167th

VAR Defensive
Maneuvering

Tutorial on Defensive
Maneuvering Against A/A
Missiles
Updated 22Apr2016
 Table of Contents
•  Terms and Defini3ons
•  Understanding Your RWR
•  Situa3on Setup
•  Drag Defense
•  Forma3on Flanking
•  Terrain Masking
•  Defensive Barrel Roll
•  Defensive Notching
•  Beaming
•  Defensive Press
•  Addi3onal Tips
•  Acknowledgements
 Terms and Defini3ons:
•  3-9 Line: An imaginary line from an aircraIs
3 O’clock to it’s 9 O’clock.
•  Beaming: Posi3oning your aircraI so the
enemy aircraI is at your 8-10 o’clock or
2-4 o’clock
•  Jink: High-G defensive turn
•  SA: Situa3onal Awareness

NOTE: The term RWR/RWS will be used interchangeably since they are used
in a similar manner in DCS.


 Understanding Your RWR:
Russian Radar Warning System (RWS)
•  Use “light strip” to
help es3mate range
on Ac3ve Radar
launched missile (ex:
Aim-120)
–  When light strip is
mostly lite except
for the last 2
strips, missile is
extremely close
and you need to
Jink with chaffs
–  Use light strip to
determine if you
are out running
the missile (ex:
Drag Defense)
 Understanding Your RWR:
American Tac3cal Warfare Warning System (TEWS)
•  Ac3ve Radar
missiles will be
shown with “M”
designa3on and
the loca3on will
be displayed,
while Semi-Ac3ve
Radar missiles will
only show missile
launch detected
but the loca3on
will be unknown. •  It is more difficult judge missile range with the TEWS
Because of this, since it does not show signal strength and judging
Semi-Ac3ve Radar distance on the display is more challenging.
missiles are more •  Note: Currently there are only Aim-120s and R-77 that
dangerous for are Ac3ve Radar, so keep that in mind when deciding
both Russian and which defensive tac3c to employ
American aircraIs. •  For addi3onal info an icon iden3fiers see Pg.81-82 in
your DCS F-15C Manual
Understanding Your RWR:
American TEWS Symbology
 Understanding Your RWR:
RWR Blind Spot
•  Both American and
Russian RWRs have
“blind spots” above
and below the aircraI.
So if you’re in a
turning and the RWR
Warning stops, this
doesn’t mean that the
missile is no longer
tracking, you’re in your
RWR’s blind spot!
KEEP MANEUVERING! RWR Blind Spot
 Situa3on Setup:
•  All these
techniques are
assuming you are
in a head-to-head
intercept with
the enemy
aircraI (some of
these techniques
can be used
against SAM)
 Drag Defense: Difficulty=Easy
•  Purpose: Outrun the missile’s intercept capability
•  Best Used: Medium/Long Range Launches (Aim-120:
>15mi/24km)(R-77: >12mi/20km)
•  Technique: Once a missile launch is detected, turn
180o away from missile and dive down to low
al3tude at high speed “dragging” the missiles with
you (you can climb once you know the missile is at
low al3tude to bleed off addi3onal speed and
maneuverability)
•  Use RWR to determine if Chaff are necessary (if
extremely close), however if no RWR warning, use
Flares (IR missile)
•  Drag Defense Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=gDV5ZnloAsc&index=1&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V
Forma3on Flanking: Difficulty=Easy
•  Purpose: Allows Lead to press the alack/go
defensive while 2nd element flanks enemy or vise
versa
•  Best Used: With a forma3on of 2 or more
•  Technique: Prior to lock, send 2nd element
flanking leI/right and Lead presses forward to
draw them in. Once they have commiled, flank
in the opposite direc3on of your element. Once
engaged, draw the enemy aircraI into a posi3on
that will allow your element to get off a 6 O’clock
shot on the enemy aircraI.
•  Forma3on Flanking Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=yTqfFGsybMM&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V&index=6
 Defensive Barrel Roll:
Difficulty=Moderate
•  Purpose: Out maneuver the inbound missile with a
barrel roll
•  Best Used: Close-Extremely Close range (IR missiles) with
countermeasures for missiles at your 12 o’clock or 6
o’clock
•  Technique: Once launch is detected (visually or RWR),
release countermeasures and begin a High-G barrel roll.
Keep an eye on your airspeed!
–  Timing is crucial for this technique, especially at
Extremely Close range. So prac3ce!
–  If you employ this tac3c at Extremely Close range,
make very 3ght turns but limit your rolls to <2
complete rolls because it will bleed off your speed
quick!
•  Defensive Barrel Roll Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=YuTuTUrqyoM
 Terrain Masking: Difficulty=Moderate
•  Purpose: Obstruct line-of-sight of missile’s seekerhead
with an object (ex: mountain)
•  Best Used: In mountainous terrain
•  Technique: Once missile launch detected, dive down
and fly low, preferably into a deep mountain valley
