Tactical Brevity Codes

Front 1

ARM

Back 1

[A/A] CONTACT(S) resulting from target manoeuvres exceeding GROUP cri- teria.

Front 2

AZIMUTH

Back 2

[A/A] A picture label describing two GROUPs separated laterally. GROUP names will be referenced by cardinal directions (e.g., NORTH GROUP, SOUTH GROUP, or EAST GROUP, WEST GROUP.

Front 3

BEAM

Back 3

BEAM (w/cardinal direction)—[A/A] Target stabilized within 70 to 110 degrees of aspect; generally given in cardinal directions: east, west, north, and south.

Front 4

BEARING (w/cardinal direction)

Back 4

Inner group formation with the trailer displaced approximately 45 degrees behind the leader. This is now called a “Swept” formation.

Front 5

BOGEY DOPE

Back 5

[A/A] Request for target information as requested or closest GROUP in BRAA with appropriate fill-ins.

Front 6

BRAA

Back 6

Tactical control format providing target Bearing, Range, Altitude, and Aspect, relative to a friendly aircraft. Aspect is only required if other than HOT.

Front 7

BRACKET (w/direction)

Back 7

Directive call to manoeuvre to a position on opposing sides, either laterally or vertically from the targets.

Front 8

BUGOUT (w/direction)

Back 8

Separation from that particular engagement/attack/operation; no intent to reengage/return.

Front 9

BUSTER

Back 9

Directive call to fly at max continuous speed (Mil power).

Front 10

CHAMPAGNE

Back 10

[A/A] A picture label describing three distinct groups with two in front and one behind.

Front 11

CHEAP SHOT

Back 11

AIM-120 missile data link terminated between high pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) and medium pulse repetition frequency (MPRF).

Front 12

CHICKS

Back 12

FRIENDLY aircraft.

Front 13

CLEAN

Back 13

(1) No sensor information on non-friendly aircraft of interest.(2) No visible battle damage.(3) Aircraft not carrying external stores.

Front 14

CLEARED

Back 14

(1) Requested action is authorized. NOTE: Engaged/support roles not established.(2) Flight lead response. Requested action is authorized. Mutual support may bedetached to fulfill briefed contracts (e.g., split criteria, shot doctrine). Wingmen willensure deconfliction from flight lead.

Front 15

CONTACT

Back 15

(1) Sensor contact at the stated position.(2) Acknowledges sighting of a specified reference point.(3) Individual radar return within a group or arm.

Front 16

CONTAINER

Back 16

Inner group formation with four contacts oriented in a square or offsetsquare.

Front 17

CONTINUE

Back 17

Continue present manoeuvre; does not imply a change in clearance toengage or expend ordnance.

Front 18

CRANK (w/direction)

Back 18

F-Pole manoeuvre; implies illuminating target at radar gimballimits.

Front 19

CUTOFF

Back 19

Request for, or directive to, intercept using cut-off geometry.

Front 20

DECLARE

Back 20

Inquiry as to the identification of specified tracks, targets, or correlatedgroup. Declaration responses must be in digital bullseye format.

Front 21

DEEP

Back 21

[A/A] Descriptive term used to indicate separation between the nearest and farthest GROUPS in range in a relative formation; used to describe a LADDER, VIC,CHAMPAGNE, or BOX.

Front 22

DELOUSE

Back 22

Directive call to detect, identify, and engage (if required) unknown aircrafttrailing friendly aircraft.

Front 23

DEFENSIVE

Back 23

[A/A]Speaker is under attack, is manoeuvring defensively, and isunable to ensure deconfliction or mutual support.

Front 24

DRAG (w/cardinal direction)

Back 24

[A/A] Target stabilized at 0- to 60-degree angle fromtail or 120- to 180-degree angle from nose.

Front 25

ECHELON (w/sub-cardinal direction)

Back 25

[A/A] A fill-in to a picture label describinggroups aligned behind and to the side of the closest group.

Front 26

ENGAGED

Back 26

Informative call used to establish engaged and support roles in the visualarena.

Front 27

EXTEND (w/direction)

Back 27

[A/A] Short-term manoeuvre to gain energy, distance, or separation normally with the intent of reengaging.

Front 28

FADED

Back 28

Radar contact is lost on a non-friendly aircraft/surface contact and any positional information given is estimated.

Front 29

FAST

Back 29

Target speed is 600 to 900 knots ground speed/Mach 1 to 1.5.

Front 30

FURBALL

Back 30

Response to a DECLARE request indicating known bandits and friendliesin close proximity. Provide amplifying information if available (i.e. call sign of engagedfriendlies).

Front 31

GOPHER

Back 31

A contact that has not conformed to safe passage routing, airspeed, oraltitude procedures. Will only be used when safe passage or minimum risk routing procedures are part of an ID matrix.

