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[[File:ALSSA Brevity Cover.png|thumb|March 2023 edition cover page of the Multi-Service Brevity Codes]]
'''Multi-Service Tactical Brevity Codes''' are standardized [[Procedure word|procedure words]] used by multiple branches of the military to efficiently communicate complex information through concise, easily understood terms. These codes are a specialized form of [[voice procedure]] intended to improve clarity, speed, and coordination in tactical operations.
==American/NATO codes==
The following list outlines standardized American brevity codes employed during [[joint warfare|joint service]] operations. This collection excludes terms unique to individual branches. While these codes are not officially binding across services, they are widely recognized and their meanings agreed upon. Their use enhances interoperability and [[Situation awareness|situational awareness]] among air, ground, sea, and space forces operating at the tactical level.
The provided key indicates which communities use specific terms, as some codes may carry different meanings depending on the service or mission context. These distinctions are noted in-line with each brevity code entry.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
Line 18 ⟶ 21:
|'''No Caveat'''
|Denotes a general brevity code.
|-
|'''*'''
|Meaning may differ from the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) brevity word.
|-
|'''**'''
|Not a NATO brevity word.
|-
|'''[A/A]'''
Line 45 ⟶ 54:
{{Compact TOC|q=|z=|refs=yes|align=center}}
;Abort: Directive to cease action or terminate an attack prior to weapons release, an event, or mission.
;Action <sup>[A/A] [A/S] [S/A] [AIR-MAR]</sup>: Directive to initiate a briefed attack sequence or maneuver.
;Active* <sup>[A/A] [EW]</sup>: Referenced emitter is radiating at the stated ___location or along the stated bearing. Derived from [[electronic intelligence]].
;Add (system/category) <sup>[EW]</sup>: Directive call to add a specific system or electromagnetic [[order of battle]] (EOB) category to search responsibility.
;Alarm <sup>[A/A] [EW] [MAR] [SO]</sup>:
;Alligator: [[MIL-STD-6011|Link-11A or tactical digital information link (TADIL) Alpha]].
Line 64 ⟶ 73:
# Refueling track flown by [[Aerial refueling|tanker]].
;Anchored: Turning
;Angels: Height ([[Altitude#In_aviation|altitude]]) of a friendly aircraft in thousands of feet (e.g., "Angels Five" is 5,000
;Anyface: Friendly [[command and control]] (C2) agency when the call sign is not known.
Line 72 ⟶ 81:
;Arizona: No [[anti-radiation missile]] (ARM) [[Aircraft ordnance|ordnance]] remaining.
;Arm: ''CONTACT(
;As fragged: Unit or element will be performing exactly as stated by the [[air tasking order]] (ATO).
Line 88 ⟶ 97:
;Avalanche: Informative call indicating friendly forces require reinforcement in a specific ___location.
;Away: Friendly weapon release (e.g., "One away" or "
;Awake: Land or surface emitter activity detected via communications intelligence. Opposite of ''ASLEEP''.
;Azimuth
# Two or more
# Direction to a threat.
;Bad Map: The displayed map is unusable due to the following:
# Terrain - shadows obstruct the target area and a map must be taken from a different axis or graze angle.
Line 109 ⟶ 118:
;Base (number): Reference number used to indicate such information as headings, altitude, and fuels.
;
;Bats: FRIENDLY net-enabled [[glide bomb|glide weapon(s)]] with a multi-mode seeker (e.g., [[standoff weapon]], [[guided bomb unit]], [[small diameter bomb]])
Line 125 ⟶ 134:
;Beretta: Aircraft is out of or unable to employ remaining air-to-ground ordnance, excluding the gun (if equipped).
;Bingo*:{{anchor|bingo}} Minimum fuel state needed for aircraft to return to base.
;Bird(s): Friendly [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM).
Line 135 ⟶ 144:
;Bird(s) negat: Unit is unable to engage a specified target with SAMs. Opposite of BIRDS AFFIRM.
;Birddog**: Directive to configure sensors in accordance with mission planning or briefing.
;Bittersweet**: Notification of possible ''blue-on-blue'' ([[friendly fire]]) or ''blue-on-neutral'' situation.
;Blackout**:
#Directive to turn off all external lighting. #Surface ship radar is unable to effectively search or transition tracking to a new object due to over saturation.
;Blank**: A [[suppression of enemy air defenses]] (SEAD) aircraft does not detect any emitters of interest.
;Blind: No visual contact with friendly aircraft, ship, or ground position. Opposite of VISUAL.
Line 153 ⟶ 164:
;Blow Through: Directive to continue straight ahead at a MERGE and avoid becoming ANCHORED with targets.
