Radius of action

For a military vehicle, 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. An antisubmarine ship would need search time in the target area.

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