The intention of the following is to provide new pilots (or experienced pilots new to NAK I&A severs) with a bit of insight that has been acquired during my time on NAK I&A Altis#1 server. This is not an all encompassing, strict adherence to real life military brevity code. Many of the individuals that populate the NAK servers hail from wide range of military and civilian backgrounds and life experiences, from European military ground crew to US-based General aviation pilots, From young adults with military aspirations to older folks that enjoy role-playing as a Top-Gun fighter pilot.
The mix of these individuals can bring a bit of a lost-in-translation, confusion, and/or daunting mountain of information and language to absorb for the new, or, new to NAK server pilot. Rest assured this is not a barrier for entry for someone looking to fill the pilot role, as the level of understanding and adherence is not a hard and fast rule. However, in our role as pilots (CAP, CAS, and Transport) it benefits the group to keep communications clear, clean, and concise.
That being said here are just a few examples of Brevity code that you may hear in TeamSpeak pilot channel, as well as some explanation to how, when, why to use them as a short-hand that other Pilots, ATC, and JTAC can understand:
Air-to-Air
FOX 2 - This is a short range Air-to-Air missile that utilizes an Infrared (IR) sensor to acquire and track airborne threats (enemy jets, helicopters, drones). They typically need to be within ~4.5km for lock-on range, do not require an active radar onboard, have a higher off-bore capability, and are relatively more agile. Be aware that these have a relatively decent chance to be defeated by enemy air with flare/chaff, however if they are defeated they will continue on relatively harmlessly. Calling “Fox 2” (and target, Enemy Gryphon, Shikra, etc) will notify other pilots that an IR missile is out on that target, you are closely engaged with that target, and they can either withhold follow up shots, or be prepared to contribute a missile of their own in case it misses.
FOX 3 - This is a medium range Air-to-Air missile that utilizes an active radar guidance. They typically can acquire a target lock out to ~10km, require an active radar onboard for target lock, have a fairly narrow off-bore capability, and are not as agile as fox 2’s. These medium range missile can be defeated by enemy flare/chaff or by maneuvering at short range and/or fast speeds. Care should be taken when electing to take a fox 3 shot, as being active radar there is a potential that the missile can, and will, track an unintended target (friendly). This is called a “Bulldog”. Fox 3’s should be called prior to taking the shot, especially so if there are friendly air in the foreground or background that could potentially be on the receiving end of a missed shot. This will give fellow pilots a heads up that a friendly threat could be coming to visit and they can also maneuver or deploy flares/chaff in defense. This is not to say that you shouldn’t take particularly ‘dirty’ shots, the situation will dictate that. Is a friendly air in a seriously disadvantaged position? Risking a bulldog to potentially save them may be warranted. In a radar capable CAS aircraft but have an enemy fighter at range bearing down on you? Taking a long range radar shot may be more beneficial than waiting to get into IR range or, potentially worse, dogfighting a aircraft with superior anti-aircraft capabilities. In any case, a Fox 3 should always be called.
BULLDOG - Pilots should call, or be prepared to react to a Bulldog call. In some brevity codes this is also called a “Maddog”. Meaning that an Active Radar Missile has missed it’s intended target and is currently tracking, or potentially could be tracking, a friendly aircraft. This can also be issued as a caution to friendlies that could be in harms way when taking a ‘dirty’ shot. (eg. “Pilot XYZ watch out for a bulldog, Fox 3 enemy Shikra”). Arma being Arma it is generally a good idea to watch your fox 3’s until well clear of friendlies or at least till impact/proximity detonation, just incase you need to call a Bulldog. Anecdotally, I have had fox 3’s track to an enemy aircraft 2/3 of the way and take a 90 degree turn towards a friendly plane that didn’t even seem to be within the window of regard. This did lead to an accidental TK.
SPLASH - Speaking of impact/proximity detonation, “Splash” is the call to announce or confirm a missile hit and/or destruction of an aerial target. There is a key distinction between the two, but in general Splash can, and is, used interchangeably between hits and kills. More often than not a good hit will lead the AI to eject and subsequently a kill, but just because you see a puff of smoke from the missile explosion does not mean that the Enemy AI won’t launch their own missiles on you or friendlies before ejecting/retreating.
BOGEY/BANDIT - Enemy Air Contact. These can, and do, get used interchangeably. Although the technical difference is the between whether the target is identified or not. Bogey being the call made when the enemy contact is unknown [Plane] or [Helicopter] when targeting in radar window. Bandit being used when the contact is known [Kajman] or [Neophron]. To my knowledge the distinction is not stressed on the Altis server, as some people, myself included, tend to just say “Contact, [direction from landmark], [enemy contact type]”. So I personally wouldn’t wig out over its use/misuse, but that doesn’t mean others won’t use the terms and a player filling a pilot role shouldn’t at least be familiar (although it is unlikely anyone flying planes/choppers in a military game isn’t).
