Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 193
reduced frag pattern of the cluster weapon. Although this "shotgun"
weapon makes a direct hit more likely, a direct hit would probably be
required to destroy the target, and it would still be quite difficult to achieve
against an evasive helo. The cluster bomb would be better than general
purpose bombs against a helo at high altitude, but other air-to-air weapons
would probably be more appropriate in that case.
AAMs may also be viable weapons against the helo. The radar-guided
weapons, however, have serious problems, as noted earlier, and probably
would be rather ineffective, especially against a low-altitude target. A
Doppler-guided missile might have a chance if it was employed in a
low-level, head-on attack, so that the helo's closing speed would aid the
missile in distinguishing the target from ground clutter. Side-lobe clutter,
as described in Chapter 1, is the problem with RQ attacks with this
weapon, and it may necessitate a higher-altitude, shoot-down launch.
Heat seekers are much better suited to this scenario, but they still are
not without problems. Helicopters often have exhaust shields that reduce
their IR signatures, and hot exhaust gases may be dispersed by the rotor
wash. In a look-down environment, especially over hot desert terrain,
RQ-only heat seekers may be more effective than their all-aspect counterparts
because they are less sensitive to background IR radiation. RQ heatseeking
missiles should be fired whenever the target heat source can be
detected, regardless of aspect. Even "RQ" AAMs may have all-aspect
capabilities against slow aircraft that are unable to generate high speed or a
high load factor.
If all else fails, a high-speed pass very low over the top of the helo is very
likely to disrupt airflow through the rotor blades sufficiently to cause a loss
of control, and can drive a low-altitude helo into the ground.
Probably the best tactic to employ against a helicopter is to sneak up on
it and attack with bombs, guns, unguided rockets, or IR missiles. If detected
by the target, about the best the pilot of a fixed-wing fighter can
hope for is a head-on pass. Turning with a helo is fruitless and can be
downright dangerous. If the first attack is not successful and multiple runs
are necessary, a variation of extension tactics can be used. On each pass the
fighter pilot should turn hard toward the helo to reduce lateral separation
to a minimum, then extend at low altitude and high speed, turning in the
nose-to-tail direction only as necessary to keep sight of the helo behind. If
the helo is missile equipped it is important both to stay low to avoid giving
the bogey any look-up and to cease use of afterburners before the bogey can
complete its turn and fire. The combination of high fighter speed, low
altitude, and the slow speed of the helo all work to reduce the helo
missile's max-range to probably half that advertised for fighter engagements
at higher altitudes. Against non-missile-equipped helos, a gradual
climb may be more comfortable during the extension.
The extension should be continued until the fighter is well outside the
helo's missile range, and until the fighter can make a reversal to meet the
helo again head-on and still have sufficient separation for gun, missile, or
bomb-sight tracking. A power reduction and a nose-high oblique reversal
may allow the fighter pilot to tighten his turn and get the nose around