Basic A/A Phrases
Introduction
This document consists of basic phrases that are relevant in air to air engagements with their respective explanations. It does not include phrases that are not part of the standard comms phrases book, nor does it state how a radio call should be correctly structured.
RWR Calls
NAILS [direction] -> RWR indication of AIRBORNE radar SCANNING.
SPIKE [direction] -> RWR indication of AIRBORNEradar (including missiles) TRACKING.
DIRT [direction] -> RWR indication of SURFACE radar SCANNING.
MUD [direction] -> RWR indication of SURFACE radar TRACKING.
Requests
BOGEY DOPE -> Request for information on indicated or closest GROUP.
PICTURE -> Request AWACS for complete 'picture' of all detected bandits in the AO
DECLARE -> Request AWACS for identification on bogey. (Is it friend of foe)
Contact information
BOGEY -> Unidentified contact
BANDIT -> Confirmed enemy contact
HOT -> Contact moving towards you
COLD -> Contact moving away from you
CRANK -> Maneuver in the direction indicated to illuminate target at or near radar gimbal limits.
FLANKING [left/right] -> Contact moving to either side of you
POPUP -> A contact that has suddenly appeared.
GROUP -> Any number of air or surface contacts within 3 or 1 nautical miles of each other, respectively.
Situational awareness
VISUAL -> FRIENDLY in sight
BLIND -> FRIENDLY NOT in sight
TALLY -> BANDIT in sight
NO JOY -> BANDIT NOT in sight
RAYGUN -> Radar lock on a bogey. Request for friendlies to reply if they believe they are the target of this lock.
BUDDY SPIKE -> FRIENDLY radar lock indication on RWR. (Often response to RAYGUN)
Just funny
CHRISTMAS TREE -> Turn on all external lighting
METALLICA -> contact cannot be targeted due to jamming
sources:
sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-service_tactical_brevity_code#P