ATO

GENERAL. 

The Joint Publication 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, defines the Air Tasking Order as “a method used to task and disseminate to components, subordinate units, and command and control agencies projected sorties, capabilities, and/or forces to targets and specific missions. Also called ATO”. The air tasking order (ATO) articulates the tasking for joint air operations for a specific execution timeframe, normally 24 hours. The joint air tasking cycle is synchronized with the JFC’s battle rhythm. The JAOC normally establishes a 72- to 96-hour ATO planning cycle. The battle rhythm or daily operations cycle (schedule of events) articulates briefings, meetings, and report requirements. It provides suspense for targeting, air support requests, friendly order of battle updates, etc., to produce the air battle plan that includes the ATO message and other products. (Joint Publication 3-30, Joint Air Operations). The ATO is written in United States Message Text Format (USMTF). 

ATO Header 

OPER/505th TRS TRAINING// 
MSGID/ATO/USCENTCOM/ATO A/OCT/CHG/1// 
AKNLDG/NO// 
TIMEFRAM/FROM:010600ZOCT1998/TO:020559ZOCT1998/ASOF:302100ZSEP1998// 

The ATO header is the first portion of the ATO and includes information about the operation/exercise. 

OPER/505th TRS TRAINING// 

The first set OPER (or EXER) has one field only and it contains the name of the operation/exercise. 

MSGID/ATO/USCENTCOM/ATO A/OCT/CHG/1// 

The second set is MSGID (Message Identification) and contains: 

• Field 1 – Message text format identifier (set to ATO by default)
• Field 2 – Originator  
• Field 3 – Message serial number  
• Field 4 – Month name
• Field 5 – Qualifier. If the message is a change CHG referred to a previous message this field value must be CHG.
• Field 6 – Qualifier Serial Number. If Qualifier is CHG, this field is the change serial number. 

AKNLDG/NO// 

The third set is AKNLDG (Acknowledgement requirement) and indicates if acknowledgement is required for the message. Accepted values are YES or NO. 

TIMEFRAM/FROM:010600ZOCT1998/TO:020559ZOCT1998/ASOF:302100ZSEP1998// 

The fourth set is Effective Day-Time frame and contains: 

• Field 1 – Beginning date-time (FROM:) 3
• Field 2 – Ending date-time (TO:)
• Field 3 – As Of Time (ASOF:) 
  

The day-time format is: 

• 2 digits for the day
• 4 digits for hours and minutes
• 1 digit for time zone
• 3 digits for month name
• 4 digits for the year 

Task units and missions  

These blocks contain all the information about units and related missions.

TASKUNIT/1FW/ICAO:LLKA// 
AMSNDAT/N/0121C/-/AAF/-/BRCAP/-/
/DEPLOC:LBNA/010715ZOCT/ARRLOC:LLKA/010815ZOCT// 
MSNACFT/4/ACTYP:F15C/EAGLE 21/2IR6RK/BEST/-/27/-/20001/30111// 
AMSNLOC/011000ZOCT/011200ZOCT/SEIRAQ/260/1// 

In this example the 1FW located in LLKA has been tasked with 4 F-15C for BARCAP mission. This block contains information about the mission, the employed aircraft and configuration and mission location. Different types of mission will have different sets of information. 

TASKUNIT/1FW/ICAO:LLKA// 

TASKUNIT set is used only once and is followed by missions information assigned to this unit. This set has 2 fields: 

• Field 1 – Unit name  
• Field 2 – Unit location. Accepted values can be the ICAO code or the air base name. 
  

