text: Command and Control of ADA Forces
  * Hold fire is an emergency fire control order used to stop firing. If technically possible, missiles
  already in flight must be prevented from intercepting (JP 3-01). Hold fire is primarily used to
  effect friendly protection or avoid intercepts on neutral tracks.
  * Cease engagement or cease fire directs units to stop the firing sequence against a designated target;
  however, units may continue to track, and missiles already in flight are permitted to continue to
  intercept (JP 3-01). Cease fire is normally issued to preclude engagement of the same track by two
  or more weapon systems.
  * Engage hold is a fire control order which prevents automatic engagement of the specified
  target by the system when the system is operating in the automatic mode. Missiles in flight
  are allowed to continue to intercept. This order is applicable to Patriot and THAAD systems only.
  Engage hold is primarily used to prevent initiation of a redundant engagement during the time
  period when an engagement has been initiated until its completion.
  * Cover is, in air and missile defense, a fire control order that instructs a unit to assume a
  posture that will allow engagement of a target. This order can be used for targets that are
  presently being engaged by another fire unit or for targets that have yet to become significant
  threats; to execute this command, the unit must report tracking and ready to fire to higher echelons.
  4-69. Weapons control status. A weapon control status is an air and missile defense control measure declared
  for a particular area and time by an area air defense commander, or delegated subordinate commander, based
  on the ROE, that establish conditions under which fighters and surface air defense weapons are permitted to
  engage threats (JP 3-01). Weapon control statuses (weapons hold, weapons tight, and weapons free) may be
  applied to weapon systems, volumes of airspace, or types of air platforms. They prescribe the relative control
  of AMD fires. The degree or extent of control varies depending on the tactical situation (JP 3-01).
  * Weapons hold: the most restrictive status. Units may only fire in self-defense or when ordered by
  proper higher authority (JP 3-01).
  * Weapons tight: the normal status. Units may only fire on targets identified as hostile in accordance
  with current ROE (JP 3-01).
  * Weapons free: the least restrictive status: used to indicate when any target not positively identified
  as friendly in accordance with current ROE may be engaged (JP 3-01).
  4-70. Levels of control. Levels of control describe the AMD commander/echelon permitted to authorize
  engagement of an air or missile threat (JP 3-01). This can be the AADC, RADC, SADC, ADA battalion,
  ADA battery, ADA platoon, or ADA team. Different levels of control may be established for ballistic
  missiles, UASs, fixed-wing aircraft, and rotary-wing aircraft.
  4-71. Modes of control. There are three modes of control: centralized, decentralized, and autonomous. The
  mode of control selected will depend upon the capabilities of the C2 system and weapons employed and both
  the friendly and enemy air situations.
  * Centralized control mode. In this mode, a higher echelon must authorize target engagements by
  fire units. The executing element seeks permission to engage targets by requesting authorization
  from that higher authority. Centralized control is used to minimize the likelihood of engaging
  friendly aircraft while permitting engagements of hostile aircraft and missiles only when specific
  orders are issued to initiate those engagements.
  * Decentralized control mode. In this mode, a higher echelon monitors unit actions, making direct
  target assignments on a management by exception basis, to ensure proper fire distribution, prevent
  engagement of friendly air platforms, and prevent simultaneous engagements of hostile air targets.
  Decentralized control is used to increase the likelihood that a hostile aircraft or missile is engaged
  as soon as it comes within range of an ADA weapon system.
  * Autonomous operations. Autonomous operations are initiated when a firing unit has lost all
  communications (voice, data link, and tactical chat) to higher tactical headquarters. The fire unit
  commander assumes full responsibility for control of weapons and engagement of hostile targets
  in accordance with existing ROE, weapons control status, and previously received directives. In
  this mode, the unit commander bears the full weight and responsibility of the unit’s actions or
  inactions with regard to fire control.