BVR Help, Especially when Outnumbered

[unlikely_spider]

Hello. I'm trying the various Instant Action missions with the Tomcat. Being traditionally a warbird pilot, I have most success in up-close ACM with guns and short-range missiles, especially since the F-14 is so good at low speed fights. However I can't seem to win against equal opponents in BVR contests. There is an Instant Action mission against 2 Mirages, where you get Sparrows and SWs, and they kill me all the time. Are there good videos or other resources where I can learn to manage this type of situation?

 

Edit - my interest is to become competent enough to complete some campaigns for this module, which is what I mainly enjoy doing. I don't really have much interest in BVR combat vs humans at this time

Edited February 27, 2021 by unlikely_spider

[Saber2243]

Until the sparrow loft bug is fixed, aim-7s and 9s put the tomcat into a fully within visual range engagement, in fact, you are outranged by the mirage's fox-1s. Your strategy against AIs here would be to get in close where they have a hard time making missile shots at you, or to try to force out the fox-1s without firing any of your own. The AI has a hard time engaging targets with a significant altitude difference, so building as much of a seperation as possible, especially above them, will make it harder for them to engage. You have superior acceleration to the mirages, so its very possible to conduct an attack and force an enemy missile, then break off and defeat it, extend out and turn back in, rinse and repeat. Alternatively conduct a diving attack and try to get through the fox-1 envelope and into the middle of them, you can launch a fox one to force at least one of them defensive while you do this, and try to get a fox 2 kill on the way in, then it's a close 1v1 which the cat is pretty good at, even against the mirage. 

 

If you have two -54s it changes, you just pull the trigger twice in tws auto and win.