vUSAF and Joint Operational Brevity Words
ABORT |
—Directive call to cease action, attack, event, or mission. |
ACTION |
—Directive call to initiate a briefed attack sequence or maneuver. |
ACTIVE |
(system) ACTIVE (location/direction) —Referenced emitter is radiating at the stated location or along the stated bearing. |
ADD |
(system/category) —Directive call to add a specific system or electronic order of battle (EOB) category to search responsibilities. |
AJAX |
—Landing zone/pick up zone is clear of threats. |
ALARM |
—Directive or informative call indicating the termination of EMCON procedures. |
ALLIGATOR |
—LINK-11/ TADIL-A. |
ALPHA CHECK |
—Request for confirmation of bearing and range from ownship to described point. |
ANCHORED |
ANCHORED (w/location) —Informative call to indicate a turning engagement at the |
ANCHOR |
—Orbit about a specific point; refueling track flown by tanker. |
ANGELS |
—Height of friendly aircraft in thousands of feet mean sea level (MSL). |
ARIZONA |
—No ARM ordnance remaining. |
ARM |
—Element resulting from target maneuvers exceeding GROUP criteria. |
ARM/ARMED (SAFE/HOT) |
—Select armament (safe/hot) or armament is safe/hot. |
AS FRAGGED |
—Unit or element will be performing exactly as stated by the air tasking order (ATO). |
ATTACKING |
—Indicates air-to-surface (A/S) attack on a specific ground target. |
AUTHENTICATE |
—To request or provide a response to a coded challenge. |
AUTOCAT |
—Any communications relay using automatic retransmissions. |
AWAY |
(weapon) AWAY —Release/launch of specified weapon. |
AZIMUTH |
AZIMUTH—A picture label describing two groups separated laterally. |
BANDIT |
—An aircraft identified as an enemy IAW theater identification criteria. The term does not necessarily imply direction or authority to engage. |
BANZAI |
—Informative or directive call to execute launch-and-decide tactics. |
BASE |
—Reference number used to indicate such information as headings, altitudes, and fuels. |
BEAD WINDOW |
—Last transmission potentially disclosed unauthorized information. |
BEAM |
BEAM (w/cardinal direction) —Target stabilized within 70 to 110 degrees of aspect; generally given in cardinal directions: east, west, north, and south. |
BEARING |
BEARING (w/cardinal direction) —Inner group formation with the trailer displaced approximately 45 degrees behind the leader. |
BENT |
(system) BENT —System indicated is inoperative |
BINGO |
—Fuel state needed for recovery. |
BIRD |
—Friendly surface-to-air missile (SAM). |
BIRD(S) AFFIRM |
—Surface-to-air informative call indicating unit is able and prepared to engage a specified target with SAMs (presumes target is within or will enter the SAM engagement envelope). |
BIRD(S) AWAY |
—Surface-to-air informative call indicating friendly SAM has been fired at designated target. |
BIRD(S) NEGATE |
—Surface-to-air informative call indicating unit is unable to engage a specified target with SAMs. Opposite of BIRD(S) AFFIRM. |
BITTERSWEET |
—Notification of possible blue-on-blue (fratricide) situation relative to a designated track or friendly. |
BLIND |
—No visual contact with friendly aircraft/ground position; opposite of VISUAL. |
BLOW THROUGH |
—Directive or informative call that indicates aircraft will continue straight ahead at the merge and not become anchored with target/targets. |
BOGEY |
—A radar or visual air contact whose identity is unknown. |
BOGEY DOPE |
—Request for target information as requested or closest group in BRAA (with appropriate fill-ins). |
BOOMERANG |
—Aircraft or flight is returning to base. |
BOX |
—A picture label describing four distinct groups with two in front and two behind in a square or offset square orientation. |
BRAA |
—Tactical control format providing target bearing, range, altitude, and aspect, relative to a friendly aircraft. Aspect is only required if other than HOT. |
BRACKET |
BRACKET (w/direction) —Directive call to maneuver to a position on opposing sides, either laterally or vertically from the targets. |
BREAK |
BREAK (w/direction) —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). |
BREAK AWAY |
—Tanker or receiver call indicating immediate vertical and nose/tail separation between tanker and receiver is required. |
BREVITY |
—Radio frequency is becoming saturated/degraded or jammed and briefer transmissions must follow. |
BROADCAST |
—Request or directive call to switch to broadcast control. |
BROKE LOCK |
— Advisory call regarding loss of radar/IR lock-on. |
BRUISER |
—Friendly air launched antiship missile. |
BUDDY LOCK |
—Locked to a known friendly aircraft. Normally a response to a SPIKE or BUDDY SPIKE call. |
BUDDY SPIKE |
BUDDY SPIKE (position/altitude/heading) —Friendly aircraft air-to-air (A/A) radar track indication on radar warning receiver (RWR). |
BUGOUT |
BUGOUT (w/direction) —Separation from that particular engagement/attack/operation; no intent to reengage/return. |
BULL DOG |
—Friendly surface/submarine launched antiship missile. |
BULLSEYE |
—An established reference point from which the position of an object can be referenced. |
BURN |
—Informative call that gated laser illuminator (GLINT) is being used to provide illumination. Typically employed by AC-130 to illuminate surface points of interest. |
BUSTER |
—Directive call to fly at max continuous speed (Mil power). |
BUZZER |
—Electronic communications jamming. |
CANDYGRAM |
—Informative call to aircraft that electronic warfare (EW) targeting information is available on a pre-briefed secure net. |
CAP |
