Air defense implementation

[Zumwalt_446]

From my experience so far, it seems that fixed-wing CAS is only vulnerable to air defenses in the hex that it is striking (that is, it cannot be engaged while in transit to that hex). Is this an accurate implementation (relative to real life) or would it be possible to capture the approach to the target hex in some form (e.g., the CAS unit becomes vulnerable three hexes from its target in the direction of approach)?

[CapnDarwin]

We plan on making a number of changes to the air units and their operations in the near future to better do what you are asking and more. The game does do the engagement at the target hex, but looks at all elegible AD systems in the area and engages the aircraft before it attacks in order to see if attackers are driven off or shot down before they attack.

[Zumwalt_446]

Thanks, that is good to hear as always. The primary issue in this case is that (most of the time) fixed-wing CAS would be flying at relatively low altitudes on approach to the target, meaning that they would be vulnerable to AAA and SAM batteries for several "hexes" of distance prior to reaching their target area. The current implementation effectively assumes that the CAS unit is dive-bombing its target rather than approaching at a horizontal or near-horizontal angle.

In the relevant AD manuals, the stationing of air defense units based on surrounding terrain, both on approach to the defended position and at the position itself, is emphasized. Adding in the approach of CAS units would increase the effectiveness of AD units relative to the current state.

[CapnDarwin]

Even if we get to a more realistic ingress/egress model, that number of losses probably won't change much, as the abstracted system deals with the various aspects of the engagements.CAS aircraft move so fast compared to other air targets, and with low approaches and masking via terrain, getting a shot off in the few seconds of exposure is still difficult. We will have to wait and see what the new system does.