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, nor does it state how a radio call should be correctly structured.
Check-in
ON STATION -> Aircraft has arrived in the designated area and is ready for tasking.
PLAYTIME -> Amount of time aircraft can remain on station, given in hours plus minutes.
RWR Calls
NAILS -> RWR indication of AIRBORNE radar SCANNING
SPIKE -> RWR indication of AIRBORNE radar (including missiles) TRACKING
DIRT -> RWR indication of SURFACE radar SCANNING
MUD -> RWR indication of SURFACE radar TRACKING
- SINGER -> Radar warning receiver indication of SAM launch. See MUD and DIRT.
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
FYI, these are officially part of the multi-service tactical brevity code.
CHRISTMAS TREE -> Turn on all external lighting
METALLICA -> Contact cannot be targeted due to jamming
FLOCK -> Two or more roosters
sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-service_tactical_brevity_code#P