Tactical communications: Communications in which information of any kind, especially orders and decisions, are conveyed from one command, person, or place to another within the tactical forces, usually by means of electronic equipment, including communications security equipment, organic to the tactical forces.

Note: Tactical communications do not include communications provided to tactical forces by the Defense Communications System (DCS), to nontactical military commands, and to tactical forces by civil organizations.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188