Close Air Support

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What is close air support?

Close Air Support (CAS) the direct support of troops on the ground by air assets. It can be done by performed by both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Typically, there is an aircraft involved to deliver the weapons, and controller to direct the fire. In real life, another key player is the ground commander, responsible for ground operations, but in our context it's not a role that is present, so you can disregard from that. In general, the Master Arms CAS procedures are, while based on real life concepts, a bit simplified and streamlined.

A controller is usually on the ground, and called a JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) or a FAC (Forward Air Controller). But it can also be airborne, and is then called a FAC(A) (Forward Air Controller Airborne). For the sake of simplicity we will just refer to the controller as JTAC.

Overview

• CAS Request - The JTAC contacts the commander requesting Close Air Support.
• CAS Check-in - The CAS flight provides the JTAC with its capabilities.
• Situation Update - The JTAC provides some information to give the aircrew some SA.
• Gameplan - The JTAC general info for the upcoming attack. Typically "Type of control" and the method (BOT or BOC, "Bomb on target" or "Bomb on coordinate").

In our example, a JTAC called Bowser5 has found a group of T-72 tanks that he needs to see destroyed. He has requested air support from his commander (in our case, the mission commander, or the AWACS). A flight of two F/A-18C Hornets called Arctic1 has been dispatched and is enroute to the area where Bowser5 is operating.