A2A Weapons Delivery In Strike Fighters

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Typical Engagement Scenario

We begin with me chugging along with nothing on the radar scope, so I’ll call Red Crown for “bogey dope”.

I turn hard left 60 degrees to bring the target to my nose. He’s 5000’ below me and close…no chance for a radar contact so I check outside. Tally ho…bandit left, 10 o’clock, low…I’m engaged!

I’m too high and too close to get wrapped up with a MiG-15…so I’ll descend straight out and get a little separation. Then I’ll pitchback into him.

As I extend out, I check the bandit. Oops…he’s on me…turning hard into my six. I feel the need for speed! And some distance would be good too!

Now I unload, go full afterburner and extend out as I watch the bandit’s nose and his range. I’m looking at getting a good 5nm separation before I pitchback into him.

At 5nm, it’s time to reach out and touch someone…I’m at my pitchback point. But my speed is way too fast for effective turning. Lots of smash is good for separation but not good for turning , so as I begin my pitchback, I pull the throttles to idle. Then it’s roll to put the lift vector on the MiG (pointing cone to the top of my canopy) and then a max G turn to bring the MiG to my nose. In the turn, my speed bleeds off…as I pass through about 450KIAS or so, I add power. In the turn I also set myself up for the attack. Check AIM-7 selected, Boresight on the radar.

As I pull the MiG into my reticle, the radar locks on. I check my range…MiG’s nearly head on…I’m in parameters, so I shoot. Fox One!

AIM-7s love the front aspect. Hello Mr. MiG…meet Mr. Sparrow!

Splash one! But, no time for congratulations. There are more bandits around, and now I have their complete attention. I see the second MiG’s smoke trail…I cycle targets to get the new bandit selected as my new visual target.

But I’m too close as the MiG passes off my right wing…so I yo-yo off to his high six. I’m looking for separation in the vertical and the turning room to maneuver back behind him.

I hold my climb and pirouette to keep a tally. I watch the bandit’s nose to see if he is turning into me. He’s not…so I begin my pull down into him. As I roll inverted and pull my nose to the MiG, I select AIM-9 and Boresight mode again.

Nose on, I get a good lock and check my range. It’s good, but I’m in a nose low conversion with too much angle off. Not a high percentage shot for an AIM-9.

So I pull my nose back up, throttle back to keep my speed under control, and roll to the right to go lag. I want to push the MiG out front.

Now that I have a little more separation, I drop my nose and begin the attack again. But I don’t point right at the MiG. Instead, I fly to his six…I point behind him to make sure I don’t over-run him. I keep my throttle back to keep my speed from accelerating.

I bottom out to put the MiG above the horizon to sweeten my heater shot as I pull the bandit into my pipper. Lock…good tone…tone shift to seeker head lock-on…fire! Fox Two!

Boom! Splash two! I throttle back up, check six and I’m outa here!

Summary

OK…there you have it. Take these tips and techniques for just that…suggestions that might improve your success with missiles and guns. Good luck and good hunting!

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