Communications and brevity

From UOAF Codex
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THIS IS A WIP

Learning Objectives

  1. Learn how to use VHF and UHF Communications in BMS.
  2. Understand the Syntax used when Communicating between Fighter Aircraft.
  3. Brevity Code Words.


Learning Files

  • Video Outlining Communications in Combat.



Basic Principles of Brevity

  • Know when to speak (and when to be silent).
  • Know what to say.
  • Accuracy and clarity.


Responding to communications

Within your flight (VHF), you may use your flight number as an alternative to the affirmative when given a directive (e.g. "Cowboy 1-1: Flight go trail. Cowboy 1-2: TWO Cowboy 1-3: THREE Cowboy 1-4: FOUR). This makes it clear for the flight lead to understand who has heard them and has intent to carry out the order.

When you are unable to carry out the order you should say "unable" and elaborate should the situation require it. In some situations you may find you are engaged offensive or defensive and can add this, i.e. "Unable. Viper 1-4 engaged defensive". The amount of information you give should be reasonable; let the flight know if you're in a dogfight or defending missiles if they don't already.

Between flights (UHF), the flight lead will need to use the flight callsign as an identifier as multiple flights have access to this method of communication (e.g. "Falcon 1, Panther 2 we have entered the AO, looking for targets" "Panther 2, Falcon 1, roger that")

Differences between directives and informatives

Directives e.g. "Flight fence in" , "Element 2 go trail"

Informatives e.g. "My altitude, Angels 10" , "Lead checking left for steer 2"

Do's and Don'ts

DON'T use "message" for Flight Comms (e.g. "Lobo this is Panther, message", "Panther this is Lobo, go ahead, over." "Lobo, be advised you have bandits over the target area time now.", "Panther, we copy all, out.")

DON'T give informatives out during high-workload periods of flight (e.g. talk about your fuel consumption during a furball)

DON'T repeat communications. (e.g. "MAGNUM SA-2, I REPEAT, MAGNUM SA-2)

Brevity Code Masterlist

Term Meaning
ANGELS Height of FRIENDLY aircraft in thousands of feet mean sea level (MSL)
ARIZONA No ARM ordnance remaining. (HARMS for you BMS pilots)
BANDIT Identified enemy aircraft. Does not neccesarily imply direction or authority to engage.
BINGO Fuel state needed for recovery (to RTB)
BLIND No visual contact with friendly aircraft / ground position. Opposite of VISUAL.
BOGEY Radar or visual contact whose identity is unknown.
BRAA Bearing Range Altitude and Aspect. Aspect only required if other than HOT.
BREAK Directive call to perform an immediate maximum performance 180-degree turn (or as directed) in the indicated direction. Assumes a defensive situation requiring infrared missile defense (IRMD).
BREVITY Radio frequency is becoming saturated/degraded or jammed and briefer transmissions must follow.
BROKE LOCK Advisory call regarding loss of radar/IR lock-on.
BUDDY LOCK Locked on to a friendly aircraft, often a response to SPIKE or BUDDY SPIKE. Generally a good idea if you identify yourself as well.
BUDDY SPIKE Friendly aircraft A-A radar track on the RWR, can be a response to RAYGUN or general advisory call. Generally a good idea if you identify yourself as well.
BUSTER Directive call to fly at max continuous speed (Mil power).
CHECK (number, left/right) Turn (number) degrees left or right and maintain new heading.
CLEAN No sensor information on non-friendly aircraft of interest / no visible battle damage.
CLEARED Flight lead response: requested action is authorised.
CLEARED HOT Flight lead response: release of ordinance is authorised.
COLD Essentially means "turned away". Can be used as a direction or description e.g. "Bandit nose cold"
COMMIT Directive call to intercept.
DEFENSIVE The speaker is under attack, moving defensively and unable to support others.
DELOUSE Directive call to detect, identify and engage (if required) unknown aircraft trailing friendly aircraft.
DOLLY LINK-4A/TADIL-C. Aka. "The data link" in BMS
FADED Radar contact (temporally) is lost on a non-friendly aircraft/surface contact and any positional information given is estimated.
FOX A-A weapons employment (most should know this one already!)
FURBALL Known bandits and friendlies in close proximity.
GATE Directive/informative call to fly as quickly as possible, using afterburner/max power.
GORILLA A large force of indeterminable numbers and formation i.e. a metric shit ton.
HOOK (with direction) Directive call to perform an in-place 180-degree turn.
HOT Meaning "turned towards"; the opposite of COLD.
JUDY Aircrew has radar or visual contact of the correct target, only requires situational awareness information and the weapon director will minimise radio transmissions. In practice, this is an "I got this" call from the flight to an AWACS.
LOW Below 10,000 feet MSL
MILLER TIME Informative call indicating completion of A-G ordnance delivery. Generally used by the last striker in conjuction with the egress plan. In practice, used by the package lead as an RTB call. "Ducks on a pond" is also used in BMS (and the best RTB call).
MUSIC Electronic radar jamming. E.g. "Flight, music on"
NAILS (with direction) RWR indication of radar in search. E.g. "Nails 29, left 10" (I have a MiG-29 on my RWR, from my nose left, 10 o'clock)
NAKED No RWR indications.
NO JOY No visual contact with target/landmark, opposite of TALLY.
OUTLAW Similar to Bogey but assumed hostile due to point of origin i.e. unknown aircraft flying from enemy airspace.
PITBULL AIM-120 missile has reached MPRF active range (gone active). Also an ugly breed of dog.
PUSH Go to designated frequency, no acknowledgement required.
PLAYTIME Amount of time aircraft can remain on station.
RAYGUN Indicating a radar lock on unknown aircraft. A request for BUDDY SPIDE reply from friendly aircraft.
RIFLE Friendly A-G missile launch.
ROGER Indicates aircrew understands the radio transmission, DOES NOT INDICATED COMPLIANCE OR REACTION.
ROLEX Time adjustment in minutes, references from the original planned time. Plus means later, minus means earlier.
SAM Visual acquisition of a SAM in flight or SAM launch, should include position and type if known.
SAUNTER Fly at best endurance.
SINGER Informative call of an RWR indication of SAM launch.
SORT Directive call to assign responsibility within a GROUP; criteria can be met visually, electronically (radar), or both.
TALLY Sighting of a target. Opposite of NO JOY.
TUMBLEWEED Indicates limited situational awareness, NO JOY and BLIND. A request for information.
UNABLE Cannot comply as requested or directed (preferably with reason if possible).
UNIFORM UHF/AM radio.
VICTOR VHF/AM radio.
VISUAL Sighting of a FRIENDLY aircraft or ground position. Opposite of BLIND.
WHAT LUCK Request for results of mission or tasks.
WHAT STATE Report amount of fuel and missiles. Ammunition and oxygen are reported only when specifically requested or critical. "Weapon state" and "Fuel state" also used at UOAF.
WILCO Will comply (with received instructions).
WINCHESTER No ordinance remaining.