Operational Brevity Words

Operational Brevity Words

By: Author Unknown
Date: Unknown

The following is a list of operational brevity words and terms to provide common understanding and minimize radio transmissions while executing tactics described in this manual. This common understanding, however, is dependent on the following rules of engagement:

These lists are not all inclusive.
Use plain English when required.
Words listed below should be used in lieu of words or phrases with similar definitions.
When a flight lead makes directive calls, the wingman must respond with the directed action to the best of his ability.
If the wingman uses a "directive" term/word, it is a request and the flight lead reserves the right to approve/deny the wingman's requested action.

Allied nations may have different meanings for some of the terms/words listed here (reference ACP 165). They are indicated by an asterisk (*) behind the term/word.

Scroll down or click a letter below to go directly to a section:

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ABORT: Directive to cease action/attack/event/mission.
ACTION: Directive to initiate a briefed attack sequence or maneuver.
AIRCRAFT AXIS: There are three axis which are mutually perpendicular and have a common point of intersection. The aircraft longitudinal axis is parallel to the fuselage reference line. Aircraft rotation around this axis is roll or bank. The aircraft vertical axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis through the center of the aircraft. Rotation around this axis is yaw. The aircraft lateral axis is perpendicular to both the longitudinal and vertical axes at the point of intersection. Rotation around this axis is pitch.
ALPHA CHECK: Request for bearing and range to described point.
ANCHOR: Orbit about a specific point; ground track flown by tanker. Information call indicates a turning engagement about a specific location.
ANGLE OF ATTACK (AOA): The angle between the cord line of the wing and the relative wind.
ANGLE-OFF: The angular difference between the longitudinal axis of the attacker and the logitudinal axis of the defender.
ANGELS: Height of aircraft in thousands of feet.
APEX/ALAMO: Training term used to denote simulated launch of enemy, all-aspect radar missile.
APHID/ARCHER: Training term used to denote simulated launch of enemy, rear hemisphere heat seeking missiles.
ARCING: Cutoff in plane of target motion to decrease range to targetdefender allows attacker to use cutoff.
ARM/ARMED (Safe/Hot): Select armament (safe/hot), or armament is safe/hot.
AS FRAGGED: Fighter, FAC, mission package, or agency will be performing exactly as stated by the air tasking order.
ASPECT: Request/comment regarding target aspect information.
ASPECT ANGLE: The angle between the longitudinal axis of the target (projected rearward) and the line-of-sight to the fighter, measured from the tail of the target. The attackers heading is not a consideration. (Whenever the attacker is pointed at the bogey, angle-off and aspect are the same.)
ATTACK/ATTACKING(): Indicates air-to-surface attack on a specific ground target.
ATOLL: Rear hemisphere heat-seeking missile.
ATTACK AXIS: An orientation direction usually thought of as an imaginary line passing through the target on some particular headingexample, the range run-in heading.
AUTHENTICATE(): To request or provide a response for a coded challenge.
AUTONOMOUS: Aircrew is operating without benefit of GCI/AWACS control.
AUTONOMOUS INTERCEPT: Intercepts initiated by aircrew when no target information is being received from command and control sources.

