Weapons Free / Tight / Hold

Weapons free, weapons tight, and weapons hold are the three weapons-control statuses in air-defense rules of engagement that set how readily a unit may engage a track. Weapons hold forbids firing except in self-defense or on a direct order. Weapons tight permits firing only at targets positively identified as hostile. Weapons free permits firing at any target not positively identified as friendly. The status is set by the air-defense commander to balance the risk of fratricide against the risk of leaking a hostile track, and it sits within the layered combat-system identification and engagement doctrine (for example an Aegis ship’s doctrine statements).