Dogfights in the Air Force

A dogfight is an aerial battle between fighter aircraft conducted at close range. The aircraft orbit each other and quickly maneuver in the air while looking for weak points. 

The last time an enemy aircraft was shot down in a dogfight was about four decades ago. The IDF still trains for such situations to ensure that soldiers are ready for any event that can possibly be thrown at them. There may be situations in which IDF aircrafts are required to intercept enemy aircraft at close range,which then leads to a dogfight. 

In a dogfight, everything happens fast. Practicing will make sure that the soldiers are truly ready and are able to work well together in order to operate under such circumstances. It is required of them to fly aircraft on the edge at high speeds and under the influence of heavy G-force to a specific and precise point, using different weapon systems, divided attention, the ability to report during the process and accurate communications. These are skills used in a dogfight, but they are also extremely important in many situations in the life of a pilot.

Lastly, practice always leaves room for improvement. If a mistake is made, it is the best way to find a solution before any accidents can occur in real time. These situations are taken extremely seriously and are a core part of the IAF’s training.