BREVITY WORDS

BIRD

Friendly surface to air missile.

CHICKS

Friendly aircraft.

VISUAL

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

ALBATROSS

Friendly UAS.

HOOTER

Friendly jammer.

KILO

A friendly track of special interest.

LAME DUCK

An aircraft in a minor state of emergency resulting from ordnance or radio failure, oxygen leak, or other cause.

BANDIT

An aircraft identified as enemy, in accordance with theatre identification (ID) criteria. The term does not necessarily imply direction or authority to engage.

FAKER

A friendly track acting as a HOSTILE for excercise purposes.

GORILLA

Large force of indeterminate numbers and formation of aircraft identified as either UNKNOWN or is not identified as FRIEND or ASSUMED FRIEND.

LEAKER

Airborne threat has passed through a defensive layer.

MAGNUM

(H)ARM launch.

QUAIL

Enemy air/surface launched cruise missile.

SCUD

Any threat TBM.

VAMPIRE

HOSTILE guided missile.

ZIPPO

Alerts units that a missile attack is imminent or taking place.

BOGEY

Unidentified aircraft.

CLARA

The radar scope is clear of enemy contacts.

CLEAN

• No radar contacts on BANDITS, BOGEYS, or aircraft of interest.

• No visible battle damage.

• Aircraft not carrying external stores.

CONTACT

• Sensor contact at the stated position.

• Acknowledges sighting of a specified reference point.

CYCLOPS

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

DECLARE

Inquiry by fighter to AWACS/GCI or capable aircraft as to the identification of a specified track(s), target(s), or correlated group.

EYEBALL

EO/IR/NVD acquisition of an aircraft. Normally followed by number of aircraft observed.

FADED

Radar contact is lost on a contact which is identified as either UNKOWN or is not identified as FRIEND or ASSUMED FRIEND.

FURBALL

A friendly aircraft and another aircraft that is not defined as a FRIEND or ASSUMED FRIEND in close proximity to each other. Can be a response to a DECLARE - request.

GOPHER

A tracked CONTACT that has not conformed to safe passage routing, airspeed or altitude procedures. Will only be used when safe passage or minimum risk routing procedures are a part of an ID matrix.

HEADS UP

Alert of an activity of interest. (Normally followed by amplifying information).

INTERROGATE

Interrogate the designated contact/track or raid on the IFF-mode indicated.

IN THE DARK

Contact is in a known radar blind zone.

KESTREL

UAS which is armed or capable of being armed that is not identified as FRIEND or ASSUMED FRIEND.

LOST

Reporting unit doesn’t hold contact anymore for which it has reporting responsibility.

MIX UP

Mixture of FRIENDLY and HOSTILE aircraft.

MOSQUITO

Mini-UAS.

NO JOY

Aircrew does not have visual contact with the target/bandit/bogey/landmark or enemy position.

ORBIT(ING)

Hold on current or indicated position.

OUTLAW

Contact has met point of origin criteria for ROE.

PAINT(S)

Interrogated group/radar contact that is responding with any of the specified IFF modes and correct codes established for the ID criteria.

RIDER

A BOGEY that is complying with ACO/safe passage procedures.

RISER

A radar contact which has suddenly appeared.

SAME

Aircrew has the identical information as was just stated.

SNEAKER

An intelligence gathering vessel.

SPADES

An interrogated group/radar contact which lacks the Air Tasking Order (ATO), established (or equivalent) IFF modes and codes required for the ID criteria.

SQUAWKING (MODE)

BOGEY is responding with an IFF mode.

SUSPECT

A track which is potentially HOSTILE because of its characteristics, behaviour, origin or nationality.

CHAFF

Chaff has been detected or to deploy chaff.

CHATTERMARK

Commence briefed radio procedures to counter communication jamming.

JAMMER

A jammer that is not identified as a FRIEND or ASSUMED FRIEND.

MUSIC

Electronic jamming.

PHANTOM

A position or track derived from the triangulation of spikes originating from HOSTILE jamming.

PINNACLE

An emmission believed to originate from a platform assumed FRIENDLY.

GOODWILL

The boundary of an active MEZ.

OILFIELD

MEZ is active (opposite of KOBOLD).

KOBOLD

MEZ is not active (opposite of OILFIELD).

BENT

Equipment indicated is inoperative (cancelled by OKAY).

GADGET

Radar or emitter equipment.

JESTER

Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP).

MIDNIGHT

Informative C2 functions are no longer available (opposite of SUNRISE).

NANCY

Infrared equipment.

OKAY

Equipment indicated is operative (cancels BENT).

PARROT INDIA

A military IFF interrogator.

PENDING

Tracks which have not been subject to the identification process but are available for reporting.

SHOTGUN

Pre-briefed weapons state.

SOUR

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

STRANGLE

Switch off equipment indicated.

SUNRISE

C2 functions are available (opposite of MIDNIGHT).

SWEET

Equipment indicated is operating efficiently (opposite of SOUR).

TIMBER

Link 16.

TUMBLEWEED

Limited situational awareness; no joy; blind; a request for information.

WINCHESTER

Aircraft is out of ordnance.

ABORT

Cease action/attack/event/mission. This is a mandatory instruction.

ABORT(ING)(ED)

Action/attack/event/mission has ceased.

BIRD(S) AWAY HOSTILE

Missile has been fired on designated target.

BIRD(S) NEGATE HOSTILE

Information call indicating unit is unable to engage designated target.

CEASE ENGAGEMENT

In air defence, break the engagement on the target specified and prepare to engage another target. Missiles in flight continue to intercept.

CEASE FIRE

Do not open fire/cease firing (missiles in flight continue to intercept).

CLAM

Cease emissions on specified equipment.

COVER

• Directive/informative to take surface-to-air action or establish an air-to-air posture that will allow engagement of a specified target or threat.

• An order to platform to initiate an engagement on a specific track up to but not including the point of firing.

ENGAGE

A fire control order used to direct or authorize units and/or weapons systems to fire on a designated target.

GRANDSLAM

All aircraft of a designated track (or against which the mission was tasked) are shot down.

HOLD FIRE

Do not open fire/cease firing (missiles in flight must be destroyed). The direction to hold fire should be repeated at the end of a transmission.

MINIMIZE

Radio frequency is becoming saturated, degraded or jammed and briefer transmissions must follow.

MONITOR

Maintain radar awareness on or assume responsibility for a specified group.

NO CAN

Unable to comply (with your instructions).

RIPPLE

Two or more munitions released or fired in close succession.

SPLASH(ED)

HOSTILE aircraft shot down.

WHAT LUCK

Request for results of assigned mission or task.

WHAT STATE

Request for amount of fuel and missiles remaining.

WILCO

Will comply with received instructions.

ZIPLIP

Limit transmissions to critical information only.

HOT

Target is on a stable heading with an aspect angle between ± 150 degrees - 210 degrees.

FLANK (include cardinal direction)

Target is on a stable heading with an aspect angle between 110 and 150 degrees.

BEAM (include cardinal direction)

Target is on a stable heading with an aspect angle between ± 70 degrees - 110 degrees.

DRAG

Target is on a stable heading with an aspect angle between 0 and 70 degrees.

JOINING

Aircraft joining or rejoining the formation.

SPLITTING

Contact is dividing.

CLOSING

Decreasing in range or azimuth.

MANOEUVRE (azimuth/range/altitude)

Specified group is maneuvering in azimuth, range and/or altitude.

MERGED

Tracks have come together.

OPENING

Increasing in range or azimuth.

HOLDING HANDS

Aircraft are joined in close formation.