General/Tactical Communication

SOURCE — Tactical Communications Guide

Covers: Control Architecture · Check-In · AAR · PID · Air-to-Air Combat · Brevity

Information is based on real-world procedures but modified to cater to DCS limitations

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01 / Control Architecture

ASACS (Airborne Surveillance and Control System) is the integrated command-and-control framework linking airborne surveillance platforms, ground-based control centers, and air defense assets into a single coordinated system. ASACS defines the doctrine, communications architecture, and authority relationships governing how AWACS, CRCs, and radar sites share data, build a Recognized Air Picture, and allocate control of aircraft and weapons.

AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) is an airborne command-and-control platform with long-range radar and battle management consoles. It provides surveillance, identification, and tactical control of aircraft over extended ranges, particularly where ground radar coverage is limited.

CRC (Control and Reporting Center) is a ground-based air command-and-control facility responsible for surveillance, identification, and tactical control within a designated airspace sector. It fuses multiple radar sources to generate a Recognized Air Picture and provides fighter control and airspace coordination.

GCI (Ground Controlled Intercept) is the tactical function of directing fighter aircraft to intercept airborne targets using ground-based radar. GCI refers to the activity performed by trained controllers, not a specific facility.

Control Types

	CLOSE		LOOSE		BROADCAST
	POSITIVE	ADVISORY	POSITIVE	ADVISORY
TARGETS SELECTION	IC	IC	IC	IC	PIL
TACTICAL SELECTION	IC	IC	PIL	PIL	PIL
GEOMETRY	IC	IC	PIL	PIL	PIL
SEPARATION	IC	PIL	IC	PIL	PIL
PICTURE FORMAT	HDG – SPD – ALT		BRAA or BULLSEYE		BULLSEYE

PIL = Pilot's Responsibility · IC = Intercept Controller's Responsibility

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02 / Intercept Controller

The Intercept Controller (IC) guides military assets in the tactical environment. When airborne on an AEW/AWACS platform the role is called Weapon Controller (WC) — this manual uses IC throughout for convenience.

Primary IC responsibilities: target selection and assignment · PICTURE reporting · initial fighter vector (COMMIT)

Supported operations: QRA · AIR TO AIR REFUELLING · COMBAT AIR PATROL

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03 / Standard Calls

State Call

A State Call reports combat status to the IC: weapons, fuel, and playtime in a fixed order.

Example: "State is 602+ 10000lbs 90M"

# FOX-3	# FOX-1	# FOX-2	Gun	Fuel	Playtime
6	0	2	+	10,000 lbs	90 min

6× FOX-3, 0× FOX-1, 2× FOX-2, gun available, 10,000 lbs fuel, 90 minutes playtime.

BRAA Call

Tactical control format: Bearing, Range, Altitude, Aspect relative to the specified friendly aircraft.

Groups	Format	Bearing	Range	Altitude	Aspect	Declaration
Single Group	BRAA	320	30 nm	20,000 ft	Flanking	BOGEY

Flight Check / Frequency Change

Executed when switching the flight to a new frequency. Intraflight = flight-internal frequency. Interflight = control agency frequency.

Station	Phrase
ATC	{CS} Push Button _
Flight Lead (interflight)	{CS} Push Button _
Flight Lead (intraflight)	Push {UHF/VHF, Radio 1/2} Button _
All flight members switch to channel _
Flight Lead	{CS} Check
Wingman	2
Element Lead	3
Element Wingman	4
Flight Lead proceeds with initial call as normal

Authentication (DRYAD)

Verifies contact with an allied unit. A challenging station picks a letter from the leftmost column and a second from that row. The responding station replies with the letter directly below the second chosen letter. The DRYAD table is issued in the pre-mission briefing.

Pilots are responsible for initiating Authentication with a Controlling Station

Station	Phrase
Pilot	Authenticate E-A
ATC	Come back G
ATC	Authenticate J-U
Pilot	Come back R
ATC	Good Authentication

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04 / Check-In Procedures

CS = Callsign (e.g. SHADOW 1). Not every procedure applies to every mission.

Check In on Radar — Transit Control

Station	Phrase
Flight Check
Flight Lead	{CRC-CS} {CS} {Flight Level}
Authentication
CRC	{CS}, Identified, {Instructions}

NOTE: Close Positive Control is inferred.

