¶ Introduction
This standard operating procedure is the main document that provides guidance on how members should plan, brief, execute, and debrief DCS multiplayer missions. It also outlines the administrative processes within the squadron. The operational standards section is provided as a guide for mission planning and execution, but they can be adjusted to maintain a fun and engaging experience. This document is intended to be a helpful framework, rather than an administrative burden on members.
However, it is expected that Lieutenants and higher-ranking officers are familiar with this document and promote the procedures and techniques outlined in it, where appropriate.
¶ Purpose
Flying in DCS World is meant to be enjoyable, and the accomplishment of a complicated mission leads to greater entertainment and sense of achievement. The aim of this SOP is to enable fighters to undertake challenging and dynamic missions, while still achieving a high success rate.
¶ Section 1 Flight Administration
¶ 1.1 Multiplayer Naming Conventions
Prior to entering the server for an official operation, a member will ensure that their displayed name for the server will be arranged as follows:
SIDENUMBER | TACTICAL CALLSIGN | PLAYER NAME OR CALLSIGN (optional)
Player names, and individual callsigns can be omitted as desired.
For example: 405 | INFERNO 61 or 433 | LINER 32 | J. DOE are both acceptable naming schemes.
¶ 1.2 Flight Composition
A standard flight is composed of four aircraft:
- Division Lead (-1)
- Division Wingman (-2)
- Section Lead (-3)
- Section Wingman (-4)
¶ Division Lead (DL)
The DL is the most experienced and senior member in the flight and is primarily responsible for navigation, radar mechanics, and communications of the entire division. This individual should at the minimum be a Lieutenant (LT/O3) with the SLUG qualification.
¶ Division Wingman (W1)
W1 is typically the member least current in the F/A-18C, not necessarily least experienced. Guests from other squadrons should typically fly as a W1 unless they have qualified recently in the jet, in which case they should fly as a W2, if another more appropriate in-squadron member could fly as W1.
¶ Section Lead (SL)
The SL is the second most experienced member in the flight. They are responsible for leading the flight and assuming the DL’s responsibilities if DL is incapacitated. This individual should, at minimum, be a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG/O2).
¶ Section Wingman (W2)
W2 is the third most experienced member in the flight. Currency in the F/A-18C may be a useful metric to determine if a member should be W1 or W2 if they have not flown the jet in a while.
¶ 1.3 Flight Crew Responsibilities
¶ 1.3.1 Lead (DL or SL)
The lead is responsible for the execution of the radar sanitization plan of the section, maintaining the ‘big picture’ mission awareness, as well as maneuvering and navigating the formation to place it in an advantageous position against any threats. The DL/SL should be the primary participant on shared (broadcast) frequencies and make the required radio reports for their formation. The DL/SL should be well versed and knowledgeable on the following documents:
In 4-ship operations, the DL is responsible for the commit decision (unless otherwise briefed), and overall A/A intercept flow. The SL is responsible for supporting the briefed flow and maintaining visual and radar SA on the overall picture and making additional contact calls if the picture changes. In the A/S role the SL will provide additional SA by maintaining A/A radar sanitization, visual lookout, and sensor coverage for surface to air threats as required.
¶ 1.3.2 Wingman (W1 or W2)
The wingman of an section is responsible for visual lookout around the section and ensures the section is clear of immediate threats. The section wingman will also be responsible for executing their responsibilities of the radar sanitization plan, and employing weapons per the mission plan.
As the lead is focused on navigation, tactics, and communications, the wingman should focus on listening, visual lookout, and informing lead if the wingman believes the lead has missed critical information (a contact on scope, they’ve deviated from course, etc.)
