A military brevity word used over the radio to report the altitude of friendly aircraft or targets, specifically measured in hundreds of feet above ground level or mean sea level. It is typically used for low-altitude operations below 1,000 feet. For example, calling out cherubs five means an altitude of 500 feet. It keeps radio transmissions short and prevents confusion with other altitude callouts.
Heard on the job
Viper one is inbound, cherubs three, tally on the target.
Insider tip
Cherubs is for hundreds of feet (usually low altitude), while the related term angels is used for thousands of feet.