Group

Fixed wing aircrew CAS communications

All aircrew shall ensure that all targets are positively identified prior to any weapons employment.

Engagement without positive target identification is prohibited. Positive identification is required to prevent fratricide (blue-on-blue) and unnecessary collateral damage.

• Confirm target identity using visual, sensor, or controller-provided references
• Correlate target location with briefing data
• Distinguish target from friendly forces and non-combatants within the engagement area
• Maintain continuous target tracking through the final attack phase
• Abort engagement if positive identification cannot be maintained

Any participant in a Close Air Support (CAS) engagement has the authority and responsibility to issue an abort call if unsafe conditions are observed.

Abort authority exists to ensure safety, prevent fratricide, and maintain control of the engagement environment. It may be exercised by any involved party when required conditions for a safe engagement are no longer met.

• Immediately discontinue attack run upon receiving an abort call or identifying unsafe conditions
• Acknowledge abort instruction clearly and concisely
• Maintain aircraft control and safe separation from the target area
• Transition to holding or egress profile as directed
• Do not re-engage without explicit re-clearance

• Cease attack operations immediately upon loss of communications
• Transition to pre-briefed lost communications plan or safe egress route
• Avoid weapons release without positive re-establishment of control and clearance
• Attempt to re-establish communications using alternate methods or frequencies
• Report aircraft status upon regaining communications

• Line 1: [Aircraft Callsign], this is [FAC Callsign], CAS request
  • Aircraft response: [Aircraft Callsign], send CAS request
• Line 2: GRID [grid reference] OR TRP [name] OR SHIFT TRP [name], NORTH/SOUTH [Distance in metres], EAST/WEST [Distance in metres]
• Line 3: [target type/size], [environment/cover], marked by [method], [laser code if applicable]
• Line 4: Friendlies [distance] [direction] of target, (marked by [method])
• Line 5: [attack direction], [restrictions], Request [ordnance], danger close (if applicable)
  • Aircraft response: Readback of lines 2-5

• Establish communication with the FAC.
• Receive and interpret the CAS request.
• Correctly identify:
  • Target location.
  • Target description.
  • Target marking method.
  • Friendly force location.
  • Attack direction and restrictions.
  • Requested ordnance.
• Provide an accurate readback of Lines 2–5.
• Confirm visual identification of the target before engagement.
• Execute the approved attack profile.
• Report observed effects after engagement.
• Request clarification when information is incomplete or conflicting.

• Observe the target area after weapons impact when safe to do so
• Report effects using standardized BDA terminology (e.g., hit, mobility kill, destroyed)
• Provide accurate location and timing of observed effects
• Distinguish confirmed effects from estimated or unconfirmed observations
• Maintain concise and structured reporting format

Close Air Support (CAS) communications should follow prioritisation principles to ensure safety-critical information is transmitted without delay.

• Prioritise abort calls and safety-critical messages above all other transmissions
• Interrupt or delay non-essential communication when required for safety
• Maintain clarity during high-tempo communication environments
• Recognise and appropriately escalate urgent CAS updates
• Avoid unnecessary radio congestion during critical attack phases

Aircraft: F/A-18 — Raven 1
FAC: Mike 7

Line 1
FAC: “Raven One, this is Mike, CAS request.”
Aircraft: “Raven One, send CAS request.”

Line 2
FAC: “GRID 123,456.”

Line 3
FAC: “Hostile fortification, fortified position, marked by red smoke and laser, laser code 1234.”

Line 4
FAC: “Friendlies 700 metres east of target.”

Line 5
FAC: “Ingress from south, Request guided bomb.”

Aircraft Readback:
Aircraft: “Raven One, target GRID 123,456. Hostile fortification, fortified position, marked by red smoke and laser, laser code 1234. Friendlies 700 metres east of target. Ingress from south, requesting guided bomb.”

FAC:
“Raven One, readback correct, Cleared Hot Type II.”

Aircraft:
“Raven One, inbound.”

Aircraft (Target Identification):
“Raven One, visual red smoke, visual hostile fortification.”

