Low Altitude Formations and Maneuvering

CHAPTER SIX

SECTION LOW ALTITUDE TACTICS AND PROCEDURES

604. LOW ALTITUDE FORMATIONS AND MANEUVERING

GENERAL

Low altitude tactical formations are designed to optimize terrain masking, facilitate threat

detection and avoidance, and minimize terrain hazards. The two basic section formations

utilized in the low altitude environment are "combat spread" and "tac wing". How T-2C

formations maneuver in the low altitude regime will be discussed in this section.

COMBAT SPREAD

Combat spread is a defensive formation (Figure 6-3) designed to provide:

1. Increased enemy detection through visual cross coverage against both air-to-air and

surface-to-air threats.

2. Separation between aircraft to allow each aircraft to seek lines of least resistance and best

concealment.

Commitment by air enemy threat early in an engagement to one aircraft.

Less exposure of a section of aircraft to a given defensive threat than a trail type formation.

Visual acquisition problems of both aircraft by an enemy.

Figure 6-3 Low Altitude Combat Spread

Combat spread formation in the low altitude environment is defined as:

Zero degree bearing line.

Approximately 1NM lateral separation (dependent on threat status and weather).

Co-altitude (terrain permitting).

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SECTION LOW ALTITUDE TACTICS AND PROCEDURES