All air mission must have at least these sets: 

• AMSNDAT
• MSNACFT
• One but only one between GTGTLOC, MTGTLOC, SHIPTGT, ESCDATA, RECCEDAT, AIRMOVE and AMSNLOC 
  

AMSNDAT/0121C/-/AAF/MC/BARCAP/-/-/DEPLOC:LBNA/ARRLOC:LLKA// 

AMSNDAT (Aircraft Mission Data) fields are: 

• Field 1 – Mission Number
• Field 2 – AMC Mission number or Event Number
• Field 3 – Package identification
• Field 4 – Mission commander (accepted value is MC if the mission is the mission/package commander, otherwise it’s left blank)
• Field 5 – Primary mission type
• Field 6 – Secondary mission type
• Field 7 – Air Alert Status 
• Field 8 – Departure location (ICAO code, air base name or coordinates if different from TASKUNIT location)
• Field 9 – Recovery location (ICAO code, air base name or coordinates if different from TASKUNIT location) 

MSNACFT/4/ACTYP:F15C/EAGLE 21/2IR6RK/BEST/-/27/-/20001/30111// 

MSNACFT (Individual Aircraft Mission Data) set contains the information about the mission aircraft. It has the following fields: 

• Field 1 – Number of aircraft
• Field 2 – Type and model of aircraft
• Field 3 – Call sign (abbreviated)
• Field 4 – Primary configuration code
• Field 5 – Secondary configuration code  
• Field 6 – Datalink code  
• Field 7 and following – IFF/SIF mode and code (i.e. 20001 = mode 2 and code 0001) 
  

Configuration codes in fields 4 and 5 will be discussed later. 

AMSNLOC/011000ZOCT/011200ZOCT/SEIRAQ/260/1// 

AMSNLOC (Aircraft Mission Location) set contains information about mission location for missions that have no specific target location: 

• Field 1 – Day-time and month of start
• Field 2 – Day-time and month of stop
• Field 3 – Mission location name  
• Field 4 – Altitude in hundreds of feet above mean sea level  
• Field 5 – Mission priority
• Field 6 – Location  
  

GTGTLOC/P/TOT:011000ZOCT/NET:010955ZOCT/NLT:011005Z/MAIN COMMAND 
CENTER/ID:N1234F12345AA001/CP/NORTH 
COMPLEX/DMPIS:354738N0473815E/WE/257FT/A1497/1/DESTROY/AA137// 

GTGTLOC (Ground Target Location) is the set used for missions that have a specific ground target. 
GTGTLOC fields are: 

• Field 1 – Primary/Alternate designator (values are P or A)
• Field 2 – Day-time and month tasked on target
• Field 3 – Not Earlier Than (NET) day-time and month
• Field 4 – Not Later Than (NLT) day-time
• Field 5 – Target/facility name  
• Field 6 – Target identifier
• Field 7 – Target type  
• Field 8 – Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI) description
• Field 9 – Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI) coordinates 
• Field 10 – Geodetic datum  
• Field 11 – Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI) elevation in feet or meters  
• Field 12 – Component target identifier
• Field 13 – Target priority  
• Field 14 – Additional target identification 

MTGTLOC/P/0301/TOT:060500Z/NET:060800Z/NLT:061000Z/ID:0992-00101DD001/
/T/4/-/E00475/DMPID:400948.0N1221354.0W/-// 

MTGTLOC (Missile Target Location) is used for attacks with standoff ordnances and can be assigned to air assets like B-52 and B-2 but also land and sea unit able to attack target with medium-long range missiles. Fields are: 

• Field 1 – Primary/alternate designator (values are P or A)
• Field 2 – Mission number
• Field 3 – Day-time and month tasked on target  
• Field 4 – Not Earlier Than (NET) day-time
• Field 4 – Not Later Than (NLT) daytime  
• Field 5 – Target identifier  
• Field 6 – Target type  
• Field 7 – Type of missile  
• Field 8 – Number of missiles  
• Field 9 – Target priority  
• Field 10 – Component target identifier  
• Field 11 – Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI)
• Field 12 – Geodetic Datum 
  

SHIPTGT/TOT:011030ZOCT/NET:-/NLT:-/HOS/DD/-/-/P/
/292330Z/LATM:0123N04525E/-/260/10// 

SHIPTGT (Ship Target Data) is used for missions against maritime targets. SHIPTGT fields are:  

• Field 1 – Time on Target
• Field 2 – Not Earlier Than (NET) day-time and month
• Field 3 – Not Later Than (NLT) day-time
• Field 4 – Ship target identity, possible values are:
  • HOS: Hostile Ship
• Field 5 – Ship type category (values IAW https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hull_classifications, i.e. DD for Destroyer, SSG for Guided Missile Submarine )
• Field 6 – Special Hull Number  
  