(Aircraft conducts attack.)

Aircraft (Follow-on CAS Actions):
“Raven One, off target, observed impacts on target, fortification damaged.”

FAC:
“Raven One, assessing effects, stand by.”

Aircraft: A-10C — Hog 4
FAC: Anvil 7

Line 1
FAC: “Hog 4, this is Anvil, CAS request.”
Aircraft: “Hog 4, send CAS request.”

Line 2
FAC: “GRID 069,420.”

Line 3
FAC: “Infantry platoon, open terrain, marked by red smoke and tracers 200 metres south of a large industrial complex.”

Line 4
FAC: “Friendlies 200 metres north of target.”

Line 5
FAC: “Ingress from east, caution MANPADS in the area, Request guns, Danger Close.”

Aircraft Readback:
Aircraft: “Hog 4, target GRID 169,420. Infantry platoon, open terrain, marked by red smoke and tracers 100 metres north of a large industrial complex. Friendlies 200 metres north of target. Ingress from east, caution MANPADS in the area, requesting guns, Danger Close.”

FAC (Incorrect Readback):
“Negative. Target GRID 069,420. Infantry platoon, open terrain, marked by red smoke and tracers 200 metres south of a large industrial complex. Friendlies 200 metres north of target. Ingress from east, caution MANPADS in the area, requesting guns, Danger Close.”

Aircraft Readback:
“Hog 4, target GRID 069,420. Infantry platoon, open terrain, marked by red smoke and tracers 200 metres south of a large industrial complex. Friendlies 200 metres north of target. Ingress from east, caution MANPADS in the area, requesting guns, Danger Close.”

FAC:
“Hog 4, readback correct, Cleared Hot Type II, Danger Close.”

Aircraft:
“Hog 4, inbound.”

Aircraft (Target Identification):
“Hog 4, visual red smoke, visual infantry platoon.”

(Aircraft conducts attack.)

Aircraft (Follow-on CAS Actions):
“Hog 4, off target, observed impacts on target, infantry dispersing, enemy still active.”

FAC:
“Hog 4, re-clear same target, engage remaining infantry.”

Aircraft:
“Hog 4, in hot.”

(Aircraft conducts second attack.)

Aircraft (Follow-on CAS Actions):
“Hog 4, off target, observed impacts on target, enemy casualties confirmed, remaining infantry withdrawing.”

FAC:
“Hog 4, terminate, target neutralised.”

Aircraft: AH-6 — Egg 2
FAC: Reaper 7

Line 1
FAC: “Egg 2, this is Reaper, CAS request.”
Aircraft: “Egg 2, send CAS request.”

Line 2
FAC: “GRID 2234,4353.”

Line 3
FAC: “Six technicals with 50 cal, open terrain, marked by IR sparkle.”

Line 4
FAC: “Friendlies no factor.”

Line 5
FAC: “Ingress as required, Request guns.”

Aircraft Readback:
Aircraft: “Egg 2, target GRID 2234,4353. Six technicals with 50 cal, open terrain, marked by IR sparkle. Friendlies no factor. Requesting guns.”

FAC:
“Egg 2, readback correct, Cleared Hot Type III.”

Aircraft:
“Egg 2, inbound.”

Aircraft (Target Identification):
“Reaper, Egg 2, unable to determine target location from sparkle. Request increased laser movement.”

FAC:
“Egg 2, Reaper, Wilco. Sparkle now circling the target.”

(FAC increases the IR laser movement around the target to improve target identification.)

Aircraft:
“Egg 2, visual technicals, in hot.”

(Aircraft conducts first attack.)

Aircraft (Follow-on CAS Actions):
“Egg 2, off target, observed impacts on target, two technicals destroyed, four remaining.”

FAC:
“Egg 2, continue engagement.”

(Aircraft conducts additional attacks.)

Aircraft:
“Egg 2, off target, observed impacts on target, remaining technicals destroyed.”

FAC:
“Egg 2, terminate, target neutralised.”