Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

128 ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, SIMILAR AIRCRAFT
techniques is chosen, a missile should be launched at the first opportunity,
even if separation is marginal. Such a shot could be successful, but even if
it is not, the target's defensive maneuver usually places it in a very
vulnerable position for a follow-up gun shot.
Dissimilar Weapons
So far in this chapter it has been assumed that the opposing fighters have
identical weapons. Although this is a very likely situation with similar
aircraft, it does not always hold true. Supply problems, ordnance expenditure,
or weapons system malfunction, for instance, quite conceivably
could result in dissimilar weapon capabilities. In this section the more
common weapons mixes are investigated.
Guns versus Rear-Quarter Missiles
Since the gun is a close-range weapon and the missile generally a longerrange
weapon, it is to the advantage of the pilot of the guns-only fighter to
remain as close to his missile-equipped opponent as possible. The angles
tactics outlined in the guns-only section serve this purpose better than the
energy methods described there. Since gun snapshot parameters are usually
easier to satisfy than those of the RQ missile, the guns-only fighter
may have some advantage in this scenario. The missile-equipped fighter,
however, will have the better chance of safely disengaging from defensive
situations. The gunfighter may have a more difficult time with separation,
unless it disengages from a position of advantage.
For defensive purposes, on the other hand, the pilot of the missile fighter
would like to maintain his speed and separation from the gunfighter.
Energy tactics are ideal for this purpose. The pilot of the missile fighter
therefore should attempt to deplete his opponent's energy, and then he
should initiate a zoom maneuver to gain advantage.
In the case where the missile fighter is also gun equipped, its pilot
should still employ energy tactics because of the added measure of safety
inherent in greater speed, more separation from the opponent's weapon,
and better disengagement opportunities. The gun, however, should be his
primary weapon, since its parameters are easier to satisfy. The missile then
becomes the means of preventing the opponent's escape.
Guns versus All-Aspect Missiles
Again in this scenario, the gunfighter pilot would like to stay close to his
missile-equipped opponent to deny him min-range separation. Angles
tactics and nose-to-nose maneuvers should be used exclusively for this
purpose. If the missile-equipped fighter reverses at the pass to set up a
nose-to-tail situation as depicted in Figure 3-11, the gunfighter pilot must
make a rapid decision. His choices are to extend and disengage, continue in
the nose-to-tail maneuver, or reverse to reinitiate a nose-to-nose condition.
The best choice depends primarily on when the bogey reverses and on
the capabilities of its weapons system in the maneuvering environment.
The disengagement option is usually available if the pass occurs with high
TCA and the gunfighter has good speed. By turning only far enough to keep