Page 115 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

Colonel Boyd had a real issue with the aviation design teams that in addition to the F-4, gave the USAF its
famous Century Series, the F-101, F-102, F-104, F105, and F-106.

The comment was often made in those days by USAF Fighter Pilots, “Why are we flying Navy aircraft?”

In addition to the F-4, the USAF also had the Navy developed A-7.

John Boyd brilliantly challenged all designers too essentially replicate his great success in flying the F-86.

He made a very cogent case in claiming that modern fighters needed a “bubble” canopy and the best
relative “energy maneuverability” possible as more powerful engines were being developed.

Boyd stressed P sub s diagrams.

Ps simply allows comparisons of aircraft at different altitudes to essentially see where the different “edges of
the envelope” advantages existed.

With that knowledge and practice and being competently flown, a fighter pilot would have a significant
advantage in engaging.

Understanding relative platform energy maneuverability, especially in F-15, F-16 and F/A -18 improvements
in airframe/wing design and engine performance, would give a fighter pilot a significant advantage in a 1 V
1 “Knife fight ” up to to “fur ball,” which is colloquial term for a swirling engagement with many bogies and
friendlies.

Using P sub s charts the pilot would know where to optimize the fight to gain an advantage.

To Boyd, visual lookout was essential and he was totally correct.

Finally, Section (USN/USMC ) or two ship USAF and Division (USN/USMC) or four ship (USAF terminology)
pairing tactics become a huge consideration.

Boyd again got it correct -- a “Bubble” canopy would make a huge difference in keeping mutual support and
look-out doctrine in any air-to-air engagement.

Essentially his OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide and Act) began with looking out see the enemy, orient the
fighter, decide if an advantage exists, OR not, and then act employing knowledge of the human/machine
capability.

The remarkable combat success of the F-15 Eagle Fighter Pilots of over 100 to zero kill ratio owes a debt of
gratitude to the late Col John Boyd USAF (ret).

The Mobilization/Modernization Dynamic

In the design era of Boyd’s OODA formulation another technological imperative was just beginning to be seen
-- advanced weapon designs.

Perhaps the best combat example is the successful laser-guided bomb attack on the Paul Doumer Bridge in
the later days of the Vietnam War.

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