Air Movement

Air units have two options when encountering sectors with enemy units: they can either skip over the sector or engage the enemy. Skipping over a sector with enemy units costs 2 movement points, as it requires additional effort to avoid detection or interception. On the other hand, attacking an enemy unit within a sector uses 1 movement point.

This system ensures players carefully manage their air units' movement points, deciding when to bypass enemy forces for strategic positioning or when to engage in combat directly. The added cost of skipping emphasizes the tactical importance of planning air operations efficiently.

Air Unit Damage and Reduction

When an air unit is hit during battle, its size is reduced to the next smaller category. For example, if a attack fighter squadron is attacked and suffers a loss, it will be reduced to a attack fighter flight. This represents the unit's diminished strength due to combat damage.

If the air unit is already at its smallest size (e.g., a pair) and it is hit, it will be permanently destroyed. This mechanic emphasizes the importance of protecting valuable air assets, as repeated losses can lead to the total elimination of a unit.

Airports

Airports serve as the primary base for aircraft operations, providing a location for aircraft to take off, land, and refuel. They also determine the maximum movement range of aircraft based on their proximity. Aircraft must return to an airport when they reach their operational limits, unless they are refueled in mid-air by a tanker. The protection of airports is crucial, as losing one can severely impact the ability to deploy and sustain air forces.

Aerial Refuelling

An aerial refueling aircraft acts as a mobile refueling station, enabling other aircraft to extend their operational range. When an aircraft reaches the limit of its movement attribute, it can return to a refueling aircraft instead of an airport, effectively "resetting" its movement. This allows the aircraft to continue its mission beyond its normal range. Aerial refueling aircraft, positioned strategically, can support multiple units by providing refueling in mid-air, effectively acting as a mobile airport and enabling greater flexibility in mission planning and execution.

Impact of Tanker or Airport Destruction on Aircraft

If an aerial refueling tanker or airport is destroyed, any aircraft relying on it for fuel and not within range of another airport or a refueling tanker that is in range of an airport will be lost. These aircraft will be unable to complete their mission without refueling and will be considered destroyed.

Anti-Air

An anti-air unit can engage all air units within a one-sector radius, known as the Air Defense Zone. When an enemy air unit enters this zone, the anti-air unit will engage it, with the enemy unit having a percentage chance to evade the attack. Each successful hit from an anti-air unit reduces the enemy aircraft's size by 1, weakening its overall combat effectiveness. For example, an Air Superiority Fighter Squadron has a 20% chance of evading, meaning there is an 80% chance the anti-air unit will land a hit, reducing the enemy unit’s size accordingly. 

See AA unit page for more info

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)

SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) is a specialized air operation designed to neutralize enemy Anti-Air Units and weaken air defense networks. When a aircraft engages an Anti-Air Unit, the AA unit will fire first, attempting to destroy the attacking aircraft. If the aircraft survives the attack, it has a 60% chance of successfully eliminating the Anti-Air Unit. SEAD missions are essential for securing air superiority, as they reduce the effectiveness of enemy air defense zones and allow other aircraft to operate more freely.

AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)

AWACS units enhance all friendly air units within a two-sector coverage area, providing a 50% boost to  strength and defense. This support improves combat effectiveness and resilience, making AWACS a crucial asset for controlling contested airspace.

Stealth Assets

Stealth aircraft are designed to be harder to detect and target. A rule of thumb is that stealth aircraft are twice as effective as regular aircraft in terms of strength and defense, meaning they have enhanced durability and offensive capabilities. Additionally, stealth aircraft have a 20% chance of being hit by anti-air attacks, compared to the 80% chance for standard aircraft. This drastically reduced vulnerability makes stealth aircraft much more resilient against anti-air threats. Their increased effectiveness applies to strength, defense, and evasion from anti-air units, making them highly valuable in combat.

Strategic Airlifting & Airdropping

Strategic Airlift Aircraft (SAA) play a crucial role in rapid force deployment, allowing for the transportation of ground units across vast distances. These aircraft can airlift most ground units, including attack helicopters, but cannot transport armored units due to their weight and logistical constraints. See SAA unit page for more info

Airdropping Operations

Strategic Airlift Aircraft (SAA) units can perform airdrop operations, allowing them to deploy specific unit types directly into enemy-controlled or contested regions. However, these operations come with greater risk due to enemy anti-air defenses and potential supply chain issues. See SAA unit page for more info