Dogfight

For information about dogs fighting, see dog fighting.

Dog fight is a common term used to describe close-range aerial combat between two or more military aircraft. The term originated during World War I, and probably derives from the preferred fighter tactic of positioning one's aircraft behind the enemy aircraft. From this position, a pilot could fire his guns on the enemy without having to lead the target, and the enemy aircraft could not effectively fire back. When two fighter aircraft circled each other trying to achieve this position, it resembles two dogs chasing each other's tails.

Sorties in which the objective was to engage enemy fighters--often resulting in dogfights--were colloquially referred to in WWII as a "Rodeo" or "Freijagd".

With modern air-to-air missiles greatly extending the general engagement range of jet fighters, some experts hypothesize that dogfighting may be headed toward extinction. Others criticize this view, pointing out that the dog fight continues to play a role in air combat. Missiles are always a finite resource, and can be thwarted by countermeasures. Just as nuclear weapons have not fulfilled predictions that they would make conventional warfare obsolete, advanced missile technology has not spelled the end of the dog fight. The US Navy (TOPGUN) and Air Force (Red Flag) continue to teach postgraduate level classes in air combat maneuvering (dogfighting) engagements.