ABORT

Directive to cease action/attack/event/mission.

ACTIVE

An emitter is radiating.

ALPHA CHECK

Request for/confirmation of bearing and range to described point.

ANGELS

Height of friendly aircraft in thousands of feet

APEX

Term used to denote launch of enemy, all-aspect radar missile

ARCHER

Term used to denote launch of enemy, rear hemisphere heat seeking   missiles.

ARIZONA

No HARM ordnance remaining

AUTHENTICATE

To request or provide a response for a coded challenge.

BANDIT

An aircraft identified as enemy, in accordance to the ROE.

BELLYCHECK

A bank to check the blind side of a turning aircraft. (e.g. „...clear“)

BEAM(ING) (Direction)

Target stabilized within 70 to 110 degree aspect; generally given with cardinal directions: east, west, north, south.

BINGO

Fuel state at which aircraft must terminate present activity and RTB

BIG BIRD

A Soviet-built Radar System

BIRD

Friendly surface-to-air missile (SAM)

BLANK

A SEAD aircraft does not detect any emitters of interest.

BLIND

No visual contact with friendly aircraft/ground position.
Opposite of VISUAL.

BOGEY

A radar or visual air contact whose identity is unknown.

BOGEY DOPE

A request for bearing and range to bogey and if available, heading, speed, and altitude.

BOMBS AWAY

Ordnance dropped

BRAA

Tactical control format providing target Bearing, Range, Altitude, and Aspect, relative to a friendly aircraft.

BREAK (left/right/up/down)

Directive to perform an immediate maximum performance turn in the indicated direction. Assumes a defensive situation.

BROKE LOCK

Loss of radar/IR lock-on (advisory).

BUDDY SPIKE

Friendly aircraft air-to-air indication on RWR. (To be followed by position/heading/altitude or callsign)

BULLSEYE

An established point from which the position of an object can be referenced. Used by bearing (Magnetic) and range (NM) from this point.

BUSTER (GO BUSTER)

Directive call to fly at max continuous speed. (Mil power )

CAPTURED

Aircrew has identified and is able to track a specified A/G target with an on-board sensor.

CLEAN

No radar contacts on bandits, bogies or aircraft of interest. No visible battle damage.

CLEARED DRY

Ordnance release not authorized.

CLEARED HOT

Ordnance release is authorized.

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF

Aircraft has received clearance to launch

COLD

Tail of the enemy aircraft is towards the pilot.

CLOSING

Decreasing in Range

CONFETTI

Chaff lane or corridor.

CONTACT

Sensor contact at stated point

DAKOTA

Out of Air to Ground Ordnance

DEADEYE

Informative call by an airborne laser designator indicating the laser/IR system is inoperative.

DEFENSIVE

Taking defensive action (Emergency call) - 1

DEPLOY (Steerpoint xy)

Directive to maneuver to steerpoint xy

ECHOLON

Group s/contact s/formation with wingman displaced approximately 45 degrees behind leader's wing line.

EVASIVE (ACTION)

Taking defensive action (Emergency call) - 2

FADED

Radar contact lost. (Like BROKE LOCK )

FAST (MOVER)

Target speed is estimated to be ≥ 600 knots (Mach 1) ground speed

FATHER

Reference to the air‑to‑air TACAN.

FEET WET/DRY

Flying over water/land.

FENCE IN

Set cockpit switches as appropriate prior to entering/exiting the combat area.

FLARES

Directive to deploy flares.

FOX  (1 – 2 – 3 )

1   Semi Active Missile (e.g. Sparrow)

2   IR – guided Missile (e.g. AIM - 9)

3   Radar guided Missile (e.g. AMRAAM 120)

FLOT

Forward Line Of Troops (passing over the combat border).

GATE

Informative or directive call to fly at maximum speed (afterburner).

GORILLA

Large force of indeterminable numbers and formation.

GRANDSLAM

All hostile  aircraft eleminated !

GREEN

Direction determined to be clearest of enemy air-to-air activity.

HAUNT 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.

HEADS UP (11 o´clock)

Alert of an activity of interest (e.g. at 11 o´clock).

HIGH

Target altitude between 25,000 and 40,000 ft

HOLDING HANDS

Aircraft are joined or in close formation

HOMEPLATE

Home airfield/carrier.