Air-to-Ground
RIFLE - IR/TV/LASER guided anti-vehicle rocket propelled munitions (ATGM for short). Macers, DAGRs, Scapels are a good example of air-to-ground missiles that use the “Rifle” brevity code. Its not strictly required, but generally a courteous call to other pilots coordinating ground attack strikes. For example, “Nyx AA in AO, Rifle” would let other pilots know that you have fired off an attack on a Nyx vehicle in the AO that they may also be targeting, subsequently saving them a unneeded weapon release. Or allowing them the opportunity to select another target and drop their ordinance as well.
MAGNUM - is rarely heard as “rifle” generally covers all ATG missiles. Nevertheless, Magnum would be the callout if you happen to be flying an aircraft that is capable of carrying Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs for short). Again, I don’t believe anyone would brow beat someone for not using the ‘correct’ brevity term, but at least understanding that ARMs and the brevity code Magnum go hand in hand when letting fellow pilots know that you are attacking active enemy radiation sources (Tigris and Cronus Radar System).
PICKLE - IR/LASER/DUMB bombs use the brevity term “Pickle” to denote a weapons release. Examples of which are CBUs (cluster bombs), GBUs (big bombs), and SDBs (small diameter bombs). As with other code use, not always necessary but calling “Pickle” as with “Bombs Away” can let a friendly JTAC know that you have released ordinance on their target/lase and they need to hold a good lase to ensure impact on target, and or observe the target area for good effect. Something along the lines of, “JTAC, Black Wasp. SDB on lase… Pickle.”
RIPPLE - Same as pickle, or rifle, with the caveat of simply meaning 2 or more bombs/missiles released in quick succession.
General Flight Brevity
TALLY/EYES ON - means “I see it”. If a wingmate or JTAC wants to know if you see a aircraft/ground target/Laser mark. Not regularly used, but you do hear it from time to time. Worth knowing for multiple roles on the server.
SPIKE - Radar Warning Receiver in your aircraft is indicating that something is looking at/for you be it ground or aerial based. However this does not mean that it is actively launching AA missiles at you. This will normally be displayed in the radar PIP as a yellow cone and low pulsed tone emanating from the enemy source towards the center (you) of the RWR. You may hear others, or make this callout to notify other pilots that the enemy radar is active and that caution should be taken when approaching the area. “Spike, south west of AO, unknown” lets other pilots know that something unknown (air or ground) is actively scanning you with radar from south west of the Area of Operations. A quick flip up of the map “M” on keyboard can usually reveal what that mystery radar source is (enemy plane or Cronus radar station). If the Cronus Radar is visible on the map holding Left Shift and Left clicking can place a waypoint marker on the map and show in your in-game hud over the Cronus that may allow you slew/stabilize your onboard targeting pod to that point and get a cheeky guided bomb or missile off on it while minimizing the direct threat it is to you. So being “Spiked” can sometimes be more detrimental to the enemy than a danger to you.
ON FINAL/LONG FINAL/TURNING FINAL - The landing leg of an aviation traffic pattern. “Neoprhon Turning Final 04 Right” lets the local traffic know that you are about to be on final approach to landing on right most runway heading 04. “Gryphon Long Final 22 Left” lets local traffic know that you have set up for the final approach outside of the normal traffic pattern but intend to continue on that much longer final approach to landing on runway 22 left. “Shikra On Final 22 Right” would let local traffic know that you are within the normal traffic pattern on final approach to land on runway 22 right. These are relative term as each pilots interpretation of long, or normal, approaches will vary, but in general if you can read the Runway designations (22L or 04R) without zooming the view in, you could consider yourself within the ‘normal’ traffic pattern.
The other legs of the traffic pattern are a bit superfluous in regard to gameplay, but they are worth mentioning here: (Never know you may have someone in, or want to fill, the ATC roll in which case, not everyone can be on final at the same time)
Upwind = parallel the runway in the direction of takeoff/landing
Crosswind = first pattern turn perpendicular to the upwind leg (can be left or right turn depending on clockwise or anti-clockwise direction of travel)
Downwind = parallel the runway opposite the direction of intended runway for landing
Base = similar to crosswind in it being the perpendicular leg between downwind and final
INTERSECTION TAKE-OFF/SHORT FIELD TAKE-OFF - Not always required to call the type of takeoff, but sometime if an ATC is present you may request a short-field takeoff instead of being directed to taxi or back-taxi (taxi down active runway in opposite direction of landing) to the beginning of runway for a full field takeoff. That being said it is recommended to announce your intentions to occupy a runway for takeoff. “Black Wasp taking 22 right takeoff” lets local traffic know to be on the look out for you or give them the opportunity to ask you to hold-short (don’t enter the runway) while they land/taxi/takeoff.
