Combat radius

Combat radius refers to the distance from an airbase that a warplane can reach, patrol there for a set amount of time and return to base with minimal fuel left, thus completing a combat mission. For a given aircraft, its combat radius varies according to whether or not it carries external drop tanks, the level (altitude) of the combat mission, and the amount and weight of ordnance it is carrying:

The combat radius of an aircraft is often given with its mission profile (without in-air refueling). For example:

Combat radius is always smaller than maximum range, the distance which the aircraft can fly the farthest with maximum payload and without refueling, or ferry range, the distance the aircraft can fly the farthest with drop tanks, no ordnance and without refueling.

See also