HOSTILE

A contact identified as enemy upon which clearance to fire is authorized in accordance with theatre rules of engagement.

HOT

Nose of the enemy aircraft is towards the pilot.

KANSAS

Out of Air to Air Ordnance

JINKING

Unpredictable manoeuvre to negate a weapons tracking solution.

JOKER

Fuel state above BINGO at which separation/bugout/event termination should begin.

JUDY

Aircrew has radar/visual contact to the correct target and will silence.

JULIET SIERRA

All pilots missed their targets.

LASER ON

Directive to start laser designation.

LIGHTS   (ON/OFF)

Directive to turn on/off exterior lights.

LOW

Target altitude < 10,000 ft

MAGNUM

Launch of friendly antiradiation missile (AGM-88)

MEDIUM

Target altitude between 10,000 and 25,000 ft.

MUD

Indicates RWR ground threat displayed followed by clock.

MUSIC  (ON/OFF)

Electronic radar jamming (on/off)

MIDNIGHT

Informative advising that AWACS functions are no longer available. Opposite of SUNRISE.

NAILS

RWR indication of AI radar in search. Add clock position/azimuth,
if known.

NAKED

No RWR indications.

NEVADA

No more Mavericks on board

NO FACTOR

Not a threat ! (for us hehe...)

NO JOY

Aircrew does not have visual contact with the target/bandit/ landmark. Opposite of TALLY

ON STATION

Informative unit/aircraft has reached assigned station.

PICTURE

Provide tactical situation status pertinent to mission.

PITBULL

1. Informative AIM-120 is at MPRF active range.
2. AIM-54 at active range.

PLAYMATE

Cooperating aircraft.

PLAYTIME

Amount of time aircraft can remain on station before RTB.

POPEYE

Flying in clouds or area of reduced vivibility

PRINT (Type)

Unclear NCTR reply

RAYGUN

Indicates a radar lock-on to unknown aircraft. A request for a (Position/Heading/ “BUDDY SPIKE” reply from friendly aircraft meeting these Altitude) parameters(to prevent fratricide).

RIFLE

AGM-65 MAVERICK launch.

ROLEX

Timeline adjustment in minutes from planned mission execution time. (+ means later; - means earlier).

RTB

Return to base

RTO

Ready to take-off

SAM (Launch)

(Direction) Visual acquisition of a SAM or SAM launch.

SANDWICHED

Aircraft/element positioned between opposing aircraft/elements.

SET (Speed to)

A command to set (or have set) a particular speed.

SHOOTER / COVER

Flight lead attacks while wingman covers (against AAA/bandits)

SHOOTER / SHOOTER

Flight lead and wingman attack together ground targets

SKIP

Order not attack, cease attack or interception

SKOSH

Aircraft is out of/or unable to employ active radar missiles

SMOKE (ON/OFF)

Smoke marker used to mark a position.

SNIPER

Directive for an aircraft to employ a HARM against a specific target.

SOUR

Equipment indicated is not operating efficiently. (Ops. of SWEET)

SPIKE

RWR indication of an AI threat in track, launch, or unknown mode. Include bearing/clock position and threat type, if known.

SPLASH

Hostile aircraft has been shot down.

STATUS

Request for tactical situation

STROBE

Radar indications of noise jamming.

SUNRISE

Informative AWACS functions are available (Ops of MIDNIGHT).

SWEET

Equipment indicated is operating efficiently.  (Opposite of SOUR)

TALLY (HO)

Sighting of a target, bandit, bogey, or enemy position;
Opposite of NO JOY.

THREAT

Untargeted HOSTILE/BANDIT/ BOGEY within prebriefed range/aspect of a friendly.

TIGER

Enough fuel and ordnance to accept a commit.

TRACKING

1. Stabilizied Gun solution.
2. Continous illumination of target.

TRESPASS (Position)

Friendly flight have entered enemy SAM threat ring.

TUMBLEWEED

Indicates limited situational awareness; NO JOY; BLIND

VISUAL

Sighting of a friendly aircraft/ground position; opposite of BLIND.

WINCHESTER

No ordnance remaining.

VECTOR

Request for vector towards designated ground targets

ZEUS

Soviet AAA