What is the point of a drop tank?

A drop tank is a jettisonable external fuel tank carried by aircraft to extend range and endurance, then discarded to shed weight and drag before high-performance phases like combat or carrier recovery. In practice, it gives crews a flexible way to carry extra fuel for takeoff, transit, or ferry flights, while retaining the option to quickly regain agility, speed, and safety by releasing the tank when needed.

How drop tanks work

Drop tanks are plumbed into an aircraft’s fuel system via “wet” pylons or a centerline station. Crews typically burn fuel from these external tanks first, preserving internal fuel for combat maneuvering and landing. If mission demands change—entering hostile airspace, needing maximum G or speed, facing an emergency, or approaching a carrier deck—pilots can jettison the tanks to reduce drag and weight instantly. The tanks are designed to separate cleanly and safely, and operational procedures dictate where and when they can be dropped.

Why militaries use drop tanks

Drop tanks solve a core operational problem: aircraft need fuel to get to the fight, but that same fuel adds drag, reduces maneuverability, and can compromise survivability. These are the primary advantages operators cite.

• Extended range and endurance: Enables long transits, deep strike, escort, and patrol missions without immediate reliance on tankers.
• Recoverable performance: Pilots can jettison tanks before combat, regaining maneuverability, climb rate, speed, and G limits.
• Flexible basing: Allows operations from short or hot/high runways where fuel loads must be managed for safe takeoff, then topped up in the air via external tanks.
• Carrier operations: On naval aircraft, dropping tanks is a rapid way to get below maximum landing weight for safe deck recovery.
• Safety and survivability: Reduces fire risk and structural loads in emergencies; lowers wing bending moments once jettisoned.
• Ferry and logistics efficiency: Enables long repositioning flights with minimal tanker support, often using multiple tanks.

Taken together, drop tanks let aircrews tailor fuel carriage to the mission’s early phases without permanently compromising combat performance or recovery safety.

Trade-offs and limitations

External tanks are never “free.” They impose aerodynamic, operational, and tactical costs that planners weigh against the benefits.

• Drag and fuel burn: Tanks increase drag and can raise fuel consumption significantly until they are emptied and/or jettisoned.
• Envelope limits: With tanks attached, aircraft often face lower speed, G, and angle-of-attack limits, plus potential flutter constraints.
• Signature penalty: Tanks increase radar cross-section and can add infrared and visual signature—especially problematic for stealth aircraft.
• Pylon occupancy: Hardpoints used for tanks can’t carry weapons or pods, reducing payload flexibility.
• Vulnerability: External tanks are more exposed to battle damage from debris or fire; leaks and venting must be managed.
• Jettison considerations: Releasing tanks is tightly controlled to avoid hazards to people and property; it also has cost and environmental implications.

Because of these trade-offs, air forces typically plan to expend external fuel early, then discard tanks ahead of contested airspace or demanding maneuvers.

Drop tanks vs. other range-extension options

Drop tanks are one tool in a broader range-management toolkit. Here’s how they compare to alternatives commonly used today.

• Aerial refueling: Offers the greatest flexibility but requires tanker availability, airspace control, and favorable weather; tankers are high-value targets.
• Conformal fuel tanks (CFTs): Attached closely to the fuselage to reduce drag and signature; they’re not jettisonable and can still affect performance and maintenance access.
• Internal fuel (including stealth-optimized designs): Preserves low observable characteristics and performance but limits maximum range without tankers or external stores.
• “Buddy” refueling stores: Carrier air wings often use a fighter with a refueling pod to extend others’ range; this is complementary, not a replacement for drop tanks.

In short, drop tanks sit between internal fuel and aerial refueling: they’re simple, widely compatible, and tactically flexible, but best used when stealth and maximum kinematics aren’t immediately required.

Operational and historical context

World War II origins

Drop tanks rose to prominence in WWII as inexpensive range extenders for fighters. U.S. aircraft like the P‑51 Mustang and P‑47 Thunderbolt routinely used 75‑ and 108‑gallon auxiliary tanks—including paper-based “laminated” tanks—to escort bombers deep into occupied Europe, then dropped them before combat to regain agility. This changed the air war by enabling sustained long-range fighter presence.

Jet age to the present

From the F‑4 Phantom in Vietnam to modern fighters such as the F‑15, F‑16, F/A‑18, Rafale, Gripen, and Typhoon, drop tanks remain standard equipment. Carrier-based jets frequently carry centerline tanks for cyclic operations. Fifth-generation designs like the F‑35 emphasize large internal fuel loads for stealth; while external tanks have been studied for extended reach, they’re rarely used operationally because of signature penalties. Meanwhile, many air forces pair drop tanks with aerial refueling to balance range, survivability, and payload needs.

Typical capacities and configurations

Capacities and station options vary by aircraft and mission. The following examples illustrate common configurations used by well-known types; exact loads depend on variant, station limits, and mission profile.