WAVE-OFF/GO AROUND - Stop your current action. You can ask someone to wave-off, someone can ask you to wave-off. You also can say you are ‘waving-off’ which in some parlance is a complete abandonment of your current action. For example: Transporting troops to a particularly hot AO you can say “Huron waving-off too much AA” and that will let your passengers know you will not be attempting to drop troops off because it will almost assuredly get everyone on board killed. “Go-around” is to announce you are aborting your current action, in general ‘going-around’ means something wasn’t right and you need to reset for another attempt at success (landing/bombing run/etc.)
BOLTER - carrier landings got borked and you need to go-around and try again
BREAK!BREAK!BREAK! - cease communication. seriously important information is about to follow. If you hear this stop talking and listen. If you use this you have critical information to say to your fellow pilots stop talking and listen. In general, this is only used when there is an imminent threat in the air (enemy jet is closing fast and/or attacking fellow pilots). In almost all other cases, a “Be Advised” will suffice. “All Pilots be advised, enemy Tigris active in Side Op”
TIMES TWO - Not a super critical callout, but you will hear it, and it means “and another one”, or in some cases a literal number count. “Fox 2…times two…times three.” means I have launched one fox 2…and another one…and a third fox 2. More on the literal side, “Wipeout, JTAC, times six infantry on lase” means I have my lase pointed at 6 enemy infantry Mr. Wipeout, please BRTTT.
BUSTER - maximum thrust to get where you are needed. This can be a request from friendly to get to the requested position as quickly as possible, or a declaration that you are attempting to get into position as quickly as possible, “Hang on pilot xyz, I am bustering in”
DEFENSIVE/GOING DEFENSIVE - you have placed a threat, or it has maneuvered, into a position of advantage and you are flying accordingly. Not always called out, but if you are in a turn fight with an enemy AI and needing assistance, announcing that you are defensive to a friendly pilot lining up 14km away might mean the difference between a delayed fox 2 or a expedient fox 3 heading your direction.
WINCHESTER - out of ammo. This could mean out of all armaments or out of a particular one. “Shikra winchester ARMs, RTB.” means I am out of Anti-radiation missiles and returning to base. Not always used in server but you hear it from time to time
RTB - Return To Base, pretty simple.
DUST OFF/DUSTING OFF - Helicopter callout, that is announcing the pilot is lifting off the ground to proceed to another location. Can be heard more regularly with an ATC present, but if you hear a pilot say they are dusting off from old AO, you can take a peek at the map and see if they have any escorts close by. If not, you may elect to provide some cover, they and their passengers will always be grateful to arrive at their destination unmolested.
HOT/COLD - these are aspect call out that can be used to orient yourself or enemy aircraft. If you are “hot” or “in hot” that is announcing to JTAC or friendly pilots that you are traveling towards your target. Cold meaning you are outbound and/or no longer in a position to attack. These also apply for enemy aircraft. Hot meaning the enemy is traveling towards its intended target, or cold meaning it is flying away from a target or area.
Misc. Terms (generally known)
CAP - Combat Air Patrol, generally means friendly jets with robust anti-air capabilities.
CAS - Close Air Support, can be jets or rotary, supporting friendly ground forces by putting warheads on enemy foreheads.
AO - Area of Operations, the main objective, large combat area marked out on map with 3 discrete mini objectives within.
SIDE OP - Smaller scale, CQB, single objective areas of operation that will generally reward special and/or more of a limited spawn vehicle. These are definitely worth supporting for the team rewards.
HEAVY LIFT - or variations of. (H-lift, Heavy Transport, H-Trans, etc.) can be heard from time to time as Team Speak is sometimes populated with people that roll tanks and its easier to get a response from helicopter pilots if you are in the pilots TS channel. Mostly its in the server chat, but if you are playing a heavy sling load capable helicopter you can ask fellow pilots that have a few seconds to respond in chat for you. Letting the player needing the lift know you can give them a hand. And I say ask a fellow pilot to respond for you because (at least for me) if I open the text box to respond, I am locked out of all controls over the chopper until the text box is closed out leading to some very unfortunate faceplants into the ground with infantry on board. Not a good feeling.