BANDIT(Radar/Heat/Striker): Known enemy aircraft and type ordnance capability, if known.
BARO: A term used synonymously used with System Altitude. (See System Altitude)
BARREL ROLL MANEUVER: A vertical rolling maneuver used to reduce aspect angle while keeping sight of the bogey and maintaining nose-tail separation.
BASE (Number): Reference number used to indicate such information as headings, altitudes, fuels, etc.
BEAM/BEAMER (Direction): Aircraft maneuvering stabilized within 700 to 1100 aspect; generally given with cardinal directions: east, west, north, south.
BELLYCHECK: A momentary unloaded bank to check the blind side of a turning aircraft.
()BENT: Identified system inoperative.
BFM ( Basic Fighter Maneuver ): Training designed to apply aircraft handling skills to gain proficiency in recognizing and solving range, closure, aspect, angle off, and turning room problems in relation to another aircraft to either attain a position from which weapons may be employed or deny the adversary a position from which weapons may be launched or defeat weapons employed by an adversary. Examples are the high speed yo-yo, quarter plane maneuver, Immelmann turn, barrel roll. BFM training builds appreciation of pursuit geometry, cutoff, radial G, rolling maneuvers and energy management.
BFM ADVANTAGE: The command or use of maneuvering airspace usually OUT OF PLANE OF A BANDIT`S TURN TO ALLOW the attacker to gain or maintain an offensive advantage or close to a gun solution. Requires positional and/or energy advantage.
BINGO: Prebriefed fuel state which is needed for recovery using prebriefed parameters.
BLIND: No visual contact with friendly aircraft; opposite of term "VISUAL."
BLOWTHROUGH: Directive/informational call that indicates aircraft will continue straight ahead at the merge and not turn with target/targets.
BOGEY: A radar/visual contact whose identity is unknown.
BOGEY DOPE: A request for bearing and range to bogey and as available, heading, speed, and altitude.
BOMB RANGE (BR): The horizontal distance a bomb will travel from release to impact.
BOMB TRAIL: The distance that represents bomb drag in weapon ballistic computation.
BONE: Term used to indicate the formation will remain in a Racetrack-type holding pattern (with all wingmen's tums into lead); exit formation must be specified by lead.
BOX: Groups/contacts/formations in a square or offset square.
BRACKET: Indicates geometry where aircraft will maneuver to a position on opposing sides either laterally or vertically from the target.
BREAK (Up/Down/Right/Left): Directive to perform an immediate maximum performance turn in the indicated direction. Assumes a defensive situation.
BREVITY: Term used to denote radio frequency is becoming saturated/degraded and briefer transmissions must follow.
BROADCAST: Request/directive to switch to Broadcast Control.
BROKE LOCK: Loss of radar/IR lock-on (advisory).
BUDDY SPIKE (Position/Azimuth/Altitude): Receiving friendly AIRWR.
BUGOUT (Direction): Combat separation for low fuel, loss of tactical advantages or accomplishments of mission objectives; intent is to permanently separate from that particular engagement/attack.
BULLSEYE: An established reference point from which the position of an aircraft can be determined.
BULLSEYE: An established reference point from which the position of an aircraft can be transmitted. Sometimes referred to as "broadcast control" if more than one bullseye is used, designate by Alpha, Bravo etc.
BUMP/BUMP-UP: A fly-up to acquire line of sight to the target or laser designation.
BUNT: A pushover maneuver.
BURNER: Directive to select/deselect afterburner (generally to fly at maximum speed).
BUZZER: Electronic communications jamming.

CAP/CAP(Location): An orbit at a specified location. Establish a combat air patrol at (location).
CATA: Collision Antenna Trail Angle. The azimuth of your radar antenna when tracking (locked on) a target that is on a collision course with your aircraft.
CHAFF/ FLARE: Directive to deploy CHAFF and / or FLARES and deselect AB (Situation permitting). Often added immediately after directing a flight member to do a defensive maneuver. Also informative by one using CHAFF/FLARE(S) as a reminder to his partner to use them when necessary.
CHAMPAGNE: An attack of three distinct groups with two in front and one behind. The leading two groups are attempting to bracket with the trailing third group flying up the middle.
CHANDELLE TURN: A near vertical turn up, used to attack a high bandit from a medium to front quarter aspect. Does not require as much altitude separation as the Immelmann turn. Should terminate in a rear hemisphere weapons envelope with overtake.
CHATTERMARK: Begin using briefed radio procedures to counter comm jamming.
CHEAP SHOT: A qualifying statement to indicate the shot had low probability of success.
CHECK ( ): A directive statement made to momentarily monitor (specified items/systems).No response is required if status is normal.
CHECK LEFT/RIGHT: By GCI: Alter course ( ) degrees left or right momentarily for airborne search positioning, then resume original heading.; By Flight Lead: Alter course to new heading, 30 degrees if not specified.
CHECK ANGELS /FUEL: An information statement made by GCI to aircrew ng ACBT. No aircrew response required.
CHICKS: Friendly fighter aircraft.
CHRISTMAS TREE: Directive to briefly turn on exterior lights to enable visual acquisition.
CIRCLE (RIGHT/LEFT): Flight-lead-directed defensive maneuver in which the flight establishes a circular holding pattern for mutual support.
CLEAN: No radar contacts; used to confirm a good battle damage check (i.e., no air-to-surface ordnance remaining on the wingman's aircraft).
CLEAR: No enemy aircraft are a threat to your rear quadrantthat is, your six is clear. Also used when flight lead is authorizing change of command or role swap for wingman from supporting to engaged.
CLEARED: Requested action is authorized (no engaged/support roles are assumed).
CLEARED DRY: Ordnance release not authorized.
CLEARED HOT: Ordnance release is authorized.
CLOSE CONTROL: The maximum degree of control that GCI can provide.
CLOSING: Bandit/bogey/target is getting closer in range.
COLD: In context; attack geometry will result in a pass or roll out behind the target; or, on a leg of the CAP pointed away from the anticipated threats. Air-to-surface, dry or no-ordnance attack.
"COLD" SIDE: The side of the RED opposite that where collision antenna train angle occurs.
COMEBACK HIGH/ LOW/LEFT/RIGHT: Informative call requesting the addressed fighter to reposition accordingly.
COMEOFF (Left/Right/High/Low/Dry): A directive to maneuver as indicated to either regain mutual support or to deconflict flight paths for an exchange of engaged and supporting roles. Implies both "visual" and "tally."
COMMITTED/COMMIT: Fighter intent to engage/intercept; weapons director (WD) continues to provide information.
CONNING: Leaving contrails or otherwise marking aircraft position.
CONTACT: Radar/IR contact at the stated position; should be in bearing, range, altitude (BRA), Bullseye, or geographic position format.
CONTACT: Radar and/or IP pick-up at the stated position. Position usually stated in magnetic bearing, range, altitude (BRA), Bullseye, or geographic position format if locked on. Friend or foe unknown.
CONTINUE: Continue present maneuver; does not imply clearance to engage or expend ordnance.
CORNER VELOCITY: Minimum speed at which maximum allowable aircraft G can be attained. Minimum turn radius and maximum rate are achieved by most aircraft types at corner velocity. The F-16ås unique flight control character are such that it doesn't have a corner velocity in this classic sense.IMG SRC="/archive/images/img_arc-12/counter.jpg" alt="COUNTER" align=bottom hspace=5 vspace=5>
COUNTEROFFENSIVE MANEUVERING: Maneuvers which are performed by an aircraft under attack and which are designed to negate the present threat and proceed to an offensive position as the attacker.
COVER: Directive to assume briefed support position and responsibilities.
CRANK (Direction): F-Pole maneuver; implies illuminating target at radar gimbal limits.
CROSS TURN/CROSS: A 180 heading reversal by a flight where aircraft turn into each other.
CUTOFF: Request for, or directive to, intercept using cutoff geometry.

