My list of callsigns for DCS

[Havoc86]

Hello everyone!

During 2022-2023 I’ve monitored (from time to time) flight trackers (like Flightradar24.com) and I think that military callsigns seen there could be useful for DCS developers and/or addon makers to make ATC and military communications in DCS much more interesting and realistic.

As I’ve monitored flight trackers not 24/7, these callsigns represent just a portion (although in some cases there are plenty of them) of callsigns used by Air Forces. Below are ONLY callsigns which have been used in Europe/Mediterranean/Middle East in 2022 and 2023/up to now. I don’t really know if they are relevant for CONUS or other regions. But they will surely do for Caucasus and Syria maps (I think Persian Gulf too).

There may be mistakes. I’d appreciate if somebody adds other callsigns and/or corrects mistakes.

What to be noted here?

-        Lots of callsigns for different Air Forces operating in Europe/Mediterranean/Middle East and represented in DCS for A400M, A330 MRTT, B-52, C-130/KC-130, KC-135, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15E, F-16, Tornado, helicopters (less callsigns for other types);

-        Special information (units etc.) if identified;

-        Some callsigns really fill gaps in DCS (most notably German Tornado IDS and Belgian/Netherlands’ F-16s, Belgian/Italian/RNAF/RNoAF/USMC C-130s/KC-130s);

-        Quite a lot of callsigns for addons (A330, A400M, Eurofighter Typhoon, P-8A, RC-135W).

 

Let’s go. Air Forces, aircraft types and callsigns are in alphabetical order.

Belgian Air Component:

Fighters (General Dynamics F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon): “BEAST”, “CHAOS”, “DETOX”, “LION”, “MACE”, “MATRIX”, “TACO”, “TIGER”, “SHIELD”, “STING”, “VULTURE”;

Transport aircraft (Airbus A400M-180 Atlas): “GRIZZLY”.

French Air and Space Force:

Tanker aircraft (Boeing C-135FR/RG Stratotanker, ERV04.031 “Sologne” (Istres-Le Tube AB)): “CARNI”, “MARCO” (“MARCOTTE”), “MERLIN”, “TOTAL”;

Tanker/transport aircraft (Airbus A330-243MRTT, ERVTS01.031 “Bretagne” (Istres-Le Tube AB)): “AZUR”, “CATHAR”, “ROMUS”, “VALIANT”;

Transport aircraft (Airbus A400M Atlas): “BONO”, “CARVEX”, “CATHAR”, “CUJAS”, “HORUS”, “RAMILLE”, “TARPON”;

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130H/J-30 Hercules/Super Hercules): “BURMA”, “REV”.

German Air Force:

Fighters (Eurofighter Typhoon, TaktLwG 31 “Boelcke” (Norvenich AB)): “AUDI”, “HAMMER”, “PACK”, “SABRE”, “SHOCK”, “SMASH”, “TALON”, “VADER”;

Fighters (Eurofighter Typhoon, TaktLwG 73 “Steinhoff” (Rostock-Laage airport)): “COBRA”, “IRON”, “STONE”;

Fighters (Eurofighter Typhoon, TaktLwG 74 (Neuburg AB)): “BRONCO”, “CONAN”, “CROW”, “FALCON”, “METAL”, “POISON”, “SLAYER”, ”SMOKE”, “THOR”, “VIRUS”, “JAEGER”, “ZAPATA”;

Fighter-bombers (Panavia Tornado IDS, TaktLwG 33 (Buchel AB)): “ATTACK”, “AXEMAN”, “BOMBER”, “BURNER”, “EPIC”, “GHOST”, “KNIGHT”, “NITRO”,  “STRIKE”;

Fighters/fighter-bombers (test & evaluation) (Eurofighter Typhoon, Panavia Tornado IDS (T), WTD 61 (Manching AB)): “DASA”, “DIXI”, “EDGE”;

Tactical reconnaissance/electronic combat aircraft (Panavia Tornado ECR, TaktLwG 51 “Immelmann”) (Schleswig AB)): “DRAGON”, “EAGLE”, “MONSTER”, “ORCA”, “PANTER”, “PIRAT”, “RAPTOR”, “RAGE”, “VIKING”;

Other fighters of fighter-bombers/tactical reconnaissance aircraft (unidentified units, Panavia Tornado ECR/IDS/IDS(T) or Eurofighter Typhoon): “ANGRY”, “HYPER”, “NOMEX”, “ODIN”, “TIFON”;

Transport aircraft (Airbus A400M/M-180 Atlas, LTG 62 (Wunstorf AB)): “ARCTOS”, “CORBY”, “DIXI”, “GRIZZLY”, ”LIFTER”, “PRIMER”;

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules): “RHINO”.

Hellenic Air Force:

Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (Embraer Erieye EMB-145H AEW&C): “OURAN”;

Transport aircraft (Alenia C27J Spartan): “PEG”.

