Live fire exercise

The purpose of this type of exercise is twofold: First, it offers recruits the chance to get accustomed to their weapons so that they will know how to properly operate them.

Live-fire exercises of this type can be observed either by remotely controlled cameras or by long-range telescopic devices, such as binoculars.

An army, being the main branch responsible for land and air combat, is perhaps the best known group that conducts live-fire exercises.

In the case of small arms, the tests are usually proficiency based and aimed at ensuring a soldier can fire their assigned weapons.

In the case of the latter, missile systems may be test-fired at remotely controlled drones to simulate a situation in which enemy missiles or aircraft are launched at allied or friendly forces, while artillery units can take the opportunity to test new shells or to fire under adverse weather conditions for a chance to see how the artillery pieces will perform.

During live-fire exercises dealing with air-to-air combat, remotely controlled drones are frequently used to simulate enemy aircraft.

Navies conduct live-fire exercises to test elements of an integrated defense system, such as the US Aegis; namely, its ability to track and destroy enemy anti-ship missiles.

Recently, a new addition was made to this area when live-fire tests began of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed "Star Wars".

Other dangers include faulty guidance and sensory information, which can cause guided ordnance to inadvertently target friendly or neutral units.

Advances in technology have helped to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, problems with these materials; nonetheless, extreme care must be given when using or implementing them.

For example, the handling of gunpowder demands the use of gloves and an area free of static electricity and other potential sparks which could ignite the powder.

National Guard of Ukraine soldiers firing live munitions during a live fire exercise
French and American soldiers firing live mortar rounds during training
A B-2 Spirit dropping Mk.82 bombs in a 1994 training exercise off Point Mugu in the Pacific Ocean
U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke -class destroyers firing anti-missile missiles during a live fire exercise
Cannon in an American Civil War reenactment : The large amounts of gunpowder used often affected visibility significantly. Gunners hope for a strong wind that will allow them to continue to see their target.
Testing of the LG-118A Peacekeeper re-entry vehicles, all eight fired from only one missile. Each line represents the path of a warhead which, were it live, would detonate with the explosive power of twenty-five Little Boy nuclear bombs.
Safety inspection of ammunition before a live fire exercise
On 19 April 1989, the USS Iowa ' s No. 2 turret exploded during a routine live-fire training exercise, killing 47 sailors