JTAC

Joint Terminal Attack Controller

This page showcases interaction between a pilot and a JTAC or Forward Air Controller (FAC). JTACs are used when aircraft need a particular level of control, either due to potential friendly fire in the area, concerns about collateral damage, or even weather related issues. Employing these procedures assumes the pilots are proficient at deploying their weapons, the JTAC is simply giving them point by point instructions on where to drop them. Procedures here may be abbreviated for clarity, brevity, or just to let things slide a little, but sometimes it's fun to try hard at things.

Checking In

After fencing in and being handed off to a JTAC by Air or Ground Battle Managers, the lead aircraft should call the JTAC and check in. There are several pieces of important information that the JTAC needs:

• Aircraft Callsign
• Aircraft Type
• Flight position and altitude
• Number of Aircraft in flight
• Weapons loadout
• Amount of 'playtime' or how long the flight can employ weapons for the JTAC before having to go receive fuel or RTB.

Example

Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, Checking in, 4-ship F-16, 10 miles north of point Metallica at angels 20, 4 Laser Mavericks, 2 GBU-12, 500rds 20mm Cannon, 20 minutes of playtime

JTAC Sitrep

The JTAC will roger the check in, and provide an area of operations update, or sitrep. The JTAC may also direct the flight to a specific marshal area (north, east, west, south of a given point) or altitude to deconflict with other stacked aircraft. The sitrep may contain information such as:

• General non-specific target information
• Known threats such as MANPADS or AAA
• Danger areas such as operations areas for other aircraft/JTACs, or limits of flight such as borders

Example

Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, Roger check-in. The target is a battalion HQ compound with light AAA and heavy MANPADS in the area. Do not operate east of point Anthrax due to neutral country border. Marshal and orbit 10 miles north of Metallica at angels 15. Say when ready to copy 9-LINE

9-LINE

The JTAC will wait for readiness to copy 9-line then pass 9 important pieces of information. The following information is passed, without saying Line 1, Line 2, etc. Lines are numbered here and on many job aids for clarity.

1. Initial Point (IP)
2. Heading (direction from IP to Target)
3. Distance (OP to Target, in Nautical Miles)
4. Target Elevation (In Feet, MSL)
5. Target Description
6. Target Coordinates (In Minutes and Decimal Degrees OR MGRS)
7. Target Mark Type (Laser with code, color smoke, etc.)
8. Friendly Location (Direction and Distance NO COORDINATES)
9. Egress Direction

Example

Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, Metallica, 180, 12.5, 1-1-0-0 feet, Crewed AAA emplacement, North 31.7731 by East 035.1860, target marked with Laser code 4206, 1 mile north, south

Breakdown

1. Initial point is Metallica
2. Heading from IP to Target is 180
3. Distance from IP to Target is 12.5 Nautical Miles
4. Target Elevation is 1,100 Feet
5. Target is a Crewed AAA emplacement
6. Target coordinates are 31.7731 N, 035.1860 E
7. Target will be marked with a Laser using code 4206
8. Friendlies are 1 mile north of target
9. Aircraft should egress south after attack run

Read Back

The pilot will read back lines 4, 6, and 8 only. This ensures that the employment coordinates are correct, and the aircraft knows where the friendlies are.

Example

Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, read back 1-1-0-0 feet, North 31.7731 by East 035.1860, 1 mile north. Ready remarks

Remarks

The JTAC will pass other relevant information. This is usually stuff like, which weapons to employ, specific run in directions, etc.

Example

Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, good read back, request 1 Maverick on target, run-in from north-east due to terrain