BOYD, J.R., AERIAL ATTACK STUDY (AAS), REPORT 50-10-6C, (11-AUG-1964) (REVISED 04-JAN-2016)

BOYD, J.R., AERIAL ATTACK STUDY (AAS), REPORT 50-10-6C, (11-AUG-1964) (REVISED 04-JAN-2016)., Tactics – fighter-versus-bomber, fighter-versus-fighter, or even ground attack – are developed according to the performance capabilities or limitations of the weapons or weapons systems used. In other words, effective tactics reflect the best way to employ a given weapon against a given enemy with known or estimated capabilities. Assuming this to be true, tactics are functional – that is, they reflect the capabilities and limitations of the opponent’s weapons as well as our own. Therefore, in our discussion of aerial attack, we must determine the operation envelopes of our weapons systems (this includes the aircraft and its associated armament). After having learned these envelope parameters, the discussion will center on how to best employer weapons systems in a given fighterversus- fighter or fighter-versus-bomber situation, in which we assume that our opponent has comparable capabilities. Fighter-versus-bomber tactics will be covered first. In this phase, we assume that a maneuvering fighter attacks a non-maneuvering target; whereas in the fighter-versus-fighter phase, we assume that a maneuvering fighter attacks a maneuvering target. Since the fighter-versus-bomber situation has only one variable – the maneuvering fighter – a more exact technical analysis can be accomplished on it. In addition, fighter-versus bomber theory is a fundamental departure point for fighter-versus-fighter combat.