2008_RAND_Pacific_View_Air_Combat_Briefing

Unclassified/FOUO/SensitiveRelative Visual Range Combat Capability• Our current “Plan B” is toclose to visual range andengage enemy aircraft– In this case relativeaircraft turn andaccelerationperformance matters agreat dealSuperiorVerticalManeuverabilityInferiorHorizontal AND VerticalManeuverability• Depending on relativeperformance four tacticalrelationships are possible– Enemy has superiorverticalmaneuverability– Enemy has superiorhorizontalmaneuverability– Enemy superior in both– Enemy inferior in bothGoodSuperiorHorizontal AND VerticalManeuverabilityGoodSuperiorHorizontalManeuverabilityNote: All calculations based on data from Jane’s and assume:•50 percent internal fuel•Full air-to-air missile loadAir Combat PPF 77