I think it’s a Navy thing. They’ve always named all their missiles.

But yes, I agree – the proliferation of acronyms is completely out of hand, particularly (but not exclusively) in the USA. Everything is “Joint” (even if it isn’t) or “Advanced”, or the like. One obvious problem is, what do you call the replacements? Assume for the moment that a new missile replaces the ASRAAM. “More advanced short range air to air missile”? Even more advanced . . . . “? “Super advanced . . . “? Same with AMRAAM, of course. Or JASSM, or JSOW – what comes next?

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