Check In with Weapons Controller

Station	Phrase
Flight Check
Flight Lead	{CRC-CS} {CS} Mission Nr {MSN} {Position} {Altitude} {Playtime} {As Fragged / With Exceptions}
CRC	Acknowledges
Authentication
CRC	{CS}, Identified, {Control Type}, Alpha Check Bullseye {Position}
Flight Lead	Same {Alpha Check}

NOTE: Bullseye cannot be used for initial position calls — only valid after Alpha Check.

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05 / Training Range & Formations

Attack Run

Station	Phrase
Turning in for attack run
Aircraft	{CS} In Hot, Heading ___
Tactical Controller	Cleared Hot (or: Abort, Turn Left/Right HDG)
Upon completion
Aircraft	{CS} Off Target

Repeated for every attack run. Multiple aircraft on the same target: ASACS issues traffic information and may require visual separation.

Formation Splits

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS}, request split into {number} parts of {number} each
CRC	{CS}, report ready for {Right / Left Hand} {Split Type}

Vertical (Altitude)

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS}, ready
CRC	{CS 2}, descend {FL}
Flight Lead 2	{CS 2}, descending {FL}
CRC	{CS 2}, squawk {number} · identified
Repeat for each new flight

Lateral (Vector)

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS}, ready
CRC	{CS 2} for split turn {side} {degrees}
Flight Lead	{CS 2} for split turn {side} {degrees}
CRC	{CS 2} squawk {number} · identified
Repeat for each new flight

Join-Up

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS} requesting join-up with {CS 2}
CRC	{CS 2}, confirm join-up clearance for {CS}
Flight Lead 2	{CS 2}, {CS} is cleared to join up
CRC	{CS}, fly {heading} and climb/descend to {angels}
Flight Lead	{CS}, fly {heading} and climb/descend to {angels}
CRC	{CS}, report {CS 2} in sight
Flight Lead	{CS}, {CS 2} in sight, {position}
CRC	Visual join-up approved — report formation tight
Flight Lead 2	{CS 2}, formation tight
CRC	{CS 2} adopt callsign {new CS}

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06 / Air-to-Air Refuelling

AAR requires close coordination with the tanker around a pre-briefed Rendezvous (RV). SOURCE uses RV Alpha (Fixed Anchor) for all operations.

Tanker Orbit Stack

Level	Usage
ALPHA	Receivers departing · Emergency
BRAVO	Tanker base level
CHARLIE	Receiver evasive
DELTA	Receivers approaching

RV Alpha Procedure

Receiver: fly 2,000 ft below AAR altitude · follow IC heading · declare JUDY on radar contact · declare VISUAL when in sight · weapons safe and radar off · take ECHELON LEFT when authorized.

Station	Phrase
CRC	{CS} Proceed Tanker BRAA {BRAA} — RV Alpha — Tanker Freq {Freq} {Instructions}
Flight Lead	{CS} Roger, RV Alpha, Tanker Freq {Freq} {Readback}
Once flight has radar contact with tanker
Flight Lead	{Flight Name} Judy 1, Weapons Safe
All wingmen (in order)	2, 3, 4… Weapons Safe
Once tanker is in sight
CRC	{CS} Tanker {x} o'clock, report visual
Flight Lead	{CS} Nose Cold, visual with tanker
CRC	{CS} Roger, contact boom
Switch to DCS tanker frequency

NOTE: Flight Lead must confirm Nose Cold with wingmen on intraflight before reporting to ATC.

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07 / Positive Identification (PID)

PID proves, to a defensible standard, that the contact is a legitimate target under the ROE. Proof may come from sensors, behavior, location, declarations, or higher authority.

Type	Description
Electronic PID	IFF interrogation, Link picture, NCTR, controller declaration. Most common form in BVR.
Visual PID	Confirm number, type, livery, armament, heading, speed. Requires merge or VID pass.
Ground Targets	Correlate with pre-briefed target. CRC issues Cleared to Engage before weapons release.

Ground Target Engagement

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS} Identified {Target Description} {if pre-briefed: Matches Target __}
CRC	Cleared to Engage
Flight Lead	In Hot, {Target Description}, {Ingress Heading}
CRC	Cleared Hot / Abort
Flight Lead	Completed Engagement
CRC	Continue as Fragged / {Additional Instructions}

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08 / Air-to-Air Combat

Air combat is primarily carried out by CAP aircraft — the two main types being DCA (Defensive Counter Air) and OCA (Offensive Counter Air). Before a Commit, the controller has radio priority. After Commit, the fighters hold priority.

The Targeting Range is the agreed distance at which all contacts must be intercepted. A group inside Targeting Range with no assigned fighter is labelled Untargeted.

