Communications and brevity
THIS IS A WIP
Contents
Learning Objectives
- Learn how to use VHF and UHF Communications in BMS.
- Understand the Syntax used when Communicating between Fighter Aircraft.
- 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. |
