VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
6745 SAFETY OF AIRCRAFT
6746 WEAPON RESTRICTIONS — GENERAL
Weapon restrictions apply to aircraft, SAMs, and guns and may be ordered to allow the operation of
friendly aircraft, especially within MEZs. They are promulgated by AAWCs, each at his own level and in
his own area, as the occasion demands. They may be ordered in a general sense, or specifically for a given
area, or for a given type of weapon.
6747 WEAPON CONTROL STATUS
a. Weapon Control Status. The following weapon control status may be given, prefixed by
weapon code words:
(1) … FREE. Fire may be opened on any target(s) that has (have) not been identified as FRIEND.
(2) … TIGHT. Do not open fire unless target(s) has (have) been identified as HOSTILE.
(3) … SAFE. Do not open fire/cease firing. Fire may be opened only in self-defense or in response
to a formal order.
b. Qualifying Weapon Control Status. Weapon control status may be qualified by one or
more of the following:
(1) A sector.
(2) A safety sector.
(3) A period of time.
“WEAPONS TIGHT 5 SECTOR 2.”
-Example-
Meaning: Do not open fire in safety sector 2 for 5 minutes.
c. Changing Weapon Control Status. A weapon control status is changed by directing
another weapon control status.
6748 WEAPON CONTROL ORDERS
a. Weapon Control Orders. Independent of weapon control status, the following weapon
control orders may be directed by the AAW:
(1) HOLD FIRE. Do not open fire/cease firing (missiles in flight must be destroyed). The direction
to hold fire should be repeated at the end of a transmission.
(2) CEASE FIRE. Do not open/cease firing (missiles in flight continue to intercept).
b. Qualifying Weapon Control Orders. Weapon Control orders may be qualified by one or
both of the following:
(1) A particular unit.
6-98 CHANGE 2