Realistic Training

Today's USAF air-to-air combat forces must be prepared to gain and maintain air superiority quickly with minimum losses. Considering the numerical superiority and rapidly advancing quality of the threat, this requirement places a high premium on a credible, realistic training program. This study reviews aspects of historical methods of air-to-air training and subsequent force employment. Then an assessment of some recent aerial combat training initiatives is made to evaluate their effectiveness in producing a combat ready air-to-air force. It concludes that much progress has been made, but that certain improvements are required to develop full combat potential.