Swarm (aviation)

Compare chain on the left and swarm on the right

A swarm is a flight formation of four to six combat aircraft . Three to four swarms usually form a relay .

The swarm consists of two to three packs . In this, they support each other in a similar way to the two squad flyers within a squad.

The swarm leader is responsible for leading this flying formation . He usually flies at the top and is covered by his Rottenflieger (wing man) flying behind him, offset to the side . He determines the course as well as the location and time of the attack. The second squad leader has the task of observing the sun while flying in formation, as enemy fighters (before the introduction of on-board radar) usually attacked from this direction. In combat, the swarm usually divides into its flocks.

The basic principles of the new Rotte und Schwarm concept were laid in 1937 by the German fighter pilot Günther Lützow during the Spanish Civil War , which Werner Mölders refined the following year. After his return from Spain, Mölders documented the new findings in training documents, thus giving the Air Force a significant tactical advantage at the beginning of the Second World War.

It was adopted by all air forces during World War II and is still the standard tactic around the world today. During the Battle of Britain, the pilots of the Royal Air Force first took them over on their own, before the RAF officially changed their tactics.

In the Air Force (Bundeswehr) , a swarm consists of at least four aircraft.