• Field 7 – Ship name  
• Field 8 – Target priority identifier  
• Field 9 – Target priority
• Field 10 – Day-Time of Position  
• Field 11 – Ship Location  
• Field 12 – Component Target Identifier  
• Field 13 – Course in Degrees (true heading)
• Field 14 – Speed in Knots

RECCEDAT/P/PRI:2/010700ZOCT/NET:010645ZOCT/NLT:010715Z/LTIOV:011345ZOCT19
 98/FLR/PINPT/FL/IMQ:V/CM:C/C/ANA/-/12/12-1// 

RECCEDAT (Reconnaissance Mission Data) set is assigned to reconnaissance missions. Fields are:  

• Field 1 – Primary/Alternate designator (values are P or A)
• Field 2 – Mission priority (numeric value)
• Field 3 – Day-time and month over target
• Field 4 – Not Earlier Than (NET) day-time and month
• Field 5 – Not Later Than (NLT) day-time
• Field 6 – Latest Time of Value (LTIOV)
• Field 7 – Reconnaissance mission type
  • PHOTO
  • FLR
• Field 8 – Type of reconnaissance/surveillance coverage
  • AREACOV for Area Cover
  • PINPT  
• Field 9 – Imagery type  
  • BP for Best Possible  
  • FL  
• Field 10 – Image qualifier  
  • IMQ:B for Black and White
  • IMQ:V
• Field 11 – Coverage extent and mode
  • CM:A for Complete coverage/stereo mode
  • CM:C  
• Field 12 – Reconnaissance purpose  
  • A for New Target
  • C
• Field 13 – Intelligence Task Code  
  • ANA for Analysis  
• Field 14 – Component Target Identifier  
• Field 15 – Target Category Code  
• Field 16 – Target Category EEI Code  
  

RECCEDAT set is usually followed by PTRCPLOT (Position Trace Plot) set that provides more data 
regarding target.

PTRCPLOT/LATS:300105N0803428W/NAME:BLUE RIVER BRIDGE/RAD:1NM/150FT/WE// 

PTRCPLOT (Position Trace Plot) fields are:  

• Field 1 – Location coordinates  
• Field 2 – Target position name  
• Field 3 – Radius in nautical miles
• Field 4 – Elevation in feet or meters
• Field 5 – Geodetic Datum

ASUPTFOR/STRIKE/1FW/0121C/VR01/04/ACTYP:F-16/PFREQ:156.5/SFREQ:121.5//

ASUPTFOR is the set that provides support missions the supported mission information. Its fields are:  

• Field 1 – Mission Type
• Field 2 – Tasked unit designator
• Field 3 – Mission number
• Field 4 –Call sign, abbreviated  
• Field 5 – Number of aircraft
• Field 6 – Type of aircraft
• Field 7 – Primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 8 – Secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG) 
  

ASUPTBY/ESCORT/1FW/0122C/VR02/04/ACTYP:F-16/PFREQ:155.5/SFREQ:122.5// 

ASUPTBY is the set that provides supported missions the support mission information. Its fields are:  

• Field 1 – Mission Type
• Field 2 – Tasked unit designator
• Field 3 – Mission number
• Field 4 –Call sign, abbreviated  
• Field 5 – Number of aircraft
• Field 6 – Type of aircraft
• Field 7 – Primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 8 – Secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG) 
  

AIRMOVE/1/AMC0994XA285/KNFA/B/-/-/ONN/011130Z/R35667/1B2// 

AIRMOVE (Air Movement) set provides airdrop missions details:

• Field 1 – Leg identification number
• Field 2 – Mission number
• Field 3 – ICAO base code  
• Field 4 – Crew type  
• Field 5 – Scheduled arrival day-time and month
• Field 6 – Unknown  
• Field 7 – AMC purpose code
• Field 8 – Departure day-time  
• Field 9 – Requirement number
• Field 10 – Mission priority identifier 
  

AIRMOVE can be integrated with other sets that will be discussed later: AIRDROP (Drop Zone), 
TRANSREQ (Allocated Transportation Requirements), LANDSTS (Landing Site Information). 

