JP 3-09.3: Close Air Support

JP 3-09.3 governs how fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft deliver fires in direct support of ground forces engaged with the enemy. CAS is the most demanding of all air-to-ground missions because the target is close to friendly forces — the tolerance for error that other fire support missions accept does not exist in CAS.

What Is Close Air Support

CAS is air action by fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces.

CAS vs. Other Air Missions

Key Personnel

JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller)

The JTAC is a qualified service member who directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in CAS. JTACs are the only personnel authorized to clear aircraft to engage targets. Qualification requires formal JTAC certification.

Key JTAC responsibilities:

• Communicate with the aircrew from the first radio contact through weapons impact
• Provide attack geometry, target location, threat assessment, and terminal guidance
• Issue the attack clearance (or abort/no-attack call)
• Conduct post-strike battle damage assessment (BDA)

FAC-A (Forward Air Controller Airborne)

A FAC-A is an airborne extension of the JTAC — typically an OA-10 or F/A-18 crew qualified to control CAS from the air. Used when the JTAC cannot observe the target directly.

FSO (Fire Support Officer)

The FSO coordinates CAS integration into the overall fire support plan. The FSO is not a JTAC — they do not clear aircraft to engage. They deconflict CAS with ground maneuver and indirect fires.

The 9-Line CAS Brief

The 9-line CAS brief is the standardized format for transmitting all information an aircrew needs to identify, attack, and deconflict from a target. JTACs transmit this immediately after initial radio contact.

Line 1: IP (Initial Point) or BP (Battle Position)
Line 2: Heading from IP to target (magnetic)
Line 3: Distance from IP to target (nautical miles or km)
Line 4: Target elevation (feet MSL)
Line 5: Target description
Line 6: Target location (10-digit MGRS or lat/long)
Line 7: Type mark / mark (smoke, laser, IR pointer)
Line 8: Friendly location (direction/distance from target)
Line 9: Egress direction

Remarks (transmitted after 9-line):

• Threats (MANPADS, AAA, small arms)
• Restrictions (no-fire areas, ROE constraints)
• Timing (windows for attack, deconfliction with artillery)
• Final attack heading (if required by geometry)

Types of CAS Control

JP 3-09.3 establishes three types of CAS control based on JTAC certainty and proximity to friendlies:

Type 1 — JTAC Controls Each Attack Run

• JTAC sees the aircraft and the target
• Clearance issued for each individual pass
• Maximum JTAC control; used when friendly/enemy proximity is highest
• Transmit: "Type 1 control, call in"

Type 2 — JTAC Controls Attack Without Visual of Aircraft or Target

• JTAC may not see the aircraft, the target, or both
• Aircrew or FAC-A provides the missing observation
• Each pass still requires individual clearance
• Used in degraded visibility or when JTAC is masked
• Transmit: "Type 2 control, call in"

Type 3 — JTAC Authorizes Multiple Attacks

• JTAC issues clearance for multiple attacks against a specified area
• Restricts area of attack, weapon effects, and time window
• Used when threats to friendly forces are low and target area is clearly defined
• Transmit: "Type 3 control, cleared hot in [area], [time window], [restrictions]"

Danger Close

Danger close is the term applied when friendly forces are within the minimum safe distance for the weapon system employed. For aircraft-delivered munitions, danger close is generally < 600m for unguided weapons and varies by weapon for precision-guided munitions.

When a CAS attack is danger close:

• JTAC must explicitly state "DANGER CLOSE" in the clearance
• Commander's acknowledgment of risk is required
• Aircrew must acknowledge the danger close call before attacking

Minimum Safe Distances (General Planning Guidance)

Always confirm MSDs with the aircrew — munition lot, delivery parameters, and fuze settings affect actual fragmentation patterns.

JTAC 9-Line Transmission Example

"VIPER 11, JTAC, 9-line, copy:

Line 1: IP HAMMER
Line 2: 280 degrees
Line 3: 4.2 nautical miles
Line 4: 1,840 feet MSL
Line 5: 12 personnel in open, one technical vehicle, 12 o'clock from IP
Line 6: 18TWL804561
Line 7: IR strobe, 12 o'clock position, 200m north of target
Line 8: Friendlies: 18TWL 80200 56000, 300m south of target
Line 9: Egress west

Remarks: MANPADS threat south of target, PID confirmed, all types, ROE satisfied.
Cleared hot."

Abort Criteria

JTACs must be prepared to abort an attack at any point. Mandatory abort triggers:

• Friendly ID in doubt — any uncertainty about whether the target is hostile
• Friendly forces inside min-safe distance without explicit danger close acknowledgment
• Laser or mark displaced — mark is not on the intended target
• Weather or visibility prevents the JTAC from confirming attack geometry
• ROE violation — target has changed status (combatant left building, civilians entered area)
• Loss of communications — JTAC cannot confirm attack status

Abort call: "ABORT, ABORT, ABORT" on all nets. Aircrew must immediately cease the attack run and acknowledge.

CAS Planning Integration

CAS is synchronized through the Air Tasking Order (ATO) at the operational level and through the Air Support Request (ASR) at the tactical level. Planning requirements:

• JTAC positioning — where will the JTAC be to control the attack?
• Deconfliction with indirect fires — no CAS and artillery in the same airspace without lateral or altitude separation
• FSCL coordination — inside the FSCL requires JTAC control; outside the FSCL does not (but ground commander coordination required)
• Authentication — procedures to prevent enemy from transmitting false clearances
• ROE summary — what targets are and are not authorized, collateral damage estimation requirements