Heads-Up Display Modes 35 - Metaboli

126 Air Combat Basics
your radar can detect that aircraft). Use AWACS data (or other datalinked radar
information) to trap or ambush the enemy.
If AWACS isn’t available, then the aircraft assigned to the mission must conduct
their own air searches. Keeping in mind the limitations of the scan cone, flight
leaders should order formations that allow effective searches of wide areas. Two
aircraft flying in close, finger-tip formation effectively limits both aircraft. Horizontal
separation lets two aircraft search a wider area; vertical separation lets them
search a taller area.
Vertical and horizontal spacing also complicates the enemy’s ability to track and
detect friendly aircraft. Enemy search radars on fighter aircraft also have limited
scan cones. Widely spacing friendly aircraft may keep some of them outside the
enemy scan cone. Further, this aircraft is free to maneuver while the enemy
focuses attention on the detected aircraft. The second aircraft can maneuver
around and engage the enemy from its flank or rear while the first aircraft lures
the enemy fighters into the trap.
When forced to conduct your own long-range searches, keep in mind that the
radar cross section (RCS) of the target determines how far away the Flanker’s
radar will detect it. Large bombers will generally be detected much farther away
than tactical aircraft. Also, ground clutter generally helps mask targets.
Consequently, lower-altitude targets usually can’t be detected at longer ranges.
Maneuvers
While the goal of any interceptor is to engage with long-range missiles and
escape, dogfights inevitably erupt.
hAir combat is not a chess game. Pilots do not use specific maneuvers
to “counter” enemy movements. Air combat is a fluid, dynamic,
constantly changing environment. Rather than thinking “he did a split-
S, so I’ll counter with a high yo-yo,” pilots instead consider where they
need to point their aircraft in order to employ their weapons. They then
execute the appropriate maneuver to adjust their lift vector and bring
their aircraft into a firing position.
The Break Turn
The most basic defensive maneuver is the break turn. In this case, the pilot turns
toward the threat aircraft to increase aspect angle and ruin the opponent’s firing
solution. Generally speaking, a break turn indicates a maximum-performance turn,
using all available instantaneous g.
As an attacker, if the target executes a defensive break turn, you will generally
resort to the high yo-yo to prevent overshooting.
The High Yo-Yo
The high yo-yo uses a relatively quick movement out of the target’s plane of
motion to either slow closure rate or to reduce aspect angle to the target. The
high yo-yo is performed by rolling slightly behind and above the target,extending
behind the target’s flight path for a moment, then rolling back toward and pulling
the nose down to the target. The high yo-yo generally increases the range to the
target, but decreases the aspect angle, setting up a firing opportunity. The length