JTAC

Joint Terminal Attack Controller Operations

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 & Holding

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. The JTAC will either copy the check in right away, or push the aircraft to holding if they are task saturated. 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

Pilot: Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, Checking in

JTAC: Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, roger, send check in

Pilot: Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, 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

OR

Pilot: Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, Checking in

JTAC: Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, roger, proceed to holding at 10 miles north of Metallica at angels 15.

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

JTAC: 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 for 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 Degrees and Decimal Minutes OR MGRS)
7. Target Mark Type (Laser with code, color smoke, etc.)
8. Friendly Location (Direction and Distance NO COORDINATES)
9. Egress Direction

Example

JTAC: Pontiac 1-1, Stingray, Metallica, 180, 12.5, 1-1-0-0 feet, Crewed AAA emplacement, North 31 17.31 by East 035 18.60, 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 17.31 N, 035 18.60 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

Pilot: 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

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

Talk On

The pilot puts his sensors in the target area. This might be just his eyeballs.

Example

Pilot: Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, ready talk on, I see a bunker with large tower

JTAC: Pontiac 11, Stingray, call contact on the powerlines west of that tower

Pilot: Contact

JTAC: Target is under first string of power lines

Pilot: Captured

JTAC: Call when in

Cleared Hot

At this point, the pilot sets up on their attack, and calls with a time to target (roughly) once they're on attack they call "In, 30 seconds", could be coupled with a direction "In from the North, 30 seconds". The JTAC will call "Continue" or "Abort" depending. This might be the first time the JTAC turns on their laser. They may be looking for the aircraft to ensure it's doing what it's supposed to. e.g. is on target, not coming in from the wrong direction, etc. The JTAC will then call "Cleared Hot", the pilot will employ weapons then call "Off". Most of this happens without callsigns, for brevity.

Example

Pilot: Stingray, Pontiac 1-1, In, 30 seconds

JTAC: Continue

JTAC: Cleared Hot

Pilot: Off

Post attack

Things can go one of a few different ways here, really.

1. The attack works, target destroyed, no targets left in area. JTAC provides a new 9-line for a new set of targets.
2. The attack works, target destroyed, other targets in area. JTAC calls for next plane and asks if they're ready for talk on. Talks them onto next target, repeat.
3. The pilot fails to deploy weapons and JTAC calls for reattack, pilots goes around and tries again. Next plane in line may take if it makes more sense.
4. The pilot deploys but it fails to hit or destroy target, JTAC calls for reattack. Next plane in line may take if it makes more sense.

Some other things to think about

We are often used to the JTAC using a laser to guide laser-guided weaponry, but the JTAC may talk the pilots onto a group of say, troops in the open, then clear them for gun runs. The JTAC may talk them onto a convoy and ask for 100 meter dispersed bomb drops, etc.

Putting it all together

There sure are a lot of words up above, but how's it work? Pilots check in with JTAC and tell them what their capabilities are. JTAC selects a target, and talks the pilot on. JTAC requests weaponry to be employed and describes delivery. Pilot sets up. JTAC gives the go ahead. Schwack goes the weasel.