What term describes a radar or visual air contact whose identity is unknown?

The term "bogey" is commonly used in military and aviation contexts to refer to a radar or visual air contact whose identity has not been confirmed. This term is essential for communication among pilots and air traffic control, as it indicates that there is a potential airborne object that needs further identification.

The use of "bogey" helps in maintaining an awareness of unidentified entities in the airspace, allowing for appropriate tactical responses or further investigation. In practice, a bogey might represent anything from another aircraft to a false target, but the key aspect is that its identity remains uncertain at that moment.

In contrast, terms like "hostile" imply a confirmed threat, while "unknown object" is more generic and may lack established terminology in military vernacular. "Intruder" typically refers to a contact that has entered a restricted area but may not necessarily have an unknown identity. Thus, "bogey" is the precise term used within the context of air operations for unidentified targets.