DAISY CHAIN: Numerous fighters in-trail maneuvering for shots on one another.
DEADEYE: Informative call by an airborne laser designator indicating the laser is inoperative.
DEFENSIVE (Spike/Missle/SAM/Mud/AAA): Aircraft is in a defensive position and maneuvering with reference to the stated condition. If no condition stated maneuvering is with respect to A/A threat.
DEFENSIVE TURN: A planned turn designed to prevent an attacker from entering/ remaining in the defender's vulnerable cone. This maneuver has limitations since it may allow arcing; however, done early enough and properly executed, allows defender to keep sight, makes attacker's BFM problem more difficult, and may cause attacker to overshoot.
DEPLOY: Directive for the flight to maneuver to briefed positioning.
DISENGAGE: Discontinue the current attack.
DIVERT: Proceed to alternate mission/base.
DOLLY: Data link equipment
DOPE: Directive to "delay the engagement."
DRAG/DRAGGING (Direction): Bogey/Bandit maneuvering to 60 degress or less aspect.
DUKE IT OUT: Meet the enemy head on to engage.

ECHELON (Cardinaldirection): Groups/contacts/formation with wingman displaced approximately 45 deg behind leader's wing line.
ELEMENT: Formation of two aircraft.
ENGAGED: Maneuvering with the intent of achieving a kill. If no additional information is provided (bearing, range, etc.), ENGAGED implies visual/radar acquisition of target
ENGAGED (FIGHTER): Indicates the fighter or element is maneuvering to attain or deny weapons release parameters or is in the visual arena maneuvering in relation to the targetWC stops providing specific target information and continues with situation awareness information.
EXTEND (LEFT/RIGHT): Gain energy and distance using proper energy profile with the possible objective of reentering the fight.
EXTENSION: A straight-line unloaded (slightly less than 1 G) acceleration maneuver. This maneuver may be interrupted by a series of checkturns so that the extending fighter can maintain sight of the attacking aircraft.
ESTIMATE: Using information available to provide data required, implies degradation.
EXTEND (Direction): Directive to gain energy and distance with the possible intent of reengaging.
EYEBALL: Fighter with primary visual identification (VID) responsibility.

