Time on Target (TOT) is the precise planned time at which an aircraft, flight, or weapon effect is intended to arrive over or impact a designated target. It is a fundamental coordination concept in military aviation, used to synchronize aircraft actions with ground forces, other air assets, and supporting elements.
TOT is always expressed in Zulu time (UTC) and is treated as a fixed operational requirement, not an estimate.
Purpose of TOT
- Synchronize multiple aircraft or flights
- Coordinate CAS with ground maneuver
- Align SEAD, strike, escort, and support effects
- Ensure safe fires deconfliction
- Control the timing of tactical effects, not just their accuracy
TOT answers one question only:
“Exactly when must the effect occur?”
TOT in operational planning
TOT is normally defined during:
Once TOT is set, all other timing flows from it:
- Push time
- Ingress speed
- Holding duration
- Attack geometry
Pilots plan backwards from TOT, adjusting speed and timing to meet it.
Related timing terms
- Push time: When a flight leaves a holding point to meet TOT
- Time on Station (TOS): Duration an aircraft remains available over an area
- TOT ± X: Authorized time window around the planned TOT
These terms exist to support TOT discipline, not replace it.
Why TOT is operationally critical
- Late TOT may:
- Miss moving targets
- Break synchronization with ground forces
- Waste a limited time window (e.g. SEAD coverage)
- Early TOT may:
- Endanger friendly forces
- Violate deconfliction measures
- Cause fratricide or mission aborts
In coordinated operations, timing is a weapon.
Application in DCS World
- DCS does not enforce TOT mechanically, but it is widely used in:
- Organized multiplayer operations
- CAS missions with human JTACs
- Strike packages coordinated via SRS
- Mission briefs often specify:
- TOT
- Push time
- Holding procedures tied to timing
Cadets can train TOT discipline by:
- Planning attacks to arrive at a specific Zulu time
- Adjusting airspeed, not geometry, to correct timing
- Communicating delays early to controllers or flight leads
Training relevance for cadets
Cadets must learn that:
- Accuracy without timing is failure
- Being “almost on time” is still wrong
- Consistent TOT discipline builds trust in coordinated operations
Bottom line:
TOT is how airpower delivers effects when they matter, not merely where.