# Quick guide — 9-Line CAS brief

## Purpose

The 9-Line is a compact, standard way for a JTAC/Tactical Controller to give attacking aircrew the essential targeting information they need to prosecute a weapons release safely and effectively. It focuses on the target location/description, friendly positions, weapon/fuze constraints, and ingress/egress.

> Note: There are several doctrinal variations of the 9-line (service/country differences, doctrinal updates). The version below is the widely used **JTAC → aircraft** functional breakdown (what pilots expect to hear).

---

[![image.png](https://bookstack.phobetor.site/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/EWximage.png)](https://bookstack.phobetor.site/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/EWximage.png)

## Pre-9-Line items

These are the common radio items you should send **before** the 9-line so aircrew can prepare and respond:

- **Check-in** — identifies flight, position or that you’re leaving an ATC zone.  
    *Example:* “Check in as soon as leaving ATC ZONE. Usually 5 miles. Knight 1-1, Snake 1.”
- **Readback/request to copy** — controller tells the flight to be ready to copy the 9-line.  
    *Example:* “Knight 1-1 ready to copy.”
- **Mission/ordnance and brief note** — brief description of the flight loadout or playtime.  
    *Example from picture:* “Knight 1 flight is a 2 ship Hornet; loaded with 4 x AGM65E; 8 x GBU38; 4 x CBU 99. PLAYTIME 30 MINUTES. NOTE: load out is for entire flight.”
- **Hold / IP / clearance to engage** — where to hold and when to expect the IP call.  
    *Example:* “Proceed to the ALPHA HOLD at 22k. Report IP inbound 10 miles to target.”

---

## The 9 lines — explanation + example mapping

### Line 1 — **IP/BP or Call-in** (Initial Point / Battle Position)

- **What it conveys:** Method of attack reference point for the run; where the aircraft will start the attack (or “IP inbound”).
- **Example from picture:**  
    “Knight 1-1 IP Inbound (Pilot will then call back in at 10 miles to target)”  
    — or the controller may simply say “IP inbound 10 miles to target” as part of the pre-brief.

### Line 2 — **Heading (attack heading / bearing to target)**

- **What it conveys:** Attack heading or the magnetic/true bearing the aircraft should fly over the target (or heading from IP to target).
- **Example:** your screenshot shows **“Use AGM65E; Ingress 120-160 (May be include ingress to avoid friendly troops)”** — the 120–160 is the ingress corridor/attack heading. In a 9-line you’d give: **“Attack heading 120–160.”**

### Line 3 — **Distance**

- **What it conveys:** Distance from IP to target (or distance from the aircraft position given at the time). Could be nautical miles.
- **Example mapping:** The screenshot implies distances implicitly (IP inbound 10 miles). In a 9-line you might say: **“Distance: IP to target 10 NM.”**

### Line 4 — **Target elevation / height**

- **What it conveys:** Elevation of the target or height above mean sea level (MSL). Important for fuzing and sensor slant.
- **Example from picture:** **“278ft MSL”** appears in the sample. So Line 4 = **“Target elev: 278 ft MSL.”**

### Line 5 — **Target description**

- **What it conveys:** One-line description of the target (type, size, known threats nearby). Keep it short and unambiguous.
- **Example from picture:** **“Shilka”** (a AAA threat) — you could expand to: **“Target: Shilka SPAAG (vehicle).”**

### Line 6 — **Target location**

- **What it conveys:** Grid reference (MGRS), lat/long, or other precise coordinates. If laser code/bearing used, include here.
- **Example from picture:** **“LM40125-62110”** (looks like a grid/MGRS) — so Line 6 = **“MGRS: LM40125-62110.”**

### Line 7 — **Mark / Type of attack / Orbit direction**

- **What it conveys:** How the target will be marked (laser, smoke, IP talk-on) and the attack profile (type of ordnance or attack heading). Could also include the ballistics/marking laser code.
- **Example from picture:** **“Mark the laser 1688; Laser on. Lasing.”** → Line 7 = **“Mark: Laser (Code 1688).”**  
    Also the weapon selection/remarks earlier could be included here (e.g., “Using AGM-65E”).

### Line 8 — **Friendlies (location of friendly troops / restrictions)**

- **What it conveys:** Location of friendly elements relative to the target — direction and distance or MGRS. Also may include restrictions.
- **Example from picture:** **“Troops NW of target”** and the additional safety: **“SPOT (When you have acquired the laser, YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO FIRE).”**  
    So Line 8 = **“Friendlies: Troops NW of target (distance if available).”**

### Line 9 — **Egress / Remarks / Fuze / Clearance (ROE)**

- **What it conveys:** Egress direction, clearance level (Type 2/3, Restricted), fuzing or other restrictions, or additional remarks.
- **Example from picture:**
    
    
    - **“Egress EAST.”** (egress direction)
    - **“Type 2 in effect.”** (level of control — Type 2 means JTAC has to see/mark the target and give clearance)
    - **“Advise when ready for remarks and further talk on.”**  
        So Line 9 could be: **“Egress: East. Remarks: Type 2 in effect. Advise when ready for remarks.”**