Radius of action

For a military aircraft, the radius of action is the practical round trip distance, making allowance for takeoff and landing, and the fuel consumption for actions in the target area. A high speed reconnaissance aircraft might only make one pass over the target, while an air superiority fighter, or command aircraft might need to loiter in the target area.

Radius of action is generally assumed not to include air refueling.

The term is also used to refer to the unrefueled distance, from a base, by a land or sea vehicle.