CAP (location) —Directive call to establish a combat air patrol at a specified point. |
CAPPING |
CAPPING (location) —Descriptive term for aircraft in a CAP. |
CAPTURED |
—Aircrew has acquired and is able to track a specified air-to-ground (A/G) target with an on-board sensor. |
CEASE ENGAGEMENT |
—In air defense, break the engagement on the target specified. Missiles in flight will continue to intercept. |
CEASE FIRE |
—Discontinue firing/do not open fire. Complete intercept if weapons are in flight. Continue to track. |
CEASE LASER |
—Aircraft-to-aircraft directive to stop firing laser. Opposite of LASER ON. |
CHAMPAGNE |
—A picture label describing three distinct groups with two in front and one behind. |
CHATTERMARK |
—Begin using briefed radio procedures to counter communications jamming. |
CHEAP SHOT |
—AIM-120 missile data link terminated between high pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) and medium pulse repetition frequency (MPRF). |
CHECK |
CHECK (number, left/right) —Turn (number) degrees left or right and maintain new heading. |
CHECK TIDS/TAD |
—Directive call to reference data link display. |
CHERUBS |
—Altitude of friendly aircraft in hundreds of feet above ground level (AGL). |
CHICKS |
—Friendly aircraft. |
CLEAN |
—1. No sensor information on non-friendly aircraft of interest. 3. Aircraft not carrying external stores. |
CLEARED |
—Flight lead response. Requested action is authorized. Mutual support may be detached to fulfill briefed contracts (e.g., split criteria, shot doctrine). Wingmen will ensure deconfliction from flight lead. |
CLEARED HOT |
—Ordnance release is authorized |
CLOAK |
—Directive/informative call to switch from normal/overt external lighting to covert night vision device (NVD) only compatible lighting. |
CLOSING |
—Decreasing in separation. |
COLD |
—1. A descriptive/directive call to initiate a turn in the CAP away from the anticipated threats. 2. Groups heading away from friendly aircraft. 3. Attack geometry will result in a pass or roll out behind the target. 4. Defined area is not expected to receive fire (enemy or friendly). |
COLOR |
COLOR (system, w/position) —Request for information on a (type) system at stated |
COMEBACK |
COMEBACK (w/direction) —Directive call to reverse course. |
COMEOFF |
COMEOFF (w/direction) —1. (Air-to-Air) Directive call to maneuver as indicated to either regain mutual support or to deconflict flight paths. Implies both VISUAL and TALLY. |
COMMIT |
—Directive call to intercept a group of interest. |
COMPOSITION |
—Request for number of contacts within a group. |
CONFETTI |
—Chaff lane or corridor. |
CONS/CONNING |
—Threat/bogey aircraft leaving contrails. |
CONTACT |
—1. Sensor contact at the stated position. 2. Acknowledges sighting of a specified reference point. 3. Individual radar return within a group or arm. |
CONTAINER |
—Inner group formation with four contacts oriented in a square or offset square. |
CONTINUE |
—Continue present maneuver; does not imply a change in clearance to engage or expend ordnance. |
CONTINUE DRY |
—Ordnance release not authorized. |
COVER |
—Directive/informative call to assume a supporting position that will allow engagement of a specified track or threat to the flight if required. |
CRANK |
CRANK (w/direction) —F-Pole maneuver; implies illuminating target at radar gimbal limits. |
CUTOFF |
—Request for, or directive to, intercept using cutoff geometry. |
CYCLOPS |
—Any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). |
DASH |
DASH (#) —Aircraft position within a flight. Use if specific call sign is unknown. |
DATA |
DATA (object, w/position) —Standby for data link message concerning object at stated |
DEADEYE |
—Informative call by an airborne laser designator indicating the laser/IR system is inoperative. |
DECLARE |
—Inquiry as to the identification of specified tracks, targets, or correlated group. |
DEEP |
—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. |
DEFENSIVE |
—Speaker is under attack, is maneuvering defensively, and is unable to ensure deconfliction or mutual support. |
DEFENDING |
w/direction)—Aircraft is in a defensive position and maneuvering with reference to a surface-to-air threat. |
DELOUSE |
—Directive call to detect, identify, and engage (if required) unknown aircraft trailing friendly aircraft. |
DEPLOY |
—Directive call for the flight to maneuver to briefed positioning. |
DETAILS |
—Request for modified J-FIRE 9-Line Brief from Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS). |
DIVERT |
—Proceed to alternate mission/base. |
DOLLY |
—LINK-4A/TADIL-C. |
DRAG |
DRAG (w/cardinal direction) —Target stabilized at 0 to 60 degrees angle from tail or 120- to 180-degree angle from nose. |
DROP |
—1. Directive/informative call to stop monitoring a specific emitter/target and resume search responsibility. 2. Remove the emitter/target from the tactical picture/track stores. 3. Directive call to remove a specific system or EOB category from search responsibilities. |
DROP KICK |
—Informative to the flight that an intentional deviation from any briefed action is being made. |
DROPPING |
—Informative call that a fighter has discontinued targeting responsibility. |
DUCK |
—Air launched decoy (e.g., TALD/MALD). |
ECHELON |
ECHELON (w/cardinal direction) —A fill-in describing a RANGE or AZIMUTH presentation, with one group displaced behind and to the side of the other group. |
ECHO |
—Positive SEESAW/System M/Mode X reply. |
EMPTY |
—No emitters of interest detected. |