Other optional sets can provide very important information. Most important sets will be discussed here. 

PKGCMD/AN/CVN68 VA-165/0111I/TALON 11// 

PKGCMD (Package Commander) defines who is the package commander and is used when the mission is 
part of a package. Fields are: 

• Field 1 – Package identification  
• Field 2 – Package commander tasked unit
• Field 3 – Package commander mission number  
• Field 4 – Package commander aircraft call sign 
  

CONTROLA/AWAC/DARKSTAR/PDESIG:GREEN/SDESIG:WHITE/DR01/NAME:JIM// 

CONTROLA (Control of Air Assets) provides information about the control authority for the mission. Its 
fields are the following: 

• Field 1 – Type of aircraft control agency. Example of values are:
  • AWAC (Airborne Warning And Control)
  • CRC (Control Reporting Center)
  • OTR (Other)
• Field 2 – Call sign  
• Field 3 – Primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 4 – Secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG)
• Field 5 – Report-In point 
  

FACINFOR/SABER 11/PFREQ:227.5/SFREQ:311.3/-/NAME:CHEVY/1BN8MA// 

FACINFOR (FAC Information) contains information about FAC or FAC(A). Fields provide the following 
information:  

• Field 1 – FAC call sign
• Field 2 – FAC primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 3 – FAC secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG)
• Field 4 – Unknown  
• Field 5 – Report-In Point
• Field 6 – Unknown  
  

ARINFO/APPLE 20/4010A/B:34010/NAME:BLUE 
TRACK/200/ARCT:011000Z/NDAR:011015ZOCT/KLBS:30.0/PFREQ:343.3/SFREQ:277.8/
 AE20/ACTYP:KC10/BOM/2/TNKR:2/18-81/2-2-4// 

ARINFO (Aerial Refueling Information) provides information about the planned aerial refueling. Provided 
information include:  

• Field 1 – Tanker call sign
• Field 2 – Tanker mission number
• Field 3 – Tanker IFF/SIF mode and code  
• Field 4 – Air Refueling Control Point Name
• Field 5 – Altitude in hundreds of feet
• Field 6 – Air refueling control day-time (ARCT)
• Field 7 – Day-time and month of end air refueling (NDAR)
• Field 8 – Offload fuel in thousands of pounds (KLBS)
• Field 9 – Primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 10 – Secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG)
• Field 11 – Refueling aircraft type
• Field 12 – Aerial refueling system. Accepted values are:
  • BOM (boom)
  • CDT
• Field 13 – Unknown  
• Field 14 – Unknown  
• Field 15 – Tacan channel
• Field 16 – Unknown  

REFTSK/CDT/KLBS:50.0/KLBS:20.0/PFREQ:323.3/SFREQ:242.8/29-92/3-3-4// 

REFTSK is assigned to tanker aircraft to provide more details about the mission. Fields are:  

• Field 1 – Air refueling system (for values see ARINFO)
• Field 2 – Total offload fuel in KLBS
• Field 3 – Alert/Contingency offload fuel in KLBS
• Field 4 – Primary frequency (PFREQ) or designator (PDESIG)
• Field 5 – Secondary frequency (SFREQ) or designator (SDESIG)
• Field 6 – Tacan channel
• Field 7 – Unknown  
  

There are many sets that are composed of a title, a header and several lines containing information defined 
by the header. The most important sets are discussed here. 