Front 32

GORILLA

Back 32

[A/A] Large force of indeterminable numbers and formation.

Front 33

HIGH

Back 33

CONTACT is greater than 40,000 feet MSL.

Front 34

HUSKY

Back 34

[A/A] Informative call that the AIM-120 is at HPRF active range.

Front 35

KNOCK-IT-OFF

Back 35

Directive call to cease air combat manoeuvres/attacks/activities.

Front 36

LINE ABREAST

Back 36

Inner group formation of two or more contacts separated in azimuth.

Front 37

LOW

Back 37

Target altitude is below 10,000 feet MSL.

Front 38

MEDIUM

Back 38

Target altitude between 10,000 and 40,000 feet MSL

Front 39

MONITOR(ING)

Back 39

(1) Maintain(ing) sensor awareness on specified GROUP.(2) [AIR-MAR] Directive call to an aircraft to maintain contact/targeting informationon a maritime surface.

Front 40

NEAR-FAR

Back 40

[A/A] Fighter term depicting a radar-apparent description of two or morecontacts within a group separated in range.

Front 41

PICTURE

Back 41

[A/A] A request to provide air information pertinent to the mission in adigital bullseye format unless briefed otherwise.

Front 42

PITBULL

Back 42

[A/A] Informative call that the AIM-120 is at MPRF active range.

Front 43

POP-UP

Back 43

(1) [A/A] Informative call of a GROUP that has suddenly appeared inside of briefedrange.(2) [S/A] Criteria used as a self defence method, within the ROE, to protect friendlyair defence elements from HOSTILE aircraft.

Front 44

POSIT

Back 44

Request for friendly position; response in terms of a geographic landmark oroff a common reference point

Front 45

PRESS

Back 45

Directive call to continue the attack; mutual support will be maintained. Supportive role will be assumed by the speaker.

Front 46

PRINT (type)

Back 46

Unambiguous non-cooperative target recognition (NCTR) reply.

Front 47

PUMP

Back 47

[A/A] A briefed manoeuvre to low aspect to stop closure on the threat or geographical boundary with the intent to reengage. Will be used to initiate a grinder tactic.

Front 48

RANGE

Back 48

[A/A] A picture label describing two GROUPs separated in distance alongthe same line of bearing. Group names will be LEAD GROUP/TRAIL GROUP.

Front 49

RESAN (re-sanitize)

Back 49

A range (prior to MELD) at which fighters who have been peeking, reset the radar coverage to search the extremes of their altitude AOR.

Front 50

RESET

Back 50

Proceed to a pre-briefed position or area of operation (AO).

Front 51

RIDER

Back 51

A BOGEY that is conforming to safe passage routing, airspeed, or altitudeprocedures.

Front 52

SCHLEM—Simulated high off boresight IR missile launch. Not assessable for simulatedkill/kill removal.

Back 52

Simulated high off boresight IR missile launch. Not assessable for simulatedkill/kill removal.

Front 53

SCRUB

Back 53

(MTI) return that signifies a low, slow airborne target.

Front 54

SEPARATE

Back 54

[A/A] Leaving a specific engagement; may or may not re-enter.

Front 55

SHADOW

Back 55

Follow indicated target.

Front 56

SHORT SKATE

Back 56

Directive to execute launch and leave mechanics no later than minimum abort range or notch range.

Front 57

SHOTGUN

Back 57

Pre-briefed weapons state

Front 58

SIDE-SIDE

Back 58

Fighter term depicting a radar-apparent description of two or more contacts within a group separated in azimuth.

Front 59

SKATE

Back 59

[A/A] Informative or directive call to execute launch-and-leave tactics and beout no later than desired out range (DOR)/minimum out range (MOR).

Front 60

SKID (w/direction)

Back 60

Directive (informative) for an all-aspect missile defensive manoeuvre to place threat radar/missile near the beam when the targeted aircraft is outside decision range.

Front 61

SKIP IT

Back 61

Veto of fighter commit call, usually followed with further directions.

Front 62

SKOSH

Back 62

[A/A] Aircraft is out of or unable to employ active radar missiles.

Front 63

SLIDE

Back 63

Directive/informative call to/from high value airborne asset (HVAA) to continue present mission while flowing from station in response to perceived threat; implies intent to RESET.

Front 64

SLOW

Back 64

Target with ground speed of 150 to 400 knots.

Front 65

SORT

Back 65

Directive call to assign responsibility within a GROUP; criteria can be metvisually, electronically (radar), or both.

Front 66

SORTED

Back 66

SORT responsibility within a group has been met.

Front 67

SOUR (mode/type)

Back 67

Opposite of SWEET.(1) Invalid/no response to an administrative IFF/SIF check.(2) (Timber) Indicates there are potential problems with net entry and initiatespre-mission link troubleshooting.