¶ Section 2 Operational Standards
¶ 2.1 Briefing the Flight
Prior to having players slot-in to their aircraft, the Division Lead (DL) will be responsible for briefing all fighters in their respective flight. This brief is typically held immediately after the mass brief of the Air Tasking Order. This brief should encompass the key points and objectives of the mission to be flown, and what contingencies can be expected. The following can be used to build a framework of what items to brief:
| 1. Administrative Items | Communications Flow |
| Ground Operations | |
| Departure Information | |
| Rendezvous Point/Type | |
| Route | |
| Recovery Type | |
| 2. Tactical Administration | FENCE-In Point |
| Commit Criteria | |
| Radar Mate Plan | |
| A/A Sort Plan | |
| Formation(s) en-route | |
| Selective Jettison | |
| Succession Plan | |
| 3. Strike Planning | Attack & Abort Criteria |
| Target Description | |
| A/S Sorting | |
| Weapons Delivery | |
| IP/RP & Ingress Routing | |
| Surface to Air Counter-Tactics | |
| Egress & Rejoin |
¶ 2.1.1 Administrative Items
These items constitute all non-combat and safety related items of the brief, and are essential for expediting how fighters will conduct themselves prior to FENCE-In, and after FENCE-Out.
¶ Communications Flow
Lead should brief what frequencies and agencies the flight will contact as the mission progresses, and how the flight will switch to those frequencies. Members can be pushed to a frequency either automatically, or positively.
Automatic switching indicates that flight members will switch to a briefed frequency immediately as soon as a briefed parameter is met. For example, a lead may brief:
“Automatically push to
CLOSEOUTon button4once your departure is complete.”
This will be the preferred method if it does not impact safety of flight.
Positive push to a frequency indicates that flight members will only push to the briefed frequency only after verbal/radio confirmation by the lead aircraft. For example, a lead would brief:
“-1 will push the flight to Button
5once the flight is established at the RV point.”
This will be the implied method of flow if no comms plan is briefed.
The communications brief should let flight members know, from start-up to touch-down, what frequencies will be utilized, what agencies will use these frequencies, and in what order these frequencies will be used.
¶ Ground Operations
For ground operations standards reference vCSG-8 Carrier Procedures, Section 1.
Asymmetric Load Limitations
Leads should be wary of asymmetric loads when operating off the carrier to avoid uncontrolled roll on departure. To aid new members the following references should be used:
Take-off Trim Calculator
And the following image from the F/A-18C NATOPS:
Input the briefed ordnance to the calculator, and brief the required trim settings for the flight.
¶ Departure Information
Leads will brief what departure type will be flown, and any other special instructions for their departure, if required.
Reference CASE I/II/III departure procedures in vCSG-8 Carrier Procedures, Sections 2-4.
Upon completion of CV-1 Departure procedures fighters will climb to their mission altitude according to the Standard Climb Profile depicted in the figure below.
¶ Rendezvous Type/Point
Lead will brief how the fighters will rendezvous during the mission. This will either occur overhead of the CVN, or at a briefed point and altitude.
An overhead RV will occur over the CVN TACAN at 12,000 to 13,000 ft in 1,000 ft altitude blocks and utilize the CASE I CV1 marshal procedures. This will place the fighters in a 5 NM wide, left-hand, circular orbit at 250 KIAS with the CVN TACAN beacon on the right-most (starboard) point of the circle, using the CVN’s Base Recovery Course to orient the pattern. Fighters will rejoin in an Echelon Right formation.
If a specific point on the route is briefed as the RV point, the first fighter airborne will transit to the briefed point, to the briefed RV altitude, and hold a 250 KIAS standard rate turn, using the briefed point as the center point of the turn. All other fighters will rejoin off this fighter in an Echelon Right formation. Once all fighters are rejoined, the division lead will assume lead of the formation, and fighters will reform as required to the briefed en-route formation.
¶ Route
Any key points, such as Decision Points, Timing Control Points, Release Points, Initial Points, and Egress Points should be briefed at this stage. The Division Lead should also brief any required altitudes or airspeeds in order to comply with airspace deconfliction, or high level timings in order to meet time on target.
Geographic points of reference or other terrain features should be briefed in order to give fighters a better understanding of their operational area.
¶ Recovery Type
The admin portion of the brief should be closed off with the expected recovery procedures. This should entail briefing CASE I/II/III procedures and what recovery pattern will be used, how many aircraft are expected to be in the pattern, and any other special considerations that may be in effect.
