Fighter Combat

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 365for the intercept, so a dive may be preferable. Conversely, when interceptinglow-level bogeys there may not be enough airspace below the targets,necessitating a climbing separation. If there is a significant altitude differentialbetween the fighter lead and the bogeys, the leader will need towork off this altitude before the merge so that he meets the enemyapproximately co-altitude. In this case the wingman may be able to stay atabout his original level and allow the leader to create the desired separationduring the intercept process.There generally will be an obvious preference for a high or a low split bythe wingman, but all else being equal a low split is often more effectivebecause it usually makes radar detection of the wingman less likely and itallows the wingman to accelerate somewhat ahead of the leader, as shownat time "3," for a better offensive position at the pass. When he is requiredto climb well above the leader, the wingman must usually settle for asucked position, slightly behind the leader. In this case the bogey can passthe leader head-on and then turn up toward the wingman, denying him anoffensive advantage.At time "3" in this example, the wingman (shooter or hooker) begins aprogrammed turn (based on range calls from the leader) timed for him topoint at the lead fighter at the merge with the bogeys. During this time theleader is attempting to remove all lateral and vertical separation with oneof the bogeys for a close pass. Usually the leader will be able to VID thebogey first and call the aircraft type to the shooter, who is then cleared tofire at an enemy. Sometimes, however, the "hooker's" greater aspect willallow him the earlier VID. In either case both fighters have all-aspectmissile-firingopportunities at the moment of the VID, but with a verysmall bogey the leader may already have penetrated min-range for hisweapons. The hooker should have an all-aspect missile shot at the pass orbe in good position to convert to a rear-hemisphere envelope. He should becareful, however, to ensure separation between his leader and the targetfrom weapons launch to impact.Against a single bogey, or closely spaced multiple bogeys, the leadfighter generally will attempt to place the enemy between himself and thehooker at the pass. This diverts the enemy's attention away from theshooter and often induces the bogeys to turn away from the hooker afterthe pass, providing him with a sweet belly-side or RQ shot. With widelyseparated bogeys, such as in this example, the leader will usually try tobracket the enemy closest to the shooter while informing the hooker of theposition of any other hostile fighters. This technique helps prevent theshooter from inadvertently turning in front of an enemy and being baggedfrom the belly-side. The leader should pass the intended victim closely(time "4") and call out the exact instant of the pass to help the shooter getsight (tally) of the target.Advantages and DisadvantagesThe hook has a great many positive attributes. When properly executed itcan provide the fighters with an offensive advantage at the pass and, quiteoften, the quick elimination of one bogey. When the fighters are equippedonly with guns or RQ missiles, however, the bogey can often escape an