Basic Dogfighting Practice Improves Everyone Across the Board

A whole host of aircraft from 9 NATO nations descended upon the Ramstein Air Base in Germany for some good old 1-versus-1 combat, marking off the first-ever basic fighter maneuvers exercise there.

Participants came from the USA, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark, bringing a solid array of fighters from their respective air forces. The ever-present F-16 Fighting Falcon was there, as befitting nearly any NATO fighter exercise, accompanied by some American metal like the F-35A Lightning II, the F/A-18 Hornet, and vintage Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Representing the old world came the Dassault Rafale C and Eurofighter Typhoon. It was a good lineup to practice the full spectrum of basic fighter combat, offering every participant a high-pressure, demanding setting against similarly skilled fighter pilots.

“Basic fighter maneuvering – sometimes called dogfighting – is a foundational skill set for fighter pilots,” said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Loringer, the USAF-Europe Africa chief of weapons and tactics. “It tests a pilot's reaction time, physical stamina and situational awareness. BFM is a coveted and timeless skillset, dating back to the first fighter pilots of World War I. There is no better way to build trust in a pilot's aircraft or a pilot's skills than to engage in a one-on-one BFM fight.”

Besides reinforcing the friendly bonds of NATO pilots, the exercise was a great way to improve the dogfighting capability of pilots across the collective NATO air forces. Many outside the system think of fighter education in terms of Top Gun - high intensity courses for small class sizes - but NATO can't afford to slack off in teaching all its potential frontliners to the highest standard they can.

“This exercise is about preparation and being ready to deploy and project our airpower throughout Europe and Africa at a moment's notice," added Airman Basic Regis Dickerson II, 86th Logistic Readiness Squadron mobile distribution operator. “The stronger our trust and connections becomes, the stronger our capabilities become. When we join together as one, this shows our adversaries what we are capable of.”

FMI: www.af.mil