weapons free
Authorization to fire
Weapons free is a military command authorizing personnel to fire at any target not positively identified as friendly.
It represents the least restrictive rules of engagement, contrasting with weapons tight (fire only at confirmed threats) and weapons hold (fire only in self-defense).
The phrase appears in video games and action films, sometimes used loosely to mean shooting is permitted: The commander gave the order—weapons free.
- fire at willCommand permitting unrestricted shooting
- engageActively participate or connect
- open fireBegin discharging weapons
- rules of engagementConstraints on military action
- combatArmed hostile engagement
hostile · target acquired · tally ho · locked on · shoot · trigger · gunfire · dogfight · missiles · danger close · artillery · salvo · unleash · attack · warzone · firefight · hot zone · authorization
- fighter pilot termsfighter jets, interceptors, dogfighting, scramble, combat air patrol
- military commandsattention, halt, fall back, advance, attack
weapon, weapons, weaponry, weaponize, weaponized, weaponizing, weaponization, free, freely