Updated: 28Oct2021 # Purpose This presentation contains Ideas about how a flight should be broken apart to better engage threats, and Failures of the 5 second Sort method. At the end each flight should be able to: - Understand missile employment and Sort orders - Gage enemy threats and respond accordingly # 5 Second Sorting Rules 1. ==SHOOT== your position (tgt size `SMALL`) 2. ==SHOOT== a wingman (tgt size `NORMAL`) >[!quote] > ==Lead==: “flight, enemy 3 ship bearing 030 for 40 NM, sort twiz x2” > `Wing`: “2, 3 ship sorted” > ==Lead==: “Small-shot.. Fire” SMALL- MANDATORY ATTACK- NEXT LAUNCH > ==Lead==: “Normal-shot 3 2 1 Fire” NORMAL NEXT LAUNCH (5 SECOND LINE) > `Wing`: “Fox 3 times 2” ![[Pasted image 20230905183600.png]] # Failures Failures of the first engagement can be broken into two types of failures - Incorrect Launch Parameters - Incorrect Sorting commands ## Description of failure **Incorrect Launch Parameters** - The shots taken were outside the envelope of probable kill and thus the first engagement was ineffective **Incorrect Sorting commands** - Incorrect sorting orders, or lack of clarification caused not all enemies to be targeted, or inefficient usage of ammunition We will take a look at one example of Launch parameters and three examples of sorting command failure # Rules of Thumb for Phoenix Launch At 25,000 ft, 300 knots the Phoenix has an effective **flight** range of 50 miles. **Altitude Rule**: For every 10,000 ft change Range changes by 10 miles. **Closing Rule**: For every 100 knots of target airspeed, the launch window changes 5 NM. **Speed Rule**: For every 50 knots change Range changes by 1 mile. # Sort Failure due to Launch Parameters ![[Pasted image 20230905183750.png]] Difference of 10,000 FT means subtract 10 NM from your range. Lead Launched at 50 NM ![[Pasted image 20230905183853.png]] We see correct TTI, flashing TTI, and start cranking assuming the enemies went defensive. ![[Pasted image 20230905183917.png]] Due to out of envelope Launches all phoenixes were defeated with low energy states and the enemies have an altitude and positional advantage. # 5 Second Sorting Orders Below are 4 main sort orders- | RADIO CALL | DESCRIPTION | NOTES | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | “SORT TWIZ x2” | all in the flight will fire TWS x2 | Ammo intensive, BEST kill probability | | “SORT ” (DEFAULT) | the last one in the flight (trail) will fire PD. | Reduces threat immediately with decent kill probability | | “SORT TWIZ” or “SORT TWIZ SINGLE” | all in the flight will fire TWS x1. | only for 1 to 1 ratio, O.K. kill probability | | “SORT ALL PD” | all in the flight will shoot PD on target. | only for 1 to 1 ratio, threat defeated immediately, LOWEST kill probability | # Sorting Command Failure ## SORT ALL PD ![[Pasted image 20230905184427.png]] Error: 1 fighter unaccounted for Solution: SORT, or SORT TWIZx2 ## SORT TWIZ x2 ![[Pasted image 20230905184535.png]] Error: Poor ammunition management Solution: push 3 off for Element Grinder ## SORT TWIZ x2 ![[Pasted image 20230905184642.png]] Error: 1 unaccounted for Solution: SORT TWIZ x2 order requires more information # Complex First Engagements ALL size engagements can be broken up into smaller engagements. There are 2 basic engagements such that all complex engagements will be broken up into these smaller, more manageable sorties ![[Pasted image 20230905185902.png]] ## 2v2 Basic Engagement Lead shoots TWS X2 Wingman shoots PD-STT (or TWS X2) (SORT or SORT TWIZ x2) ![[Pasted image 20230905185952.png]] ## 2v3 Basic Engagement Lead shoots TWS X2 Wingman shoots TWS X2 (SORT TWIZ x2) ![[Pasted image 20230905190035.png]] We see Lead spit up his flight into two groups who engage 2v3 sorting. This is set up before the initial sort command, so everyone understands what is happening. ![[Pasted image 20230905190155.png]] More like two groups of 2v3 ## Overcrowded First Engagements How about an overcrowded 4v3? Do we triple, or quadruple targets with phoenix missiles? Is that wasting ammunition? ![[Pasted image 20230905190254.png]] 4V3? ## Overcrowded First Engagements Here we can start either a pseudo-grinder, or create a wall behind the first engagement for SA and sorting the second engage. ![[Pasted image 20230905190408.png]] 2V3, second group sets up to clean up leakers