Are fighter jets always fully loaded and ready for war?

Answer 1

When not in maintenance, they're fueled and ready to fly. However, munitions aren't added until the mission is determined. It wouldn't make sense to have a jet standing by configured for air-to-air combat when the next mission could be ground support.

Answer 2

No they aren't. They are loaded according to the mission requirements. Those requirements can range anywhere from providing air support to bombing missions, air support for reconisance missions.

However, todays jets are versatile and can be used to perform a myriad of missions. As an example the F-18 can be used as a fighter or bomber. Today's jets also spend a lot of down time for maintenance as too.

Answer 3

Nope.

Full fuel tanks puts stress on the air frame.

So stateside, why keep em fueled if their not flying.

Wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow, etc are bad for weapons.

Do why expose them, when they are not needed.


Prior to 9/11, the US had 13 Fighters on 7 Air Force bases on alert status.

Im sure thats has been increased since then.

But we have never kept all of our aircraft on alert status.

Answer 4

Not unless they are on "scramble" duty or in a combat zone. The rest of the time they are only loaded when on a live-fire training mission.

Answer 5

no. i can tell you about a couple that aren't flying right now b/c they are broken.
they'll be fixed in a few days and up and flyng again.

fighter jets are flown almost daily even when not in iraq.

they are constantly on training missions...and constantly breaking and getting repaired.

Answer 6

Some are when they are on alert. There are far fewer, outside of war zones since the fall of the Soviet Union that are on alert.