During CAS 9-line, how is the location of friendlies provided?

• A. Distance from target
• B. Bearing from own position
• C. Cardinal heading from tgt
• D. Grid coordinates

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to anchor friendly location to a fixed reference point: the target. During CAS, describing where friendlies are relative to the target using a cardinal heading from the target provides a simple, unambiguous frame of reference that the attacker can quickly orient to. Saying friendlies are, for example, north or southeast of the target gives a clear directional cue without requiring precise distance, the attacker’s exact position, or a grid system.

Distance from the target can be error-prone if distances are hard to estimate under stress. Bearing from the attacker’s own position demands knowing where the attacker is, which can drift and complicate coordination. Grid coordinates require map references and conversion, which slows things down and invites mistakes in a fast-moving scenario. Cardinal headings from the target are fast, straightforward, and reliably understood by both sides.