;Blur**: Radar is being [[Radar jamming and deception|jammed]].
;Bogey: A radar or visual ''CONTACT'' whose identity is unknown.
;Bogey Dope*: Request for information on the indicated or closest group of
;Booster: [[radar tracker|Track]] identified as a separated [[Ballistic missile flight phases#Boost phase|booster phase]] component of a [[ballistic missile]].
;Box: A controller's PICTURE label with GROUPS or CONTACTS in a square or offset square [[Formation flying|formation]].
Line 173 ⟶ 186:
;Broke lock: Loss of radar/infrared (IR) lock-on (advisory).
;Broken Spur**: Helicopter buddy or self-extraction is not possible
;Browning**: [[Surface-to-air missile|Surface-to-air Missile (SAM)]] platform has reached low missile state.
;Bruiser*: Employment of friendly air-launched, short range, subsonic [[anti-ship missile]] (AShM). For example, ''Harpoon'', ''Exocet'', or ''Penguin'' missiles.
;Bucket**: [[Command and control|Command and control (C2)]] unit is experiencing radar electromagnetic deceptive jamming in a specified geographic area.
;Buddy Lase/Guide*: Request or informative communication to have [[weapon guidance]] from a source other than delivering aircraft.
;Buddy Lock:
;Buddy Spike: Friendly aircraft
;Bugout: Separation from
;Bulldog*: Friendly surface
;Bullring: Maritime aircraft patrol zone.
;Bullseye: An established reference point from which the position of an object can be referenced by bearing (magnetic) and range (nautical miles) from this point. For example, "BULLSEYE 090, 10" indicates an object is ten miles to the east of the reference point.
;Bump: Directive to change [[thrust|power]], plus or minus, from current power setting.
▲;Buddy Spike: Friendly aircraft air-to-air indication on radar warning receiver (RWR); to be followed by position, heading, and altitude.
▲;Bugout: Separation from that particular engagement/attack/operation; no intent to (direction) re-engage/return.
▲;Bulldog: Friendly surface/submarine-launched AShM (for example, ''Harpoon'', ''Exocet'', ''Otomat'').
;Burn glint: Used to provide illumination.
;Buster: Directive call to fly at maximum continuous speed, i.e., full military power without [[afterburner]].▼
;Buzzer: Electronic communications jamming.▼
▲;Buster: Directive call to fly at maximum continuous speed
===C===▼
▲;Buzzer**: Electronic communications jamming. See also ''CHATTER''.
;Buzzsaw**: A chemical light-stick tied to a string and swung overhead; used to mark a ''FRIENDLY'' position.
;Candygram: Informative call to aircraft that electronic warfare (EW) targeting information is available on a briefed secure net.
;Cap/capping:
Line 220 ⟶ 244:
;Cloak: Directive/informative call to switch from normal external lighting to covert night vision device (NVD) only compatible lighting.
;Closing: Decreasing in range.
;Cobra: ASW torpedo in gyro angle snake search (GASS) mode (e.g., Mk46).
;Cold:
# Attack geometry will result in a pass or rollout behind the target.
Line 242 ⟶ 266:
;Cyclops : Any unmanned aerial vehicle ([[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]).
;Dash (#): Aircraft position within a flight. Use if specific call sign is unknown.
;Data : Standby for improved data modem (IDM) data message concerning (object) at stated ___location.
Line 264 ⟶ 288:
;Dustbin: [[Nuclear depth bomb|Nuclear ASW depth charge]].
;Echelon: Groups/contacts/formation with wingman displaced approximately 45 degrees behind leader's 3/9 (o'clock) line, see [[Echelon formation]].
;Echo: Positive SEESAW/electronic warfare weapons system (EWWS)/System M/Mode X reply.
Line 274 ⟶ 298:
# Electro-optical (EO)/IR/NVD acquisition of an aircraft. Normally followed by ( ) number of aircraft observed.
;Faded: Radar contact is lost. (Termination of track plotting is not warranted.)
;Fast: Target speed is estimated to be at least {{convert|600|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} ground speed or Mach 1.
Line 298 ⟶ 322:
;Flat : Even yourself out or calibrate yourself
;Gadget: Radar or emitter equipment.
;Gate: Directive/informative call to fly as quickly as possible, using afterburner/maximum power.
Line 316 ⟶ 340:
;Guns: An air-to-air or air-to-surface gunshot.
;Hard (direction): High-G, energy-sustaining turn.
;Head/head on
Line 346 ⟶ 370:
;Husky: (Naval) Air intercept missile (AIM)-120 supported to HPRF active range; same meaning as USAF ''cheapshot''.
