Aircraft combat tactic (2 F-17s vs Scout)

[GrumpySage]

I decided to write this 'guide' as I've seen a few people mentioning they had trouble with the aircraft combat. This works for the UFO Scout and may work with the UFO Corvette using heavy missiles (this is untested).

I engage the UFO with 2 F-17 aircraft (let's call them 'Adam' and 'Bob'). I command Adam (which the UFO always seems to go for) to fly directly north, and Bob to fly almost straight at the UFO, but not attacking it (changing course as needed to make sure Bob stays outside the UFO's cone of fire) (see pic 1).

When there is about 2 cones length between Adam and the UFO, I command him eastwards (see pic 2).

When Bob passes the tip of the UFO's cone of fire, I command him to attack the UFO (see pic 3). Bob will move to intercept, but stay behind the cone. At this point Bob will fire his missiles, the UFO will roll, but still be hit (since you're attacking from the side - also, it rolls too early and away from the missiles). After being hit the the UFO should turn to flee (with 70% damage, if both missiles hit). To make sure you catch up to it and kill it (using the cannon), activate the afterburner on Bob (see pic 4). You can also command Adam to attack, but he may not be able to intercept before the UFO has either escaped or died due to the distance.

So, basically, flank with Bob, while luring the UFO with Adam.

Here it is, in pictures:

Pic 1: http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4394/act1t.png

Pic 2: http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5143/act2h.png

Pic 3: http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9953/act3.png

Pic 4: http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8152/act4g.png

Against a Corvette class UFO, your missiles will not do a lot of damage (I have not tried this tactic with the MIG plane/heavy missiles) and I had to use almost all the shots in the cannons of both aircraft to take the Corvette down, taking some damage in the process (although both planes survived).

Chris, not sure if you were planning on updating the AI for aircraft combat or not (and as I have only seen the first two types of UFOs, I don't know if the tactic works with the later ones).

Todo: Does this tactic work with 2 MIG's against a scout?

[Sathra]

MiGs vs a Corvette doesn't take much in the way of tactics. Just load up with all avalanches and fire as soon as they're in range and ready. Corvette's can't roll, so unless you're really unlucky it'll die in a single volley. You can do it with a single MiG, but it might get hit since MiG's can't roll either.

And yes, updating the Air-Combat AI is planned for. There were pages and pages in multiple threads about it in the old forums after all.

[Mchl]

Holy Silacoid! I didn't even know you could actually command your aircraft when in dogfight! I guess I need to play a bit more often.

[Chris]

Lol @ Mchl.

Yes, we need to do more work on the air combat. The AI needs to be updated and we need to add the later UFOs as well as quite a few small tweaks. Basically, it'll get some love after we've got the Geoscape mechanically complete.

[sectoid]

i always uses flanking tactics in Company of Heroes, so already think of using it in Xenonauts' ufo interception.

i guess later on will have faster interceptors to close the gaps and ease the flanking job.