Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

350 TACTICAL INTERCEPTS
desired altitude separation at intercept. Target altitude should also be
monitored throughout the intercept to detect any changes.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The FQ intercept is useful for establishing an initial attack direction for
the existing environmental conditions (coming out of the sun, etc.), or for
some other purpose. Many all-aspect missiles (notably all-aspect heat
seekers) have better capability from FQ firing positions than from directly
head-on. Some target aspect during an intercept can also increase the range
of a probable VID, since a profile view of the target is larger and usually
more recognizable than a strictly head-on view.
Increasing or decreasing TAA does take time, however, allowing the
bogey to gain further penetration toward its target. In addition, the method
described does not ensure any particular target range once the desired
aspect has been achieved; therefore the final approach course may be
established well inside maximum weapons-firing range, and displacement
might be insufficient for a stern-conversion option. This drawback can be
alleviated by controlling displacement and aspect concurrently, a technique
that is discussed in the next example. The FQ intercept is also
relatively easy for the bogey to counter. In this example, for instance, the
bogey could make a substantial turn (jink) away from the interceptor
between times "I" and "2," generating so much displacement that the
fighter pilot would be hard-pressed even to complete the intercept, much
less to control the target aspect. The bogey could later turn back on course
and possibly complete an "end run" around the interceptor, which may be
thrown well back in trail of the target, out of range. Early detection of a
target jink can be difficult for the interceptor between times "I" and "2,"
depending on the sophistication of its weapons system and GCI capability.
Once the target is on collision bearing, jinks are more easily detected as a
simple drift rate and a change in closure.
If the restriction of a specified target aspect is removed,the dangers of a
target jink can be alleviated by turning the interceptor immediately to
collision heading at time "I" and accepting whatever aspect is initially
available. This method also minimizes bogey penetration and time to
intercept.
Stern Conversion
Description
The stern-conversion intercept "converts" an initial FQ setup into a final
rear-hemisphere position for the interceptor. Figure 10-3 depicts an example
of a stern conversion.
The initial setup at time "I" is the same as in the previous example.
This time, however;the interceptor intends a stern conversion. To accomplish
this conversion requires a certain amount of displacement from the
bogey's flight path, an amount dependent on how hard the interceptor pilot
wants to turn during the final conversion and his true airspeed (i.e., the
interceptor's turn radius). The conversion is often planned so that the