Weapons Employment/Status Codewords

Question 1

BITTERSWEET

Answer 1

Notification of possible blue-on-blue (fratricide) or blue-on-neutral situation relative to a designated track or friendly.
(2) [A/A] In air-to-air, break the engagement on the target specified. Missiles in flight will continue to intercept.

Question 2

CHEAP SHOT

Answer 2

AIM-120 missile data link terminated between high pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) and medium pulse repetition frequency (MPRF)

Question 3

CLEARED TO ENGAGE

Answer 3

(1) [A/S] JTAC Type III control clearance. Attack aircraft flight leaders may initiate attacks within the parameters imposed by the JTAC
(2) [A/A] Clearance to fire on designated group/target

Question 4

DELOUSE

Answer 4

Directive call to detect, identify, and engage (if required) unknown aircraft trailing friendly aircraft.

Question 5

DEPLOY

Answer 5

Directive call for the flight to maneuver to briefed positioning

Question 6

DIRTY

Answer 6

(1) Link is not encrypted.
(2) [A/A] Aircraft in landing configuration.
(3) [A/A] Aircraft equipped with external stores (e.g. DIRTY wings).

Question 7

ENGAGE

Answer 7

A fire control order used to direct or authorize units and/or weapons systems to fire on a designated target

Question 8

ENGAGED

Answer 8

[A/A] Informative call used to establish engaged and support roles in the visual arena.

Question 9

FOX

Answer 9

A/A weapons employment

Question 10

FOX 1

Answer 10

Simulated or actual launch of semi-active radar-guided missile

Question 11

FOX 2

Answer 11

Simulated or actual launch of IR-guided missile

Question 12

FOX 3

Answer 12

Simulated or actual launch of active radar-guided missile

Question 13

GRAND SLAM

Answer 13

All HOSTILE aircraft of a designated track (or against which a mission was tasked) are shot down

Question 14

GUNS

Answer 14

Aircraft gun being employed

Question 15

HUSKY

Answer 15

[A/A] Informative call that the AIM-120 is at HPRF active range

Question 16

KILL

Answer 16

In training, a fighter call to indicate kill criteria have been fulfilled

Question 17

LOCKED

Answer 17

(1) (with position) Radar lock-on; correct targeting is not assumed
(2) (with group name) Radar lock-on; sort is not assumed

Question 18

MADDOG

Answer 18

[A/A] Visual AIM-120 launch

Question 19

MILLER TIME

Answer 19

Informative call indicating completion of air-to-ground ordnance
delivery. Generally used by the last aircraft in conjunction with a pre-coordinated egress plan.

Question 20

PITBULL

Answer 20

[A/A] Informative call that the AIM-120 is at MPRF active range.

Question 21

QUAIL

Answer 21

Enemy air/surface launched cruise missile

Question 22

REMINGTON

Answer 22

No ordnance remaining except gun or self-protect ammo

Question 23

RIFLE

Answer 23

[A/S] Friendly air-to-surface missile launch

Question 24

RIPPLE

Answer 24

Two or more munitions released or fired in close succession

Question 25

SAM (w/ direction)

Answer 25

Visual acquisition of a SAM in flight or a SAM launch, should include position and type if known

Question 26

SCHLEM

Answer 26

Simulated high off boresight IR missile launch. Not assessable for simulated kill/kill removal.

Question 27

SHOTGUN

Answer 27

Pre-briefed weapons state

Question 28

SINGER (type w/ direction)

Answer 28

Informative call of RWR indication of surface-to-air missile launch

Question 29

SKOSH

Answer 29

[A/A] Aircraft is out of or unable to employ active radar missiles

Question 30

SPLASH

Answer 30

(1) [A-A] Target destroyed

(2) [A-S] Weapons impact

Question 31

THUNDER

Answer 31

Informative call 1 minute prior to air-to-surface weapons impact

Question 32

TRASHED

Answer 32

Informative call missile has been defeated

Question 33

WEAPONS (_)

Answer 33

Fire only:

(1) FREE — At targets not identified as friendly IAW current ROE.
(2) TIGHT — At targets positively identified as hostile IAW current ROE.
(3) HOLD — (USAF, USMC, USA) In self-defence or in response to a formal order.
(4) SAFE — (USN) In self-defence or in response to a formal order

Question 34

WINCHESTER

Answer 34

No ordnance remaining