What is the appropriate response to a contact showing continued close-range maneuvering with increasing closing speed?

• A. Increase surveillance and adjust course, with readiness to engage if required.
• B. Proceed to intercept physically without confirmation.
• C. Ignore and continue previous maneuvers.
• D. Stop tracking to conserve resources.

Answer: (A)

When a contact is maneuvering at close range with increasing closing speed, the priority is to maintain strong situational awareness and position yourself to control the situation while preserving the option to respond if the threat becomes real. Increasing surveillance keeps you updated on range, bearing, speed, and maneuver patterns, so you don’t get surprised as the contact closes. Adjusting your own course helps you maintain a safe distance and potentially put you in a better position for a future intercept or defensive action without committing to an aggressive move right away. Being ready to engage if required means you’re prepared to apply force if the contact demonstrates hostile intent or violates ROE, but you don’t automatically initiate physical intercept without confirmation.

Choosing to physically intercept without confirmation bypasses the essential decision process and ROE requirements. Ignoring the contact or continuing unchanged, or stopping tracking to conserve resources, would leave you blind to intent and risk of escalation and collision.