Updated: 2023-05-06 --- # MAC Comms Maritime Air Controller, or MAC is the role of conducting control of surface warfare in a manner similar to how an AIC does control for air warfare. MAC Comm is a modern format for surface warfare based on the AIC format. MAC was designed to allow rapid dynamic targeting of surface contacts with a minimal radio format. Use MAC coms when conducting attacks against moving surface contacts or those with the potential to move. There is a more in-depth version of MAC for A/G tasking used for stationary ground and surface targets and moving ground targets. # MAC Format The MAC format parallels the AIC bullseye format with a few adjustments >[!example] >“`[Callsign]`, `[MAC Callsign]`, `[Dynamic Targeting Task]`, `[Surface Track name]` `[bullseye name]` `[bearing bullseye to target]`, `[range bullseye to target]`, `[track direction]` `[declaration]` `[TIPPER]`,` [(fill ins)]`” >>[!quote] >>“Evileye 53, Closeout, SMACK surface track rock 090, 45, track south, hostile, Tarantul” Unlike the AIC format, both sending and receiving unit call signs are included. Before the group name the dynamic targeting task is included. Group name is usually just “surface track”, altitude is assumed to be 0ft. Declarations for surface contacts are also slightly different. # Dynamic Targeting Tasks (DTTs) There are 3 primary DTTs and a number of more situational ones. The three main DTTs are [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#INVESTIGATE|INVESTIGATE]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#TARGET|TARGET]], and [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SMACK|SMACK]]. - [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#INVESTIGATE|INVESTIGATE]]: Verify or improve target location, course and speed, declaration, type, check for clear field of fire and collateral damage assessment. - [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#TARGET|TARGET]]: Correlate target position and place sensors in a manner to enable engagement, implies location data may not be accurate enough to employ ordinance in a bomb-on-coordinate manner. If correlation can be achieved, cleared to engage - [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SMACK|SMACK]]: Employ ordnance or fire on a surface target, cleared to engage. Some additional DTTs can be found in the brevity manual and include: [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SHADOW|SHADOW]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#STROKE|STROKE]]. [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#MUSIC|MUSIC]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#BUZZER|BUZZER]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SNIPER [type, location (range, bearing)]|SNIPER]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SLAPSHOT [type, bearing]|SLAPSHOT]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#PINPOINT|PINPOINT]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#ANCHOR [location]|ORBIT]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#FLY-BY|FLY-BY]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#THUMP|THUMP]], [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#PEPPER|PEPPER]] # MAC Declarations There are 5 declarations, Friendly, neutral, and Hostile are identical to the AIC definitions. [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#FRIENDLY|Friendly]]: “A positively identified [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#FRIENDLY|FRIENDLY]] aircraft, ship, spacecraft, or ground position.” (Don’t Shoot) [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#NEUTRAL|Neutral]]: A positively identified aircraft, ship, or ground position whose characteristics, behavior, origin, or nationality indicate it is neither supporting nor opposing [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#FRIENDLY|FRIENDLY]] forces. (Don’t Shoot) [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#SKUNK|Skunk]]: A maritime surface [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#CONTACT(S)|CONTACT]] that has not been identified. (Don’t Shoot) [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#ROBBER|Robber]]: A surface vessel that is identified as an enemy, in accordance with theater ID criteria. The term does not imply clearance to engage. (STILL Don’t Shoot) [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#HOSTILE|Hostile]]: A contact identified as enemy upon which clearance to fire is authorized [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#IAW|IAW]] theater rules of engagement. (SHOOT) > [!Attention] Disclaimer > the ROE always allows for self defense in the face of deadly force or the believed imminent use of deadly force. # MAC Fill-ins Fill-ins are amplifying remarks to enable the aircraft being controlled to better execute the MAC tasking. Example Fill-ins for MAC include final attack heading, enemy strength (number), nearby neutral or friendly positions, weapon type, emitters or defenses, or any other information deemed tactically relevant by the MAC. >[!example] > ==MAC==: “Evileye 53, Closeout, SMACK surface track rock 090, 45, track south, hostile, Tarantul, strength 3, recommended attack axis 240, SA-15 North 12” > `A/C`: “Evileye SMACK surface track rock 090, 45, track south, hostile, tarantul, ETA 5 mikes” > ==MAC==: “Closeout” > `A/C`: “Evileye, Rifle times 3, Tarantul rock 092, 43” (one call to ACU by flight lead) > ==MAC==: “Closeout” > `A/C`: “Closeout, Evileye, Attack complete, 3 hits, no restrike required, MISREP” > ==MAC==: “Evileye, Closeout, send MISREP” > _`A/C` sends MISREP_