Italian Air Force:

Tanker aircraft (Boeing-767-2EY(ER)): “BARMAN”, “BREUS”, “PETROL”, “ROMAN”, “SPERA”;

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules): “COSMO”, “LYRA”, “VEGA”.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (Boeing E-3A Sentry, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany; FOB Konya, Turkey): “NATO”;

Strategic reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix): “MAGMA”.

Polish Air Force:

Fighters (Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon): “DEVIL”.

Royal Air Force:

Fighters (Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4/T.3): “ASCOT”, “BARON”, “COBRA”, “DREAD”, “FANG”, “HAVOC”, “JEDI”, “NIGHTMARE”, “PALADIN”, “PSYCHO”, “PUNISHER”, “RAZOR”, “REBEL”, ”ROGUE”, “SPARTA”, “TRIPLE”, “TYPHOON”, “TYRANT”, “VANDAL”, “VERMIN”, “WARLORD”, “WOLF”;

Maritime patrol (strategic reconnaissance) aircraft (Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1, RAF Lossiemouth): “COMET”, “GURNSEY”, “STINGRAY”;

Strategic reconnaissance aircraft (Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint, RAF Waddington): “GOOSE”;

Tanker/transport aircraft (RAF Akrotiri, RAF Brize Norton) (Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT)): “COMET”, “KAYAK”, “TARTAN”;

Transport aircraft (RAF Akrotiri, RAF Brize Norton):

Airbus A400M Atlas: “ASCOT”, “BLENHEIM”, “COMET”, “DREAD”, “GRIFFIN”;

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III: “BLACKCAT”, “HAWKER”;

Lockheed C-130J/J-30 Super Hercules: “ALBERT”, “ASCOT”, “BLENHEIM”, “COMET”, “JUDGE”, “LIFTER”, “OMEN”, “REYNARD”, “STRIKER”, “ZORRO”.

British Army Air Corps:

Attack helicopters (Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian AH.2): “DEMON”, “PANTHER”, “SLAYER”.

Royal Canadian Air Force:

Transport aircraft (Lockheed CC-130J Hercules): “CANUK” (“CANUCK”).

Royal Netherlands Air Force:

Fighters (General Dynamics F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon): “BONZO”, “BULLDOG”, ”EPIC”, “FIST”, “SHARK”, “SNAKE”;

Tanker/transport aircraft (Airbus KC-30M (A330-243MRTT)): “MULTI”;

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130H/H-30 Hercules): “AIRFOX”, “MONK”, “ROGUE”, “TORRO”, “VADOR”.

Royal Norwegian Air Force:

Maritime patrol (strategic reconnaissance) aircraft (Boeing P-8A Poseidon, 333 sq., Evenes Air Station): “ODIN”;

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130H/J/J-30 Hercules/Super Hercules): “BALTO”, “BRONCO”, “DIESEL”, “DRAGON”, “MIGHTY”, “MOOSE”, “MOUNT”, “STALLION”, “WAGON”.

Spanish Air force:

Transport aircraft:

Airbus A330-202: “LINCE”;

Airbus A400M-180 Atlas: “DUMBO”, “MAMUT”;

CASA CN-325M-100: “BARBO”.

Swedish Air Force:

Transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130H Hercules): “MITY”.

Turkish Air Force:

Tanker aircraft (Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker): “ASENA”;

Transport aircraft:

Airbus A400M Atlas: “ESEN”;

Lockheed C-130B/E/EM Hercules: “ALEV”.

United States Air Force:

Airborne Command and Control aircraft (Boeing E-4B AACP, 1^st ACCS (Offutt AFB, NE)): “GRIM”;

Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (Boeing E-3B/C Sentry, 552^nd ACW (Tinker AFB, OK)): “NORSE”, “NOVA”;

Fighters:

General Dynamics F-16CG/DG Fighting Falcon, 31^st FW (Aviano AB, Italy): “BUZZARD”, “CLAW”, “KNIFE”, “MIZELL”, “NICKEL”, “REBEL”, “VENOM”, “VIPER”;

General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, 52^nd FW (Spangdahlem AB, Germany): “WARHAWK”;

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 48^th FW (RAF Lakenheath): “BONES”, “BUCK”, “CLAW”, “GREMLIN”, “JAZZ”, “MAUL”, “NOBLE”, “PANTHER”, “RAGE”, “RATCH”, “REHEAT”, “RETRO”, “SHIFTY”, “SLAM”, “STOUT”, “STRIKE”, “THUD”;

Global Special Air Mission airlift (89^th AW, Joint Base Andrews, MD):

Boeing 757-23A (C-32A): “CHUB”, “STINT”;

Boeing C-40B/C: “SPAR”;

Boeing VC-25: “DESK”;

Boeing VC-32A: “SAM”;

Strategic bombers (Boeing B-52H Stratofortress):

2^nd BW (Barksdale AFB, LA): “FEAR”;

5^th BW (Minot AFB, ND): “NOBLE”, “TYSON”, “ZEUS”;

Strategic reconnaissance aircraft/unmanned aerial vehicles:

Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint: “HOMER”, “HUNTER”, “JAKE”, “SAURN”, “ZEUS”;

Boeing E-8C Joint Stars: “REDEYE”;

Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk: “FORTE”;

Tanker aircraft:

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, USAFE 100^th ARW (RAF Mildenhall): “BOZO”, “HOBO”, “LAGER”, “QUID”;

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (Air National Guard units): “ESSO”, “NACHO”;

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (Air Mobility Command units): “BART”, “COUNT”, “KYSR”, “LAGER”, “RAKE”, “TOPCAT”;

Boeing KC-46A Pegasus (Air Mobility Command/Air National Guard units): “NACHO”, “PACK”;

McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender (Air Mobility Command units): “NACHO”;

Transport aircraft:

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III: “MOOSE”, “REACH”;

Lockheed C-130H/J/J-30 Hercules/Super Hercules: “BLACK”, “CHROME”, “HERKY”, “LION”, “REACH”, “JUMP”;

Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy: “REACH”.

United States Army:

Transport/medevac helicopters:

Boeing Vertol CH-47F Chinook: “EASY”, “GRIT”;

Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk: “DUKE”, “EASY”, “HAZE”;

Sikorsky HH-60M Blackhawk (medevac): “CROSS”, “DUSTY”.

United States Marine Corps:

Tanker/transport aircraft (Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules): “BRONCO”, “OTIS”, “RANGER”, “SUMO”.

United States Navy:

Tanker/transport aircraft (Lockheed C-130T/KC-130T Hercules): “CONVOY”.

United States civilian contractors (Airbus A330-323, Boeing 747-4B5F, Boeing 747-446(BCF), Boeing-767-31A(ER), Boeing-767-33AER, Boeing 767-224(ER), Boeing-767-375(ER), Boeing-767-38E(ER), McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (Atlas Air, Calitta Air, Delta Airlines, FedEx, National Airlines, Omni Air International, United Airlines, UPS, Western Global Airlines etc.)): “CAMBER”.

This is just what I’ve observed myself. No secret information here. Lots of other up-to-date callsigns can be found here:

-        Military Radio Callsign List (henney.com) ;

-        Military Callsigns versie 7.pdf (live-military-mode-s.eu) ;

-        https://www.live-military-mode-s.eu/CallsignList/modesvatcindex.php .

Thanks for your time!

[Kang]

That's quite an impressive list you compiled.

[Havoc86]

Thank you! I hope something of this will be implemented in DCS.

[Minhal]

Really nice compilation, thanks a lot for sharing! ED did add more callsigns to DCS some time ago, maybe they pick up more from here. Would love it!

[Havoc86]

Thanks!

[Havoc86]

Russian Aerospace Forces traditionally (since USSR) haven't used such callsigns. Only digits have been used. Same about most post-Soviet countries. Transport (passenger) planes/aerial refuellers (like IL-76MD, IL-78, Tu-154B2/M, An-148) use 5-digit callsigns like 63561 etc. on missions in Russia (RFF**** code for international flights). On training flights 3-digit callsigns (like 331) are used not only by transport (passenger) planes/aerial refuellers, but by fighters, helicopters etc. 

[ienatom]

It would be great to have the chance to either pick a callsign from a very long list or create a custom one. Not all callsigns have the audio version as of today so even something similar would be a needed addition to the sim, especially for mission editors.

Edited May 31, 2023 by ienatom

[Exorcet]

1 hour ago, ienatom said:

Not all callsigns have the audio version as of today

There are AI that can easily copy voices in high quality. If ED doesn't have the resources to voice the callsigns themselves, they should get an AI to do it. Even single person teams have successfully used AI to generate natural sounding voice lines from only a handful of sample inputs.

[GunnerFlyboy]

I would add "Doom" and "Hulk" to the B-52H part of the list.

[grim_reaper68]

Hope having one day 'Menton' and 'Melba' for the former EC 1/30 Alsace and RC 2/30 Normandie-Niemen with the Mirage F1 CT. 

[drspankle]

Great work mate. As an aside, the format for abbreviating callsigns for L16 is to use the first and last letters followed by the numbers. So Hammer 21 becomes HR21. A lot of effort is put into ensuring the callsigns used within an Op conform to this to avoid duplication and confusion. So within the same ATO Hammer and Homer wouldn't both appear.

Also, whilst AWACS from GK will use NATO as a callsign (if on a NATO task), this is the flight deck callsign for ATC purposes. The back end will likely be Magic xx for a NATO job. Callsigns like Ascot are used for particular UK taskings, and others like Nickel/Goose belong to individual squadrons. 

Cheers,

Dr Spankle

[MARLAN_]

The mission editor should just be able to add whatever callsign he wants, especially because there is a difference between ATC & Tac callsigns.

[Logan54]

Callsigns used in Nellis Air Exercises (dreamlandresort.com)

[fite]

Just throwing my "yes please" into either an expanded callsign list or the ability to input whatever callsign we want in the ME. Maybe both?