehicle that transports infantry while providing direct fire support (autocannon or ATGM), letting troops fight from or alongside the vehicle — unlike an APC, which serves mainly as a battle taxi.

A rifle scope feature where the reticle (crosshairs) is internally lit for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions.

Electro-optical device that amplifies low-level ambient light to enhance visual capability in low-light conditions.

Imaging infrared guidance uses a sensor to capture a thermal image of the target, enabling the missile to track and hit with high precision.

A guidance system in ATGMs that uses infrared sensors to create a thermal image of the target for precise homing.

A status indicating that a product or feature is actively being manufactured and distributed for operational use.

Capable of receiving fuel from another aircraft while in flight, extending its operational range and endurance.

Incapacitating refers to the ability of a chemical agent to render individuals unable to perform tasks or respond effectively, without necessarily causing permanent harm or death.

Incendiary & Napalm Bombs are aerial munitions designed to start fires or cause severe burns, using materials such as white phosphorus or thickened gasoline.

Firearm action type where the slide's rearward motion is driven by recoil energy alone, without a separate locking mechanism.

Guidance system combining inertial navigation (self-contained motion tracking) with GPS (satellite-based positioning) for precise trajectory correction in ballistic missiles.

A guidance method that uses inertial navigation sensors together with satellite‑based GPS signals to determine a missile’s position and steer it toward a target.

Inertial navigation is a self-contained system that determines a vehicle’s position, orientation, and velocity by integrating data from accelerometers and gyroscopes, without external signals.

Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) are armored combat vehicles designed to transport infantry while providing protection against small arms fire and shrapnel, equipped with weapons such as machine guns or autocannons for direct fire support.

A tank designed to support infantry units, emphasizing armor and firepower over speed.

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light, used in missile guidance systems to detect and track targets based on heat signatures.

A high explosive designed to detonate reliably despite external shocks, impacts, or fires, used in nuclear warheads to ensure safety and functionality.

Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.

Propulsion system combining gas turbines and diesel generators to provide both ship propulsion and electrical power.

Military aircraft equipped with sensors and systems for gathering intelligence, surveillance, or reconnaissance data through electronic, optical, or other means.

Auxiliary and support ships specifically equipped for intelligence gathering and surveillance missions, including electronic, communications, and radar monitoring.

A communication link enabling direct data transfer between satellites without ground station relay.

Fighter aircraft designed to rapidly engage and destroy enemy aircraft, particularly bombers or other interceptors, before they reach their targets.

A firearm's ammunition storage compartment located entirely within the weapon's receiver or grip, not requiring external magazines.

An internal magazine is a pistol magazine that is contained within the grip and loaded from within the firearm.

An internal compartment within a military aircraft designed to store and deploy weapons, reducing radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag.

A breech mechanism in artillery where the screw threads are interrupted to allow quick opening and closing of the breech.

IRBM: Intermediate-range ballistic missile, a ballistic missile with a range of roughly 3,000–5,500 km, capable of delivering conventional or nuclear warheads.

Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM): A land- or sea-based ballistic missile with a range capability between 3,000 and 5,500 km, typically carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.

Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.

Warships protected by iron or steel armor plates, primarily used from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries for coastal and riverine combat.

Infrared Search and Track (IRST) is a passive sensor system that detects and tracks airborne targets by their heat signatures without emitting radiation.