Beyond Visual Range

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Beyond Visual Range ( Engl. For: out of sight ), abbreviated BVR is a term in the military aviation for objects and events - that is out of sight of one - both in the air and on the ground pilots happen are, respectively. The range of vision for a fighter pilot is approximately 10 nautical miles (around 18.5 km). Even in the case of a view that extends further than this distance, objects which are located outside this area are too small to be able to detect them visually and must therefore be represented by electronic means (e.g. radar ).

BVR tactics

BVR tactics can also be called interception tactics. Fighter jets that have no or inadequate BVR equipment (e.g. first / early versions of the MiG-29 ) can initiate both attack and defense measures late, which is a huge disadvantage. Combat pilots in aircraft with BVR equipment that are engaged in aerial combat against aircraft with limited avionics try to get behind their opponent during the BVR phase in order to obtain a better firing position. In contrast, pilots of inferior machines in long-range combat try to involve their opponents in a dogfight .

BVR missiles

BVR missiles usually include air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles , which have an operational range that is out of the pilot's range of vision. However, anti-aircraft and surface-to-surface missiles (shot down e.g. from warships or mobile or stationary launching ramps ) can also be included. In most cases, these are so-called fire-and-forget weapons.

Some BVR missiles:

Air to air
Air-to-ground

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Patrick Higby: Promise and Reality: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-To-Air Combat , Adams Center, Virginia Military Institute, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base , ( online PDF 413 kB ) (accessed 7. October 2019)
  2. ↑ a b GlobalSecurity.org Overview of Missile Weapons (accessed October 7, 2019)