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ORIGINAL: Paul Roberts
So... what am I doing wrong? Near the beginning of the NACV\Ambush scenario (#5 in that battleset), I detect ... a large flight of Tu-95 Bears, all alone and far from home, heading for my base in Iceland. I send up 12 Eagles to intercept. End result: all the bombers are downed, but I also lose eight(!) F-15's. How did this happen? Do my planes not react evasively to enemy AAMs? What can a player do to ensure that vastly superior fighters aren't mauled by unescorted bombers?

ORIGINAL: CV32

Two points are sufficient to explain what happened here:

(1) 'Ambush', a dead giveaway in the scenario's title
(2) 'Tu-22MP Backfire D', a fictional air-to-air version of the venerable Backfire bomber

To summarize, I expect the Tu-95 bombers were not alone and unescorted at all, but rather, accompanied by a flight of Tu-22MP Backfire D's that 'ambushed' your F-15s.

Your fighters will not fly away from enemy AAMs on their own, btw.

ORIGINAL: Paul Roberts
This raises a new question. Is it necessary for the player to micromanage aircombat? I understand that a plan to launch missiles and then run for home must be under the player's control, but are things more automated when planes "mix it up" close?

In other words, are there automated routines in place for flares, chaff, evasive maneuvers, and other pilot tricks for survival? If I don't click anything, my Eagles still aren't just flying straight and level into a wall of Alamos, right?

ORIGINAL: CV32

ORIGINAL: Paul Roberts
This raises a new question. Is it necessary for the player to micromanage aircombat? I understand that a plan to launch missiles and then run for home must be under the player's control, but are things more automated when planes "mix it up" close?

Yes, in many instances I find it necessary to micro manage air combat. You may be prompted when you're in missile range, or when you are being detected by radar, but it will generally be up to you whether your fighters shoot at beyond visual range (BVR) and turn away, or try to get within 'no escape' range, or even close to visual and enter a knife fight. There is some degree of automation when aircraft are in a 'furball', but again its your call if you want to let loose that heat seeker.

In other words, are there automated routines in place for flares, chaff, evasive maneuvers, and other pilot tricks for survival? If I don't click anything, my Eagles still aren't just flying straight and level into a wall of Alamos, right?

The missile vs aircraft endgame is in large part handled 'behind the scenes' by matching the missile's pH (probability of hit) against the target aircraft's DATA (defensive air to air) rating. In other words, a die roll. High pH missiles stand a very good chance of destroying lumbering airlifters that cannot maneuver very well, for example. Against modern, agile fighters, however, those same missiles may not fare so well.