Air-to-Air Combat

Fight where your team needs cover

Intercept fighters approaching your attackers, help a teammate get away or stop an enemy heading for an objective. Chasing one aircraft across the map can leave everyone else without cover.

Look at where the enemy is taking you before committing. Try to keep friendly support within reach and avoid following them over hostile SAM sites.

Get the shot without losing track of the fight

• Consider your speed, altitude and weapons before firing. Being inside the missile’s maximum range doesn’t guarantee it can reach a maneuvering target.
• Know how long your radar missile needs support. Breaking away too early can lose the shot, but staying locked on while someone fires at you can cost the aircraft.
• Before firing an infrared missile, check the lock, the target’s angle and any friendlies nearby.
• After firing, look behind you and check which ground defenses you’re approaching. Don’t spend the escape watching the missile camera.

Stay close enough to help

Agree on the target and the way out before takeoff. Give your teammate space to aim while you watch for fighters. If one approaches, call its direction and what it’s doing.

If SAMs are still firing along the route, tell the attacker. Fighting off an enemy jet doesn’t make the ground defenses safe to cross.

Know when to break off

Leave a chase that takes you over several SAM sites or pulls you away from a teammate who needs help. When fuel, missiles or countermeasures run low, help cover the way home if you can, then land.

Check the battle again after respawning. Your team might now need a strike aircraft or a nuclear escort more than another attempt to catch the pilot who shot you down.