5REFUEL 
/MSNNO /RECCS /NO/ACTYPE /OFLD /ARCT /SEQ /TYP /ARS 
/0131D /BEAK 31 /2/AC:F14A /KLB:20.0/010815Z /A:1 /A:JP8 /CDT 
/0131D /BEAK 33 /2/AC:F14A /KLB:20.0/010815Z /A:1 /A:JP8 /CDT 
/0151H /HAMMER 51 /2/AC:FA18 /KLB:30.0/010815Z /A:3 /A:JP8 /CDT 
/0211D /SABER 11 /1/AC:FA18C /KLB:16.0/010915Z /A:1 /A:JP8 /CDT 
/0271A /LUSTY 71 /2/AC:AV8B /KLB:10.0/010900Z /A:1 /A:JP8 /CDT// 

5REFUEL is the set that provides tanker aircraft information about planned air refueling. Each line contains information about a single mission. Columns are: 

• Column 1 – Receiver call sign
• Column 2 – Receiver number of aircraft
• Column 3 – Receiver aircraft type and model
• Column 4 – Offload fuel  
• Column 5 – Air refueling control time  
• Column 6 – Unknown  
• Column 7 – Fuel type  
• Column 8 – Air refueling system  
  

7CONTROL 
/MSNNO /ACSIGN /NO/ACTYPE /MSNTY /TOSTA /RIP 
/0111I /TALON 11 /3/AC:A6E /INT /010930Z /2840N08040W 
/0171S /CLAW 71 /1/AC:EA6B /EW /010945Z /2840N08040W 
/0131D /BEAK 31 /4/AC:F14A /ESC /010940Z /2840N08040W// 

7CONTROL (Control Information) set is assigned to control authority missions and provide information about controlled aircraft. Columns are:  

• Column 1 – Mission number  
• Column 2 – Aircraft call sign  
  
• Column 3 – Number of aircraft  
• Column 4 – Aircraft type and model  
• Column 5 – Mission type  
• Column 6 – On station day-time  
• Column 7 – Report-In Point (name, designator or coordinates) 
  

9PKGDAT 
/PKGID /UNIT /MSNNO /PMSN /NO/ACTYPE /ACSIGN 
/AAF /4FW /0101E /INT /4/AC:F15E /LIGHTNING 01 
/AAF /1FW /0121C /FCAP /4/AC:F15C /EAGLE 21// 

9PKGDAT (Package Data) provides the package commander information about missions in the package. Columns are the following: 

• Column 1 – Package identification
• Column 2 – Tasked unit  
  
• Column 3 – Mission number  
• Column 4 – Primary mission type  
• Column 5 – Number of aircraft
• Column 6 – Aircraft type and model  
  
• Column 7 – Aircraft call sign 
  

URMKREF/A C D// 

URMKREF (Unit Remarks Reference) contains the remarks assigned to the mission. Unit remarks text is usually placed in a GENTEXT set at the and of TASKUNIT blocks. 

AMPN/MISSION IS TO DESTROY TWO ENEMY SHIPS ESCAPING FROM HARBOR//  
GENTEXT/UNIT REMARKS/A:BARCAP FOR PACKAGE AAF//. 

Amplification (AMPN) and GENTEXT (General Text) are the free text sets used to provide more information to missions and tasked units. 

Configuration codes and Standard Conventional Loads (SCL) 

The STANDARD CONVENTIONAL LOAD (SCL) in the ATO are recommended loads based on desired effect, weather, guidance and tactics based on the weapons system expert, (i.e., unit representative to the AOC). 

STANDARD CONVENTIONAL LOADS. The following is the standard for identifying conventional loads. It is meant to be as simple as possible, however, since it is a 5 character code it has its limitations. Consequently, the code is broken up for 3 types of aircraft/missions. The first section (A) is Air to Air, second section (B) is Air to Ground (except B-52s and B-1s) and section (C) is B-52s and B-1s.

Air-to-Air SCL ID. 