Front 68

SPADES

Back 68

An interrogated bogey group/radar contact which lacks all of the ATO (orequivalent) IFF/SIF modes and codes required for the identification criteria.

Front 69

SNAPLOCK

Back 69

I[A/A] indicates fighter has obtained a radar contact inside pre-briefedrange

Front 70

SPITTER (w/direction)

Back 70

An aircraft that has departed from the engagement or isdeparting the engaged fighter's targeting responsibility.

Front 71

STATUS

Back 71

(1) Request for an individual's tactical situation.(2) (Group name) Request for a full positional update in on the specified group; bullseyeis the default format.

Front 72

STINGER

Back 72

(1) [A/A] Three-ship inner GROUP formation with two lead CONTACTs line abreastand the Single in trail.(2) [S/A] An IR man-portable air defence system (MANPADS).

Front 73

TARGET (_)

Back 73

(1) Assignment of targeting responsibilities.(2) [A/S], [S/S] ROE, PID coordination of forces, and commander’s guidancerequirements on the referenced track/target have been satisfied. Target/track correlationand CDE must be accomplished prior to employing ordnance/fires.

Front 74

TARGETED

Back 74

Group responsibility has been met.

Front 75

TERMINATE—

Back 75

(1) Stop laser illumination of a target.(2) In training, cease local engagement without affecting the overall exercise.

Front 76

THREAT (w/direction)

Back 76

Untargeted HOSTILE/BANDIT/BOGEY is withinpre-briefed range and/or aspect to a friendly.

Front 77

TRASHED.

Back 77

Informative call missile has been defeated.

Front 78

VERY FAST

Back 78

Target speed greater than 900 knots ground speed/Mach 1.5.

Front 79

VIC

Back 79

VIC—Picture label with three groups with the single closest in range and two groups,azimuth split, in trail. Group names should be LEAD GROUP and NORTH TRAILGROUP and SOUTH TRAIL GROUP or EAST TRAIL GROUP and WEST TRAILGROUP.

Front 80

WALL

Back 80

A picture label describing three or more groups separated primarily in azimuth.

Front 81

WEEDS

Back 81

Indicates that aircraft are operating close to the surface.

Front 82

WIDE

Back 82

Descriptive term used to indicate the separation between the GROUPS in azimuth in a WALL, VIC, CHAMPAGNE, or BOX.

Front 83

WINCHESTER

Back 83

No ordnance remaining..

Front 84

BIRDOG

Back 84

An ADUSCAN unique brevity comm term to direct flight to transition radar setup from conventional counter air to low RCS target (such as UAV or cruise missile (CM) detection..

Front 85

BEAVER

Back 85

An ADUSCAN unique brevity comm term that directs the flight to transition back to conventional setup.

Front 86

BUGSY

Back 86

Non-friendly unit/-entity conducting terrorist or assymmetric warfare activites.

Front 87

B/E ( BULLSEYE)

Back 87

An established reference point from which the position of an object can be referenced by bearing (magnetic) and range (NM) from this point. B/E will not be truncated to ''bull''.

Front 88

COMMIT

Back 88

A directive call to intercept a group of interest.

Front 89

COVER

Back 89

Directive/informative call to assume a supporting position that will allow engagement of a specified track or threat to the flight if ordered.

Front 90

GUIDE

Back 90

Directive term to intercept and move TOI as directed using ICAO procedures.

Front 91

HEADBUTT

Back 91

Directive term to fighters/interceptors to immediately divert a TOI clear of a restricted or prohibited area. Also referred to as INTERVENE in Link 16 format.

Front 92

HOUNDOG

Back 92

Call made by a free fighter indicating the free fighter is in a position to employ weapons.

Front 93

ID

Back 93

- Directive call to identify the target

- Aircrew identification accomplised, followed by type in WEFT ( Wing, engine, fuselage and tail)

If requested, provide amplifying information such as tail number and nationality.

Front 94

INSPECT

Back 94

Establish visual contact with cockpit of TOI (implies closure inside 500 feet slant range). Attempt communication and report all observations of activity.

Front 95

JACKAL

Back 95

Surveillance network participating group (NPG) of Link 16/TADIL-J.

Front 96

LINER

Back 96

Fly at speed giving maximum cruising range.

Front 97

LOST CONTACT

Back 97

- Previous contact lost, provide target information.

- Sensor information on a friendly aircraft lost.

Front 98

MAX SUBSONIC

Back 98

Set throttle / speed to achieve maximum airspeed below mach.

Front 99

MERGED

Back 99

- Informative call that friendlies and targets have arrived in the same visual arena

Front 100

MONITORING

Back 100

(1) Maintain(ing) sensor awareness on specified group/TOI (2) Also directive call to an aircraft to maintain contact / targeting information on a maritime surface contact (SKUNK)