Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

UNLIMITED-AIRCRAFT TACTICS 299
Figure 8-1. Stern Conversion in a Hostile Environment
an attack. These factors and many others affect probability of mission
success as well as survival, and they should be considered carefully.
Concealment and swiftness are the two principal elements of closing.
Colonel V. Dubrov, Soviet Air Force
The number of degrees of offset taken by the pilot at time "1" depends
largely on the target range and the fighter's radar limitations. At long range
adequate lateral separation can be obtained with smaller cuts. If the fighter
is radar equipped it is usually desirable that the displacement turn not be
so radical that the targets are placed outside the radar antenna gimbal
limits. Generally, the smallest offset that will generate the desired lateral
separation is optimum, since this reduces maneuver requirements
throughout the intercept.
From time "I" to time "2" the fighter should be concentrating on
defense while monitoring the developing situation for changes in intercept
geometry, bogey formation, other aircraft in the area, etc. Defensive techniques
useful during this phase are discussed later in this chapter. Between
times "2" and "3" the fighter determines that sufficient lateral separation
exists for an optimum stern conversion. This is also a good point to decide
whether to commit to the attack or to abort and escape. The desired
amount of lateral separation at this point is a function of target range,
offset angle, fighter turn radius, and other factors and should be determined
by experimentation. It is seldom less than three or four fighter turn
radii, however.
At point "3" the fighter has committed to the attack and performed a
recovery turn to a pure-pursuit or lead-pursuit heading. If this turn must be
greater than 90° it should be performed in two stages interrupted by a
belly-check. In any event, one or more belly-checks should be performed
between times "3" and "4." Shortly before or after point "3" is often an
optimum time to make the transition from a defensive to an offensive