Fighter Combat

326 FIGHTER MISSIONScruise missiles). It is usually preferable in such cases to engage the attackingaircraft before it reaches launch range, rather than to attempt to findand destroy multiple weapons inbound to the target.Aside from the time factor, the CAP is best suited to situations whenthe direction of approach or the route of the attackers is known with somedegree of certainty. The volume of airspace which must be covered by oneCAP increases exponentially with the distance it is stationed from thetarget. Since it is unlikely that there will be enough defending fighters toguard all the approaches to a target at a reasonable range, CAPs must bepositioned strategically to make the most efficient use of available assets.Likely stations are located directly between enemy bases and anticipatedtargets,- near natural "choke points," such as mountain passes or restrictedpassages between heavily defended surface points; along likely ingress andegress routes for low-level penetrators, such as in valleys and along mountainridgelines, coastlines, and rivers; and over natural low-level navigationlandmarks, such as coastal inlets and points, lakes, river bends,crossroads, towns, or the end of a ridgeline.The practical distance from target to CAP station depends largely on thenumber of defending fighters and the area that must be covered. As thepossible threat sector expands, and as the enemy's speed and stand-offweapons range increase, greater numbers of fighters are required to defenda target adequately. Near-, medium-, and long-range CAPs are usuallyoptimum if the numbers of defending fighters are adequate, as this givesdepth to the defenses. Surface defenses or GAI often can be substituted fornear- and medium-range CAP. Defense is generally more effective whenthe CAP stations are compressed enough to allow each CAP to cover itsentire assigned area reasonably; this is preferable to overextending thedefenses just to reach greater distance. The luxury of compressing CAPstations may not be available, however, depending on fighter assets, theextent of the threat sector, and the possibility of stand-off weapons. Theeffectiveness of the C 3 system and the fighter's own sensors and weapons,as well as environmental conditions, affect the size of the area that can bedefended practically by any one CAP.I was of the opinion that with the existing shortage of fighter aircraft only acentral defense rather than an outer defense ring could promise any success.Squadrons and wings of fighter planes in the inner circle was my idea, ratherthan a few flights in the outer circle.Lt. General Adolph Galland, LuftwaffeThe practical range of a far CAP is also affected by the aircraft's usefultime on station. As distance from base to CAP station increases, stationtime decreases because of fuel considerations. Airborne refueling capabilitycan be critical to the ability to maintain a CAP at useful distances.Much valuable time is lost when the CAP must return to base for refueling.A refueling requirement also greatly increases the number of fightersnecessary to maintain a constant defensive posture.CAP requirements can be supplemented by the coordinated use ofsurface defenses. The necessity for near-CAP stations may be eliminated