AWACS

GOON Human AWACS Command Basics.

This is a more in-depth article to add on top of our Standard Operating Procedures.

When performing the job of AWACS/GCI, goons will often use the tool LotATC 4 DCS, and our server provides one license for free.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide a basic structure of how to request services and interpret calls from human AWACS so you can find and shoot at things. You are not required to use brevity codes when talking to AWACS, it only makes it easier and gets everyone more erect. If you do not know the brevity code for what you want, just give your request in plain English.

BRAA Calls and You

The most common call you’ll have from both AI and Human AWACS is the BRA(A) call, which stands for Bearing, Range, Altitude, and optionally Aspect. The BRAA call will tell you, in order, which direction the bandit is from you, how far away they are, what their altitude is, and what direction they’re moving in relation to you. It is important to stay with your flight leads so that this information is accurate and relevant to the entire flight.

BRAA calls can also be given using Bullseye (or bulls). Bulls is a reference point that is shared by the whole coalition, as opposed to bearing which is specific to one aircraft. In this case, it would be given as "Hornet 1-1, Screwtop, Bulls 230, 30, 20 thousand", indicating that they are 230 degrees from bullseye and 30 miles in distance, flying at 20,000 feet.

Aspect

The only non self-explanatory portion of the BRAA call is Aspect, which describes the enemy’s direction of movement in relation to you. Aspect is given using the following brevity codes:

• Hot indicates the bandit is moving towards you or in an intercept towards you, these types of bandits should be considered first and will be called out first if there are multiple groups.
• Cold indicates the bandit is moving away from you, they will be called out last if there are multiple groups.
• Beaming (Left/Right) indicates the bandit is moving perpendicular to you, meaning they’re moving to your left or right by a large degree. This may mean they are in your radar notch or attempting to defend if you fired on them.
• Flanking (Left/Right) indicates a halfway between hot and beaming, the bandit is still closing on you but may not be attempting to intercept you, or you’ve fired on them and they’re defending by attempting to get in your radar notch.

If aspect is not given, a hot aspect is implied.

Bogey Dope

Bogey Dope is the brevity code to request a BRAA call to the next target (typically the closest target). An example of this call if your callsign is “Hornet 1-1” and the AWACS' callsign is “Screwtop” would be: “Screwtop, Hornet 1-1, Bogey Dope” “Hornet 1-1, Screwtop, BRAA: 345, 35 (in miles), 35 thousand (in feet), HOT (indicating they’re moving to intercept or are coming directly towards you)”

Picture Calls and You

Picture calls are just a group of BRAA calls if there are multiple bandit groups to give you a “picture” of the AO to help you track multiple groups at a time. The only new brevity for this that we’ll be using is “monitor”.

Monitor indicates that there is a bandit group in the picture that is not actively attempting to intercept your group or another friendly group and is too far away to do any aggressive action. This tells you that the AWACS controller is watching them but you don’t need to worry about them at this time, here’s an example of how it will look:

“Screwtop, Hornet 1-1, picture” “Hornet 1-1, Screwtop, two groups, group 1 BRAA: 345, 35 (in miles), 23 thousand (feet), flanking left (they’re moving perpendicular left in relation to you), group 2, Screwtop monitor”

Other AWACS Services

Strobe

Strobe is used to gather information about groups in a certain direction.

The format for this call is: "STROBE (Azimuth)" (e.g STROBE 270). AWACS will respond with the ranges to any groups along the requested azimuth, sorted by distance. CLEAN indicates that there are no groups along the requested azimuth.

Spiked

The Spiked call is used to gather information about a target which is currently locking you up (i.e. spiking you).

The format for this call is: "SPIKED (Direction), NOTCH (Notch Direction), (Position)" (e.g. SPIKED 270, NOTCH north, BULLSEYE 240/15). Direction may be given as a heading or one of the cardinal directions (i.e. N,NE,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW). Notch and Position are both optional if time is not permitting.

AWACS will respond with the spiking group's range and altitude (e.g. Viper 1, SPIKE range 17, 35 thousand).

Basic Brevity Glossary

Hot	Bandit group is moving towards you or is in an intercept vector, should be considered hostile with intent to fire upon you.
Cold	Bandit group is moving away from you, either in an attempt to run away or defend from missiles fired at them.
Beaming	Bandit group is moving perpendicular to you and may be notching your radar, either in an attempt to defend or they are unaware.
Flanking	Bandit group is moving towards you at an angle and may be notching your radar, either in an attempt to intercept you or possibly attempting to defend against missiles.
Monitor	Bandit group is not actively in the AO or intercepting friendly forces, AWACS is monitoring contacts and will call if they become a threat.
Shotgun	Indicates to AWACS you are out of viable munitions to engage bandits.