Today I would like to answer a question that I am asked quite often: "Do you actually fly armed?"
But it's not that easy to answer... In the German Air Force, the EUROFIGHTER is currently capable of carrying the guided missiles METEOR (long-range, active radar seeker, air-to-air), AIM-120 AMRAAM (medium-range, active radar seeker, air-to-air) and To carry and use IRIS-T (short-range, imaging IR seeker head). In addition, the GBU-48 (precision bomb, laser/INS/GPS, air-to-ground) and the BK27 (air-borne cannon, 150 rounds, air-to-air and air-to-ground) can be used. We don't bear any of this in daily training flight operations. The EUROFIGHTER is able to digitally simulate all weapon operations, which is why we generally fly unarmed. Only the CATM (Captive Air Training Missile IRIS-T) is carried. This has neither a warhead nor a drive, but allows us to use the original seeker head. As part of the annual shooting qualification, we use BK (practice ammunition without warhead) and LFK (AIM-9L remaining stocks) in live fire. The QRA always flies armed, in Germany usually with BK and IRIS-T. Of course, this does not pose a major operational risk because the weapon system has three independent fuses! In the event of an operation, the aircraft are equipped according to the mission and threat.
Even if the weapons are not intended to be used, their signaling effect and the ability to defend themselves are of great importance. It is not for nothing that police officers also carry service weapons.
"Kinetic"
Gerald Groß