FADED: Previous radar contact is lost
FAST: Target speed is estimated to be 600 knots ground mach 1 or greater.
FEBA: Forward edge of the battle area as set during the scenario briefing.
FEET WET/DRY: Flying over water/land.
FENCE: Boundary separating hostile and friendly area.
FENCE CHECK: Set cockpit switches as appropriate.
FIGHTER DOPE: Request for bearing and range to friendly aircraft.
FLANK/FLANKING: Target with a stable aspect of 120 deg. to 150 deg.
FLARES: Flares have been detected or directive to deploy flares.
FLASH (MODE): Temporary activation of IFF transponder on desired mode/code.
FLOAT: Directive/informative to expand the formation laterally within visual limits to maintain a radar contact or prepare for a defensive response.
FOLLOW DOLLY: Follow data-link commands.
FOX: Air-to-air weapons employment.
FOX ONE: Simulated/actual launch of radar-guided missile.
FOX TWO: Simulated/actual launch of infrared-guided missile.
FOX THREE: Simulated/actual launch of AMRAAM/Phoenix missile.
FOX FOUR: Bomber gunner has simulated firing on a target.
FOX MIKE: VHF/FM radio.
FURBALL: A turning fight involving multiple aircraft.
FUSELAGE REFERENCE LINE (FRL): A basic reference line extending through the fuselage, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

GADGET: Fire control radar / Emitter of radar equipment.
GADGET SICK: Airborne FCS/ ground equipment is degraded.
GADGET BENT: Airborne FCS/ ground equipment is inoperative.
GADGET WELL: Airborne FCS/ ground equipment is working.
GIMBAL (Direction): Radar target is approaching azimuth or elevation limits.
GO ACTIVE: Go to briefed Have Quick net.
GO SECURE: Activate secure voice communications.
GORILLA: Large force of indeterminable numbers and formation.
GREEN (Direction): Direction determined to be clearest of enemy air-to-air activity.
GROUP: Radar target(s) within approximately 3 NM of each other.
GUN (Direction): Visual acquisition of gunfire, AAA site, or AAA fire.
GUNS: An air-to-air or air-to-surface gunshot.
GUNS: Indicates a simulated guns shot.
GUNS BREAK: Directive call to perform a break out of the plane.
GUNS JINK or JINK (DIRECTION): Directive call to perform gun defensive maneuvers.

HARD (Direction): High-G, energy sustaining turn.
HARD TURN: Maximum G turn sustaining energy. Whether to use AB or not is a briefing item.
HARMONIZATION: The adjustment of a gun and sight of an aircraft so that when within effective range, the tracking index will indicate the impact point of the bullets.
HASSLE: Two or more aircraft involved in an air combat maneuver.
HAWK: Staying above the flight.
HEAD: Target with an aspect of 160 deg. to 180 deg.
HEADS DOWN: Call to infom aircrew that leader/wingman is head-down in the cockpit and wingman/leader is responsible for clearing.
HEADS UP (Direction/Altitude): Enemy/bogey got through; no kill.
HIGH: Target above 30,000 feet MSL.
HIGH DEFLECTION GUNSHOT: Gun attack during which the fighter is firing as the bandit passes through the pipper at high angle-off. Tracking is impossible due to excessive line-of-sight rate of the bandit. High deflection gun shots normally terminate in close-in overshoots of the target's flight path by the attacker.
HIGH YO-YO: An out of plane offensive BFM performed to control overtake while closing from a low aspect. Also used to reduce aspect angle.
HIT: Radar return in search (A/A). Weapons impact within lethal distance (air-to-ground [A/G]).
HOLD DOWN: Directive to key transmitter for DF steer.
HOLDING HANDS: Aircraft are joined in formation, implies visual contact by all flight members.
HOME PLATE: Home airfield.
HOOK (LEFT OR RIGHT): Directive to perform an in-place 180 deg. turn.
HOOKING (LEFT OR RIGHT): Directive/information call to approach target from a single/indicated side.
HOT: In context; attack geometry will result in rollout in front of the target; or on a leg of the CAP pointing toward the anticipated threats (A/A). Ordnance employment authorized, expected, or completed (A/G).
"HOT" SIDE: The side of the REO where the collision antenna train angle is located.
HOTEL FOX: HF radio.
HOUND DOG: Call made by supporting fighter or a wingman indicating he has visual, tally, and a clear path to the bandit and is in an advantageous position to engage. Clock position and distance are normally added to indicate bandit position relative to the flight, or wingman position relative to the leader.

ID: Directive to intercept and identify the target; also aircrew ID accomplished, followed by type aircraft.
IMMELMANN TURN: A vertical turn up designed to solve a high angle-off and high aspect angle attack situation. Optimally performed, the Immelmann turn should terminate in the defender's 6 o'clock, within heat missile range and a relatively high energy state. Normally performed from head-on aspect with large altitude separation.
IN PLACE (Left, Right): Perform indicated maneuver simultaneously.
INTERCEPT: An intercept can begin at virtually any distance beyond 15 NM. The object is to get outside of the enemy radar cone and prevent them from detecting your flight until you have launched on them within high Pk parameters. An advantage is maintaining formation integrity and isolating the threat to one side while also achieving a good altitude split in your formation.
IN TRAIL: Perform suggested maneuver maintaining relative position in formation.

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