Contact Declaration

Declaration	Meaning
BOGEY	Unknown — not cleared to engage
BANDIT	Positively identified enemy — not cleared to engage
HOSTILE	Enemy — cleared to engage (IAW ROE)
NEUTRAL	Neutral — not cleared to engage
FRIENDLY	Friendly — not cleared to engage

Commit — Fighter Initiated

Station	Phrase
Once all commit criteria are met
Flight Lead	{CS} Recommend Commit
Controller evaluates and initiates
CRC	{GCI-CS} {Nr of groups}, {Group Description}, {Fighter-CS} Commit
Flight Lead	{CS}

Commit — Controller Initiated

Station	Phrase
CRC	{GCI-CS} {Nr of groups}, {Group Description}, {Fighter-CS} Commit {+ VID if required}
Flight Lead	{CS} Commit

Radar / Visual Contact

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CS} Judy — radar contact, no further guidance needed
Flight Lead	{CS} Tally — visual on target

Declare & Weapon Release

Station	Phrase
Flight Lead	{CRC-CS} Declare {Group Label or Bullseye Position}
CRC	{Group Label} Declared …

Station	Phrase
Aircraft	{CS} Fox-{1/2/3}, {Group Label or Bullseye Position}, {Target Description}
CRC	Copy Shot

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09 / Brevity Words

Term	Definition
AS FRAGGED	Unit will perform exactly as briefed or scheduled.
WITH EXCEPTIONS	Unit will perform as briefed with stated exceptions.
ALPHA CHECK	Verification of the position of a Bullseye or related point.
ANGELS	Height of friendly aircraft in thousands of feet MSL.
AUTHENTICATE	Method to verify communication with allied agencies.
PLAYTIME	Time aircraft can remain on station (hours + minutes).
PICTURE	Request for mission information in digital bullseye format.
BRAA	Bearing, Range, Altitude, and Aspect relative to a friendly aircraft.
BULLSEYE	Reference point used to establish positions (bearing + range).
GROUP(S)	Any number of contacts within 3 nm of each other.
AZIMUTH	Two groups separated laterally (by cardinal directions).
RANGE	Two groups separated along a line of bearing (LEAD/TRAIL).
STACK	Two or more contacts in a group with ≥10,000 ft altitude separation.
MONITOR	Maintain sensor awareness on a group or object.
CLARA	Radarscope clear of enemy contacts.
CLEAN	No radar contacts on bandits, bogies, or aircraft of interest.
DRAG / COLD	Contact aspect stabilized 000–070°.
BEAM	Contact aspect stabilized 070–110°.
FLANK	Contact aspect stabilized 110–160°.
HOT / HEAD ON	Contact aspect stabilized 160–180°.
TRACKING	Direction of flight/movement (in bullseye format).
MARSHALLING	Positioning forces at a point for offensive operations.
BANDIT	Positively identified enemy (not clearance to engage).
BOGEY	Unknown contact.
HOSTILE	Enemy contact cleared for engagement (IAW ROE).
FURBALL	Friendly and non-friendly aircraft within 5 nm.
FOX ONE	Semi-active radar-guided missile fired.
FOX TWO	IR-guided missile fired.
FOX THREE	Active radar-guided missile fired.
ENGAGE	Directive to fire on a target.
GATE	Fly as fast as possible — afterburner.
BUSTER	Fly at maximum continuous speed — military power.
BREAK	(Direction) Immediate maximum-performance turn.
VISUAL	Sighting of a friendly aircraft, ground unit, or ship.
BLIND	No visual contact with friendly.
TALLY	Sighting of a target or enemy aircraft.
NO JOY	No visual contact with target or enemy.
MERGED	Radar tracks have come together (3–5 nm).
JUDY	Aircrew has control of intercept; controller minimizes comms.
DECLARE	Inquiry as to track ID. Responses: FRIENDLY / BOGEY / BANDIT / HOSTILE / NEUTRAL / UNABLE / FURBALL.
BOGEY DOPE	Request for info on indicated or nearest group in BRAA format.
Commit	Directive to engage / move to intercept
TARGETING	Fighter has acquired assigned group and assumes responsibility.
CONTACT	Individual radar return within a group.
HEAVY	Group with more than 3 elements.
HIGH	Target altitude above 40,000 ft.
FAST	Target speed 600–900 kts or Mach 1.0–1.5.
VERY FAST	Target speed above 900 kts / Mach 1.5+.