Thrust Vectoring/Reversing Tactics in Air-to-Air Combat

Considerable effort is now under way to develop technologies for enhancing fighter maneuvering limits. This has in part been motivated by the capabilities of advanced air-to-air missiles. One approach to enhanced combat effectiveness involves flight envelope expansion and improved controllability via engine thrust-vectoring and thrust-reversing. The complexity of fighter combat, however, makes it difficult to perform engineering analyses for assessing potential technological enhancements and risks. This paper describes a digital simulation that has been used to identify benefits associated with improved maneuverability. The Navy/Grumman F-14 aircraft provides the flight characteristics database. Combat tactics are developed as part of the solution process and are based solely on characteristics of the combatants and weapons employed. Head-on and codirectional neutral start combat engagements are used to illustrate study results.