CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

• CAS is restricted to mission that actually deliver ordnance to enemy troops or installations

• CAS is effective against hostile targets located close to friendly forces.

CAS missions are normally flown short of the fire support coordination line (FSCL).

• To maintain integration the supported Commander requests and approves all CAS missions within his area of responsibility.

The two types of CAS are fixed wing and rotary wing.

Mission Classification • (ACE) executes CAS missions as either preplanned air support or immediate air support.

• Preplanned CAS Missions - further categorized as either preplanned scheduled missions or preplanned on-call missions.

• Preplanned Scheduled Missions - requires the requesting commander identify a specific target and time for the attack well in advance

• Preplanned On-Call Missions – • Preferred in a high threat area.• Allows the commander who is being supported, to indicate a target or target area to be attacked

• After launch, minimum communications are necessary for final coordination.

Immediate Air Support • Meet requests that arise during battle. • Immediate Missions can’t be identified far

enough in advance to permit detailed planning

• Immediate Missions provide crisis response to unforeseen dilemmas and sacrifice detailed planning and tailored ordnance loads for timely response.

• Coordination is critical.

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT BRIEFING FORM • 9-line

• CAS briefing form has two parts • First part

– Contains general mission information about the aircraft.

• Second part – Contains mission-specific information.

LINE 1 Mission Specific Information

• Fixed wing aircrews use an initial point (IP) to start their run to the target.

• Well-defined and easily identifiable, such as a prominent terrain feature.

• IP’s help position aircraft delivering ordnance.

 

LINE 1 (CONT)

– Maneuvering area that contains the rotary wing aircrews firing positions

– Used as a position to engage the target by fire

LINE 2

• Given in degrees magnetic

• Heading from the center of the IP or AP to the target

• Offset left or right indicates offset direction (if a restriction exists) side of the IP-to-target line from which the aircrew can maneuver for the attack

LINE 3

• Determined from the center of the IP or AP to the target.

• Fixed wing given in nautical miles.

• Rotary wing given in meters down to the nearest five meters.

LINE 4

• Target elevation is given in feet above mean sea level (MSL)

LINE 5

• The target description is specific enough for aircrews to find the target, yet concise and brief

LINE 6

• Grid coordinates • Latitude and longitude• Navigational aid fix • Visual description from a conspicuous

reference point

LINE 7

• Helps the aircrew in locating the target

• Targets are marked • WP (white phosphorus)• RP (red phosphorus) • Illumination rounds

• Laser designation

LINE 8

• The distance of friendlies from the target is given in cardinal direction (N,NE,E,)

• Meters

LINE 9

• Instructions aircrews receive to leave the target area• Given as a cardinal direction• “EGRESS" MUST be said prior to giving the egress

instructions• Time-on-Target will also be given• Universal clock time • Expressed minutes past the hour only

REMARKS

• Any and all information that may assist the aircrew in the attack of the target may be included in remarks

• laser-to-TGT line• an exact attack heading if required• weather conditions• enemy threat conditions

Transmitting the 9-line • Deliver the information following the line number

sequence • The line number is not stated • If a line does not apply, the forward air controller

states "none“• Flight leader is not required to read back the

mission brief • MUST repeat the TOT (at a minimum) to ensure

proper coordination of the attack

Transmitting the 9-line (Cont.)

Example"Night rider this is ground Pounder, stand by for nine line brief, over"

 "Dog, 360, 11.5 (break)460, tanks in open, PG 863452 (break)

WP, south 500, egress east to ROBIN, time on target 15, (over)"

Transmitting the 9-line (cont.)

From this 9-line brief, the aircrew understands:

• The IP/AP is DOG• The IP to target HDG is 360 degrees magnetic• The IP to target DISTANCE is 11.5 nautical miles• The TGT ELEVATION is 460 feet above Sea Level• The TGT DESCRIPTION is tanks in the open• The TGT LOCATION grid coordinates are PG 863452• The MARK TYPE will be WP• The FRIENDLIES are 500 meters south of the target

Aircrew identification of the target. • As a fixed wing aircrew approaches the target area,

they will notify the forward air controller that they are “IP inbound”.

• The forward air controller will respond with “continue” and attempt to visually acquire the inbound aircraft.

• Visual identification of the attacking aircraft is essential for the mission to continue.

Aircrew identification (cont.)

• Rotary wing aircrew will:– Notify the forward air controller when they have

positioned themselves in the attack position.

