Reference News Network September 1 report - According to the U.S. "National Interest" bi-monthly website on August 28, air combat is more commonly referred to as "dogfighting," which involves two aircraft maneuvering, positioning themselves, and seizing opportunities to control the airspace, a skill that is becoming obsolete. Fundamentally, winning an air combat depends on geometry and energy management. A pilot's victory depends on their ability to control altitude, speed, and attack angle, all while predicting the opponent's next move.
The way to win a "dogfight" is to fly behind the opponent, with the nose pointing at the target. This position allows the aircraft's weapon systems to be effectively deployed. This position is called the "tracking curve," and there are three different approaches to exploit its advantages: lead pursuit, direct pursuit, and lag pursuit. In lead pursuit, the attacking aircraft points ahead of the defender's path, quickly shortening the distance by taking a shortcut; in direct pursuit, the aircraft's nose directly points to the opponent's current position; in lag pursuit, the nose is slightly behind the opponent, avoiding encirclement to gain air superiority.
Another key principle in air combat is the concept of the "turning circle." When each aircraft turns at maximum performance, it traces a circle in the sky. This circle is determined by speed, turning rate, and radius. A pilot who can fly a smaller circle or maneuver within the opponent's own circle will gain a positional advantage. This quickly becomes a game of strategy, where each aircraft tries to shrink its own circle or force the other to expand its circle, requiring precise and continuous adjustments of throttle and angle to avoid getting into trouble.
In air combat, energy management is as important as geometric positioning. The "energy state" of an aircraft refers to altitude (potential energy) and speed (kinetic energy). A high-energy aircraft allows the pilot to choose to climb, dive, or accelerate, while a low-energy aircraft restricts the pilot's options. Aircraft involved in air combat aim to maintain an "energy advantage," meaning they have sufficient speed and altitude reserves to defeat the opponent or disengage from the engagement.
Energy level, along with geometric positioning, establishes two typical styles of air combat tactics: energy tactics and angle tactics.
Aircraft employing energy tactics have strong thrust and attempt to maintain speed through vertical maneuvers, trading altitude for speed, then diving toward the opponent. Classic historical and modern examples include the Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter, the Northrop F-104 "Starfighter," and the McDonnell Douglas F-15 "Eagle."
At the same time, aircraft using angle tactics are more agile jet fighters that perform well in turning competitions. In this competition, even a slight difference in turning rate can provide a positional advantage. Historical and modern classic examples include the "Spitfire" fighter, the North American F-86 "Sabre," and the General Dynamics F-16 "Fighting Falcon."
With beyond-visual-range air combat (achieved through modern technologies such as long-range airborne radar) becoming the primary mode of combat, modern equipment and technology have greatly reduced the frequency of "dogfights." However, modern pilots are still trained in air combat in case of special situations. In such cases, the eternal truths of geometry and energy will reveal their authority, prompting pilots to manage their energy levels, construct favorable geometries, and seize offensive opportunities whenever possible.
Despite a century of innovation from biplanes to today's fifth-generation fighters, the basic principles of air combat have remained unchanged: whether flying a Sopwith Camel fighter from the past or a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, pilots must predict their opponent's actions, manage their own energy, and complete maneuvers in an instant. (Translated by Hu Wei)
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