with a ridgeline that is perpendicular to the missile’s
flight path
–  Keep SA on the last known posi3on of enemy
aircraI since you will loose sight of them and they
are probably trying to flank you
–  Trying to keep and eye on the missile, enemy
aircraI, and the terrain ahead at low al3tude makes
this maneuver difficult
•  Terrain Masking Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=tkzc07TIgIQ&index=3&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V
 Defensive Notching: Difficulty=Hard
•  Purpose: Mask your aircraI into the radar’s ground cluler making
tracking difficult
•  Best Used: When missile is above your aircraI
•  Technique: Before enemy missile is launched, beam the enemy
aircraI (8-10 o’clock/2-4 o’clock) and head to lower al3tude. Once
launched, keep the missile at your 3-9 line and keep it there un3l
missile lock is lost
–  You may need to keep a slight turn in towards the missile as the
missile turns with you
–  If the missile has not lost lock before 2mi/3km, Jink toward the
missile and release countermeasures
–  Reason: doppler radar has a hard 3me tracking objects that are
perpendicular to it’s scan and the ground cluler will aid in
masking the aircraI
•  Defensive Notching Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=gDV5ZnloAsc&index=1&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V
 Beaming: Difficulty=Hard
•  Purpose: Force the missile to con3nuously maneuver in order
to hold a lead pursuit on you. This will drain energy from the
missile.
•  Best Used: Medium/Long Range Launches (Aim-120: >15mi/
24km)(R-77: >12mi/20km)
•  Technique: Before enemy missile is launched, beam the
enemy aircraI (8-10 o’clock/2-4 o’clock). Once launched, put
the missile at your 3-9 line and KEEP IT THERE! Once the
missile is 2mi/3km (you can use your RWR as well), Jink into
the missile while releasing Chaff and Flares
–  When you turn into the missile, *consider* taking an
offensive missile shot at the enemy aircraI puwng them
on the defensive
•  Beaming Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=n2KsngsfRLA&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V&index=4
 Defensive Press: Difficulty=Hard
•  Purpose: Minimize 3me spent evading missiles and allow
you back into your forma3on with your flight
•  Best Used: Against a single enemy aircraI
•  Technique: Once you are locked on by an enemy aircraI,
*consider* breaking forma3on and beaming the enemy
aircraI. Once launched at, try and fire your missile (even
if you know it will miss) forcing them on the defensive
BEFORE you go defensive. Break hard to lower al3tude
while releasing Chaff and try and get another quick shot
off on the enemy aircraI forcing them to stay defensive.
If they are s3ll a threat, try to close the range in order to
increase hit probability.
•  Defensive Press Video:
–  hlps://[Link]/watch?v=KpAi1gK8jkU&index=5&list=PL-
rNisMp5bxFu95q8IMBU0CfKBBRVZg3V
 Addi3onal Tips:
•  Always keep an eye out for smoke trails from
enemy missiles because they will only be
visible for a few sec. Once the motor run out,
spowng the missile is nearly impossible (use
your RWR if possible)
•  You may not receive a RWR warning if an IR
missiles is launched at you, so keep your head
on a swivel and always check your six!
•  Increased air density = Increased air fric3on =
Decreased missile’s range
•  USE YOUR RWR!!! It will tell you a lot about
the current situa3on and the status of an
inbound radar missiles
 Addi3onal Tips Con3nued:
•  SPEED IS LIFE! Make sure you are turning at
the op3mum cornering speed of your aircraI!
•  Al3tude is Life Insurance! So *consider*
regaining lost al3tude aIer evading a missile
•  See if you can fire off a shot or two during a
defensive maneuver to force them on the
defensive
•  If you are at low al3tude and it’s been over 8
seconds from launch, you can pull up to
higher al3tude with confidence since the
missile will, more than likely, be unable to
 Addi3onal Tips Con3nued:
•  Pay alen3on to the RWR Warning sounds. It
will tell you which countermeasure to use. If
you hear a launch warning with a con3nuous
lock use your Chaff and save your Flares, you’ll
probably need them later.
•  These are BASIC techniques, be adap3ve to
your situa3on and u3lize mul3ple techniques
if needed
•  Prac3ce with Labels On first then TURN THEM
OFF!!! You need to learn to preform these
techniques based on your instruments and
your ability to read the situa3on
 Acknowledgements:
•  Most of the techniques and informa3on are
from pickinthatbanjo and Flame on YouTube.

hlps://[Link]/user/pickinthatbanjo

hlps://[Link]/channel/UCEQaJCaksXhs8V_q5Cu6TSQ
PRACTICE!!!!
Don’t Be THAT GUY…
 Be THIS GUY!

I’VE GOT THIS!