How do I scramble QRA to investigate a track?

Before you launch

Check the contact’s track serial and available identification information. Quick QRA requests IDENT, an investigation. Before launching, check TS, the tension state. At Critical, IDENT against a contact already marked Hostile (H) can automatically become ENGAGE, an attack task. Launching does not itself decide the contact’s identity.

Launch from the selected contact

1. Left-click the position symbol or identity letter of the contact you want to investigate. Confirm its track serial so you do not send the aircraft to an adjacent track.
2. Finish text entry and close the Escape menu. If you are still choosing a target for another order, finish or cancel that selection first. Press Space, the default Quick QRA Launch binding. If you changed your keys, check Escape → SETTINGS → KEYBOARD.
3. In QRA LAUNCH OPTIONS, read each base’s row. BASE names the base. DIST is the distance from that base to your selected contact, in nautical miles. AVAILABLE is the number of fighters offered for this order; it is not a guarantee that all are fuelled and armed. ETA is the estimated time to the contact, including preparation, in minutes. Select the base you intend to use. Follow the availability checks if the number changes.
4. Choose Singleton (1), 1 Pair (2) or 2 Pairs (4). Options depend on availability. The released popup does not offer a six-aircraft force.
5. Check the base and number of aircraft again, then select LAUNCH QRA. Use CANCEL if you have not yet committed the launch.
6. Read the ASMA response, then open ACTIVE OPS with G. Follow the assigned aircraft and their departure; opening or closing the options window alone does not prove that they launched.

What mission have I ordered?

Identify is the requested starting task, but the Critical-tension exception above can change it to ENGAGE. Follow launch progress and the current status in ACTIVE OPS. A Pending row or launch countdown does not yet confirm the mission or departure. Read the ASMA response and continue following the aircraft. Training lessons can control their own sequence. The options window chooses base and numbers; it does not contain a separate mission selector. Read IDENT and ENGAGE explained, and use airborne tasking to change an existing flight’s job.

Launch from a particular base

Open ASSETS with R, find the grounded Tornado F3 at the intended airfield and select ID. Select the contact when prompted. This F3 route opens QRA launch options with that base selected. Other fighter types can use direct tasking instead; do not assume they open the same window. Read the resulting options and messages instead of assuming that the first button press completed the scramble.

If the launch does not proceed

Use the QRA availability checks. A message that the contact already has a pending launch is a reason to check its existing flight, not repeatedly press Space.

Read the time before you confirm

The launch-window ETA estimates time to the target, including preparation. The later T- in ACTIVE OPS counts down to the scheduled launch. Read why QRA fighters may still be waiting before treating either number as a promised takeoff or arrival time.

Use the selected-contact launch controls

Use the selected-contact QRA launch steps: select the live contact, finish text entry, then press the default Space to review QRA LAUNCH OPTIONS. Check ACTIVE OPS for an existing flight before confirming another order. The base, number of aircraft and resulting ASMA response determine what happens; opening a window alone does not launch fighters.

Launch from Flight Info

1. Left-click the intended live contact and check its callsign in Flight Info and track number on the scope data block.
2. Select the Flight Info tab if another tab is open.
3. If Launch QRA is shown, choose it to open QRA LAUNCH OPTIONS.
4. Then follow the selected-contact launch steps above to check the base and number of aircraft before confirming.

The first click alone does not prove the fighters have launched.

The button can be absent for a confirmed friendly military contact or when a launch is already pending or committed for that contact. Check ASMA and ACTIVE OPS instead of repeating the request. If QRA LAUNCH FAILED says the target track is no longer valid or on radar, select the current contact again and check its track number before another request.