F-117 -
The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. This precision-strike aircraft penetrates high-threat airspace and uses laser-guided weapons against critical targets.

Range: unlimited

Speed: High subsonic

F-14 -
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat's primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets. A curious side note relates to the 79 Tomcats sold to Iran prior to Khomeini. These weapons were armed with the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles system. Funny thing happened as our people were kicked out. Not one of those 79 planes had a functioning fire control system by end of summer 1979.

Maximum Speed: Mach 2+

Ceiling: 50,000+ feet

Crew: 2

Armament:

AIM-54

AIM-7

AIM-9

M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon

F-15 –
The Eagle is the premier air superiority fighter in the world. It is an all-weather, tactical fighter designed to provide American forces with air superiority over any battlefield. This plane can fly straight up! It is battle proven in a number of theaters around the world including Bosnia and the Gulf.

Range: 3,000 nautical miles

Speed: 2.5+ Mach

F-16 –
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. Block 20 MLU referenced in Reap the Whirlwind is an export variant to friendly countries. This variant has been sold to Taiwan in the quantities contemporary with the book.

Range: 1,800 nautical miles

Speed: 2 Mach

F-4 -
The Phantom was first used by the U.S. Navy as an interceptor but also was capable of flying as a ground-support bomber for the U.S. Marine Corps. The aircraft flew every traditional military mission: air superiority, close air support, interception, air defense suppression, long-range strike, fleet defense, attack and reconnaissance. Phantoms saw continuous action in Vietnam. They were produced in a wide range of variants. While they couldn’t turn as fast as a MiG, they didn’t have to see one in order to kill one.

Range: 1,130 nautical miles

Speed: 2+ Mach

F-5 -
The Northrop F-5 Tiger was one of the most successful export products of the US aircraft industry. It was reliable, easy to maintain, and relatively inexpensive. It served only in relatively small numbers with the United States armed forces, first as a trial with the USAF in Vietnam and then later as an adversary aircraft with the USAF, Navy, and Marine Corps.

Range: 500 nautical miles

Speed: 1.4+ Mach

F-8IIM –
First domestic fighter aircraft for the PLAAF. The design is based on the MiG-21, copying the delta wing design and has similar flight characteristics. NATO Designation: FINBACK.

F/A-18 -
All-weather fighter and attack aircraft. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation's first strike-fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. This appears to be replacing the venerable Tomcat.

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.7+

Ceiling: 50,000+ feet

Crew: 2 models B, D, and F 1 models A, C, and E

Armament:

AIM-120

AIM-7

AIM-9

Harpoon

HARM

Maverick

JSOW

M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon

FARC –
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the major rebel army that controls anywhere from 45% to 55% of Colombia. Prior to the Soviet Union’s collapse, FARC received funding and assistance via Cuba. In the post Soviet world, FARC and other rebel groups made a deal with the cocaine cartels. Cocaine money funds these roving armies and they protect the cocaine producers from the Colombian military and civil authorities.

Fatah –
See PLO.

Fatah Revolutionary Council –
See Abu Nidal.

FBI –
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is America’s premier law enforcement agency. It operates world wide either from domestic field offices, American embassies or government offices on foreign soil. The War of Terror is not a law enforcement issue. It is a counter-intelligence and covert action problem. The FBI has drifted away from these priorities over the last twenty years. The Bureau does not get shining reviews in my books—it doesn’t deserve it. My cop buddies tell me it is pretty hard to deal with the Bureau. My personal opinion is that until the Bureau backs off law enforcement and returns to a counter-intelligence role we are all at greater risk to al Qaeda nut cases.

FEMA –
The Federal Emergency Management Administration handles floods, fires, nuclear detonations and other disasters.

Finback –
See F-8IIM.

Fifth Column –
There are rumors that a rogue group of NSA/CIA hackers acquired a pirated copy of PROMIS (see definition). Allegedly, they used the PROMIS information to convince members of Congress not to run for reelection. Furthermore, there are indications the FBI actively hunted these people and they went by the moniker Fifth Column. I don’t know if those rumors are true, but it sure makes a good story.

FISA –
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is aimed at regulating the collection of "foreign intelligence" information in furtherance of U.S. counterintelligence, whether or not any laws were or will be broken. In short, counterintelligence and criminal prosecution are different.

FOBS –
See Fractional Orbital Bombardment System.

FOLLOW-THE-MONEY –
This is the corresponding foreign intelligence operation for BOPO-TROT. The NSC and the CIA ran this operation.

Force Recon –
These are the best of the best—the elite of the Marine Corps. Fans may have noticed I have a soft spot for the USMC. As a kid I worked for a Marine, a good friend’s father is a Marine, and one of my first Karate instructors joined the Corps. What’s my favorite weapon? 4000 Marines. Lest we forget, these are our nation’s 911-strike force. Semper Fi!

Fractional Orbital Bombardment System ­–
This is a really crude and really effective space borne nail bomb developed by the Soviet Union. It is their anti-satellite weapon, and basically what it does is maneuver real close to the target then explodes, sending shrapnel through the solar panels and delicate computer circuits. Even after the Soviets signed a treaty banning such weapons, they tested FOBA at least 20 more times.

FROG –
Free Rocket Over Ground were the first generation Soviet missiles designed to perform surface-to-surface roles. They are predecessors to SCUDs. These are not very accurate missiles and there were several generations.

FSB -
The Federal Security Service (FSB - Federal'naya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti, previously known as Federal Counterintelligence Service - FSK) is one of the successors of the KGB, and remains headquartered in the Lubyanka.

Fuel Air Explosive -
Fuel-Air Explosives [FAE] disperse an aerosol cloud of fuel which is ignited by an embedded detonator to produce an explosion. The rapidly expanding wave front due to overpressure flattens all objects within close proximity of the epicenter of the aerosol fuel cloud, and produces debilitating damage well beyond the flattened area. The main destructive force of FAE is high overpressure, useful against soft targets such as minefields, armored vehicles, aircraft parked in the open, and bunkers. It is often referred to as the poor man’s nuclear bomb.

Douglas De Bono / DouglasDeBono.Com Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota E-Mail readermail@DouglasDeBono.Com