• F‑15: Commonly carries 610‑gallon external tanks (one under each wing), often alongside conformal fuel tanks on some variants.
• F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet: Frequently uses 480‑gallon centerline and/or wing tanks for carrier cycles and long-range missions.
• F‑16: Typical loads include 370‑gallon wing tanks and a 300‑gallon centerline tank, depending on block and mission.
• Rafale: Often employs 2,000‑liter (~528‑gallon) tanks; centerline and wing stations allow mixed carriage.
• Eurofighter Typhoon: Commonly seen with approximately 1,000–1,500‑liter external tanks for range and patrol endurance.

These figures highlight the design trade: larger tanks improve reach but increase drag and restrict the flight envelope until they’re emptied or discarded.

When and why tanks are actually dropped

Pilots don’t drop tanks casually; rules and airspace constraints govern when it’s permissible. These are the typical triggers.

• Before entering combat or high-threat airspace to maximize maneuverability and minimize signature.
• To meet G or speed demands that exceed limits with tanks attached.
• For carrier recovery or weight-limited landings, to get below maximum landing weight quickly.
• In emergencies—engine issues, fire, or other anomalies—to reduce risk and improve controllability.

Jettison zones are planned to minimize hazards to people and property, often over water or designated safe areas, and only after ensuring tanks are empty or as close to empty as practicable.

Bottom line

The point of a drop tank is operational flexibility: carry the fuel when you need it, then get rid of the burden when you don’t. That simple idea—range on demand, performance on demand—has kept drop tanks relevant from WWII to modern multi-role fighters, even as aerial refueling, conformal tanks, and stealth reshape how air forces manage reach and survivability.

Summary

Drop tanks extend an aircraft’s range and endurance for transit, patrol, and ferry missions, and can be jettisoned to regain combat performance or meet landing limits. They impose drag, signature, and envelope penalties while attached, compete with weapons for hardpoints, and must be dropped under strict safety rules. Despite trade-offs, they remain a cost-effective, mission-flexible tool alongside aerial refueling, conformal tanks, and large internal fuel designs.

Can drop tanks be used as bombs?

Known as “drop tanks,” these simple devices extend the range of the aircraft they’re hooked up to by carrying extra usable fuel. Back during World War II, however, attack pilots found a secondary use for drop tanks as improvised bombs, used to bombard enemy ground positions.

What do drop tanks do in Enlisted?

Drop tanks
This is a new type of aviation weapon – external fuel tanks, that the pilot can drop from the aircraft at will, just like ordinary bombs. Upon hitting the ground, the tank breaks and bursts into fire, spraying aviation fuel for dozens of meters.

Do drop tanks do anything in GTA 5?

Drop tanks are really only meant to extend your range beyond what your internal fuel tanks are capable of.

What is the point of drop tanks?

Drop tanks extend an aircraft’s operational range by carrying auxiliary fuel externally, but they also impose weight and drag penalties, reducing maneuverability and speed. Pilots can jettison (drop) these tanks when they become empty or when an aircraft encounters a dangerous combat situation to regain optimal performance. This allows fighters to fly longer distances and then become more agile for combat by shedding the added weight.
 
Primary Purpose 

• Increased Range: Drop tanks hold extra fuel, significantly extending the distance an aircraft can travel. This is crucial for long-range missions like bomber escorts or ferrying aircraft across vast distances.

Why They Are Jettisoned

• Maneuverability: The added weight and drag from the tanks negatively impact a fighter jet’s speed and agility. Dropping the tanks restores the aircraft’s optimal performance for combat maneuvers, such as dogfighting. 
• Reduced Fire Risk: In a combat situation, external fuel tanks can act as “firebombs” if hit. Jettisoning them reduces the vulnerability to fire and explosions. 
• Decreased Radar Signature: Drop tanks increase an aircraft’s radar profile, making it more visible to enemy sensors. Dropping them helps reduce this signature for better survivability. 

How They Work

• External Attachment: Drop tanks are mounted on hardpoints, often under the wings or fuselage. 
• Fuel Transfer: Fuel from the drop tank is pumped into the aircraft’s internal fuel system, allowing the internal tanks to be filled without increasing the aircraft’s immediate weight. 
• Jettison Mechanism: Small explosive charges are used to release the tanks from their mounts when the pilot chooses to drop them. 

Historical and Practical Use

• World War II: Drop tanks were instrumental in World War II, allowing fighter escorts to accompany bombers on long-range missions. 
• Improvised Use: During World War II, some pilots also used empty drop tanks as improvised bombs to attack ground targets. 
• Modern Usage: While modern military aircraft still use drop tanks to extend range, pilots are often reluctant to drop them because of their cost and limited supply, especially on naval carriers. However, dropping them remains a critical option for survivability in combat.