;ID (pronounced ''eye dee'')
# Directive to identify the target.
Line 355 ⟶ 379:
;Interrogate: Interrogate the designated contact of the IFF mode indicated.
;Jackal: Surveillance network participating group 7 (NPG 7) of [[Link 16]] TADIL (tactical information link).{{sfn|ALSSA|2023|p=24}}
;Joker: Fuel state above BINGO at which separation/bugout/event termination should begin.
;Judy: Aircrew has radar/visual contact on the correct target, has taken control of the intercept, and only requires situation awareness information. Controller will minimize radio transmissions.
;KIA: Killed in action.
;Kill
Line 368 ⟶ 392:
;Kraken: Release of long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM){{sfn|ALSSA|2023|p=25}}
;Ladder: Three or more groups/contacts in range.
;Laser on: Directive to start laser designation.
Line 380 ⟶ 404:
;Low: Target altitude below {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}} above ground level (AGL).
;Maddog:Launch of friendly [[active radar homing]] [[air-to-air missile]], such as the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM|AIM-120]], without radar guidance from the launch aircraft. The missile will rely on its own radar to find a target and will generally track the first target it sees.
;Magnum: Launch of friendly [[anti-radiation missile]] (such as [[AGM-88 HARM]], [[ALARM (missile)|ALARM]]).
Line 398 ⟶ 422:
;Music: Electronic [[radar jamming and deception]].
;Nails: Radar warning receiver (RWR) indication of an [[aircraft interception radar|AI radar]] in search mode. Add clock position/azimuth and radar type, if known.
;Naked: No radar warning receiver (RWR) indications.
Line 406 ⟶ 430:
;Notch: All-aspect missile defensive maneuver to place threat radar/missile on the beam (directly perpendicular). Modern pulse-doppler radars remove ground clutter by filtering out returns from stationary objects; putting the threat on the beam permits the defending aircraft to be confused with ground returns and hence disappear from the threat radar. As missiles guide by creating a direct intercept course, this is also used to reduce the missile's speed and thus its ability to maneuver if radar lock is maintained. Can also be used in the context of submarine warfare as a maneuverer to leave the sonar detection cone of an incoming torpedo before it closes the distance required to detect and lock onto the notching vessel.
;Off (direction): Informative call indicating attack is terminated and maneuvering to the indicated direction.
;Offset: Informative call indicating maneuver in a specified direction with reference to (direction) the target.
Line 415 ⟶ 439:
;Outlaw: Informative call that a bogey has met point of origin criteria.
;Package: Geographically isolated collection of groups/contacts/formations.
;Padlocked: Informative call indicating aircrew cannot take eyes off an aircraft or a surface position without risk of losing ''tally''/''visual''.
Line 446 ⟶ 470:
;Pushing: Departing a designated point.
;Range: Two or more groups separated primarily in distance along the same bearing.
;Raygun: Indicates a radar lock-on to unknown aircraft; a request for a ''buddy spike'' (position/heading/altitude) reply from friendly aircraft meeting these parameters (to prevent [[friendly fire]]).
Line 467 ⟶ 491:
;Rope: Illumination of an aircraft with an IR pointer.
;Saddled: Informative call from wingman/element indicating the return to briefed formation position.
;SAM (direction): Visual acquisition of a SAM (surface-air missile) or SAM launch; should include position.
Line 531 ⟶ 555:
;Switch/switched: Indicates an attacker is changing from one aircraft to another.
;Tactical: Request/directive to switch to tactical control.
;Tag: (system Known identification of a specific (system) at the stated ___location; may be used w/position) with IDM{{Clarify|date=May 2008}} data message, (for example, ''tag data'').
Line 558 ⟶ 582:
;Turret: indicates launch of an air-to-surface missile.
;Unable: Cannot comply as requested/directed.
;Uniform: Ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio.
;Vampire: Hostile anti-ship missile (ASM).
;Vanished: Special case of ''faded'' wherein contact is not in a known sensor blind zone and is correlated to a shot by friendly forces.
Line 570 ⟶ 594:
;Visual: Sighting of a friendly aircraft/ground position; opposite of ''blind''.
;Wall: Three or more groups or contacts primarily split in azimuth.
;Warning (color): Hostile attack is
Line 596 ⟶ 620:
# Aircraft executing electronic identification (EID) on a specific aircraft/group to obtain identification necessary for beyond visual range (BVR) employment.
;Yardstick: Directive to use air-to-air tactical air navigation (A/A [[TACAN]]) for ranging.
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