A certified service member who directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support (CAS) and other offensive operations from a forward position on the battlefield. A JTAC is the modern standardized role that evolved from the traditional Forward Air Controller (FAC).
Key responsibilities of a JTAC include:
- Target designation: Identifying enemy positions and marking them with smoke, laser, or IR pointers.
- 9-line briefs: Delivering standardized instructions to aircraft for CAS missions, covering target, ordnance, restrictions, and final attack guidance.
- Clearance authority: Granting “Cleared Hot” or “Cleared to Engage” calls once conditions are met.
- Coordination: Ensuring safe integration of airstrikes with ground maneuver units and other supporting fires.
- Battlefield safety: Preventing fratricide by confirming friendly positions and enforcing restrictions.
The JTAC acts as the final link between ground forces and airpower, controlling when, where, and how strikes occur.
Application in DCS World
- DCS features AI-controlled JTAC units that can assign targets, mark with smoke or laser, and transmit 9-line briefs through the comms menu. Aircraft equipped with targeting pods or laser-guided weapons can work seamlessly with JTACs.
- JTAC simulation in DCS is simplified and scripted: no free-flow dialogue, limited flexibility, and no advanced coordination beyond preset responses. Real-world JTAC brevity, improvisation, and multi-asset integration are absent unless played by humans.
Cadets should practice CAS with AI JTACs to learn 9-line format and laser code procedures, then progress to multiplayer with human JTACs for authentic, dynamic battlefield coordination.