(DoD, NATO) A state of aircraft readiness wherein combat-equipped aircraft are airborne and ready for immediate action. See also fighter cover. (DoD) It is designed to reduce reaction time and to increase survivability. See also combat air patrol; fighter cover; ground alert.
Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 31 January 2011.
| APA | Military Dictionary (DoD). (2011). airborne alert. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/airborne_alert/definitions/1960226 |
| Chicago | Military Dictionary (DoD). 2011. "airborne alert" http://smartdefine.org/airborne_alert/definitions/1960226 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | Military Dictionary (DoD) 2011, airborne alert, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/airborne_alert/definitions/1960226>. |
| MLA | Military Dictionary (DoD). "airborne alert" 4 April 2011. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/airborne_alert/definitions/1960226> |