Remember you don't need a lock for the AIM-9, get a tone and shoot, especially if the bandit is employing ordnance against your buddy.ĭepending on where the bandit shows up, there are manuevers you can use to maintain your 2 ship advantage against the bandit. Remember to put that switch to dogfight and use a short range ACM mode (Boresight or 10 x 40). Attempt to employ ordnance against the bandit, keeping the EF in mind as he does so.Ī quick note on defensive maneuvering.Shovel out chaff and flares like hay if needed.Direct the flight to turn (left or right).Do his best defensive BFM, break turn into the bandit.The pilot who is engaged should (simultaneously):.When defensive, avoid putting both jets in the same area, use split plane maneuvers.

PRACTICE! The goal of the moves should be to keep your cone of vulnerability away from the bandit (i.e., your tail feathers those hot, blind tail feathers). These moves need to be part of the ACM contract that both flight members know by heart. The initial move in defensive ACM is the key to survival. So here goes, the initial maneuvering starts… Use your best BFM and know that your buddy is out there, but never count on him to come help you survive. The key here is to defend yourself and not give the bandit an easy shot on your buddy. If you're unsure, call the break turn, better to be safe than sorry and create maximum BFM problems for the bandit. Break turn if the bandit is in a WEZ, hard turn otherwise to maintain energy. Increase airspeed and perform either a break turn or hard turn into the bandit. When the bandit is located, it's time to split the element, either laterally or vertically, depending on the bandit. Flight path deconfliction is achieved by giving references off the bandit, and knowing, through practice, what the flight is going to do. Normally the roles are established by the bandit, but if both fighters are tally and blind, lead needs to establish roles and tactics. Here is where mutual support and the role of the SF/EF are critical. If separation cannot be achieved, the bandit needs to be sandwiched and killed.

The engaged fighter must fly his best BFM and be liberal with the chaff/flares. Once the initial attack is negated, the flight must now concern itself with killing the bandit or separating. These maneuvers, are by nature, defensive BFM (defensive turns). Fractions of a second are critical, the flight must have pre-planned maneuvers that are well understood and thoroughly practiced. When the flight is defensive the obvious concern is survival, negating the bandit's initial attack.

Lethal weapon employment against the bandit.

Maintaining flight integrity and mutual support.

There are four basic priorities to think about for survival in a defensive situation:

Visual cross checks, and keeping your own deep six clear.

Sanitize with radar coverage (overlapping).

Use line abreast formations (help keep your buddy's deep six clear).

Good preventive measures to avoid the defensive maneuvers are simple: Obviously, the best situation is to not be defensive, but these situations will occur. Air Combat Maneuvering, What, Why and How.

Four basic air combat maneuvering