What risk level applies to friendly aircraft in contested airspace conditions?

In contested airspace conditions, friendly aircraft face a medium risk level due to the presence of potential threats from enemy forces, including hostile aircraft and surface-to-air missiles. While these threats do elevate the risk to a point above minimal, they may not be as severe as in high-risk situations where the presence of multiple, highly capable adversaries is evident. Therefore, friendly aircraft must exercise caution and implement tactical measures to mitigate this medium risk while conducting operations in such environments. This implies a need for heightened situational awareness, effective communication, and coordination with other military assets to ensure the safety and success of their mission.

Understanding this classification helps military personnel in planning and executing air operations, ensuring they adopt appropriate strategies to safeguard personnel and equipment against the specified level of risk inherent in contested conditions.