CAS 9-line

9-line is a structured way of relaying the characteristics of the fire mission to the aircraft. When both the person calling in the airstrikes and the pilot know the procedure well, it makes sure the right targets are engaged at the right time and in the proper way.

Lines From the Overhead

If the JTAC wants to leave some part of the planning to the aircraft, they will use a From the Overhead call. It is most often used with lines 1-3 to allow the pilot to approach the target however they please. In that situation the JTAC would call: Lines 1 through 3 – From the Overhead. At the beginning of the 9-line.

If the JTAC still wants to control some aspect of the attack they can restrict the final attack heading in remarks after calling 1-3 from the overhead. That way the pilot can line up the attack how they deem best, but are still restricted to one attack heading.

Readback

Next step of the procedure is the aircraft doublechecking if the information was understood properly. The aircraft will repeat lines 4-6 and any restrictions to the JTAC. Additionally the JTAC can request additional lines or remarks to be read back during their 9-line call.

If the readback is correct the JTAC will respond with: Good readback.

Talk-on

When using BOT, the aircraft has to see the target to engage it. That’s why after a good readback the JTAC will  ask the aircraft to acquire the target visually. If the aircraft has a targeting pod the JTAC will call this by saying: Push sensor to lines 4-6, describe what you see.

Next the aircraft will describe what they see in a way allowing the JTAC to verify they are indeed looking at the same thing. If the JTAC is not sure, they will keep asking questions until they are. To avoid too many questions and speed up the process the aircraft should start by describing: direction from a terrain feature, distance from a terrain feature, the way the target is facing, etc.. Anything from color to the number of wheels or floors can be used by the JTAC to identify the target.

If the pilot cannot acquire the target, it’s the JTAC task to guide him onto it by describing where to look for it. This can be achieved by describing its location in regard to a terrain feature.

Some of the calls used at this point are:

• Contact – aircraft has spotted something (unknown if hostile)
• Capture – an enemy target confirmed by JTAC
• Tally – aircraft has spotted enemy targets (eyes on)
• No Joy – can’t spot the target
• Visual – aircraft sees friendly position
• Blind – aircraft cannot see friendly position

After a positive verification of the target the JTAC will call: That is your target or That is your primary target. This is when a Type 2 control attack run starts.

Roll-In

This is the part of the procedure that sets up the aircraft for the final attack run. It will go something like this:

• (Pilot) Pushing                                      [on the way to the IP]
• (JTAC) Continue                                    [allowing the aircraft to continue lining up for the attack]
• (JTAC) Laser On (if lasing)                   [the moment laser is turned on if it’s being used]
• (Pilot) Tally laser (if lasing)                 [pilot sees laser, munition locks the laser]
• (Pilot) In                                                  [Pilot starts the final attack]
• (JTAC) Cleared Hot                               [JTAC clears aircraft to release munitions]

And then the JTAC listens to explosions. These are the last moments to call of the attack. The attacking aircraft can only fire after being Cleared Hot.

After a Cleared Hot call the pilot will probably call one of the following:

• Pickle – release of unguided bomb/s
• Paveway – release of laser-guided bomb/s
• Rifle – launch of air-to-ground missile/s
• Guns – employment of the onboard gun/s
• Rockets – launch of unguided rocket/s

BDA

There is not need to overcomplicate Battle Damage Assessment. If the mission was successful, you call Mission Successful if not, the opposite.
If the mission wasn’t successful and you want the aircraft to reengage, you simply transmit the gameplan, 9-line and remarks again. If they haven’t changed, you transmit the gameplan with a message: (Same 9 line, Same remarks).
If you want to change only part of your 9-line or gameplan, you can get creating with editing only certain lines. Remember to repeat the talk on if doing BOT and changing lines 4-6.

Example of a CAS mission (simplified for Arma):

Callsigns:
HQ – Overlord
F-18 – Hornet 5-2
JTAC – Voodoo 4-1

CAS request

Overlord come in for Voodoo 4-1
This is Overlord
This is Voodoo 4-1 I need CAS support in my AO, do you have anything for us?
Roger that, sending 2 F-18s your way
Voodoo 4-1 copies, tasking on frequency 5 5, push HP Olymp, GRID 074 break 545
Tasking on 5 5, push HP Olymp, GRID 074 break 545
Roger, Voodoo 4-1 out

Check-In

Voodoo 4-1 this is Hornet 5-2, radio check over
Hornet 5-2, Voodoo 4-1, I hear you Lima Charlie
Voodoo 5-2 this is Hornet 5-2, 2 times F 18, at 074 break 545, I have GBU12, AGM-65 and cannon, time on station is 5 mikes, available for tasking what do you have for us?
Hornet 5-2 this is Voodoo 4-1, no known AA threats in the AO, no artillery activity, friendly UAV on GRID 065 break 533 2000 meters, no other aircraft in the AO, advise when ready for gameplan.

Gameplan, 9-Line

Hornet 5-2 ready
Type 2 control, bombs on target, 1 times AGM, advise when ready for 9-line
Hornet ready
1 through 3 from the overhead, 60, technical vehicle, GRID 066 break 544, IR sparkle, east 500, remain overhead, ready for remarks?
Hornet ready
Remarks, final attack heading west east, readback all lines, waiting for readback
Voodoo 4-1, Hornet 5-2, 1 through 3 from the overhead, 60, technical vehicle, GRID 066 break 544, IR sparkle, east 500, remain overhead, final attack heading west east
Hornet 5-2, good readback, push sensors lines 4 6, report what you see

Talk-On, Engagement

Voodoo 4-1, Hornet 5-2, contact one times technical vehicle marked with IR sparkle
Hornet 5-2, Voodoo 4-1 confirm orientation of the vehicle
Voodoo 4-1, the vehicle is facing north
Hornet 5-2, this is your primary target
Capture, Hornet 5-2 pushing IP
Hornet continue, report In
Hornet 5-2 is, In, hot, heading east
Hornet, CLEARED HOT
Rifle

Hog 3-5 this is Voodoo 5-2, mission success, push HP Olymp, thanks for the help, Voodoo 5-2 out.