The Cut

INTERCEPT PROCEDURES TEXTBOOK

The Cut

Once the initial target aspect is determined, establish a cut that will point you toward either

the LS line or the goal TA line, whichever will be achieved first. This will, most likely, place the

bogey off CB, causing the bogey to drift, thus changing TA. The drift may be predicted based

on the number of degrees the bogey is off CB and the range. It follows that the number of

degrees a bogey is off CB (magnitude of the cut) will be determined by the number of degrees

the fighter is away from the goal TA.

Consider two things when determining the magnitude of the cut necessary to attain the

TA/LS goal. The first consideration is the effect of the cut. In very basic terms, the quickest

way to build or lose LS is with a 90 cut away from or into the BFP. The way to maintain LS is

with a 0 cut, (fighter steady on the bogey's reciprocal) paralleling the BFP. If your goal is to

decrease TA, you must fly toward the BFP with a cut "into" that is larger than the collision cut.

Increasing TA can be done one of three ways: the fighter can establish a cut "into" that is smaller

than a collision cut, a zero cut, or a cut "away" from BFP.

Varying Turn Rate to Cut Heading

This is an extremely valuable tool to use in tactical conversions. The intercept starts with

GCI turning the bogey in one direction to an assigned heading and commanding the fighter to

turn in the opposite direction. This maintains the bearing relationship throughout the turn until

the bogey and fighter are steady, assuming both use the same turn rate. This is because both

aircraft have essentially the same radius of turn.

The fighter can effectively cause TA and LS to change prior to steadying up on a cut by

varying the turn rate. By easing out of the hard turn or hardening the turn to hard as possible, the

fighter can influence his turn radius, thus increase or decrease lateral displacement in the turn.

If the fighter must turn through the bogey bearing to arrive at

the desired cut, increase to a hard as possible turn.

If the fighter is not turning through the bogey bearing, ease to

a standard turn.

Attack Heading

Normally, attack heading (AH) will be the fighter heading that will result in the bogey being

on collision once the goal TA/LS has been achieved. AH can be calculated early and included as

part of the game plan. Occasions will arise, however, where the goal is not achieved (short setup,

poor procedures, late turn to AH, faulty GCI, degraded radar, etc).

Despite the given TA or LS goal, the utlitmate goal is to correctly

assess existing TA to allow for a Sparrow shot

followed by a successful reattack.

138