Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

312 UNLIMITED-AIRCRAFT TACTICS
A good defensive formation should be maintained for as long as practical
during the pre-engaged maneuvering phase; the fighters can make a transition
to a more offensive arrangement in the final stages of attack. When
meeting bogeys in their forward hemisphere, bracket and drag attacks, as
described in Chapter 6, are useful in this scenario. Because of better mutual
support during and after an attack, however, the bracket is probably preferable
in the unknown scenario. Whenever possible, missiles and guns
should be fired from the target's forward hemisphere during the bracket or
pincer attacks, as conversion to RQ firing parameters normally requires
turns in excess of 90°. Such turns leave the fighters predictable for too long
and vulnerable to attack by unseen bogeys. Figure 8-2 illustrates the
recommended bracket attack technique in the unknown scenario.
At time "1" in this example the fighter section, patrolling in defensive
combat spread, spots what may be a hostile formation approaching headon.
If the contact can be identified as hostile at this time, and the fighters
are equipped with all-aspect missiles, the weapons should be fired at
maximum relative range. In this case, however, the bogeys cannot be
identified as hostile, so the fighters begin a bracket maneuver to gain more
offensive positions. At time "2" each fighter has completed a counterturn
to a pure-pursuit or lead-pursuit heading on the nearest bogey. During the
turns between times "1" and "2," the attackers should visually clear the
Figure 8-2. Bracket or Pincer Attack, Unknown
Scenario