Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
immediate shot, he must disengage and maneuver for separation to reestablish an out-of-phase
condition. During his separation he must keep the fight constantly in sight to avoid exposing his six
to the bandit and to maintain situational awareness for making appropriate tactical decisions.
Following is an example of voice comm that would occur during the first scenario of a visual forward-
quarter attack:
Engaged fighter: “Bronto engaged left 2-circle offensive.”
Free fighter: “Slam’s free, extending.”
Free fighter: “Turning in, tally visual—Bronto, come off high right.”
Engaged fighter: “Two, visual, you’re clear.”
Free fighter: “Fox-2, bandit left turn.”
Beyond Visual Range (BVR)
In the real world, fighters are equipped with on-board radar and communicate with ground control
intercept (GCI) radar units for vectors to intercept a bandit long before he could be visually sighted.
During an intercept, the fighters will employ tactics similar to those that you have learned in the
visual forward-quarter exercises, especially ensuring that a single bandit is always bracketed. Your
BVR exercises will be as close as you can get to the real world. Consider them a graduation
exercise, in that everything you have learned up to this point is likely to occur in these engagements.
The BVR exercise is set up using briefed TACAN radials/DME and/or visual points on the ground to
designate combat air patrol stations (CAPS—areas of responsibility when on patrol). For safe
separation during nonvisual contact, you will also use block altitudes. Note the examples below.
High block altitude = 16,000-20,000 ft
Low block altitude = 10,000-15,000 ft
When any aircraft attains sight, they may enter the other aircraft’s block altitude.
To execute the exercise, the bandit and the fighters proceed to their respective CAPS. All aircraft
orbit at their CAPS until called in by the bandit. When bandit calls “Fight’s on,” all aircraft fly an in-
bound heading/course. When any aircraft gains sight, the engagement begins utilizing all the
strategies you have learned in ACM. Other tactics exist that could handle this situation, but they are
beyond the scope of this FTI and will be introduced to you in the fleet.
(10-98) Change 1
Page 74
Previous Page