– Attack of the target from within the attack position

Aircrew identification (cont.)• Once the fixed wing aircrew is in the target area, they will

notify the forward air controller that they are “in the POP”.

• This indicates that the pilot has positioned his aircraft to gain a visual identification of the target.

• Once forward air controller has the aircraft in sight, he will respond with “continue”.

• The mark (if used) should be on the deck in the vicinity of the target.

• Forward air controller will immediately notify the aircrew that the “mark is on the deck”.

Aircrew identification (cont.)• This allows the aircrew the maximum amount of time to

visually acquire the mark and orient the aircraft for the attack.

• The aircrew will notify the forward air controller that they see the mark by sending “tally the mark”.

Adjustments

• The forward air controller must direct the aircrew to the target in relation to the mark.

• Corrections are given using cardinal direction and distance

in meters from the mark to the target. For example, “FROM THE MARK, NORTH 100".

Clearance to Drop• Once the aircrew has identified the target, they will position

their aircraft for the attack.• They will notify the forward air controller that they are

“wings level”. • If the forward air controller is convinced that the aircrew is

going to attack the correct target and no unsafe conditions exist, he will give clearance to the aircrew to drop their ordnance by sending “cleared hot".

• Aircrew MUST receive the cleared hot from forward air controller to conduct the attack.

• If the forward air controller believes that the aircrew is going to attack the wrong target or an unsafe condition exists, he MUST abort the mission by sending “abort, abort, abort”.

Second Aircraft• Once the lead aircraft's ordnance has impacted, the forward

air controller may use that as a reference to provide corrections for the next aircrew. – For example, "from leads hits, south 100".

• Clearance to drop the second aircraft’s ordnance will be given in the same manner as the first aircraft.

Bomb Damage Assessment• BDA should be given in plain language following the

attack. – For example, “two tanks burning”.

Nine Line BriefClose Air Support

1. IP (from where aircraft will begin attack)

2. HDNG (from IP to target) offset L/R3. Distance (from IP to target) NM / Meters4. Tgt Elev . (in feet ) mean sea level5. Tgt Desc Type of target, (Tanks, BMP’s, Troops, Bldg…)

6. Tgt Loc . MG123456

7. Mark Type . ie...WP, Illum, or Laser

8. Friendlies . (direction and distance from Tgt)

9. Egress (say "Egress" then direction)

Line 1

IP DEER IP BEAR IP ELK

Considerations in selecting your IP(distance, loc of EAD, loc of friendlies)

Close Air Support

Close Air SupportCAS(R)

HA APFP

FP

FP

FP

FP

FPFP

(CP) (IP)

Line 2Close Air Support

In degrees magnetic from IP to target(offset left / right)

IP 068*

Line 3Close Air Support

In nautical miles for fixed wing andmeters for rotary wing from IP to Target.

IP7.6

14,440

Line 4

In FEET mean sea level

meters x 3.3 = feet

Close Air Support

Line 5Target Description: SHORT AND CONCISE

Close Air Support

Line 6

MG

MH

100,000 m Grid indicator

00 grid line

Close Air Support

Line 7

illum WP

Laser

Close Air Support

Type of Marking:

Close Air Support Line 8

S

N

W E

Friendlies: Direction and distance from TGT

Close Air Support Line 9

N

S

W E

"EGRESS"

Say “Egress”, then direction

Close Air Support

TTT /TOT1

12

2

3

4

5

67

8

9

10

11

Universal clock time Expressed minutes past the hour only

Close Air Support REMARKS

Any additional information that you feelthe pilot might like to know. ( ie...ASP, fuel dump, anti-air defense.)

Close Air Support Terminal Control

IP INBOUND

Close Air Support

Terminal Control

CP

IP

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Leads in the POP

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

IP

PUP

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

I Tally mark

FROM THE MARK

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Wings level

IS THE AIRCRAFT FACEING THE TARGETARE HIS WINGS LEVELIS HE FORWARD OF FRIENDLY LINES

CLEARED HOT

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

CLEARED HOT OR REASONABLE ASSURANCE

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Leads clear

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Two's in the POP

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

I tally Leads hits

FROM LEADS HITS

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Wings Level

CLEARED HOT

Close Air Support Terminal Control cont'd

Close Air Support Battle Damage AssessmentE7R this is Heatwave Egressingawaiting BDA

Close Air Support % of ordnance on % of targetand damage caused by ord.