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Node A6 · Acronym decoder

SWaP

Size, Weight, and Power

What it actually means

The three resource budgets every payload and subsystem fights over, often extended to SWaP-C to add cost. SWaP budgets are allocated early, tracked as technical performance measures, and defended in every design review — because on an aircraft, satellite, or soldier, exceeding any of the three is somebody else's capability deleted.

Where you'll meet it

Subsystem specifications, payload trades, and margin-burn arguments everywhere in aerospace.

Related terms

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