Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 369
tial, particularly when the leader has an initial angular advantage on the
enemy. The pressure applied by the leader in this case often results in
bogeys turning in front of the trailer. The trail formation is also good for
sequential attacks against bombers, transports, etc. As discussed earlier,
however, this is not a healthy option in an uncontrolled, multi-bogey
environment because of the poor defensive position of the trailer, particularly
if the leader conducts a stern conversion.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The primary advantage of the option intercept is its flexibility. The leader
does essentially the same thing regardless of the option, and the wingman
positions as the situation dictates. Offensive options are available for both
controlled conditions (sweep) and more hostile environments (bracket),
and the more defensive option (abeam) can be chosen for highly uncontrolled
conditions. The option is compatible with either FQ or stern conversion
intercept geometry. The choice here often depends on weapons
available and the permissiveness of the environment. The stern conversion
is more applicable to controlled situations with RQ weapons, while
the FQ geometry may be preferable in poorly defined scenarios and when
the fighters have all-aspect missiles.
Against bogeys in a significant trail formation, the bracket is generally
the option of choice. The fighter leader in this case should normally lock
and attack the trailing bogey, while the fighter wingman's position inside
the conversion turn provides protection from the lead bogey. It is highly
desirable for the wingman to have radar contact with the lead bogey in this
situation to aid in visual detection. The fighter wingman will usually take
his split for the bracket earlier against a trail formation so that he can be in
position and avoid being detected visually by the bogey leader, which may
be considerably closer at this time than is the trail bogey, which is being
attacked by the lead fighter.
All three options offered by this tactic allow the fighters to remain close
enough together and near abeam to facilitate lead changes in the initial
stages of the intercept, which may be required if the leader loses contact
with the bogeys or suffers a radar malfunction, etc. Even in the latter stages
of a sweep or bracket option the fighters should not be so far apart that they
cannot rejoin expeditiously for defensive purposes or a bugout. When the
fighters are arranged in trail (sweep option), a 90° turn in either direction by
the leader allows the trailer to rejoin in spread. Following a bracket attack
the fighters should pass fairly close to each other with high track-crossing
angles. In this case nose-to-nose turns by both fighters put them back
abeam.
There are some problems with the option, however. It places a lot of
responsibility on the wingman to select the best option for the tactical
situation and position accordingly. The bracket option, particularly, requires
the kind of timing that is gained only through extensive training.
Because of the many options available to the wingman, the fighter leader
may enter a fight without sight of his teammate or even knowledge of his
position, especially in limited-comm conditions. The wide offensive splits