BFM
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Basic Fighter Maneuvers are performed by fighter aircraft during Air combat manoeuvering. They are generally grouped into two categories:
- Offensive BFM
- Defensive BFM
It is easy to fall into the trap of considering BFM to be a series of set maneuvers providing a foolproof recipe for a dominant position. The reality is that BFM is a series of fluid and often improvised proactive and reactive actions, varying infinitely according to range, altitude, speed, aircraft type, weapons system type and any of an enormous range of other factors.
Basic BFM Principles
There are three basic situations in ACM requiring BFM to convert to a favourable result. The three situations, and the primary goals of a pilot in that situation are:
- Defensive - the pilot is in a weak position, primarily concerned with denying a shot to the opponent rather than achieving a dominant position. The goal in this situation should be to convert to a neutral situation or extend to escape the unfavourable position.
- Neutral - neither the pilot nor their opponent have a particular advantage. Each is focused on converting to an offensive situation whilst forcing their opponent defensive.
- Offensive - the pilot is in a dominant position, primarily concerned with prosecuting their advantage for a kill.
Reference
- Robert L. Shaw, Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering, ISBN 0870210599. (One of the better books on BFM and ACM in general.)