Recruitment:
– Fighter pilots are highly regarded in air forces.
– Selection processes accept elite candidates.
– Academic excellence, physical fitness, and mental drive are crucial for selection.
– Strong leadership and teamwork skills are expected.
– Fighter pilots are typically commissioned officers.
Fitness:
– Optimal health is crucial for fighter pilots.
– Excellent heart condition is required to handle increased G-forces.
– Strong muscle tissue is needed for anti-G straining maneuvers.
– Better-than-average visual acuity is desirable.
– Fighter pilots may experience up to 9 Gs in some aircraft.
Tactics:
Offensive:
– Missile tactics are crucial for long-range combat.
– Positioning relative to the opponent is essential in dogfights.
– Outperforming the opponent is key in maintaining advantage.
– Missile range and enemy’s weapon payload are important considerations.
– Various air combat maneuvers are utilized for combat effectiveness.
Defensive:
– Pilots use tactics like electronic countermeasures, flares, and chaff against missile attacks.
– Close-range dogfighting requires stressful maneuvers for advantage.
– Pilots must be physically fit to handle high G-forces.
– Specific maneuvers like AGSM are used to prevent blood from draining out of the head.
– Advanced infrared missiles require tactics like dropping flares for evasion.
Defense against missiles:
– Early missiles with infrared homing guidance could be avoided by sharp turns.
– Modern infrared missiles like AIM-9 Sidewinder have advanced guidance systems.
– Pilots use flares to confuse infrared missiles and chaff against radar homing missiles.
– Pilots must distinguish between threats using radar warning receivers.
– Geographical features can be used to confuse radar homing missiles.
G-force:
– Pilots experience high G-forces during maneuvers.
– G-forces express the magnitude of gravity.
– Modern jet aircraft can subject pilots to extreme G-forces.
– Pilots must be trained to handle the physical stress of high G-forces.
– Maneuvering during engagements pushes the pilots’ bodies to the limit.
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A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting (close range aerial combat). A fighter pilot with at least five air-to-air kills becomes known as an ace.
