Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 365
for the intercept, so a dive may be preferable. Conversely, when intercepting
low-level bogeys there may not be enough airspace below the targets,
necessitating a climbing separation. If there is a significant altitude differential
between the fighter lead and the bogeys, the leader will need to
work off this altitude before the merge so that he meets the enemy
approximately co-altitude. In this case the wingman may be able to stay at
about his original level and allow the leader to create the desired separation
during the intercept process.
There generally will be an obvious preference for a high or a low split by
the wingman, but all else being equal a low split is often more effective
because it usually makes radar detection of the wingman less likely and it
allows the wingman to accelerate somewhat ahead of the leader, as shown
at time "3," for a better offensive position at the pass. When he is required
to climb well above the leader, the wingman must usually settle for a
sucked position, slightly behind the leader. In this case the bogey can pass
the leader head-on and then turn up toward the wingman, denying him an
offensive advantage.
At time "3" in this example, the wingman (shooter or hooker) begins a
programmed turn (based on range calls from the leader) timed for him to
point at the lead fighter at the merge with the bogeys. During this time the
leader is attempting to remove all lateral and vertical separation with one
of the bogeys for a close pass. Usually the leader will be able to VID the
bogey first and call the aircraft type to the shooter, who is then cleared to
fire at an enemy. Sometimes, however, the "hooker's" greater aspect will
allow him the earlier VID. In either case both fighters have all-aspectmissile-firing
opportunities at the moment of the VID, but with a very
small bogey the leader may already have penetrated min-range for his
weapons. The hooker should have an all-aspect missile shot at the pass or
be in good position to convert to a rear-hemisphere envelope. He should be
careful, however, to ensure separation between his leader and the target
from weapons launch to impact.
Against a single bogey, or closely spaced multiple bogeys, the lead
fighter generally will attempt to place the enemy between himself and the
hooker at the pass. This diverts the enemy's attention away from the
shooter and often induces the bogeys to turn away from the hooker after
the pass, providing him with a sweet belly-side or RQ shot. With widely
separated bogeys, such as in this example, the leader will usually try to
bracket the enemy closest to the shooter while informing the hooker of the
position of any other hostile fighters. This technique helps prevent the
shooter from inadvertently turning in front of an enemy and being bagged
from the belly-side. The leader should pass the intended victim closely
(time "4") and call out the exact instant of the pass to help the shooter get
sight (tally) of the target.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The hook has a great many positive attributes. When properly executed it
can provide the fighters with an offensive advantage at the pass and, quite
often, the quick elimination of one bogey. When the fighters are equipped
only with guns or RQ missiles, however, the bogey can often escape an