¶ 2.1.2 Tactical Administration
These items should cover combat-related administrative actions that fighters will need to take when operating past the FENCE-In point.
¶ FENCE-In Point
Lead will brief when and/or where the flight will transition from administrative, non-combat operations to Tactical operations. This will highlight key systems to check to ensure mission success. This FENCE-In point should occur no later than crossing the expected forward line of enemy forces, with the preference to ready systems when crossing the forward line of friendly forces.
¶ Commit Criteria
Lead will brief the required A/A commit criteria for the flight. If no criteria was given during the mass brief, Lead can utilize the Standard Contract, or brief a commit criteria as required.
¶ Radar Mate Plan
Lead will brief the desired radar sanitation for all flight members. Reference the Standard Contract the standard radar mating plan.
¶ A/A Sort Plan
Lead will brief the required A/A sorting plan. This can be referenced in the Standard Contract.
¶ Formation(s) en-route
Lead will brief the formation to be used along the briefed route.
¶ Selective Jettison
Lead will brief what parameters or conditions will trigger jettison, such as if merged, defending a SAM, etc. Lead will brief what stations will be armed for jettison, as well as emergency jettison criteria.
¶ Succession Plan
Lead will brief who will take the lead position in the event of a casualty, or ground abort. This will typically default to having the -3 member take the lead, followed by -4 if both -1 and -3 are incapacitated.
¶ 2.1.3 Strike Planning
The Strike Portion of the brief should encompass all combat-related item required for mission success.
¶ Attack & Abort Criteria
Attack and Abort criteria can vary depending on the target, mission type, or weapons selected. These criteria should be explicitly defined by Lead at the minimum, but are ideally perscribed in the ATO or mass brief. Attack criteria are those variables that will be evaluated when the flght is in the air immediately prior ingressing towards the target. These may include but are not limited to:
- Fuel required to ingress, and egress the flight from the target
- Minimum number of munitions available to deliver to target
- Suppression effects on Ground-Based Air defenses (GBAD)
- Air to Air Picture requirements
- Aircraft key systems, such as FLIR, GPS, Radar, etc., required to deliver munitions
- Time on Target or Bomb on Time on Target requirements
These criteria should have clear and concise yes/no answers in order to reduce ambiguity to all fighters as to whether or not the attack should continue or abort.
¶ Target Description
If no additional imagery of the target is given in the mass briefing or ATO, Lead should clarify what the target is, and any restrictions based on Rules of Engagement may be present.
¶ A/S Sorting
If multiple surface targets are to be engaged, Lead should create a sorting plan, similar to an A/A Sort plan for the flight to adhere to in the attack.
¶ Weapons Delivery
Lead should brief the required weapons delivery parameters to be used. This may include detailed required terminal parameters for munitions such as:
- Laser deconfliction
- Required fuzing options for the weapon
- Specific delivery profile (e.g. low level pop-up, high altitude, cover-shooter, etc.)
- Final Attack Heading (FAH)
¶ IP/RP & Ingress Routing
Lead will brief how the fighters will ingress to the target along the route, in what formation, and where/when weapon release will occur. For non-standoff weapons, an Initial Point (IP) will be utilized to orient fighters on the Final Attack Heading (FAH), and for standoff weapons a Release Point (RP) will be used to estimate where weapons release will occur. Lead will also brief, if required, how fighters will flow into these points, and any time on target requirements at this stage.
¶ Surface to Air Counter-Tactics
Lead will brief what Surface-to-Air threats are expected along the route, and/or at the target area, and how they plan to neutralize, avoid, or degrade these threats. This may encompass:
- Routing to avoid entering the Missile Engagement Zone (MEZ)
- Utilizing a specific Countermeasures program
- Use of Anti-radiation munitions
- Use of Electronic Countermeasures
- Terrain masking
¶ Egress & Rejoin
Lead will brief how the flight members should rejoin after the conclusion of the attack, and where to FENCE-Out.
¶ 2.2 Mission Execution
¶ Radio Communications
Division Lead (or Section Lead in some cases) is responsible for managing radio communications to outside agencies such as AIC, CATCC, and ATC.
