Under Weapons Free, would a friendly aircraft be engaged?

Under Weapons Free, would a friendly aircraft be engaged?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only If Self-Defense
• D. Only With a Formal Order

Answer: (B)

Under Weapons Free, you may engage targets that are not positively identified as friendly. The purpose is to allow quick action against threats when target status isn’t clear. A friendly aircraft is positively identified as a friend, so it falls outside engagement authority even in a hostile-looking situation. You don’t need self-defense or a formal order to refrain from firing on a friendly; the identification rule itself prevents engagement of friendlies. If the target were unknown or not positively identified as friendly, it would be eligible for engagement, but a known friendly would not be.

Under Weapons Free, you may engage targets that are not positively identified as friendly. The purpose is to allow quick action against threats when target status isn’t clear. A friendly aircraft is positively identified as a friend, so it falls outside engagement authority even in a hostile-looking situation. You don’t need self-defense or a formal order to refrain from firing on a friendly; the identification rule itself prevents engagement of friendlies. If the target were unknown or not positively identified as friendly, it would be eligible for engagement, but a known friendly would not be.