1ST CHARACTER – X indicates air to air weapons load 
2ND-4TH CHARACTERS – number of missiles from long range to short respectively

• 2ND CHARACTER – AIM-120 for Air Force, AIM-54 for Navy
• 3RD CHARACTER – AIM-7s  
• 4TH CHARACTER – AIM-9s
• 5TH CHARACTER – number of external fuel tanks 
  

Examples of air-to-air SCLs: 

• X8000 – AIR-AIR, 8 X AIM-120, 0 X AIM-7, 0 X AIM-9, 0 TANKS
• X6201 – AI -AIR, 6 X AIM-120, 2 X AIM-7, 0 X AIM-9, 1 TANK
• X4222 – AI-AIR, 4 X AIM-120, 2 X AIM-7, 2 X AIM-9, 2 TANKS
• X0263 – AI-AIR, 0 X AIM-120, 2 X AIM-7, 6 X AIM-9, 3 TANKS 
  

Air-to-Ground SCL ID (except B-52s/B-1s larger weapons loads). 
1ST CHARACTER - number of weapons (amounts greater than 9 start with alphabet - see below)

A-10	G-16	M-22	S-28	Y**
B-11	H-17	N-23	T-29	Z-32+
C--12	I-18	O-24	U-30
D-13	J-19	P-25	V-31
E-14	K-20	Q-26	W-32
F-15	L-21	R-27	X*
X* - indicates air-to-air load and is not used to indicate quantity  Y** - not used at this time

2ND – 4TH CHARACTERS – consists of 3 alpha-numeric characters. Use the following steps to describe the weapon: 

• Determine if it is a high/low drag optional weapon, use:
  • H – high drag
  • L – low drag
• Determine how many numbers are used to normally describe the weapon (I.E., MK82 vs MK117 or AGM65 vs AGM142). If it has 3 numbers (117 and 142) drop the hundreds (17 and 42).
• If it is a high/low drag weapon place the H or L after the number without any prefix (82H or 82L). WAALAA - you now have a three character code.
• If it is any other type of air to ground weapon, use the following guide and put the alpha character as a prefix to the numbers (I.E., A65 or C89 for AGM65 and CBU89) 
  

2ND CHARACTER - WEAPONS TYPE 

• L – LAU  
• B – BLU  
  
• A –AGM  
  
• G – GBU  
  
• I –AIM   
  
• S – SUU 
  
• C -CBU  
  
• M - MK 
  

Note for 2ND - 4TH CHARACTERS: as stated, GP bombs that are high/low drag such as MK 82/84/117 will not be preceded by an "M". Instead, they will be indicated as follows: 

• 82H OR 82L example 882L0 - 8 X MK82 low drag and 0 tanks 
  84H OR 84L example 884H1 - 8 X MK84 high drag and 1 tank  
  

Note: EXCEPTION: If the 2nd-4th characters are "CBU"-"GBU"-"BLU"-"AGM" then a mixed load is indicated for each of those munition and must be specified in the unit remarks. (ei., "8CBU0" would be 8 CBU of some mix and zero tanks; the combination of CBU - 4xCBU58 and 4xCBU89 - needs to be specified in unit remarks). 

If there is not an SCL for the aircraft you want, you need to write it down with a description so that it can be added to the theater setup in order for it to be ready before the planning starts. 

5TH CHARACTER - number of external fuel tanks 

Examples of air-to-ground SCLs: 

• 682H3 – 6 X MK82 high drag GP bombs and 3 external fuel tanks
• 4C870 – 4 X CBU87 cluster bombs and 0 external fuel tanks  
• 6L681 – 6 X LAU68 rockets and 1 external fuel tank
• 2A652 – 2 X AGM65 Mavericks and 2 external fuel tanks  
• 2M200 – 2 X MK20 Rockeye and 0 external fuel tanks  
• ZUK10 – full load (36) x United Kingdom 1000 and 0 tanks 
  

B-52s AND B-1s. 

1ST AND 2ND CHARACTERS - number of weapons (01-99, because of larger loads this is different than 
para b, 1st character for number of weapons) 

3RD-5TH CHARACTERS - weapons type (same as process step 2b, 2nd-4th characters for weapons type) 

Examples: 

• H – 51 X MK82 high drag GP bombs
• 0 – 08 X MK60 bombs 
  

Note 1: Any clarification required for specific weapons types such as AGM65A/B vs AGM65C/D will be 
indicated in the unit remarks. 

NOTE 2: Unless otherwise noted in the ATO, loading of AIM-7/9 missiles, ECM pods, gun, chaff, flares and 
laser pods are at unit discretion.