Communications and brevity

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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).

Pilots should speak up when engaged either defensively (most important) or offensively (less important), this is so the rest of the flight can adjust accordingly to help you out! When in a high-stress environment it becomes more critical that you allow other pilots to communicate critical messages; don't be yapping about your speed and thus step on your flight who are trying to tell you they are in danger!

• Know what to say.

Pilots should try to get their point across with all the necessary information, avoiding unnecessary fluff. Avoid raising your voice as this tends to escalate the volume of communication and demoralise pilots under stress.

• Accuracy and clarity.

No-one will mind if you don't know all the brevity words used for every situation. Remain calm, speak clearly and don't clog up the comms!

Responding to communications

When a flight lead gives a directive the entire flight must respond in correct form; this is done by giving your flight number and pilots most respond in ascending order (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. If someone is silent, it's OK to skip them and allow them to respond later, however the flight lead(s) will be the one to investigate any silence in comms.

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").

The flight does not need to respond to any informative calls (e.g. "Falcon 1-1, looking for 350 knots, climbing 10 degrees) which differ from directive calls in that the flight is not being requested to take action but merely being given supplemental information to improve flight efficiency and cohesiveness.

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

Informatives e.g. "My altitude, Angels 10" , "Traffic 12 o'clock level"

Do's and Don'ts

DO speak up if you're in immediate danger!

DO remain calm and speak clearly!

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).

DON'T comply with a directive that is sure to kill you; you are the best judge of this.

DON'T clog up the communications with pointless information.

Being a good Flight Lead

What you should be saying and when.

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.
BEAMING	Moving towards a target at a perpendicular angle OR close to radar gimbal limits.
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.
CONTACT	Similar to TALLY, relating specifically to acquisition of target via radar.
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.
HOUND DOG	I see something I want to shoot / I see the target you are referring to.
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.
NOTCHING	(Left/Right): Moving on a beam away from the target, usually done to support a radar-guided missile in order to reduce the closure rate whilst maintaining a radar lock.
OUTLAW	Similar to Bogey but assumed hostile due to point of origin i.e. unknown aircraft flying from enemy airspace.
PID	(Positive Identification) The ability to confirm the nature of a target (friendly hostile) via means that could include by radar or visually (through the TGP or with the MK1 eyeball).
PITBULL	AIM-120 missile has reached MPRF active range (gone active).
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 INDICATE 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.