¶ Primary Networks
Primary Networks are all networks utilized by other agencies outside of one’s own division/flight. The Lead aircraft will make initial contact with the previously mentioned command and control (C2) frequencies, by checking into the frequency.
¶ Auxillary Networks
Intraflight frequencies, and the assigned MIDS frequency will be utilized for intraflight communications. All members should be concious of communictions on primary networks when transmitting over auxillary networks so as to not interrupt critical information or communications directed towards the division/flight over a primary network.
¶ Administrative Formations
¶ Parade
Parade formation should be reserved for all stages of flight that DO NOT require wingmen to have high SA on objectives outside the formation space and do not require manipulation of displays or instruments for prolonged periods of time. Parade formation is extremely SA draining to wingmen, allowing little time or space to accomplish tasks outside of aircraft control and formation keeping. Typical stages of flight for use of this formation type include:
- Rendezvous/Marshal
- Weather Penetration
- CASE I/II recovery
¶ Echelon
Echelon formations can range from fingertip spacing (much like Parade) to much looser spacing. Echelons give division leads fairly good visibility of all flight members, and allow fairly easy transitions to other combat formations. Echelons will most notably used during CASE I recovery of a division in fingertip spacing as an Echelon Right, and during airborne refueling operations as part of the initial rejoin.
¶ Cruise & Combat Cruise
Cruise formations are a looser administrative formation allowing wingmen much greater flexibility in their station keeping allowing for more use of geometry in lieu of throttle manipulation to maintain their positioning. Cruise is the preferred method of administrative flight during long legs of a route.
¶ Tactical Formations
¶ Visual Formations
Visual Formations are those formations which require flight members to have visual contact with each other in order to maintain the integrity of the formation.
¶ Defensive Combat Spread (DCS)
Defensive Combat Spread forms the foundation of tactical maneuvering (TACFORM). Wingmen should attempt to maintain a bearing line with leads 3-9 line, with some play allowed, but no more than 20 degrees aft, at a distance of 0.8 - 1.0 NM. Altitude is deconflicted by 1,000 ft up for all wingmen.This formation allows wingmen to visually cover the lead’s 6 o’clock out to approximately 3NM and vice versa for lead.
Unless briefed by lead this should be the default position wingmen should assume when called to DEPLOY.
¶ Offensive Combat Spread (OCS)
Offensive Combat Spread is a modification of DCS placing the wingman between 1.2-1.5NM, on the 3-9 bearing line with an altitude separation of 3,000-5,000 ft.
¶ Fluid Four
This division formation allows both sections to operate semi-independently while still providing mutual visual support between sections. This will be the assumed default formation when operating as part of an air sweep for a given route.
Wingmen will fly Combat Cruise off their respective section lead, and the section and division lead will fly line abreast approximately 3-5NM with 3,000-5,000 ft of altitude separation.
¶ Trail
Trail formations will place one aircraft behind another, sequentially, at a briefed interval. Typical use cases include:
- Navigating within terrain
- Time on Target manipulation
- Buddy Lasing
Trail formations give lead very poor SA on wingmen, and wingmen will have poor SA of any wingmen flying behind them. Be mindful of this loss in visual support when in the low altitude environment.
¶ Blind Procedures
When any member is blind, they should call out on intraflight:
[CALLSIGN]BLIND,[ALTITUDE]
After calling blind, the blind member should check away 45 degrees from the last known location of the flight. After checking away, check the SA page for the flight’s location. If the flight’s location is not available on datalink, the flight lead and the wingman should work together to establish visual contact. After contact is established by one member, the visual member should vector the blind member to rejoin behind the flight until the blind member has re-established visual contact.
¶ Sensor Formations
Sensor formations allow a divsion to utilize other navigational aids or datalinks to maintain a formation’s integrity. These may be preferable in some threat scenarios or during night operations.
¶ Box / Offset Box
The box formation allows the trailing section to provide immediate support to the leading section in the event of a hostile appearing within the formation’s airspace. Box formations also allow easy transition to BVR grind mechanics. Exact spacing and offset should be briefed prior to execution.